As we enter a new decade, we are thankful for Gulf Coast Community College s

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2 COMMENTARY Making the Connection with students As we enter a new decade, we are thankful for Gulf Coast Community College s tradition of excellence and all of the positive things that it brings to this community. The citizens of this region and the students we serve are the most critical piece of our success. We are so fortunate to live in an area known for its generosity as well as its natural beauty. We are also blessed to have strong, committed partners in higher education, one of which is located directly across the street from us. FSU Panama City and Gulf Coast have worked together for years for the betterment of students in this region, but recently that partnership has been given a boost. We continually seek to expand opportunities for students attending Gulf Coast, and that means working to promote partnerships with universities in the hopes of making the transition from the community college to the university as seamless as possible. It is one of the key elements in our Strategic Plan because it directly benefits our students. Last year, GCCC partnered with FSU PC on the creation of the Connect Program. This unique program allows faculty and advisors from both institutions to help students plan their academic map as they transition from GCCC to FSU PC. We have received positive, constructive feedback from students about the Connect Program, including ways to improve it. We also received input from business/industry and community leaders during the many Blue Ribbon Commission meetings held in the fall of One common theme heard time and time again was that GCCC and FSU PC, working together as partners, was like having a full 4-year college experience right here for our community. We are proud to offer higher education that is flexible, responsive, and allows students to maintain commitments to their families and to their careers. In the coming months and years, we pledge to stay strongly connected with all of our partners, including the K-12 schools in Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties and institutions such as the University of West Florida and Troy University. We are committed to our mission of open access and opportunity for all no one should be excluded from an opportunity to improve their lives. Our vision for Gulf Coast Community College is to deliver life-changing learning opportunities and always working in partnership to enhance the cultural and economic development of the area. We have an aggressive strategic plan that charts our future for the next several years. Our plan will expand learning opportunities, foster success of students, collaborate with our community and advance economic development of our region. We are passionate about the many possibilities for this area and our role as a college. 2

3 INSIDE ON CAMPUS Division Chair Profiles Holly Gunning and Susan Butler at the helm of two key divisions. Finding a new purpose Iraq veteran Larry Henderson shares his story of recovery. Alumnus Bill Husfelt comes full circle A lifelong career of making a difference in kids lives. Every gift matters! Find out how you can help make a lasting impact on students at Gulf Coast. Degrees now available completely online Just one more way GCCC makes earning a degree convenient for everyone. Rapid prototyping machine New 3D printer gives students an edge with real-world technology. Success in the Connect Program See how students really benefit from the joint efforts of GCCC and FSU PC Spring 2010 Volume XXIX Issue 3 T H E C L I P P E R Contributors Pam Cooley Jessie Hall Kayla Held Ev Lloyd Chris Thomes Patti Woodham Layout & Design Pam Cooley Editor Chris Thomes President Dr. Jim Kerley FEATURE A new home for the careers that care Students, faculty and staff celebrate the grand re-opening of the Health Sciences building. DEPARTMENTS Student Spotlight Highlights and Celebrations High Water Marks Last Look C O N T A C T Address 5230 West U.S. Highway 98 Panama City, FL Phone cthomes@gulfcoast.edu Web site This publication is produced by the Office of Media & Community Relations. Content suggestions should be addressed to the editor. ABOUT THE COVER The fully functional nursing bay allows students Lisa Despres (left) and Heidi Hess to simulate hundreds of different scenarios that would be encountered in a real hospital environment. The Clipper is published for friends and supporters of Gulf Coast Community College and the Gulf Coast Community College Foundation. Lynn Stryker, Principal of Tommy Smith Elementary School (2 nd from left), presents Dr. Jim Kerley, GCCC President, Dr. Amal Sidani-Tabbaa, Foundation President, and Chuck Isler, District Board of Trustees Chair, with a $15,000 check, thereby formerly endowing the Tommy Smith Memorial Scholarship. 3

