The Magazine of Florida State University Panama City
E D I T I O N Celebrating our commitment to student success
2020
CAMPUS FLAIR: While the campus was closed to the public during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, FSU PC staff added flair to the campus including window clings in the Holley atrium, metal spears in the Holley and Barron buildings and visual detailing to the Digital Design Studio. Another recent addition was the acrylic FSU PC Promise logo located next to the Holley Lecture Hall. At top, right, James Durham, ’14, and Alina Durham, ’15, ’19, pose with a spear. At center, right, graphic wraps for the Digital Design Studio and Peer Tutoring. At bottom, right, Marshall Sowell, ’20, Billy Bradley, ’20, and Michael Kirke, ’20, with Dean Randy Hanna next to the PC Promise acrylic.
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TORCH The Magazine of Florida State University Panama City Fall 2020 | Vol. 28 FSU PANAMA CITY DEAN Randy Hanna, J.D., Ed.D., ’83 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT STAFF Becky Kelly, Director of Advancement Mary Beth Lovingood, Director of Development Mia Bennett, Creative Projects, ’20 Erin Chaffin, Marketing & Publications, ’13
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Cody Gray, Alumni & Development, ’11 ON THE COVER: At FSU Panama City, students come first. We want to see our students succeed whether their goal is to land their dream job after graduation or pursue an advanced degree. With this ideal in mind, Dean Randy Hanna created the FSU PC Promise, detailing our commitment to student success.
Helen Johnson, Web Manager Michelle Roberson, Program Associate EDITOR & DESIGNER Erin Chaffin, ’13 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mia Bennet, ’20, Erin Chaffin, ’13, Julie Ciaramella, Becky Kelly, Erica Martin, Mark Thomas CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Andrew Wardlow and Office of Advancement Staff PRINTED BY PanaPrint
THE TORCH MAGAZINE is published once a year by the Office of Advancement at Florida State University Panama City. It is sent to alumni, donors, faculty, staff and the community. To be included in the mailing list, or for address changes and cancellations, send your name and mailing address to torch@pc.fsu.edu.
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FEATURES
10 STRENGTH THROUGH ADVERSITY
The FSU PC community bands together through the spirit of teamwork
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ON THE FRONT LINES
GOING VIRTUAL
Nurse anesthetist grads provide aid to those most affected by COVID-19
FSU PC teams up with Panhandle teachers to host online nuclear science camp
IN THIS ISSUE 6 DEAN’S MESSAGE
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CHAOS AUDIO
PROTECTING OUR BAYS
Innovative guitar pedal and app set to revolutionize the music industry
Bay County and FSU PC partner to establish new estuary program
8 Q&A WITH THE SGC PRESIDENT 24 NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Bachelor’s in Computer Programming and Applications Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia Bachelor’s in Public Health 40
NEW COMMUNITY
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
OLLI at FSU, PC30A IBM Skills Academy 58 2019 NOTABLE ’NOLES
48 ONLINE VS. IN-PERSON LEARNING
Studying the tech-native generation
52 STUDENT HOUSING
Brand new on-campus apartment style living for FSU and GCSC students
Dan Sowell, ’88 Karen Barss, ’05 Dustin Stokesbary, ’06 63 ’NOLE NOTES
Updates from our alumni
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THE DEAN’S MESSAGE
Last fall, we unveiled the FSU PC Promise as our commitment to offering our students the resources they need to become the best version of themselves. Our promise includes becoming partners with our students and ensuring that they are prepared for the path they set for themselves. After they graduate, it is our promise that FSU PC will always be their home. Ultimately, each part of the FSU PC promise focuses on one core value: student success. By defining our core values we were able to move forward to develop a strategic and tactical plan that would guarantee we fulfilled our promise to students and the entire Northwest Florida community. Working with faculty, staff, students and other FSU stakeholders, we developed our mission statement for the next five years: Florida State University Panama City offers life-changing educational and social opportunities that prepare students, faculty and community members to achieve their goals, develop a richer culture of diversity and foster a spirit of lifelong learning. Partnering with area military installations, industry leaders and other Florida State University departments and colleges, we tailor the educational experience to make higher education more accessible to the residents of Northwest Florida. Along the way, faculty, staff and administration are encouraged to think bold and big when developing ideas to ensure student success and achievement while serving as a cultural and informative resource for our community. Our Seminole family extends beyond our students and alumni. As one of the country’s Top 20 universities, we want to be a beacon of enlightenment for all residents of Northwest Florida. Once you are part of our Seminole family, we want you to continue to learn and grow as a person. We want you to become the best version of yourself, and we will do our part to offer the services and experiences to get you there.
Randy Hanna, Dean, FSU Panama City The College of Applied Studies
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Q& A
with Student Government
PRESIDENT Lucy Rodriguez As the 39th Student Government Council president, Lucy Rodriguez, ’21, is committed to diversity and inclusion and student engagement. FSU Panama City: What made you initially want to run for Student Government Council (SGC) President? Lucy Rodriguez: Growing up, it was rare for me to see women in leadership positions, especially Hispanic women. But my parents always encouraged me to utilize my voice to represent other women. My grandmother would tell me how she once aspired to lead others in Cuba, but the social and political
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“My top priority is to uphold the values of the university — strength, skill, and character. I am working hard to ensure that student voices are heard in all decisions that are made on campus.” — Lucy Rodriguez, ’21, student government council president
constraints of her youth made her aspirations seem out of reach. I wanted to run because I knew I could lead my fellow Seminoles well and enact the change I wanted to see on campus. FSU PC: What was it like to win? LR: It means so much to me that I was able to fulfill a goal my grandmother always had to lead. I am honored the student body elected me to represent them. FSU PC: What are your next steps? LR: First and foremost, I will continue advocating for the issues our students are most concerned with right now — campus safety, diversity and inclusion, and student engagement. As SGC President, my next steps include writing legislation that will directly affect our residential students such as creating spaces on campus that stimulate higher academic achievement and personal wellness. FSU PC: What are your top priorities? LR: My top priority is to uphold the values of the university — strength, skill, and character. I am working hard to ensure that student voices are heard in all decisions that are made on campus.
FSU PC: What have been some of your biggest challenges so far (as SGC president)? LR: Some of my biggest challenges so far as have been dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. From figuring out ways to keep students engaged and safe to providing masks for all students on campus, our council has been making sure that our students feel safe on campus. FSU PC: What made you decide to become a student at FSU Panama City? LR: I decided to become a student at FSU Panama City because I was encouraged to reach my personal and academic goals. Early on, I had faculty and staff that became partners in my success. The culture at FSU PC calls for a university experience that goes far beyond success in the classroom. After graduating from FSU Panama City in spring 2021 with a degree in psychology and a minor in professional communication, Lucy Rodriguez plans to attend law school at Florida State University in Tallahassee, focusing on International Law. “As a native Spanish-speaker, my goal is to help others understand complex legal theories and practices that directly affect their lives,” Rodriguez said.
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STRENGTH THROUGH ADVERSITY In response to guidelines from public health officials, Florida State University closed its campuses and moved all operations online in March. While sheltering at home, FSU Panama City was as busy as ever with faculty, staff and students banded together to find solutions and move forward, resourcefully and resiliently in a spirit of teamwork. by:
Erin Chaffin, ’13
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esilience. Strength. Determination. Many of FSU Panama City’s students began their academic career in the midst of a category 5 hurricane and concluded it during a global pandemic. But their unwaivering spirit and the university’s commitment to their educational goals helped them to not only survive but thrive during this period of adversity. “The determination of students at FSU Panama City is unwavering,” FSU Panama City Dean Randy Hanna said. “While there are many things about the past year that have been different, one thing remains the same: our commitment to students.”
