Forbes Names Beacon College to Global Accessibility 200 List | For the second year in a row, Forbes has named Beacon College to its global Accessibility 200 list. Standing out as one of only six higher education institutions recognized, Beacon shares the national stage with innovators like Apple and MIT — a powerful validation of our student-centered model and our continued leadership in neurodivergent education.
READ MORE | Salutatorian's Remarkable Journey Highlights Spring 2026 Commencement | Once predicted by a psychologist to never speak, Class of 2026 salutatorian Smith McGinn brought the audience to its feet with a powerful story of perseverance during Beacon College's spring commencement. Celebrating 87 graduates, the ceremony featured inspiring addresses on overcoming adversity, proving that neurodivergent trailblazers are built to thrive and lead.
READ MORE | | Beacon Students Embark on Summer Internships and Big Adventures | From London to Washington, D.C., Beacon College students are stepping out of their comfort zones and launching into major summer internships. By utilizing hands-on career prep resources like digital ePortfolios and AI interview tools, these determined neurodivergent learners have secured competitive positions in fields spanning global hospitality, cybersecurity, and corporate banking.
READ MORE | Beacon College Welcomes National Disability Advocate to Board of Trustees | | |
Beacon College has appointed Dr. James T. Brett, a nationally recognized business leader and longtime champion for the disability community, to its Board of Trustees. As president and CEO of The New England Council, Brett brings decades of experience in policy and governance — expertise that will help steer Beacon’s mission and continued growth as a leader in neurodivergent education.
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Virtual ZooTampa Internship Gives Senior Hands-On Research Experience | |
From her home in California, Beacon College rising senior Charlie Ige is spending her summer tracking animal behavior at ZooTampa. Thanks to an innovative virtual program, the anthrozoology major is analyzing high-tech habitat footage to help improve animal welfare while overcoming past learning struggles and charting a path toward a master's degree.
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| Top Scholars Celebrated on Spring 2026 Academic Honor Lists | |
Nearly 200 full-time undergraduate students earned spots on Beacon College's prestigious honor rolls for the Spring 2026 semester. The newly released rosters celebrate 78 dedicated scholars named to the President's List for achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA, alongside 112 students who secured a place on the Vice President of Academic Affairs' List with an outstanding 3.6 average or higher.
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| Student Scientists Showcase Insights at Florida Undergraduate Research Conference | |
Six Beacon student researchers traveled to Jacksonville in March to present their studies at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference hosted by the University of North Florida. Spotlighting a wide range of critical topics, the student presentations included research by Emma Fowler ("Learning Disabilities and Accommodations"), Abby Kempton ("Parent Treatment of Siblings with and without a Learning Difference"), Rina Levitt ("Learning Disabilities and Addiction"), Leah Maresca ("Trauma and Coping"), Tevia McNeil ("Exercise and Mental Health in a Neurodiverse Population"), and Noah Onslow ("Police Officer Perceptions of Neurodiversity"). (Noah is pictured).
| | Beacon Clubs Partner to Clean Up Venetian Gardens | |
The Dungeons and Dragons Student Club and the Beacon Green Team teamed up in March for their latest collaborative clean-up event at Venetian Gardens. Joined by five Beacon faculty and staff members, the students collected and bagged at least 40 pounds of trash, continuing the college’s periodic community service efforts to keep local public spaces pristine.
| Inaugural Autism Awareness Walk Champions 'Different, Not Less' | |
More than 70 Beacon students, faculty, and staff stepped out in April for the college's inaugural Autism Awareness Walk. Inspired and driven by student Noah Desmangles, who was diagnosed with autism at age 8, and hosted by Health Promotions and the Office of Housing and Residence Life, the event featured a stroll along the campus-adjacent bike path with walkers donning student-designed T-shirts.
| Annual No One Journeys Alone Walk Raises Critical Suicide Prevention Funds | |
More than 70 students, faculty, and staff joined forces in April for the annual No One Journeys Alone walk and suicide awareness event. Spearheaded by the Dungeons & Dragons club and supported by multiple campus organizations — GSA, Pathways, Smiles with Sully, the Counseling Center, the library staff, and LEAD, and Beacon Voices — the event reinforced the message that no one has to face challenges or loss in isolation, while raising $2,005 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
| Beacon Students Cultivate Unity with Harmony Day | |
Students, faculty and staff gathered at Beacon College this past spring for Harmony Day, a celebration of global cultures and student civic engagement sponsored by the college’s RISE, Multicultural and LatinX organizations. The festivities began at the Dining Commons, where participants sampled a variety of multicultural foods. Following the food tasting, attendees led the Parade of Flags, carrying banners representing traditions from around the world on a procession from the Dining Commons down Main Street to the Palace. The event was organized by Audrey Broxton, an assistant professor of business and technology.
| | Women's Track and Field Team Wins National Relay Championship | | | | The Beacon College women’s track and field team captured a United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championship in the 4x100 relay on April 25. Junior Jaylen Williams also successfully defended two of her individual national titles in the 100-meter dash and long jump, highlighting a historic, dominant weekend for our student-athletes on the national stage.
READ MORE | | New Outdoor Student Pavilion Reflects Alumna's Journey From Doubt to Direction | | |
Fourteen years after arriving on campus as an unsure freshman, 2016 alumna Samantha Resnick returned to Beacon College for the dedication of "Samantha's Place." The new open-air, octagonal pavilion and student quad stands as a beautiful testament to her journey from dependence to independence, offering current neurodivergent learners an inviting space to find community and forge lifelong friendships.