4 ON CAMPUS Meet two of GCCC s Division Chairs Susan Butler and Holly Gunning share about the joys of teaching Educators have a passion for teaching, this is certain. Those that have made educating others their life s work have chosen to do so because of the abundant rewards and joys it brings to them. Division Chairs, Dr. Susan Butler and Dr. Holly Gunning, have proven this through their lifelong commitment to education. I ve taught at K-12. I ve taught at major universities and I at GCCC, a program designed to transition professionals into teaching careers. Susan only worked with EPI a semester and a half before she was promoted to its coordinator. She says she learned a great deal from her predecessor, Dr. Steve Dunnivant. Steve had a vision of what he wanted to achieve and he was always keeping that forefront in his mind. As long as you do that, you can keep moving towards that goal, she said. Division Chairs Susan Butler, Social Sciences, and Holly Gunning, Health Sciences, provide leadership in two key divisions. just really prefer to be here than anywhere else, said Susan Butler, Division Chair, Social Sciences. I like the mix of the students and the different age ranges. And I like the focus on teaching. Butler began her position as division chair during the summer of Her involvement with Gulf Coast began while she was a teacher at Rutherford High School from 1991 to 1997, during which time she also worked as an Adjunct Chemistry Instructor at Gulf Coast. She left her position at Rutherford in 1998 to take another faculty position at North Carolina State University. In 2002, she began working for the University of North Carolina - Greensboro in their educational research laboratory. During the fall semester of 2005, she took a faculty position with the Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) That mantra has stuck with Butler as she helps develop new goals in her role as Social Sciences Division Chair, including defining and measuring the standardization of courses, encouraging adjuncts to become more involved in other aspects of the College, and keeping a focus on teaching excellence. With all the plans she has to make hers the best division on campus, Butler still finds time to teach two education classes each semester. Her love of teaching is perhaps what unites Butler with her colleague, Holly Gunning, Division Chair, Health Sciences. Gunning developed her love for teaching during her days as a teaching assistant at the University of Florida in I ve known that I wanted to teach since I finished my BS in physical therapy. My teaching experience at UF helped me realize how much I enjoyed working with students, Gunning explained. She continued her education earning a masters in Orthopedic Physical Therapy and worked locally as a Physical Therapist and an Adjunct Instructor before taking a faculty position at GCCC in Applying for the division chair position was a natural choice for Gunning. She wanted to work with students and make a lasting impact on the community. I didn t want to stay in research, so working at a community college was an ideal setting for me. Teaching is very rewarding and in the PTA program we have the opportunity to work closely with our students. Many graduate, become licensed PTAs, work locally, and then serve as clinical instructors for PTA students, she explained. 4

5 ON CAMPUS Veteran finds purpose after military career When 28-year-old Larry Henderson is driving his four children to school, he has to be more alert than a normal, caring parent would be. Three years ago, the Panama City native was hit three different times with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices, or roadside bombs) while serving in Iraq. He said, I have to be really careful now because if I just see something on the side of the road or I unexpectedly see a pothole in the road, my immediate response is to swerve. Henderson said of his recovery, At first it was just a focus on getting better, but when I did get better, I suddenly felt that I had no purpose. Explaining that after joining the Army at 19 and surviving three tours in Iraq, I woke up every morning with a very clear purpose. As he began to recover, he decided to go to college. Henderson said he chose Gulf Coast because This is my home, and the new G.I. Bill made it possible for me to change directions and focus on a new career and a new life. The Purple Heart veteran returned to Panama City in 2007 with what has been called the signature wound of the Iraq war. He says that the final of the three IEDs left him with a traumatic brain injury that has affected him more than any of his other wounds. (He was also shot in his left arm and in his right leg which left permanent nerve damage in his leg.) Initially treated in Germany, Henderson says that his recovery has been steady but that he still has problems concentrating and with his short-term memory. He adds that his biggest adjustment to normal life has been driving and communicating with people. I sometimes have trouble finding the right words and I may even stutter a little, but everyone has been great to me. Henderson initially wanted to major in physical therapy, but has recently changed his major to psychology so that, I can help others who have suffered this kind of injury. Explaining that traumatic brain injuries often result in a change in personality, or symptoms like blurred vision, difficulty organizing daily tasks, memory loss or irritability, he said that he was lucky to have a great support system. Henderson s wife, Jennifer, who is a nurse, and his extended family all live in the Bay County area and have been a source of great help. They are there for anything. Another source of help is Anthony Cobb, who is GCCC s Veteran s Certifying Official and a veteran himself. The new Post 9/11 GI Bill gives returning veterans a chance to go to college with benefits that include tuition, books, and sometimes even a stipend. Our veterans have access to all the resources available here on campus as well as extra tutoring and work study, said Cobb. Henderson, in the meantime, is working on his general education courses and says that he loves learning. One of Henderson s professors, Julia Erben, said that when he initially This is my home, and the new G.I. Bill made it possible for me to change directions and focus on a new career and a new life, says Purple Heart veteran, Larry Henderson. filled out the first day s information for her class, he wrote at the bottom of his card that he was a Purple Heart veteran. Erben said that she was impressed with his modesty and his dedication and asked him if she could share his story with the class. Henderson agreed to let her do it and even brought a 2007 News Herald article written about him when he was first injured. Noting that his presence in the class has made the dynamic shift to a more serious and thoughtful tone, Erben said, When they see the kinds of sacrifices that someone sitting next to them has made for all of us, it puts things in perspective. Henderson says that he doesn t feel any different from other students at the college, except that he knows what horrors a war can bring and what it s like to be far away from home. I actually am glad that some of my younger classmates don t have to see and experience war. Adding that spending time in Mosul, Baqubah, and Tikrit was an experience his wounds will never let him forget, he said, I am just looking forward to seeing my children grow up, and I want to get my education so that I can provide for them and help others who have been through what I have. I won t let anything stop me. 5