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“Now more than ever, we remain dedicated to our FSU PC Promise, and we will do everything we can to ensure students have all they need to achieve their academic goals.” — Randy Hanna, FSU Panama City dean
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread earlier this spring, Florida State University announced on March 17, 2020, that all academic courses would be delivered online for the remainder of the semester. This is not the first time in recent history the FSU Panama City community had to embrace a new normal. Hurricane Michael prepared the campus for the pandemic in an unexpected way. While closed for repairs after the storm in fall 2018, FSU Panama City implemented online-only learning and faculty and students had to get creative to move experiential learning into a virtual world. This experience would become invaluable when FSU moved to virtual classes in response to the pandemic. “Our mission was to do whatever was necessary to ensure our students could successfully complete the semester,” David Henry, FSU Panama City director of enrollment and student success said. COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS Dean Randy Hanna created the FSU PC Promise to represent the university’s commitment to student success. Throughout the pandemic, supporting students has remained Hanna’s top priority. “Now more than ever, we remain dedicated to our FSU PC Promise, and we will do everything we can to ensure students have all they need to achieve their academic goals,” Hanna said. One of the ways the campus fulfilled that promise was by creating the “PC Promise Team,” a special task
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force of faculty and students which provided assistance to help faculty prepare for virtual and hybrid courses through workshops and technical assistance. “The PC Promise Team was able to provide varying levels of technical assistance for the remote portion of classes for the fall semester,” Sasha Jarrell, Ph.D., special assistant to the dean said. “That way, faculty could focus on the best practices for content delivery.” Advisors worked with students remotely to plan their course schedule for upcoming semesters. Students were also offered virtual resume critiques, peer tutoring and technology workshops to ensure they would not fall behind on coursework or career opportunities. The library continued to offer students thousands of online resources including eBooks, journals and databases and offered virtual research help and tutoring. But it became immediately apparent that students needed more than academic support. Originally created in response to Hurricane Michael, the FSU Panama City Seminole Relief Fund was reestablished to offer students one-time financial support for food, housing, course materials and other resources. Within the first 24 hours of re-opening the scholarship opportunity, a total of $25,000 was requested in aid. The Seminole Exchange food pantry was also available by appointment for students and employees to pick up or donate food. “We all face hardships — we already have had to change the way we think about education and our
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FOOD PANTRY: Associate Dean Irvin Clark helps organize food during a Seminole Exchange food pickup event in April.
relationships with those around us — but we will come out of this stronger,” Hanna said. “With the three torches of strength, skill and character, every member of our FSU family can come out of this more prepared for the future.” VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENTS As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to spread, it became clear that a traditional spring commencement ceremony would not be possible. Instead of walking across the stage, the FSU PC class of 2019-2020 convened online on May 2, 2020. In conjunction with the Tallahassee commencement, Panama City held its own virtual ceremony, featuring a prerecorded video where names of graduates were read out loud, a sideshow of graduate pictures and messages to their family and friends, and congratulatory video messages from the dean, faculty and Student Government Council president. FSU Panama City students were also included in FSU’s virtual commencement ceremonies.
“We 2020 graduates have made it through more than most,” recent crime scene investigation graduate Nicole Ortiz, ’20, said. “From Hurricane Michael to COVID-19, we are built FSUPCSTRONG.” When social distancing and online learning stretched into the summer semester, the decision was made to also hold the summer 2020 commencement ceremony virtually on July 31, 2020. “While this year’s graduation ceremonies looked different, it’s important to recognize that our graduates’ success should still be celebrated,” Student Government President Lucy Rodriguez said. “Arguably even more so because of their resilience.” Despite being unable to celebrate under the same roof, graduates are thankful for their time at FSU Panama City. “I have met some of the most amazing, strong and talented individuals I have ever known at my time at FSU PC,” recent professional communication graduate Jennifer Bowers said. “We have accomplished so much
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as individuals while striving to make a difference. I am beyond blessed to be a ’Nole and I cannot wait to see what the future holds.” A campus celebration for the spring and summer 2020 graduates will be a held at a future date after public health officials determine it is safe to resume large social gatherings. STAYING CONNECTED As the pandemic continued, finding ways to stay connected while social distancing became increasingly important. Student Affairs filled the void by hosting various virtual campus chats and Student Government Council hosted virtual game nights and cooking parties, trivia and movie nights. A virtual Spring Week encouraged students to post pictures of themselves as memes, wearing their favorite Seminole attire and doing their favorite at-home activity.
MESSAGES TO GRADS: First-year applied behavior analysis students virtually sent their congratulations to the graduating class of 2020.
Student clubs like Project Runway learned how to sew cloth face masks to donate to area assisted-living facilities. Meeting via Zoom video chat, English professor and club advisor Milinda Stephenson, Ph.D., demonstrated how to make masks using an online pattern and quilting fabric or material from clothing.
CAMPUS CHATS: The Dean provided virtual updates during the University’s shutdown.
“Social distancing does not mean social isolation,” member Destiny Hansley, ’23, said. “We may have a new normal now, but as long as we have each other we can overcome this huge change to our everyday lives.” BACK TO CAMPUS FSU Panama City resumed in-person classes for the fall semester on August 24, 2020. From social distancing measures, limiting class sizes, to offering hybrid learning options, safety has remained the campus’s highest priority. “We’ve spent the summer preparing for the fall semester,” FSU President John Thrasher said. “We’re all in this together, and we’re counting on everyone to take care of themselves and others.”
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TEAM-UP TUESDAY: Psychology major Kristen Bane, ’21, shows her Seminole Pride during Virtual Spirit Week held April 20-23, 2020.
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6 Reasons we’re Celebrating 2020
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NO. 1 WORLDWIDE Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program had a 100% Behavior Analyst Certification pass rate for the second year in a row
NO. 2 IN FLORIDA
The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering vaulted to the No. 2 spot among all Florida engineering programs and ranked No. 40 nationally among public universities, U.S News World Report 2021
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AMONG PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
coming to FSU Panama City in fall 2021
for the second consecutive year, FSU has placed in the Top 20, U.S. News & World Reports 2021
320+ GRADS
LARGEST FIRSTYEAR CLASS
for 2019-2020, including 25 military veterans
admitted since the admission of our inaugural freshman class in fall 2013
Before classes began, signage was installed throughout the campus promoting one-way routes, social distancing and health and safety reminders.
that keeps students’ individual needs in mind, allowed students to choose to attend classes in-person or remotely for the fall semester.
On-campus testing for COVID-19 has been available throughout the summer and fall semesters for students and employees through both PanCare and with the FSU College of Medicine.
Instruction is delivered in classrooms with social distancing and CDC safety guidelines in place, while also providing distance-based options for students who wish to participate without attending on campus.
HyFlex courses, a high-flexibility model of learning
“One of the main benefits of this flex model for
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WELCOME BACK WEEK: Student Government Council members Kristen Bane, ’21, Lucy Rodriguez, ’21, Mia Bennett, ’20, and Johnathan Fuentes, ’21, welcome students back to campus with wellness kits and fun swag.
teaching is that it allows all students to participate in class, either in-person or remote,” Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Amy Polick, Ph.D., BCBA-D said. “It also ensures academic continuity for students while also delivering high quality education amidst the uncertainty of the coronavirus.” During the first week of classes, wellness kits were given to students and included five cloth face masks, a clip-on bottle of hand sanitizer and a touchless door opener. Career readiness and professional success for our students remain very important during this uncertain time. The Career Center offered multiple virtual events throughout the fall semester featuring resume reviews, networking opportunities, career and internship fairs. During the first two weeks of September, students were also encouraged to take the COVID-19 Safety Pledge.
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LOOKING FORWARD “FSU is looking to the future and moving forward,” Hanna said. “While this fall looked and felt different than other semesters, we worked diligently with our colleagues in Tallahassee and with local and state health officials to keep our students, faculty and staff safe and continue to be laser-focused on student success.” The future remains bright for our students and graduates. “We battled through not one but two natural disasters along our journey. We have stared into the face of destruction as Hurricane Michael ravaged our community. But we stood steadfast. We made it through and kept pushing forward,” recent social work graduate Ilene Grier, ’20, said. “Now at the end of our journey, we must again peer into the face of adversity. What will we do? We are Seminole strong, and with that title comes resiliency.”