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Alumni Updates
Submit your alumni updates, news, weddings, births, etc. for consideration in the next issue of the Lighting the Path newsletter. We look forward to hearing from you! EMAIL US
| | Center for College Readiness Counselor Earns Specialized Coaching Certification | | | | Erin DiCarlo, a transition counselor in the Center for College Readiness, has successfully completed Beacon College's Certificate for Coaching Adolescents with Learning and Attention Issues. The specialized program deepens expertise in the development of learning and attention issues, equipping DiCarlo with advanced coaching techniques and tools to improve student performance, enhance interventions, and better support adolescent success. | | Faculty Members Publish Collaborative Study on Benefits of Community Gardens | | | | Dr. AJ Marsden, Dr. Chris Huff, Dr. Leigh Rourks, Tresha Stevens, and Dr. Nancy Wood recently published a new collaborative article, "Community gardens as a pedagogical tool," in the journal Kaleidoscope: Integrating Research Across Disciplines. | | The study explores how community gardens serve as an impactful teaching resource, illustrating the dedication of Beacon's faculty to innovative educational methods. To mark the achievement, the group traveled to Saint Leo University for the launch party celebrating the journal's second issue. The research paper was also accepted for presentation at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference in April at the Palmer House in Chicago, Illinois. [L to R: Dr. AJ Marsden, Dr. Chris Huff, Dr. Leigh Rourks, and Tresha Stevens] | | Library Team's AI Proposal Accepted for UCF Conference | | | | | A proposal by Emily Morgan and Calinda Strayhorn was accepted for presentation at the Teaching and Learning with AI conference at UCF. Their June session, "Making AI Accessible: Concrete Strategies for Teaching Undergraduates in the Academic Library," showcased specific, practical methods for integrating artificial intelligence into library instruction. Former library director Gretchen Dreimiller, who left the college in June to begin a doctoral program at Florida State University, also contributed to the proposal. | |
Learning Specialists Explore AI and Assistive Technology on National Education Podcast | | Beacon College learning specialists and academic advisors Samantha Owens and Shauna Misir recently appeared as featured guests on the Easy EdTech Podcast. In the special bonus episode, the duo discussed how artificial intelligence is reshaping assistive technology for neurodivergent learners, sharing practical insights on how tools like NotebookLM and Goblin Tools can support accessibility, inclusion, and personalized learning. CLICK HERE to listen to the broadcast. | | | | Library Assistant Shares Insights at Global AI Virtual Conference | |
Calinda Strayhorn, a library assistant at Beacon College, recently presented at the Generative AI in Libraries (GAIL) virtual conference. Her session, "Different by Design," explored innovative approaches to using interactive workshops to help neurodiverse students understand and utilize artificial intelligence tools, contributing to global discussions on how AI can revolutionize library instruction and accessibility.
| | Nesbitt Publishes Book and Music Reviews | | | | Dr. William Nesbitt, a humanities professor, has published a scholarly review of John Guillory’s book, "On Close Reading," in the journal Pacific Coast Philology. His critique evaluates the work's deep dive into the history and practice of textual analysis, highlighting the continuing importance of deep, analytical reading skills in modern education. Nesbitt also published a detailed music and film review for global outlet The Rockpit. His critique of The Cure's new concert film, "The Show of a Lost World (Troxy Live 2024)," evaluates the band's timeless performance and sound quality, while reflecting on the bittersweet, moving nature of the project following recent changes in the lineup.
READ HERE | | Center for Student Success Dean Publishes Research on Holistic Mentoring for Neurodivergent Learners | |
Dr. Oksana Hagerty, dean of the Robey Center for Student Success at Beacon College, has published a new peer-reviewed research paper, "Mentoring for Students With Learning and Attention Issues: From Vygotsky to AI Models," in the University of New Mexico's The Chronicle of Mentoring & Coaching. The study evaluates the college's holistic student engagement model, demonstrating how proactive, tiered mentoring networks, academic performance, and the overall sense of belonging for neurodivergent learners.
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| | Missed an episode of Season 6 of Beacon College’s national public media television series, "A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity"? All episodes of Season 6 are now available for streaming nationwide via the PBS app or watch on the show’s website. From navigating educational pathways in STEM, dyslexia, and autism to practical insights on emotional intelligence, assistive technology, study skills, and supporting neurodiverse families and single parents, this season covers a rich variety of vital topics. CLICK HERE to watch and catch up on the full season. | | |
Beacon Salon Speaker Series
Educating, edifying, and entertaining! Beacon College is thrilled to announce the incredible lineup for the 2026–27 season of the Beacon Salon Speaker Series as it celebrates its landmark 10th anniversary. From "The Beatles in Florida" and "Britain's Florida Colonies" to chamber music, the Supreme Court, Sacagawea, and Hans Christian Andersen, this milestone year offers something for everyone. The season kicks off Sept. 10 with author Bob Kealing presenting Good Day Sunshine State: The Beatles in 1964 Florida—so scope out the lineup and mark your calendars early!
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| | If you have chosen Beacon College as your AmazonSmile charity, we greatly appreciate your support. Unfortunately, AmazonSmile is closing Feb. 20. You may not realize that we already have set up a great alternative! Join iGive today (for free) at iGive.com. When you login and shop their 2,000+ stores (think Chewy, Walmart, Expedia and so many more), Beacon College receives donations at least TWICE what we earned through AmazonSmile. The average donation through an iGive store is about 3%, with some offering 25% or higher! It’s easy to make it all automatic by downloading the iGive Button and turning your browser into a donation generating machine! | | |
“Keep good company, read good books, love good things, and cultivate soul and body as faithfully as you can.”
— Louisa May Alcott
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