6 ON CAMPUS Alumnus Bill Husfelt Comes Full Circle The life of Bay County s Superintendent of Schools, Bill Husfelt, has almost come full circle. He can point out the neighborhood he grew up in and his favorite hangout spot as a child from his office window at the Nelson building on Balboa Ave. If you look across the street that s where I grew up, and I played baseball in a lot that was next to this building. Now I m back here, but in this office, he said as he peered out the window of his roomy superintendent s office. Born in Maryland, Bill Husfelt moved to Panama City to a house on Balboa Avenue with his mother and two brothers when he was 12 years old. He was a well-behaved kid, mostly he says because of his mother s influence on him. She was a single mother raising three sons. Like most boys, he loved playing sports; baseball especially, and dreamed about being a professional one day. He attended what is now Jinks Middle School and then became a student at Bay High School and was always involved with extracurricular activities. Husfelt stayed out of trouble and kept good grades throughout his high school years, loving the experience all the while. He said, I loved high school the teachers, coaches, and administrators really had a great influence on me. After high school, Husfelt attended Gulf Coast Community College and worked towards his Associate of Arts degree in Political Science, then moved on to Florida State University, leaving with a Bachelor s degree in Social Science Education with a minor in Criminology. During this time he thought of going into the FBI, but decided to take a different route. He continues his studies in education and earned his Master s degree in Educational Leadership from Florida State University Panama City. He stayed away from things that could have distracted him from his studies, and maintained A s and B s throughout college. After earning his Masters degree, Husfelt worked at middle and high schools in Bay County as a teacher, coach, and also as part of several schools administrative I loved high school the teachers, coaches, and administrators really had a great influence on me. ~ Bill Husfel t staff. During this time, he met his wife, Theresa, at a local softball field. He said, I was umpiring and she was playing ball, and I knew I wanted to get to know her, so we started dating the next week and the week after that I was going to church with her. They have been married for 27 years, and have three beautiful and talented daughters, Stephanie, Allison, and Anna. Before being elected as Bay County s Superintendent of Schools in November of 2008, Husfelt was the principal of A. Crawford Mosley High School for 12 years. He was the recipient of the 2004 and 2006 Florida Commissioner s Principal Achievement Award for outstanding Leadership and led Mosley to be the first A high school in Bay District Schools. He also had the opportunity to watch all three of his daughters graduate from high school while he served as principal and said, you can t pay for that kind of experience. Although he loves his new job as superintendent, he does admit to missing the daily interaction with high school students. He was always known for his open door policy at Mosley and being a student s principal, meaning he was very accessible to the students. When talking about his high school principal days, he simply said, I loved being a high school principal; the kids kept me young. Sandy Harrison, the current principal of Mosley, spoke very highly of Husfelt when she said, Mr. Husfelt s main strength, I believe, is his ability to motivate others, both students and faculty and staff. He is always a very positive person and sees the best in everyone. That is the main reason that students love him. He is very compassionate, even when he has to fuss at the students. Now he is Superintendent Bill Husfelt and not a principal anymore. Though he may reminisce about his days as a teacher and principal, Husfelt explained, People may not know this about me, but I love my job; the best part is being able to work with different people on a different level and having a wider, greater impact on our students education. He decided to participate in the election for superintendent three years ago after all of his daughters had graduated from high school. Jean Smith, Mr. Husfelt s secretary and good friend said, Mr. Husfelt and I have worked together for 13 years. During those 13 years, I have watched his daughters and both of my own children come to Mosley as freshmen and then walk the stage four years later. Although our own children are special to us, he never 6

7 ON CAMPUS treated the other students any differently than he treated his daughters. I have watched him comfort crying and upset students as though they were his own children. I have also watched him help students to understand where they went wrong and to guide them in making smart decisions. Smith added that even though Husfelt has been at the Nelson Building for over a year, students still stop by just to say hello and ask for his advice. Today, Husfelt spends his time working with much bigger issues, doing his best to keep Bay County s schools at their best. A very busy man indeed, he still makes time for his family, hobbies, and is very involved in his church. He is an active deacon and teaches a Young Married Sunday school class with his wife at Hiland Park Baptist Church, where they have attended for 28 years. He says that his faith has been one of the most influential things in his life. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, and of course, going to football games with his family. His true FSU pride is evident through his actions, having only missed three or four home football games since Husfelt admits that he is a football fanatic who participates in Fantasy Football, and said that if he could have any other job it would be as a football coach. The circle of Husfelt s life shows his loyalty to Bay County s education system, and to improving his hometown. He is walking, breathing testimony that a local boy can go as far as his imagination and hard work can take him. Even though he has come a long way from the 12-year-old playing baseball in the field across the street, he still spends his days in the old neighborhood; today, though, he is looking out from the big corner office. Written by student Kayla Held, Mass Media Communication (MMC 2100) Every Gift Matters! Gifts to the Annual Fund have an immediate and lasting impact on GCCC students Since 1967, the Gulf Coast Community College Foundation has proudly provided scholarship opportunities to deserving students and educational program support for the College. With loyal community support, the Foundation has established a legacy of helping students begin, continue and accomplish their educational dreams. To assist the Foundation in fulfilling our mission, you are invited to support the new Annual Fund. Gifts to the Annual Fund will have an immediate and lasting impact on the lives of GCCC students. These unrestricted gifts are critical in allowing the Foundation to address the current and most urgent needs of the College. By giving to the Annual Fund, you will also become an annual member of the Foundation with benefits at each of the various giving levels. By becoming an annual member of the Foundation, you are joining the team of individuals committed to furthering education and supporting economic development in the community. The Annual Fund Enhances: Additional student scholarship opportunities Updated technology and equipment Innovative program funding Student learning resources Reasons to Give A gift of $20 can pay for a student s application fee $50 can pay for Student Access and Technology fees $100 can purchase a text book for one class $260 can fund tuition for one general education course $1,050 can fund tuition for four classes (12 credit hours) $5,000 can fund tuition for an Associate in Arts Degree GCCC Annual Membership Levels (please visit for a complete description of benefits) Board of Advisors (Premier Membership) ~ $5,000 to $9,999 President s Cabinet $1,000 to $4,999 Beacon Council $500 to $999 Blue and Gold Club $250 to $499 Annual Member $100 to $249 / GCCC Faculty and Staff $50 to $99 Student/Friend $25 to $49 7