ON THE FRONT LINES NURSE ANESTHETIST GRADS PROVIDE AID TO THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY COVID-19
by:
Julie Ciaramella and Mark Blackwell Thomas
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s FSU Panama City’s Nurse Anesthesia program Director Stacey VanDyke, DNP, CRNA watched the spread of COVID-19 earlier this year, she realized the acute respiratory distress it can cause was a red flag. But Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) graduates were uniquely positioned to help.
“Among other things, we place breathing tubes, manage ventilator parameters and settings and manage airways,” VanDyke said. “You see how many (COVID-19) patients need just this kind of care and you realize that CRNAs, graduates of our program, are tailor–made for this environment.” Before they can apply for CRNA training, prospective
Contributed photo ON THE COVID-19 FRONT LINE: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Taylor Englade, ‘18, and fiancé Michael Abreu, 19’, earned their degrees at FSU PC.
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students must work in an intensive care unit so that they’re tested in high-pressure environments. The combination of that experience, plus hands-on training while becoming a CRNA, lets the program’s graduates hit the ground running. Numerous graduates have felt the call to help. Michael Abreu, ’19, and Taylor Englade, ’18, treated COVID-19 patients at Inova Fairfax Hospital, in Falls Church, VA, earlier this spring. “To finally see it right in front of you, doing the damage it did, that’s an eye-opening moment,” Abreu said. “You realize, this is really real now; I am about to walk into the room with someone who is positive.” Englade and Abreu met during their first week of school at FSU Panama City. While they are now engaged, plans for a wedding are on hold. “Some of the things that seemed so important have vanished,” Englade said. “The superficial things we were looking forward to went to the back of the bus. But we are fortunate enough to go to work.” Laura Ketelsen, ’19, felt compelled to put her education and skills to use by volunteering in New York City, the original epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.
Contributed photo RESPIRATORY PROTECTION: Michael Abreu, ’19, pictured in a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) which provides head, face, eye and hearing protection. According to Abreu, getting into the PAPR only takes about two to three minutes.
In April, just days after her husband returned from a six–month deployment with the Air Force, Ketelsen left for New York Presbyterian Columbia Hospital, where she treated moderate to severe COVID-19 patients. The volume of patients there forced medical staff to expand their work to an auditorium near the hospital. “In the ICU, it’s usually one nurse for every two patients,” Ketelsen said. “But there was no way to manage that ratio with the number of COVID patients.” Before becoming a CRNA, Ketelsen worked as an emergency room trauma nurse for five years. While that experience has proved invaluable, the challenges of COVID-19 surpassed her expectations. “This feels different because there is so much about this virus that we don’t know,” she said. “We are doing the
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Contributed photo SKILLS TO USE: Laura Ketelsen, ’19, (left) of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., volunteered to travel to New York City in April. She’s pictured with Joey Barajas, USAF PJ, Ryan Larkin Field Hospital.
best we know how but in other circumstances you know what you’re up against. Because there is so much that we’re still learning, you wonder if there is more you could do, or more you could have done.” While in New York, Ketelsen worked close to 80 hours a week and lived in a nearby hotel. Closed restaurants and millions of residents sheltering in place mean the city was a shadow of its usual, bustling self. But she was beginning to see signs of renewal. The flow of patients was slowing, vehicle traffic began to pick up and the team she is worked were eventually able to transition out of the auditorium to a floor inside the hospital. When elective surgeries were canceled at her Florida hospital, Lea White, ’19, had a choice: take a voluntary unpaid leave of absence, or go to New York City to fight COVID-19. She chose to go to New York. After accepting a three and a half week contract, White, along with three other CRNAs traveled to work at a community hospital in Nyack, NY. “I didn’t realize the magnitude of the disease until I got here,” she said. “When you see it firsthand, it takes you aback.” The hospital decided to use White and her colleagues in an innovative way by having them work to wean patients off mechanical ventilation when the patients are ready to do so. Weaning is a process that decreases the amount of support the patient receives from the ventilator and allows them to breathe on their own. Once patients are placed on a ventilator, they tend to stay on it for 10 to 14 days. Their lungs are stiff, and their blood pressure is hard to manage because of the pressure on the lungs. It is a long process to wean them off mechanical ventilation, and a continual battle to find what medications, positions, and levels of sedation work for them. “It’s a constant ebb and flow as far as treatment,” White
Contributed photo UNIQUELY QUALIFIED: Lea White, ’19, went to New York to fight COVID-19 after elective surgeries were canceled at her hospital in Florida.
said, but she and other CRNAs were up to the challenge thanks to their backgrounds in critical care nursing. “We’re one of the only specialties that can be placed in an ICU setting and thrive. We help every single specialty — the intensivists, the nurses, the respiratory therapists, the nursing assistants,” she said. “We are so uniquely qualified.” VanDyke said Abreu, Englade, Ketelsen and White are joined by numerous fellow graduates in being on the front line of the fight against COVID-19. “Many of our alumni have reached out to tell us about their work during this time and how they are really able to make a difference,” she said. “They are playing an advanced role, and they are ready for it.” Ketelsen agreed and added, “This is exactly what I was trained to do.” For more information about the nurse anesthesia program, visit pc.fsu.edu/nap.
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GOING VIRTUAL FSU PC TEAMS UP WITH PANHANDLE TEACHERS TO HOST ONLINE NUCLEAR SCIENCE CAMP by: Jenny
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Ralph and Camille Shattler lorida State University Physics Professor Paul Cottle is a devoted advocate of the need for physics education in K-12 schools.
That’s why he’s been teaming up with science teachers over the past three summers to organize the Nuclear Medicine and Science Camp (NMSC) for middle and high school students from Panhandle counties. But how do you host a four-day, hands-on physics camp amid a pandemic? A little creative thinking, and of course, technology. “Every student deserves a chance to pursue a career in science or engineering if she or he chooses to do so,” Cottle said. “Unfortunately, the pandemic is going to make it more difficult for many students to learn about and prepare for those careers. We decided to do the best we could to adapt the successful in-person nuclear camp we offered the last two years to an online format so that we could extend a lifeline to students who might otherwise lose the opportunity to pursue science or engineering careers because of COVID.”
STEM IN A BOX: Denise Newsome, a chemistry and physics teacher at Deane Bozeman and adjunct professor for FSU Panama City, helps kick off FSU Panama City STEM Institute’s virtual Nuclear Science STEM camp by handing out supplemental STEM camp boxes on July 13, 2020.
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“I think this experience will open many doors for other opportunities for our students to engage in high-level STEM education across different means and situations. It’s a great way to continue expanding the students’ knowledge of science outside of the typical classroom environment.” — Paige Johnston, Dean Bozeman science teacher
Nineteen students participated in this year’s camp, which took place virtually July 13-16. Hosted by FSU Panama City, it was sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Nuclear Training and UniversityBased Research (CENTAUR), which is funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration, for the third consecutive year. Denise Newsome, who teaches chemistry, physics and pre-calculus at Deane Bozeman School in Bay County, and her tech-savvy colleague Paige Johnston, who teaches science at Bozeman, collaborated with Cottle and former FSU Panama City STEM Institute Director Ginger Littleton to pull off the feat. While online, the instructors were still able to deliver hands-on activities because of equipment boxes distributed to campers’ families on the first morning of camp. The kits — each worth about $1,000 — included radiation monitors, radioactive sources and gamma-ray absorber kits for students to use in various at-home activities. FSU Panama City IT staff were able to mount six gamma-ray spectroscopy stations on the internet using FSU’s Virtual Lab, giving campers the opportunity to “fingerprint” different radioactive sources while controlling those stations from their laptops at home. “Dr. Cottle loves to try to do new things and get kids excited about science,” Johnston said. “I think this experience will open many doors for other opportunities for our students to engage in high-level
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HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES: Rising 8th-grader Joe Hovis performs a measurement in his home with the equipment provided by camp instructors.
STEM education across different means and situations. It’s a great way to continue expanding the students’ knowledge of science outside of the typical classroom environment.”
ON-THE-GO LEARNING: Equipment boxes that were sent home with families the first morning of the camp. The boxes included radiation monitors, radioactive sources (commercially packaged for high school use), gamma-ray absorber sets, graph paper, a ruler, and even some No Salt, which is a slightly radioactive salt substitute you can find commercially at the local grocery store.
