NORTHBRIDGE UNIVERSITY:

THE BRIDGE TO POSSIBILITY

Sharon Rigaud, VP of Student Financial Services • Dr. James Michael Burkett, President of U.S. Operations
Chris Mercado, Marketing Director •Roger Gaspar, VP of Admissions

For Northbridge University, Hispanic Heritage Month is both a celebration of legacy and an investment in what comes next—opening doors, expanding possibility and building the bridges that connect Florida’s next generation to opportunity.

That commitment is reflected within the university itself. Northbridge’s executives, faculty and staff represent a broad range of cultures and backgrounds—an institutional strength that carries added significance in higher education. With 45% of its students identifying as Hispanic, representation is more than symbolic: it strengthens belonging, deepens cross-cultural understanding and helps students see what is possible.

For more than 4 decades, Northbridge has turned that belief into impact across Florida and Puerto Rico. With 8 campuses throughout the Sunshine State and 19 across the island, the career-focused university brings education closer to the communities it serves—connecting students to professional opportunities through hands-on learning, industry-relevant programs and student-centered support, while strengthening the workforce and economic vitality of the communities it calls home.

That mission extends beyond the classroom. As a Trustee of the HCCMO, Northbridge is deeply engaged in Central Florida’s Hispanic business community. In 2021, the university and the Chamber launched a scholarship initiative for Latino entrepreneurs—connecting education, entrepreneurship and economic mobility. The distinction matters: heritage can be celebrated; potential must be cultivated. Earlier this year, the university was named 2026 School of the Year by the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges— recognition of an institution committed to developing the professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders writing the region’s next chapter.

Because education can do more than open doors. It can be a bridge to possibility.

Northbridge University – 12900 Challenger Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32826 – (407) 447- 7300