8 H The ribbon cutting of the George G. Tapper Health Sciences Building was well received by healthcare professionals and the entire community. Pictured here (from left to right, starting in the center), Panama City Mayor Scott Clemons; Congressman Allen Boyd; Amelia Warriner, granddaughter of George and Amelia Tapper; Denise Butler, Trustee; Trish Warriner, daughter of George and Amelia Tapper; Chuck Isler, Trustee Chair; Karen Durden, Trustee; Jim Kerley, President. 8

9 ealth Sciences renovation meets A Dream Come True the needs of the community now and for the future 9

10 FEATURE T wo years ago, not much was left of the original George G. Tapper Health Sciences Building. After the 18 resident programs had settled into temporary housing elsewhere on campus, construction crews commenced on the $10.3 million renovation project and tore the old building down to its steel frame. Twenty-four months later, a stately new building has risen in its place with over 2,000 square feet added on to each of its three floors, new roof lines, an inviting circular reception area and state of the art laboratories for each one of the 15 allied health programs. primarily from Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) and a $1.5 million EDA grant, while much of the new equipment came from a Community-Based Job Training Grant for Health Sciences. The College received $2 million for its project titled, The Health Sciences faculty and staff are relieved to be housed in the same building again. The College held a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand re-opening of the facility. Approximately 150 community supporters and health care professionals attended the event and were treated to tours of the new classrooms and labs. Each program proudly showed their newly acquired equipment enabling faculty to train their students with the latest medical equipment and familiarize them with current technology. The space is astronomical, said Libby McNaron, Coordinator of the Surgical Technology and Central Service Technology programs. Student satisfaction has improved tremendously. The new facility looks and operates to some extent as a small hospital, which provides students with almost endless opportunities for cross-training and simulation. Radiography students can take their portable X-ray unit to the surgical technology lab for X-rays. Or nursing students can practice resuscitation with respiratory therapy students. To be back together in a state-of-the-art health sciences building with the latest equipment makes it much easier for our students to transition from our labs to the hospitals, said Christine Bottkol, Coordinator of Nursing. They do not have to be afraid because they are familiar with the latest equipment and methods. The Nursing program has several high fidelity mannequins, one of which is called Noelle. The Noelle simulator can stage a complete birth from beginning to end. She can breathe, talk and even grab a student s arm during a bad contraction. After delivery, the baby simulator can be set for various scenarios preparing students for real-life situations. The Respiratory program also houses several pediatric and neonatal mannequins and one high-fidelity mannequin that can be programmed for a wide variety of case scenarios. The 58,694 square foot renovation project was funded Dr. Steve Myers, local dentist and trustee, talks to Laurie Womble, Assistant Coordinator, Dental Assisting, about new student dental workstations (top), and Dental Hygiene students work on a patient (middle). During the grand opening tour, Representative Jimmy Patronis listens to Donna Fowler, Associate Professor, Nursing, explain how the mannequins are used for teaching (bottom). 10