The camp also included virtual tours of nuclear facilities at Panama City’s Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center and Los Alamos National Laboratory. “This experience has been proof, to me, at least, that if you give strong K-12 teachers a reasonable level of resources they can do amazing things,” Cottle said. FSU Panama City also collaborated with the Naval Support Activity Panama City throughout the summer to create STEM in a Box, a series of online lessons for teachers and students to learn STEM concepts from a combination of short lectures and fun demonstrations. The STEM in a Box series is available on YouTube at bit.ly/3p3WB3Q. For more information about FSU Panama City’s STEM program, visit pc.fsu.edu/stem.
HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES: Dr. Willie Nunez, an interventional radiologist, gives a presentation on nuclear medicine at Panama City’s Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center.
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ACAD E M IC
PRO G RAM
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
Bachelor of Arts
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING & APPLICATIONS A new undergraduate program in computer programming and applications began at FSU Panama City this spring. The program provides a broad-based background sufficient for entry into a career in computing. In addition, the program emphasizes the interdependence of programming, object orientation, and software design and engineering. The major develops core competencies in programming, data structures, software engineering, and computer organization. It allows students to study a range of programming languages and other aspects of computer science, such as web programming, cybersecurity, digital forensics, data engineering, computer systems, and theoretical computer science.
“The beauty of this program is that it allows students the flexibility to combine computing with other interests.” — David Gaitros, Ph.D., computer science faculty
In addition to being a degree option, the program is also designed to benefit entrepreneurs, small business owners, and those who already hold a bachelor’s degree who want to create their own applications. For more information about computer programs at FSU Panama City, visit pc.fsu.edu/tech-guru.
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ACAD E M IC
PRO G RAM
COLLEGE OF APPLIED STUDIES
Doctorate
NURSE ANESTHESIA FSU Panama City’s proposal to offer a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) degree through the College of Applied Studies was approved by the State University System of Florida Board of Governors during an online meeting July 21. The first-ever doctoral program at the campus will begin in the summer of 2021. This approval is the first big step for the program’s implementation, which is also contingent upon the approval of the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA). The COA will conduct their review in January 2021. The doctoral program will build on the Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia program, which is accredited and accepted its first students in 2015.
“Faculty have been carefully developing courses for the DNAP to include leadership, population health, enhanced research courses and the addition of more basic science credit hours, simulation and clinical education. The degree requirements will culminate with a scholarly inquiry project.” — Stacey VanDyke, DNP, CRNA, program administrator
Currently, the highly competitive, limited-access master’s program is 28 months long and was recently approved to increase class size by 25 percent, from 24 to 30 students. The DNAP aims for a class size of 30 students per cohort, will take 36 months to complete and will expand on the current program that focuses on patient care before, during and after surgical procedures. For more information on the nurse anesthesia program, visit pc.fsu.edu/nap.
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ACAD E M IC
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COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES & PUBLIC POLICY
Bachelor of Science
PUBLIC HEALTH FSU Panama City, in partnership with the College of Social Sciences & Public Policy, will offer a new bachelor’s degree program in public health, beginning fall 2021. Graduates of the program will be educated in the policy, practice and methods of public health. The curriculum includes instruction in the fundamental areas of public health, including epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, social and behavioral sciences and biostatistics. Graduates from the program will find opportunities as public health professionals for nonprofit organizations, state and federal government agencies, private health care corporations and health care facilities. The degree also prepares students for graduate study.
“We are excited to bring this program to Northwest Florida. The pandemic certainly highlights the critical need for public health professionals, and this will be a highly sought-after degree within a field that is projected to grow quickly.” — Randy Hanna, FSU Panama City dean
The public health program looks at factors such as economics, education and environment to evaluate the “health status” of a community. These factors guide policy decisions that address and promote issues such as disease prevention, access to quality and preventive health care, global health, climate change and disaster preparedness. For more information about the public health program, visit pc.fsu.edu/ public-health.
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Chaos Audio, a startup composed of Florida State University Panama City engineering students, has created an intelligent Bluetooth guitar pedal and effects platform. The state-of-the-art pedal dubbed ‘Stratus’ in concert with its mobile app counterpart creates a new realm of sonic possibilities. by:
Mia Bennett, ’20
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ffectionately referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife for guitarists,” the Status pedal, an intelligent Bluetooth guitar pedal, paired with the Chaos Stratus iOS/Android App are the brainchild of Landon McCoy, ’23, a junior in the electrical engineering program at FSU Panama City. McCoy came up with the idea to create a mutli-effect pedal when he and his younger brother, Chandler,
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began to explore the world of music and guitar in 2019. Traditionally, multiple pedals are needed to create different guitar effects — which McCoy realized had the potential to become expensive very quickly. “The idea actually came around June of last year, when I got my first pedal with my brother. It was $90 and when you're a college student, things like that start to add up,” McCoy said. “So, we had the idea and said, ‘Why don't we put these effects into a single pedal?’”
Photos by Julian Randall TEAM CHAOS AUDIO: Chaos Audio, spearheaded by electrical engineering student Landon McCoy, ‘21, has developed a guitar pedal and app that combines multiple effects into a single pedal. Team Chaos Audio from left to right: mechanical engineering student Cameron Jones, ’22, mechanical engineering student Robert Copsey,’23, computer engineering student Aubrey Champagne, ’21, and electrical engineering student Landon McCoy.
THE GUITAR PEDAL RE-IMAGINED Concept in mind, McCoy developed plans to combine a customizable digital pedal board, guitar tuner and looper with each tool seamlessly interfaced with a smartphone application and controlled through a one-of-a-kind guitar pedal. In August 2019, he created Chaos Audio LLC with fellow FSU Panama City engineering students Aubrey Champagne, ’21, head of software engineering; Cameron Jones, ’22, head of finance; and Robert Copsey, ’23, head of manufacturing; with McCoy as founder and CEO. While other multi-effects products already exist, what sets the Chaos Status apart is its capability to ONE PEDAL, MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS: At left, Landon McCoy tests the Chaos Stratus pedal. At right, the Chaos Status pedal works with the Chaos Stratus iOS/Android App to combine multiple effects into a single pedal.
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dynamically load effects. The user can take any effect, download it onto their phone, and send it via Bluetooth to the Stratus. Once it is on the pedal, it is instantly ready for use. After a few months of development, Chaos Audio filed for a provisional patent in November 2019. While each month brought new progress and developments to Chaos Audio, the successes, however, did not come without challenges — including an almost non-existent budget. “We were on a tight budget,” McCoy said. “We had to buy an 8-year-old iMac for $400 to get us started.” Looking for ways to raise funds, Chaos Audio applied for and became the first recipient of TechFarm’s Best Student Startup award. The award, which included a $3,000 mini-grant from Gulf Power, is part of Gulf Power’s Entrepreneurial Support Initiative 2019 program that aims to help accelerate the growth of Northwest Florida’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. “Without TechFarms we wouldn’t have had the support, resources, and connections needed to get where we are now,” McCoy said. With the TechFarms grant, McCoy and his team were able to secure a one-year lease for their first official office
space where they could pursue more in-depth testing and research. As the Chaos Audio team gained more recognition, the team experienced the challenges that come along with starting a new company as a college student. “The business process in itself provides challenges,” McCoy said. “We are learning as we go.” A SETBACK LEADS TO OPPORTUNITY The team hit an unexpected roadblock when the COVID-19 crisis hit. When TechFarms temporarily shut down, Chaos Audio was forced to take a step back. But the shutdown did not slow their productivity. The team worked tirelessly throughout the summer perfecting the Stratus — all while continuing to take college classes. The first product demo of the initial batch of audio effects for the Chaos Stratus took place in May. The team also continued to work on hardware development, updated the pedal design and launched the fully functional app in June. They were also able to demo the product at Eastside Music Supply in Nashville, Tenn., with cosmic country artist Daniel Donato and guitarist Nic Fry. “(With) the Status, even in the timespan of sitting
STRATUS BY CHAOS
LED STRIP PARAMETER KNOB & LOOPER SWITCH
Intuitive UI USB-C PORT
DC POWER
Continuously updated effects
Rechargeable battery Bluetooth & USB-C Customizable effects chain
Customizable tuner
EFFECTS & TURNER SWITCH
RGB LEDs Patent pending sleek design 1/4” AUDIO JACK
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Contributed photo TESTING: Cosmic country artist Daniel Donato (left) and guitarist Nic Fry (right) test the Stratus pedal paired with the Chaos Stratus iOS/Android App.
