Rogelio Gomez, SCF student

When he was younger, Rogelio Gomez considered careers in archeology, zoology or the U.S. Army Special Forces. After growing up in the Manatee-Sarasota area, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps before pursuing higher education.

Stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina, Gomez worked as an air traffic controller for almost two years before returning to civilian life. He began taking courses at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) Bradenton in Summer 2025.

“A college education is the next step in life,” said Gomez. “I have taken full advantage of the GI Bill with the help of the SCF Veteran Services office.”

Like many local students, Gomez chose SCF because of its close-to-home proximity and affordable tuition. As a military veteran, he appreciates his new purpose as a college student.

“The transition from military to student life was personally tough,” Gomez said. “It was difficult to adapt to my new freedom and the different social environment. SCF helped with my transition by giving me something to pursue —education. The ease of the application process also helped this new endeavor seem less daunting.”

Currently taking online classes at SCF, Gomez plans to graduate with an Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in accounting from the college in Fall 2026 and pursue a bachelor’s degree in accounting at a university.  

“I would like to transfer to the University of Florida or the University of Central Florida, based on which school accepts me and which one speaks to me personally,” said Gomez.

Gomez enjoys SCF Bradenton’s atmosphere, educational resources and faculty support.

“The campus is clean and has an abundance of resources; the library is a standout,” Gomez said.

David Redett, an assistant professor of mathematics at SCF, has made a particularly meaningful impact on Gomez by serving as a guide for his course-based undergraduate research education (CURE) group project in the spring. As the CURE project focus shifted, the group will continue working on it this fall, including analyzing medical statistical data and creating a professional statistics chart.

At Redett’s suggestion, Gomez explored internships through the Environmental Discovery Awards Program and secured a paid field internship with Sunshine Community Harvest. While gaining hands-on experience collecting locally grown fruit and drafting procedures for a fruit scrap recovery program, Gomez grew inspired by the workplace, team and mission of fresh food access and a healthy planet for the community.

“The internship has provided a stable job where I enjoyed a blend of outdoor labor and indoor administrative work,” said Gomez. “It is the first time I have worked for an employer that truly cares and does not put others down. I may not be as passionate about the cause as those I have met, but their excitement towards environmental science has been a pleasure to see.”

To thrive in college, Gomez would encourage students to maintain focus and persistence with their studies.   

“As with any other school, students can succeed by tackling coursework with consistency and diligence,” Gomez said.

Outside of class, Gomez likes running and reading. He is grateful for his parents’ hard work and support along his journey, his housing, food and water security, and his future educational and career options.

Through academic research projects, field internships and experiential learning, SCF helps students gain real-world job experience and take the next steps in their educational and career paths.

At SCF, we meet you where you are. We’re Everyone’s College.

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