11 FEATURE Northwest Florida Health Care Initiative, which focused on increasing the number of qualified workers for the health care industry to meet the region s growing health care needs. The Michele Kern, Associate Professor, Nursing (top right), shows Sharon Milner, Coordinator, LPN/Gulf Franklin Center (top left), the new state-of-the-art hospital bed work areas. A respiratory therapist student checks her patient on the monitors (middle) while surgical technician students practice their skills in the simulated emergency room (bottom). funds were used to acquire new equipment and technology for student use in the laboratories, to develop or redesign courses, and to increase technical knowledge of the health care faculty. Funds were used for a large computer lab for use by all of the programs which allows students to take online certification exams on location. Some of the other equipment purchases include a brand new traction table and electronic parallel bars for the Physical Therapist Assisting program and a completely digital radiography machine for the Radiography program. The new building also has much to offer the local community. The large new dental clinic on the first floor, complete with dental hygiene and dental assisting labs, provides affordable dental care (by appointment only). Each Tuesday in the fall, OB patients can schedule an appointment for a free sonogram and on Thursdays they provide an open clinic for abdominal and vascular sonograms, also by appointment. The spacious meeting and conference rooms can also be utilized for professional health care workshops and training. The Health Sciences Division recently hosted Surgical Update 2010, an informative workshop for surgical technicians and nurses in the surgical community and featured several local surgeons. Area hospitals and clinical agencies are also able to come for training using the high fidelity mannequins. As budgets get tighter throughout the medical community, it is good to know that there are still many opportunities for health care education. The newest program in Health Sciences just started this spring: the Pharmacy Technician diploma program. It is a 40 credit hour program and can be completed in three semesters or as a part-time option. Future plans also include a night class in echo Sonography, an Advanced Vascular Sonography class, and a Surgical Assisting program. Health Sciences personnel are also preparing division-wide collaborative efforts to simulate all aspects of an emergency situation. According to Katrina Reese, Assistant Coordinator for the Respiratory Therapy program, The biggest challenge for clinical coordinators is to offer each student equal opportunity in the clinical setting, so by collaborating with emergency medical technology, radiology, nursing, and respiratory therapy, we can role play with the SimMan in the lab in a mocked code situation. This enables students from the different disciplines to learn their individual roles, as they would need to know it in an emergency room situation. 11

12 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT David Aponte Radio & Television Broadcasting David Aponte is a military brat who moved here from California less than a year ago. David is a Radio & Television Broadcasting major and is employed as student work-study at WKGC, the College s public radio station. When David was growing up he saw the news anchors and thought it would be fun. Today, he has the chance to not only earn a degree doing what he loves, but also bump elbows with news producers and radio personalities in the break room. The best thing about working at WKGC is learning about the various reports that Emily (Balazs) may have. She ll have a new topic and I get to hear about it. I learn the facts about what is going on right here locally in Panama City. That keeps it fun: always learning something new. He also gets the opportunity to get hands-on experience recording programs in the studio, including one he and his classmates created for WKGC s fall pledge drive. David says his dream job would be working as a news reporter for a television station. He likes meeting new people and getting the face-to-face interaction. He said, Not just reporting news but actually going out speaking to people and asking them how they feel about things, like the earthquake in Haiti. He wants to report on news that has an effect on people s lives, especially Latin Americans. I would like to push more with the Latin American community and get news out to them. Even though David feels that it is difficult to be proficient in both English and Spanish, he feels it is worth the effort. David s fondest memories of college so far include being inducted into the Society of Leadership and working with the Success Networking Team. After graduating from GCCC, David plans to continue his education at Florida State University. Ashley Martin Information Technology Ashley Martin came to Gulf Coast a year and a half ago with the intention of pursuing an Associate s degree in Architecture, just as her brother had done before her. However, after taking an HTML class with Professor Jerry Williams during her second semester, she quickly changed her mind. The Web page design class was so much fun that Ashley decided to switch gears and change her major to Computer Programming and Analysis. Ashley is a typical college student. She works a fulltime job at a diner on the beach and attends class two days a week. She loves challenging her mind and looking for solutions. For the past five years she has been restoring an old car with her father, a 1965 Nova. Together, they completely rebuilt the engine, which was a proud accomplishment for both. The biggest thing that she had rebuilt before that was a bicycle. Ashley is now in her sophomore year and plans to pursue a Software Engineering degree at Florida State University after graduating from Gulf Coast. In the future, she hopes to land a job at one of the major corporations in town or at the Navy Base. She is glad she chose Gulf Coast for her first two years of college. Many of my friends are at state universities and experience a lot more pressure, says Martin. There is so much student support here and I love that the faculty are so approachable and helpful here. 12