down with it for five minutes, I was able to dial in a tone that felt like I could take it to a gig — things were smooth and easy flowing,” Donato said. “I’m excited to see where the pedal goes and develops.” “I love the Chaos (app), it feels very modern and sleek. Like it definitely could have come out of the mind of someone who works at Apple.” McCoy credits the meaningful connections he has made with students and faculty at FSU Panama City for helping him make his dream a reality. “All our professors have been very supportive of this project,” McCoy said. “The connections you can make at FSU Panama City are amazing.” McCoy continued, “Our experience at FSU PC introduced us to engineering, marketing and entrepreneurial concepts that have helped us tremendously throughout the startup process, in addition to the connections we’ve made with fellow students and their diversified skill sets.”
THE FUTURE: PRODUCT IN-HAND Once the summer months came to an end, Chaos Audio began to focus on the launch of their Kickstarter campaign on Nov. 1. Financial backers are able to become more involved with Chaos Audio and will receive the innovative Stratus guitar pedal for themselves. The Chaos Stratus retails for $299 but will feature significantly lower early-bird pricing during the Kickstarter campaign. McCoy hopes to sell at least 2,000 pedals via Kickstarter. McCoy says his dream is to scale Chaos Audio into more than just a singular smart guitar pedal. “Maybe down the road we can expand into other types of audio equipment, like speakers and car sound systems,” he said. For more information about Chaos Audio visit chaosaudio.com and for more information about FSU Panama City’s engineering programs, visit pc.fsu.edu/engineering.
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CELEBRATING OUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENT SUCCESS by:
Erin Chaffin, ’13, and Becky Kelly
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t FSU Panama City, students come first. Whether their goal is to land their dream job after graduation or pursue an advanced degree, student success remains the university’s top priority. With this ideal in mind, Dean Randy Hanna created the FSU PC Promise — a commitment to the success of the whole student. WHAT IS THE FSU PC PROMISE?
Featuring the ‘We promise’ cornerstones — to be your partner, that you will be prepared, that you can set your own path, FSU PC will always be home and to remove financial barriers — at it’s core, the FSU PC Promise is the university’s commitment to student success by providing resources to help our students become the best version of themselves.
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We promise to be your partner as you pursue your academic goals at one of America’s great public research universities. Through small classes, individual attention and working with mentors, you will have the greatest potential for academic, career and professional development. We promise you will be prepared as you move into the workforce or onto graduate school. The high academic standards, our commitment to help you succeed, and your opportunity to participate in experiential learning, undergraduate research, and community service will help you succeed. We promise you can set your path through engaging in group and individualized projects, providing separate pathways and participating in hands-on learning experiences directly tied to your academic career. You can count on us working with you to meet your individual goals. We promise FSU will always be your home. This partnership is more than a commitment for just a few years. You will leave with greater critical thinking skills, a love for learning, and understanding the importance of being an engaged member of your community. Together, we will make sure that FSU continues to meet the needs of students just like you. We promise to remove financial barriers by ensuring cost does not get in the way of getting your degree. We want to make sure that any Northwest Florida student has the opportunity to pursue a college education at one of the nation’s top public universities.
“The promise is real! You can do things at FSU PC that you can’t do anywhere else,” professional communication graduate Angela Donahue, ’19, said about her experience at FSU Panama City. “You can really make an impact. Every single student matters.” A PROMISE PATRON The university also launched newly renamed giving level societies to help facilitate the links between
alumni, students, faculty, staff and the business community. Now called “Promise Patrons,” donors fall into the following categories: Believers (planned gifts), Visionaries ($1,000,000 and above), Champions ($500,000-$999,999), Guardians ($100,000$499,999), Investors ($50,000-$99,999), Benefactors ($25,000-$49,999), Ambassadors ($10,000-$24,999) and Contributors ($5,000-$9,999).
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PROMISE PATRONS
New Giving Level Societies BELIEVERS (PLANNED GIFTS) Robert H. and Judith C. Fleming Allan G. and Tonie L. Bense James L. and Sandra J. Dafoe Floyd D. and Gloria D. Skinner Jim L. and Nadia D. Smallwood Dustin W. and Barbara W. Stokesbary
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“FSU PC is fulfilling its promise to be my partner in this journey, giving me the ability to return to school and follow my dream of educating young minds. The financial burden that I was facing has now lessened and I can be an example to my daughter to never give up.” — Cara Downing, ’20, social work
VISIONARIES ($1,000,000 AND ABOVE) Russell Holley* St. Joe Community Foundation
CHAMPIONS ($500,000-$999,999) Chapman Family Foundation Alfred I. duPont Foundation Earldine T. Ankiewicz* George A. Butchikas Foundation for Autism Gulf Power Foundation John S. and Gail W. Robbins
GUARDIANS ($100,000-$499,999) AT&T Bay Education Foundation Community Services Foundation of Bay County James T. and Jana L. Cook Thomas G. and Donna P. McCoy Optimist Foundation of the Beaches Floyd D. and Gloria D. Skinner Tyndall Federal Credit Union Yura Ostap Werbyn Estate
INVESTORS ($50,000-$99,999) BancorpSouth Peter M. Bardach Bay Health Foundation Bill Cramer Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC Centennial Bank Lloyd W.* and Linda Coram William C. and Carolyn A. Cramer Durden Foundation George G. & Amelia G. Tapper Foundation Hubert M. Green* Frank A. and Chris C. Hall Hutchison Family Charitable Foundation Hutt Insurance Agency John B. and Mary Frances* Hutt Innovations Federal Credit Union Marion G. and Barbara W. Nelson Private Foundation Elizabeth W. McNabb* 36
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FSU PC PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP In mid-October, FSU Panama City announced a new scholarship program that will provide tuition free education for qualified Northwest Florida students with combined family and student income of $50,000 or less or are eligible for Pell Grants. The FSU PC Promise scholarship will take effect spring 2021 and will guarantee that full-time resident undergraduates whose families have an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less will not pay tuition and fees. The new scholarship will apply to new, returning and transfer students. “We talk a lot about the FSU PC Promise and our commitment to student success,” Florida State University Panama City Dean Randy Hanna said. “With the generous help of our community donors and the support of President Thrasher and Provost McRorie, we have made the PC Promise that much more powerful. It has always been our belief that financial need should never be a deterrent to higher education.” Social work student Larissa McDonald, ’22, chose to attend Florida State because of its prestigious reputation and its promise to its students. As a mother of three young boys, ages 7, 5 and 3, McDonald has attended school little by little, earning an A.A. from Gulf Coast State College before applying to FSU Panama City, her first university choice. “Attending this school has been life-changing. I work two jobs. I am a paraprofessional by day and a customer service agent by night. My life is so busy, but I chose to continue my education so that one day I can help others,” McDonald said. “I am proud to be here today representing students like me who have received financial support to pursue my education and who are benefiting from the PC Promise.” Cara Downing, ’21, began her academic journey at FSU Panama City as a
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Panama City Housing Authority Panhandle Educators Federal Credit Union Panhandle Engineering Resort Collection of Panama City Beach Jason S. and Carol J. Robbins James L. and Frances M. Wood
BENEFACTORS ($25,000-$49,999)
EXHIBITING THE FSU PC PROMISE: At top, student speaker and social work major, Larissa McDonald, ’22. At bottom, FSU PC Promise Scholarship contributors Pamm Chapman (left) and Kristian Chapman (right) of The Chapman Family Foundation.
single mother, working full-time as a preschool teacher at Bay Haven Charter Academy while pursing her degree in elementary education. With the help of scholarships, Downing has been able to pursue her education full-time. “Being a single mother, my route to this degree has not always been easy. There have been a lot of long nights finishing papers and getting caught up on my motherly duties,” Downing said. “With the help of scholarships, though, FSU PC is fulfilling its promise to be my partner in this journey, giving me the ability to return to school and follow my dream of educating young minds. The financial burden that I was facing has now lessened and I can be an example to my daughter to never give up.”
