Kissimmee, FL – Dr. Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia College’s Osceola and Lake Nona campuses, has been awarded the prestigious Compadre Award by the Hispanic Business Council of the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce.
The award recognizes an organization or individual who has demonstrated extraordinary support to the Hispanic community.
Plinske received the award at the recent Gala Osceola, which was hosted by the Hispanic Business Council of the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce of Metro Orlando.
The Compadre Award recognizes an organization or individual who demonstrates extraordinary support to the Hispanic community.
“I am truly honored to be recognized for my commitment to the Hispanic community in Osceola County. Nothing gives me greater joy than helping our students believe that they can be successful in college, and that at Valencia, los vamos a recibir con los brazos abiertos,” said Plinske.
Plinske, who is fluent in Spanish, became president of Valencia’s Osceola Campus in 2010. Since that time, she has implemented programs to increase college attendance among Osceola County high school students and was instrumental in launching the “Got College?” campaign, along with the
Osceola County school district and several other community organizations.
The Osceola Campus currently has more than 10,000 students– half of whom are Hispanic. The Lake Nona Campus has 2,500 students.
In addition, Plinske was part of the Valencia team that successfully lobbied for an additional campus to be built in Osceola County’s Poinciana community. Earlier this year, the state legislature approved $1 million in funds to plan the new campus.