13 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Mahdi Salavani Mechanical and System Engineering Since he was 14 years old, Mahdi Salavani dreamed of coming to America after seeing pictures from his father s visits. I thought America was a beautiful country and I really wanted to learn English. The only way I could do that was to come to America, said Mahdi. He was born and raised in Tehran, the capital city of Iran, where he lived with his family until coming to Florida eight years ago. Since he didn t speak any English when he arrived in the U.S. he took English as a Second Language classes. Mahdi spent two years learning the language before enrolling in classes at Gulf Coast. I loved the opportunity to get an education. In America anyone can get one! In Iran it is very limited and money is a big factor. Mahdi decided on majoring in Mechanical and Systems Engineering. I really like challenges and problem solving. I can do that with engineering. It took Mahdi a little while to adjust to living in a small town, having lived in his nation s capital city with over 13 million inhabitants. Now he loves it here and has many friends. Mahdi has really enjoyed his time at Gulf Coast Community College. The teachers really care about you and want you to succeed. After he graduates from Gulf Coast, Mahdi plans to continue his studies at Florida State University in Tallahassee. There are two areas of employment of interest to Mahdi: Biomedical Engineering, especially designing artificial body parts, and working for NASA. Kayla Dibble Theatre Kayla Dibble is no stranger to hard work. Juggling an early morning job at a local coffee shop, daytime classes at GCCC and long nights of rehearsals, she still manages to maintain an excellent GPA and keep a smile on her face. Kayla loves theatre and it shows. Recently she performed lead roles in Double Exposure and The Phantom Toll Booth. She also starred in The Sound of Music, The Rimers of Eldritch and The True Adventures of Pinocchio. Her interest in theatre comes from her grandfather, a music major, and her great uncle, an actor in England who encouraged her to sing and not be afraid! After receiving her black belt in karate at age 12, she needed a new challenge and her favorite past-time became reading monologue books. At 15, she auditioned with the Young Actors Studio and landed a lead role in Guys and Dolls. By then acting had become her passion and she jumped at the opportunity to help launch the Arnold High School Theatre group. She also became an active member in the International Thespian Society, an organization for middle and high school theatre students. Going to Gulf Coast was a natural transition. She has been very impressed with the faculty and staff of the Visual & Performing Arts Division. She said, This is a top-notch standing theatre company. They are so supportive. It really is a family atmosphere. This fall, Kayla plans to audition at the Annual Florida Theatre Conference in Lakeland, Florida, where she can interview theatre programs at different universities throughout the state. Coming from Gulf Coast, Kayla is following in a long line of successful graduates who have gone on to pursue wonderful opportunities all over the world. 13

14 Highlights & Celebrations 1 GCCC and FSU PC awarded $770,000 for Fast Packs Grant The Fast Packs grant funds are used to increase K-12 student academic achievement by helping schools and school districts increase the number of highly qualified teachers in core subject areas (Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics). GCCC and K-12 faculty have worked together to produce seven online courses to aid K-12 teachers in achieving the competencies and skills required for teacher certification as well as aiding core subject area teachers in implementing Florida s Next Generation Sunshine State Standards within K-12 class rooms. The GCCC faculty who have worked on the content areas are: Dr. Susan Butler, Principal Investigator for GCCC; Dr. Richard Baldwin, Social Sciences; Rifat Fatema, Natural Sciences; Lloyd Harris, Mathematics; Norris Harvey, Mathematics; and Patti Woodham, Language and Literature. Approximately 400 teachers across the state of Florida are currently enrolled in the online courses developed in the grant. Additionally, the Gulf Coast Community College/FSU PC partnership is sponsoring a conference for 200 school principals in February. The principals will explore ways to encourage implementation of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards in K-12 classrooms, as well as methods to enhance the depth of school curriculum. 2 GCCC named Military Friendly GCCC has been named a Military Friendly School for 2010 by G.I. Jobs magazine. G.I. Jobs magazine compiled a list of Military Friendly Schools. Only 1,000 out of 7,000 colleges, universities and trade schools made the list. This list is especially important now because the recently enacted Post-9/11 GI Bill has given veterans virtually unlimited financial means to go to school, said Rich McCormack, G.I. Jobs publisher. Veterans need a trusted friend to help them decide where to get educated. The Military Friendly Schools list is that trusted friend. 3 Media and Community Relations win awards of excellence The Office of Media & Community Relations earned several wins in the FACC Communications & Marketing Commission s Awards of Excellence contest. First Place for Advertising Outdoor: for the College Your Way billboard campaign First Place for Advertising Television: for the College Your Way 30 second commercial First Place for Catalog: for the Continuing Education Course Catalog Second Place for Best Redesign: for the Education Encore course schedule Second Place for Magazine: for The Clipper Spring 2009 issue They also picked up a Bronze Award from the National Council of Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) for the Continuing Education Summer 2009 Course Catalog. 14