Advocates for Children Arthritis & Infusion Center Atkins Kenneth L. Ayers Brian C. and Jessica L. Baber Berg Pipe Panama City Corp. Gary D. and Hollis H. Bliss Emerald Coast Business Women Association C. W. Roberts Contracting Hulon E.* and Dinah Crayton Donald R. and Tyrene Crisp Thomas E. David Ray E. and Sharon G. Dubuque FICPA Miracle Strip Chapter GAC Contractors GFWC Gulf Coast Womans Club Jorge L. and Pamela M. Gonzalez Griffitts Family Trust Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center Gulf Power Company HDR Engineering Steven L. and Suzanne S. Hearn Wayne G. and Rhonda G. Lindsey Richard B. and Nan G. Locher* McNeil Carroll Engineering Lesley L. Miller News Herald Panama City Area Seminole Club Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce Patronis Brothers Foundation Jimmy T.* and Helen C. Patronis Pauline W. Pendarvis Preble-Rish Pyrolysis Tech Regions Bank George A. Roberts Rotary Club of Panama City Skinner Tax Consulting Society of American Military Engineers Panama City Post United Way of Northwest Florida Elizabeth J. Walters WestRock
AMBASSADORS ($10,000-$24,999) Alvin’s Stores, Inc. Margit A. Arias A.J. and Ivy Bacon Nicole P. Barefield Dempsey J. Barron* Katherine Bennett John J. Benton Bill Montford Campaign Stephen F. and Marni T. Cain PC.FSU.EDU
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Century 21 Bay Brokers Council Charles W. Clary Girard L. Clemons Ross and Mindy Clemons Scott W. and Patricia B. Clemons Community Bank Lorenzo N. and Nancy N. Dantzler Neal P. and Nancy L. Dunn Ecological Resource Consultants Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort Emerald Coast Association for Behavioral Analysis Encompass Health Corporation Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants Ruth S. Glenn Patrick D. Greany and Jonita E. Stepp-Greany Randal S. and Sharon E. Hamilton Hancock Bank Isaac W. Byrd Family Foundation ITT EDO Sonar and Command Systems Shirley G. Jackson Jimmy T. Patronis, Jr. Campaign John A. Centrone Memorial Scholarship Fund JR Foods Terri J. Kennedy Kimley-Horn L-3 Communications Marine Maintenance of Bay County Gerald G. McDonald Glen R. and Katrina R. McDonald Memorial Golf Nichols & Associates of Bay County Panama City Jr. Woman’s Club Gregory E. and Janna Pape Jimmy T. and Katie L. Patronis Precision Audit, LLC Rebecca A. Rast Register’s Enterprises of Bay County Reynolds Smith and Hills James R. Robbins* Harriet B. Rosborough Sallie Mae Kenneth L. and Ann K. Shaw Jerry F. and Mary S. Sowell Walter M. and Deidra Stange John G. Starling Patricia K. Starling* Sussex-Bay Foundation TECO Energy TECO Peoples Gas Company Leon L. and Glenda J. Walters David P. and Caroline R. Windham Edward N. and June G. Wright
CONTRIBUTORS ($5,000-$9,999) AAF Panama City Rashda B. and Riyad Albibi Applied Research Associates ARINC John A.* and Frances J. Arnold David H. and Linda L. Artman Ashraf Khan M.D. Robert F. and Patricia Barnard Barron & Redding 38
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“This is a wonderful example of how the people of this community have come together to support our Panama City campus.” — John Thrasher, FSU president
“It’s because of students like Larissa and Cara that this scholarship program was created,” Hanna said. “The FSU PC Promise Scholarship will give future students like them hope of achieving an FSU education,” Currently enrolled students who are receiving Pell grants and are eligible for scholarship: At present, an estimated 100 to 125 local Pell-eligible students would receive the scholarship. “The Chapman Family Foundation is proud to partner with Florida State University Panama City to provide Promise Scholarships to deserving students in our community,” said Kristian Chapman of the Chapman Family Foundation. “For almost 30 years, the foundation has contributed to local education initiatives for the betterment and development of our most precious resource, our youth. As the great equalizer in our country, education is powerful, and we are honored to provide the resources needed to develop local students who will shape and grow the community in the future.” Gifts from the Chapman Family Foundation, the St. Joe Community Foundation, Larry and Pam Perry and an anonymous donor have established the foundation for this scholarship program. “This is a wonderful example of how the people of this community have come together to support our Panama City campus,” FSU President John Thrasher said. “These are challenging times for a lot of folks in this area who are still suffering economic hardships caused by Hurricanes Michael and Sally and as a result of the global pandemic. The PC Promise Scholarship will ease the financial burden for those who want to transform their lives through higher education.” Hanna noted the direct connection between income restrictions and the ability of students to receive postsecondary education. “With the FSU PC Promise Scholarship, we are telling students to focus on their academic pursuits and not to worry about their tuition,” he said. Learn more about the FSU PC Promise scholarship at pc.fsu.edu/promisescholarship.
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scholarship
We are here to help, we promise.
During these uncertain times, college can seem like a distant and unattainable goal. The PC Promise Scholarship removes barriers and creates the opportunity to pursue a college education at one of the nation’s top public universities. The FSU PC Promise Scholarship provides free tuition and fees to students who are residents of NW Florida and whose combined family and student income is less than $50,000 or are Pell eligible. This applies to new, first-year, transfer and current/returning students. Students from the Northwest Florida counties of Bay, Gulf, Liberty, Gadsden, Jackson, Calhoun, Franklin, Washington, Holmes, Walton, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia who have high financial need and are pursuing a degree at Florida State University Panama City are qualified. These life-changing scholarships mean not only will students leave with less debt, but more students will see a university education as attainable.
SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS:
INCOME OF $50k FULL-TIME OR LESS UNDERGRADUATE scholarship for NW STUDENT Florida students at least 12 credit hours per with financial need semester with a 2.0 GPA
COMMUNITY IMPACT 30 hours of community service per semester
pc.fsu.edu/promise-scholarship
Dempsey Barron Campaign Bay County Correction Facility - CCA Bay County Land and Abstract Company Bay County Sheriff Department Bay Walk-In Clinic BaySolutions Larson M.* and Beverly J. Bland Bozarth Associates Architecture & Planning Inc. Burke, Blue, Hutchison, Walters & Smith, P.A. Hayes H. and Lori R. Burleson Rebecca Cain Capital City Bank Group Foundation Captain Anderson Restaurant Clark Partington Hart Larry Bond & Stackhouse Community Foundation for the National Capital Region Consumer Credit Counseling Service Coram’s Steak & Egg, Inc. East Barbara A. Deemer George N. DePuy and Kathleen L. Valentine Farrell Realty & Insurance Agency First National Bank of Northwest Florida Charley A. and JoAn Gramling Granite Construction Company Gulf Coast State College Foundation Hancock Bank Charles S. Isler JRA Architects Michael S. Kennedy Key Electrical Supply Ashraf M. and Kaylyn Khan Charles D. Kimbrel Robert C. And Kathleen T. Lacher Lamar Advertising Rayford L. and Eugenia P. Lloyd Richard B. Locher Lynn Haven Acquisitions Harry A. Murphy Thomas O. and Margarita I. Myers Office Max OppenheimerFunds Legacy Program Erma W. Palmer* Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau Panama City Toyota Scion Banyon D. and Stacey Pelham Pilot Club of Panama City Michael W. Reed Regions Financial Corporation William B. Robinson Rock Tenn Sallie Mae Fund Wells Fargo Theodore S. and Barbara H. Spangenberg Spartacus Marketing Consultants Sun Harbor Marina Sunshine Piping SunTrust Bank Trustmark National Bank Marvin A. Urquhart* Walsingham Management Gary and Cumi Walsingham Wildcat Creek Educational Center WJHG-TV James E. and Heather N. Wood
*deceased PC.FSU.EDU
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COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH NEW PROGRAMS OFFER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTIVITIES by:
Becky Kelly
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he Office of Community Outreach at FSU Panama City helps strengthen and update teaching practices in Florida and around the world, drawing on the talents and experience of experts and from faculty across the university and from other institutions. Our students, faculty and staff embrace the ideal of sharing the benefits of our research and knowledge for the public good. In that spirit, the university offers a variety of programs including the STEM Institute and Early Childhood Autism Program as well as the new OLLI
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at FSU, PC30A, IBM Skills Academy partnership and the newly established St. Andrew & St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program. LIFELONG LEARNING FOR 30A RESIDENTS In fall 2019, FSU Panama City along with a group of local 30A residents along established the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) on 30A Dedicated to lifelong learning, OLLI at FSU, PC30A offers educational non-credit courses taught through scholarly classes, field trips, socials, special events
and travel. Courses cover a wide range of topics including art, sports, history, literature, science and music. It is stress-free learning with no homework, no grades and no degrees required. Designed as a member-centered organization, OLLI allows participants to expand their intellectual horizons, engage in social activities, participate in volunteer opportunities and hold key leadership positions within the organization. International study abroad programs and other travel is also available. The majority of the funding comes from membership dues, course fees, the Osher Foundation endowment and additional sponsors. Donors also can contribute to the local PC30A fund through the FSU Foundation to help expand course offering, lectures and other activities. Face-to-face courses for this fall included Astrophotography for Regular Earthlings, Fall Container Gardening Techniques and Sabores De España “Flavors of Spain.” Class locations are currently at Seaside Town Hall, St Joe Corp Campus, Ohana School and the Seaside REP. In response to the pandemic, participants were required to wear masks and class sizes were limited to maintain social distancing. OLLI at FSU, PC30A also offered Zoom classes ranging from Beethoven String Quartets, Best Practices for Online Safety, Florida History 101 to Why We Love the Books We Love and everything in between. “While the times we have lived in since March are unprecedented and have given us multiple challenges, the ability to choose from local classes as well as more than 30 Zoom offerings hopefully made our situation more interesting and enjoyable,” Steve Howard, OLLI at FSU, PC30A council president said. “We believe that this is what lifelong learning is all about and we are incredibly grateful and proud to be part of the OLLI at FSU family.” For more information about OLLI at FSU, PC30A, visit pc.fsu.edu/olli or contact Professional Engagement and Learning Coordinator Jamie Williamson, Ph.D., at jwilliamson2@fsu.edu.
LIFELONG LEARNERS: At left, attendees listen to the 30A Talk: Demographics are Destiny with Dr. Tim Chapin. At top, Chef Nikhil Abuvala gives a cooking class at Roux 30a. At center, History came to life this spring as Brenda Rees appeared as Madame Octavia Walton LeVert to deliver the history of territorial Florida through Octavia’s life story. At bottom, iPhone class teaches students how to “use their phones like teenagers.”
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“Empowering individuals to build their skills cannot be solved without meaningful partnerships across academia and industry. Through our partnership with IBM, FSU Panama City can be an even stronger resource for regional growth and development and helps us serve professionals striving to compete in today’s dynamic job market.” — Jamie Williamson, professional engagement and learning coordinator
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS TO THOSE LOOKING TO ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS IBM Global University Programs and the Florida State University College of Applied Studies have joined forces to offer an innovative program that will allow students and professionals to learn skills that will make them competitive in the tech marketplace. This alliance provides FSU Panama City the opportunity to leverage their resources to provide students, alumni, professionals and veterans from diverse backgrounds access to indemand skills training in business data science. The program pairs real-world experience through handson learning. Through FSU Panama City and IBM Skills Academy or IBM Global University Programs, students will be able to engage in career-oriented training and earn industry-recognized IBM certificates to show they’ve achieved mastery level skills in a particular subject. “We are committed to the success of our students and want to ensure their success in the workforce,” said Irvin Clark, FSU Panama City associate dean. “Our dedication extends to the community and professionals looking to enhance their skill set and career growth potential.” Artificial Intelligence (AI) explores the topics, technology, and skills required to gain practice in the application of AI techniques to address key industry problems. By understanding the evolution and relevance of AI and exploring opportunities brought by the intersection between human expertise and machine learning (ML), participants will gain a deeper understanding of ML techniques and a competitive edge using low-code cloudbased AI tools and pre-built ML algorithms.
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UPCOMING SPRING IBM SKILLS ACADEMY COURSES Data Science: 7-8 p.m. CT, Mondays and Wednesdays, Feb. 8 - March 31 Artificial Intelligence: 7-8 p.m. CT, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 9 - April 1 Cost*: Individual/corporate: $1400, military $1000, college students $300 *Sign up for both courses and receive a 20 percent discount.
pc.fsu.edu/ibm-skills-academy
Data Science (DS) challenges the student to take on the different roles involved in a data science team. DS practitioners use advanced data science methods and tools, leveraging statistical sciences, machine learning technologies and industry-specific datasets to implement unique data models that can solve challenging problems across all industries. “Empowering individuals to build their skills cannot be solved without meaningful partnerships across academia and industry,” said Jamie Williamson, FSU PC professional engagement and learning coordinator. “Through our partnership with IBM, FSU Panama City can be an even stronger resource for regional growth and development and helps us serve professionals striving to compete in today’s dynamic job market.” For more information about FSU Panama City’s IBM Skills Academy, visit pc.fsu.edu/ibm-skills-academy or contact Jamie Williamson, Ph.D. at 850-770-2155.
PROTECTING OUR BAYS BAY COUNTY AND FSU PC PARTNER TO ESTABLISH THE ST. ANDREW AND ST. JOSEPH BAYS ESTUARY PROGRAM
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St. Andrew Bay, a 69,000-acre estuary, is one of the most biologically diverse bays in North America and St. Joseph Bay has the richest and most abundant concentrations of marine grasses along the Northwest Florida coast. The bays are an essential resource to area maritime and naval operations, tourism and recreation. by:
Becky Kelly
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o help provide for the long term protection of St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays, Bay County and Florida State University are partnering to establish an estuary program to develop a plan of action for these valuable resources.
aims to align conservation with economic priorities and implement strategies to improve the bays and monitor outcomes. The plan will be informed by scientific research and will be adaptable and involve representatives from a broad range of stakeholder groups.
Housed on the FSU Panama City campus, the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program will be modeled after the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program, and is funded by The Nature Conservancy, Bay County, Florida State University Panama City, and the Florida State University Consensus Center. “This is a legacy project for the County Commission, FSU Panama City and our local governments. We will all work together to manage a valued, shared resource that no local government or organization can manage on its own,” Bay County Commissioner Philip “Griff” Griffitts said. “This is permanent good coming out of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.” Like similar regional programs in Florida, the goal is to establish a sustainable community-driven estuary program. That first requires building community consensus to develop and implement a comprehensive conservation management plan for the restoration and preservation of the area’s estuary system. The plan
ST. ANDREW BAY: A 69,000-acre estuary, is one of the most biologically diverse bays in North America and St. Joseph Bay has the richest and most abundant concentrations of marine grasses along the Northwest Florida coast. The bays are also an essential resource to area maritime and naval operations as well as tourism.
