The historic marker at Palm Beach State College is part of the Florida Historical Marker Program,…read moreone of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular and valued public history programs. It raises awareness of Florida's cultural history while enhancing the enjoyment of historic sites for residents and tourists. The historic markers tell the stories of the people and places that were important to Florida's history and they can be found in front of schools, roads, archaeological sites, battlefields, cemeteries, historic buildings, churches and colleges like this one. Historic marker F-248 was installed in front of the college admissions building in 1976 by Palm Beach Junior College in cooperation with Department of State.
The first junior colleges in Florida were private schools beginning in 1907 with Palmer College at DeFuniak Springs. Palm Beach Junior College was founded on Nov. 14, 1933 making it Florida's first public community college. The College's first dean, Howell L. Watkins, co-founded the College with Joe Youngblood, superintendent of schools for Palm Beach County. The college was created in response to the communities need for a two-year public college for high school graduates who could not find employment during the Great Depression and couldn't afford to leave home to attend a university.
Forty-one students enrolled in the opening class which was held in what is now known as the Count and Countess DeHoernle Historic Building in West Palm Beach. In 1936 John I. Leonard became the first president. He was affectionately known as Mr. Junior College for his dedication to the students and the junior college system. also in 1936 Charlotte Cross, Frank Kamiyo, and Virginia Cunningham became the College's first graduates.
In 1948 with increased enrollment the college relocated to Morrison Field, a former Army-Air Force base that later became Palm Beach International Airport. In 1956, the College moved to its permanent home on 114 acres in Lake Worth next to Lake Osborne. Harold C. Manor, Ph.D., became president in 1958, leading the college to growth in enrollment, programs, and services along with the addition of a wide range of technical and vocational offerings.
In 1965 the state legislature merged Palm Beach Junior College and the all Black Roosevelt Junior College into one college. A second campus opened in Belle Glade in 1978 followed by campuses in Palm Beach Gardens (1980) and Boca Raton (1983). In 1988, the named was changed to Palm Beach Community College to reflect the expanded programs and services.
In 2008, the State Board of Education approved the College's first bachelor's degree of Applied Science in Supervision and Management. Ava L. Parker, J.D. became the first woman college President and led the college to pursue STEM education. She also oversaw the opening of the College's fifth campus in Loxahatchee Groves in 2017 and the launch of its first fully online degree, an Associate in Arts in Business in 2018.
Today Palm Beach State college offers a wide range of programs including bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, workforce training, certifications, and transfer pathways to universities. The college provides degrees in fields such as health care, business, cybersecurity, engineering technology, public safety, and technical trades. The campus is home to the Dr. Floyd F. Koch Honors College and other specialty institutes focusing on equity and global education. Facilities: Includes the Watson B. Duncan III Theatre which is a venue for performing arts, a Public Safety Training Center, intercollegiate athletics, a library, labs and student resources. Palm Beach State College focuses on offering affordable tuition, workforce training, and transfer readiness for students heading to four-year universities.