15 VPA Empty Bowls Project The Visual & Performing Arts Division hosted their first Empty Bowls fundraiser in October. It was a community project to raise money for hunger prevention efforts and to create more awareness about the issues of hunger. They raised $1,500 which was donated to The United Way of Northwest Florida and the World Food Programme s Fill the Cup Campaign. Students and staff at GCCC, New Horizons Learning Center and Patterson Elementary School created several hundred hand-crafted bowls. Full degree programs, now completely online Just one more way to earn a degree at GCCC In the past year, Gulf Coast Community College has seen a dramatic increase in online learning with the addition of more than 1,000 distance education course sections. In addition, students who have satisfied their foreign language requirement are now able to choose from one of six fully online Associate degree programs, where all coursework can be completed from home at their own convenience. The online programs that are currently ready for enrollment are the General Studies (Liberal Arts) A.A. Degree and A.A. transfer tracks in Elementary Teacher Education, History, Psychology, Social Studies Education, and Special Education. One of the primary goals in our five-year strategic plan has been to give greater access to more and more people. We want to maximize flexibility for our students by expanding E-learning. ~ Dr. Jim Kerley College Your Way is more than a slogan, said Dr. Steve Dunnivant, Associate Dean of E-learning at the College. It s our commitment to offer not just courses, but full degree pathways to students in our service area and beyond. Thanks to advancements in technology and the continued innovation of our faculty, a college degree has never been more accessible to students than it is today. Preston Thomson can attest to that. After retiring from the Navy several years ago, Thomson was looking to enter a new career field. He decided on the Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) program which is designed to allow former or recent college graduates, with four-year degrees, to begin a career in teaching. EPI has a hybrid delivery program, consisting of nine classes taken through a mixture of online and face-to-face traditional classroom sessions. ON CAMPUS Thomson was no stranger to online learning, having completed most of his bachelor s coursework online. The EPI program proved to be a convenient way to obtain his teaching credentials while working fulltime. I can t think of any bad experiences, said Thomson, It has all been positive. It was always easy to contact my instructors via and it showed me what I can do. Thomson is planning on continuing his education by taking online master s level courses in the near future. One of the primary goals in our five-year strategic plan has been to give greater access to more and more people, said Dr. Jim Kerley, President. We want to maximize flexibility for our students by expanding E-learning. This is reflected in the college s future plans, which include fully online A.A. degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, Business Teacher Education, Computer Science, and Economics for Business, as well as an A.A.S. degree in Network Services Technology, an Advanced Technical Certificate in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and an A.S. degree in Fire Science Technology. Certificate and hybrid programs are also gaining in popularity with today s busy students. Hybrid courses allow for students to do most of the coursework online, but still have some face-to-face contact with the instructor. If you are not sure about distance education, a hybrid course is a great way to start, said Dunnivant. For more information, visit to explore the latest online and hybrid course offerings. 15

16 ON CAMPUS Technology students create in 3-D Visions transformed from computer to real life in mere hours Since the job market has tightened up, employers routinely get to recruit the best and most promising students straight out of college. Technology student Stephanie Smith is exactly the kind of person that a high-tech employer is looking for, and she s got the grades and the skills to prove it. When she graduates, she will have an edge over many other candidates for those high paying jobs because of a recent addition to the Technology curriculum. The advantage comes in the form of a unique printer that creates three-dimensional models of objects. While most ink or laser printers can print an image on a sheet of paper, this printer sprays a mix of special powder and glue to create fully formed models seemingly from nothing. It is called a rapid prototyping machine because it allows engineers to create new mechanical parts in a matter of hours instead of weeks. Professor Jim Vandervest explained that the $25,000 printer takes an hour per inch of material created, and then several hours more to completely harden. We usually start the printer before we leave at night so it s ready the next day, he said. The parts formed by the machine are completely perfect, lightweight proxies of the real thing, and the technology is being used more and more in industrial engineering careers. Students in both the Industrial Drafting and Design and Architectural Drafting and Design programs get to use the machine to create mechanical parts or construction elements. Mechanical students create parts from the 3-D software Inventor, and Architecture students make their models through Revit, 3-D software designed especially for that field. Smith said she was working with the software and printer in just her second semester. Learning the software takes a little time, she admitted, but once she had the hang of it, she was creating all sorts of models and even 3-D animations of complex working machines such as a gearbox. The Technology programs are definitely hands-on and students are encouraged to utilize all available resources. We don t limit the equipment. There are 12 students in the Industrial Drafting and Design program, and we think it s really important that our students get to use everything we have here on a regular basis, said Vandervest. Technology student Stephanie Smith holds the finished model while the 3-D image is displayed on the monitor (left). The model is comprised of multiple parts, each created with the rapid prototyping printer (right). 16

17 ON CAMPUS Student shares his experience with the Connect Program Albert J. Bacon, Sr. feels that he has been blessed with his life, his family, and the opportunity to attend college. He is a non-traditional student who can relate to his fellow students who strive to juggle family, work, school and life s other daily challenges. Bacon moved here in 2001 after retiring from the Air Force. He is a family man (wife Ivy and five children) and is committed to serving his church and his community through the Panama City Faith & Community Based Prevention Coalition, a group dedicated to the prevention of youth alcohol and drug use. His devotion to that mission is what led him to utilize the resources from Veterans Affairs (VA) in order to become a student at GCCC in January He will receive his Associate in Arts degree this May and continue his studies with a focus on social work. I believe social workers are much needed in our communities, explained Bacon. I view a social worker as someone with a loving heart, who seeks to make the lives of others better. He knows that earning his degree will enhance his work in the youth ministries as well as challenge his own children to achieve their dreams. His future career in social work is one of the main reasons why he joined the Connect Program, a joint venture between Gulf Coast Community College and FSU Panama City. Bacon is one of 57 students at Gulf Coast who are members of the Connect Program, now halfway through its second year. Bacon describes transferring from GCCC to FSU PC as an ideal situation since they offer a Bachelor s degree in Social Work. The Connect Program began when the leadership teams from both institutions met to brainstorm new ways to strengthen an already healthy partnership with the 2+2 articulation agreement. The Connect Program takes the 2+2 to new heights in order to create a four-year college experience for students. Gulf Coast and FSU advisors jointly advise students, like Bacon, to ensure that they stay on the right academic path for a smooth and seamless transfer to FSU PC. I felt it would be very beneficial to have more personal counseling and guidance. I cannot begin to say how helpful the Connect Program was. It has been one of the most useful resources at the college for me. It has kept me on track to graduate on time as well as meet the transfer requirements for PC FSU, said Bacon. Another exclusive benefit for Connect Program students is that they have the ability to register for classes before the posted registration dates as well as taking advantage of other joint services and student activities. The program really made things much easier for me to know the additional resources, services and requirements I needed to maximize my success and achieve my educational and personal goals, he said. Most of all, I really enjoyed the personal one-on-one counseling and advising that the Connect Program has provided. The counselors from both institutions displayed great teamwork and they were so genuine in their desire to help and guide me in the right direction for success. According to Dr. Melissa Lavender, Director of Student Services, interest in the program continues to grow. We have had numerous enrollment applications that we will add to our program on March 12, which is the next enrollment deadline. From what I m seeing in applications, I project that we will have over 100 students in the program after the next enrollment period, said Lavender. I felt it would be very beneficial to have more personal counseling and guidance. I cannot begin to say how helpful the Connect Program was. ~ Albert Bacon 17

