Select guests stand, ready to sign the ceremonial beam in honor of the Greenhouse Raising.
Florida Southern College celebrated two significant investments in science education and historic preservation on Thursday, Oct. 22, with the Ben ’90 and Missy ’93 Albritton Citrus and Horticulture Complex Greenhouse Raising, as well as the Miller Planetarium Rededication. The celebration highlighted the College’s commitment to agricultural education, scientific discovery, and preserving its distinctive Frank Lloyd Wright-designed campus.
The event welcomed Florida Senate President and Florida Southern alumnus Ben Albritton ’90 and his wife, Missy Albritton ’93, along with state and local officials, College leadership, alumni, and community partners. The program included the unveiling of a dedication inscription honoring the Albritton’s, a greenhouse raising ceremony for the new greenhouse complex, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly modernized Miller Planetarium.
The Albritton Citrus and Horticulture Complex will strengthen Florida Southern’s longstanding connection to Florida’s citrus industry and agricultural education. As a student, Ben Albritton studied horticulture at the College, where faculty members helped him recognize his potential as both a student and a leader. The complex honors the Albrittons’ connection to Florida Southern and their commitment to education, agriculture, and public service.
During the greenhouse raising, invited guests signed a steel beam that will become a permanent part of the new complex. The ceremony recognized the collaborative efforts of the College, state leaders, and community supporters in advancing agricultural education. Once completed, the four new greenhouses will provide opportunities for hands-on learning, experimentation, and scientific inquiry.
State funding is also supporting improvements to Polk Science, including structural upgrades, historic preservation, and restoration of its greenhouse. Complementing these investments, a private donor gift will support renovations to existing laboratories, strengthening facilities for scientific instruction and research.
“We are particularly grateful to the State of Florida and specifically the Polk County legislators who made these opportunities possible for students, schools, and the entire community,” said Dr. Jeremy Martin, President of Florida Southern College. “We are also honored to recognize Ben and Missy Albritton, whose longstanding relationship with Florida Southern and commitment to Florida agriculture and public service make today's celebration especially meaningful.”
The celebration continued at the Miller Planetarium, where President Jeremy Martin led the rededication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The planetarium’s modernization includes significant upgrades to projection and audiovisual technology, transforming the historic facility into an immersive learning environment for students, K-12 school groups, families, and visitors.
The program recognized Senator Colleen Burton and Representative Jennifer Canady for their advocacy in securing state appropriations for Florida Southern over the past several years. The restoration also received support from the State of Florida, the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures grant program, and a private donor. These investments helped preserve the planetarium while equipping it with modern technology to inspire new generations of learners.
“The reopening of the Planetarium fulfills a dream decades in the making,” said Dr. Keith Berend ’92, chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees. “As a student here in the late 1980s and early 1990s, I remember hoping to see this day.”
Dr. Berend also emphasized the significance of the greenhouse complex in carrying forward Florida Southern’s agricultural legacy.
“Florida Southern has a proud history in citrus education, including what was once the nation’s only bachelor’s degree dedicated to citrus. Seeing that legacy carried forward for a new generation is especially exciting,” he said.
Together, the Albritton Citrus and Horticulture Complex and the Miller Planetarium connect Florida Southern’s legacy with new opportunities for scientific exploration, student learning, and community engagement.