18 HIGH WATER MARKS lorne brooks, Assistant Coordinator, Criminal Justice, Public Safety, received an award for excellence from the commander of the 325 AMX Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base for personally bringing the GCCC story to over 900 airmen. Lorne has also been appointed as the treasurer of the St. Andrews Waterfront Partnership, which is responsible for the revitalization of St. Andrews. Dr. Susan Butler, Division Chair, Social Sciences, was named as one of the 2009 Notable Noles by FSU PC. Dr. Carolyn Dunlap gave a presentation entitled Community Engagement in Foreign Language Instruction at The Language of Service and Community Symposium at Rollins College. She also served as a scorer for the Educational Testing Service s Advanced Placement Spanish Language tests in Cincinnati. She also attended a symposium for materials and technology development for introductory Spanish programs hosted by McGraw Hill in Key West, Florida, October 15-18, Michael GATTis, Assistant Professor, Social Sciences, will participate as a consultant for McGraw Hill s American Government Symposium in Santa Rosa, California, January He will also present his paper Democrats Return from the Wilderness: Comparing the Congressional Elections of 1874 & 2006 at the Midwest Political Science Assn. in Chicago, Illinois, April Jason hedden, Assistant Professor, Theatre, and Tori Howsden, Technical Specialist, Visual & Performing Arts, for receiving the highest rating of Superior from the Florida Community College Activities Association Theatre Division for their recent world premiere production of Double Exposure. Jason adapted the script from Michael Lister s novel, directed the play and created the scenic design. Tori was responsible for technical direction and light design. Centers in Orlando, Florida. This award recognizes CBAs in the SBDC network who exemplify excellence in their field and demonstrate great enhancement of scope and quality in business counseling services. Ronald penton, Associate Professor & Programs Manager, Sociology & Social Work, was elected to the position of FACC, Region 1 Director-Elect at the FACC Annual Convention. Roonie scovel, Women s Basketball Coach, reached the 400 win mark in a win over Central Florida Community College. Scovel, in her 13 th season as head coach, has compiled 12 consecutive Panhandle Conference Titles, 7 State Titles, and 2 National Titles. Dennis Storck, Superintendent, Maintenance & Operations, Grounds & Building Services, was selected as the FACC Outstanding Board Member for 2009, while serving as the FACC Vice President for Regions and Chapters. There are 40 members on the FACC Board. Elizabeth Trentanelli, Associate Professor, Social Science, represented GCCC at a recent Kettering Foundation Research Exchange related to the work of college and civic Public Policy Institutes (PPIs). Representatives of higher education and civic PPIs from around the country discussed the role of deliberation in a democracy and strategies used by education institutions. jeff yawn, Brain Bowl Volunteer Assistant Coach, was inducted to the Florida Community Colleges Activities Association s Hall of Fame for his years spent working with GCCC s Brain Bowl team. Jeff s interaction with the Brain Bowl team began in 1999 when he was a freshman. He also serves as a moderator at both regional and state tournaments. Margie mazur, Foundation Chief Development Officer and Executive Director, was named a Regional Director for the Council of Resource Development (CRD) at the national conference in Washington D.C. She is responsible for the planning, implementation, direction and evaluation of all membership programs, services, activities and initiatives that occur within the Southeast and will sit as a voting member of the CRD Board of Directors. rosie o bourke, Division Chair, Visual & Performing Arts, has been awarded the Florida Theatre Conference s Distinguished Career Award for Colleges and Universities for This award is in recognition of her many years of service and dedication to Florida s theatre community. Brent Peacock, Certified Business Analyst, Small Business Development Center, received the Regional Certified Business Analyst (CBA) of the Year award at the Annual Conference of the Association of Small Business Development National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) awards recipients at award reception from left to right: Carolyn Dunlap, Vicky Ellis, Paul Ashman, Patrice Adams, Wes Keene, Elizabeth Trentanelli. Not pictured: Lisa Keeton 18