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“There is no way to overstate the importance of St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays,” said Randy Hanna, dean of FSU Panama City. “They are integral to the lives of those who live here and those who visit. Likewise, they are vital to our social, ecological, recreational and economic well-being and it is imperative that we collectively work to restore and protect our bays. We are so honored to partner with Bay County, The Nature Conservancy and the FSU Consensus Center on this very important program.” St. Andrew Bay, a 69,000-acre estuary, is one of the most biologically diverse bays in North America and St. Joseph Bay has the richest and most abundant concentrations of marine grasses along the Northwest Florida coast. The bays are also an essential resource to area maritime and naval operations as well as tourism. “The St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays watershed is vital to the health and well-being of the region’s natural ecosystem and economic development, which is why The Nature Conservancy has committed $1 million and is partnering with Bay County and Florida State University on the development of a new estuary program,” said Temperince Morgan, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Florida. “This program will help ensure that funds from the Deepwater Horizon settlement and beyond are used to make the greatest, lasting conservation impact for Florida’s estuaries.” The first phase of the program’s launch, expected to span into
“The creation of the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program, like others in the Florida Panhandle, is a testament to the commitment and engagement of local communities to protect the invaluable resources the Estuary provides.” — Andrea Graves, marine project coordinator, The Nature Conservancy in Florida
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COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EFFORT: The Estuary Program is designed to be a community and citizen driven effort to work with stakeholders and the public to identify and solve the problems facing the Bays, based on objective, scientific information. It will become a permanent forum that will explore estuary issues, and build consensus on actions and solutions.
2021, will be to establish a policy board, management council and committees, and select a director and administrative staff. Board and council participants will reflect a multi-jurisdictional collaborative effort among Bay, Gulf, Washington, Walton, Calhoun and Jackson counties and the cities within the bays’ watershed. “The creation of the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bays Estuary Program and others in the Florida Panhandle is a testament to the commitment of local communities to protect the invaluable nature of the region,” said Andrea Graves, marine project coordinator at The Nature Conservancy in Florida. “Thanks to the combined knowledge and resources
of these stakeholder-driven programs, we can expect to see a stronger economy and healthier bay systems with improved water quality, restored fish and wildlife habitat, and increased resilience to storms and other climate impacts.” For more information about the St. Andrew and St. Joseph Bay program go to pc.fsu.edu/estuaryprogram or send an email to estuaryprogram@fsu.edu. For more information about The Nature Conservancy’s work to support the estuary program and Florida’s Gulf coast, visit nature.org, or contact Fran Perchick at fran.perchick@tnc.org.
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ONLINE VS. IN-PERSON LEARNING: STUDYING THE TECH-NATIVE GENERATION
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Participant surveys showed students prefer a blended learning experience, with 76% of surveys indicating they would want a mix of in-person and virtual lessons. Nineteen percent of students preferred face-to-face only, and the remaining 5% preferred online only.
by:
Erica Martin
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efore COVID-19 forced K-12 education online, Benjamin Earnest, ’19, a recent psychology graduate from FSU Panama City, used an undergraduate research experience to show virtual education can be just as effective as face-to-face methods. Using a pool of over 100 University Academy middle school students, Earnest’s research showed no significant difference on test scores between students who experienced a lesson in a traditional classroom setting or virtually with the lesson offered via video. What was more interesting, Earnest said, was how students’ previous technology use affected their outcomes in both groups. “Across the board, students who rated their use of technology as higher, performed better than those who rated their use of technology as lower,” he concluded.
Participant surveys also showed students overwhelmingly prefer a blended learning experience, with 76% of surveys indicating they would want a mix of in-person and virtual lessons. Nineteen percent of students preferred face-to-face only, and the remaining 5% preferred online only. “Overall, I think the study was a success,” he said. “Because there’s been so little research done on distance learning among K-12 students, I hope that this one begins to pioneer the way for other people wanting to study this or something similar.” “Participating in undergraduate research opens a lot of doors for students to engage in a number of opportunities such as Garnet and Gold Scholars and undergraduate research presentations,” said Tyler Towne, Ph.D., who served as Earnest’s advisor over the project. Earnest, who works as a paraprofessional at University
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Academy, said his research interest was piqued after noticing a growth in virtual education in the younger classrooms. Although there have been many studies on the success of distance learning in a college setting, there hasn’t been much research on K-12 students. “Kids today haven’t known a day without a computer or a tablet, and the majority of them have never seen a phone that’s not touch screen, so shouldn’t the most technologically adept generation have the opportunity to have the form of education that best fits their technological ability?” he said. Earnest’s research was almost thwarted by Hurricane Michael, but he said he wanted to keep going because he knew the project would prepare him for his future. “This research project has been the longest running and most difficult academic activity that I’ve ever done. But, if I was asked to go back and do it over again, I would,” he said. “The skills I learned along that helped me in other classes, and just in life in general, are invaluable.”
“Because there’s been so little research done on distance learning among K-12 students, I hope that this one begins to pioneer the way for other people wanting to study this or something similar.” — Benjamin Earnest, psychology, ’19
Undergraduate psychology students who have demonstrated their commitment to the field by obtaining high grades and completing research methods in psychology can work with faculty members on independent research. This research can be completed for course credit as part of a “Directed Individual Study” (DIS), an honor’s thesis or both. “In psychology, undergraduate research can help students to demonstrate their commitment and depth-of-knowledge within the field,” Towne noted. “Students who complete undergraduate projects are more likely to be competitive when applying to graduate programs and are more likely to be effective critical thinkers post-graduation in whatever they endeavor to do.” “I always knew that I wanted to go to FSU PC,” Earnest said. “I knew that I would have opportunities like this come up much more easily and have opportunities more readily available.” Earnest, who graduated in December 2019, hopes to share his findings with fellow scientists by submitting his research to industry publications. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling at Troy University.
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STUDYING THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE: Recent psychology graduate Benjamin Earnest, ’19, used his undergraduate research experience at FSU Panama City to show how virtual education can be just as effective as face-to-face methods.
Thank You For your continued support to FSU Panama City. Your generosity demonstrates your belief and commitment to our students and community.
STUDENT HOUSING Coming fall 2021 Brand new on-campus apartment style living for FSU and GCSC students by:
Becky Kelly
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onstruction has begun on FSU Panama City’s first-ever residential housing complex.
The recently named, Seminole Landing at Florida State University Panama City, will have 132 apartment-style rooms and be home to 380 undergraduate and graduate students from both FSU PC and Gulf Coast State College who are enrolled in at least six credit hours.
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“It’s not just a residential housing complex, its a student success project.” — Randy Hanna, FSU Panama City dean
“It is a game changer,” FSU Panama City Associate Dean Irvin Clark said. “It is a huge opportunity to enhance our campus and student life. It will completely change the campus dynamic with people and services present 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” The ability to live on campus allows students in areas outside of Northwest Florida to attend FSU Panama City in a more convenient and cost effective way. It will also give local students the option to have a residential college experience. “It is going to give Florida State University Panama City a broader reach and provide a more diverse student population,” Clark said. On-campus housing increases accessibility and provides a number of advantages for students both socially and academically. “It’s not just a residential housing complex, it’s a student success project,” FSU Panama City Dean Randy Hanna said. “Providing affordable, convenient housing along with an expanded number of services benefits residential and commuter students and extends the learning community. It’s just one more part of the FSU PC Promise.” Recreational amenities will include a 24-hour fitness facility, bayside pool, gazebo, fire pit, gas barbecue grill, space for hammocks and sand volleyball. Residents will also enjoy private study rooms, community rooms and lounge space and academic success center along with fully-furnished apartment living that includes TV, washer/dryer, kitchen and utilities. On-campus housing means many current student services will need to be enhanced and extended
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LAYING THE GROUNDWORK: Josh Bartlett, with Hoffman Construction, marks off the west parking area and portions of FSU PC grounds in preparation for fencing off the new campus housing project. In August, site-work included saw cuts, demolition of part of the parking lot and removal of some of the trees.
including students activities, campus security, library and food services and new ones added. The $23 million project is a public, private partnership with Florida State University, Zimmer Development Company and Asset Living. FSU is leasing the property to Zimmer Development Company and Asset Living will manage all aspects of leasing to students. “We are really looking forward to a great partnership with Zimmer and Asset Living,” Hanna said. “This has been a process, and I am especially appreciative of the support from President John Thrasher, Provost Sally McRorie, Vice President Kyle Clark and their teams for the hard work over the past several years leading up to this point.”
JULY 20, 2020
AUG. 3, 2020
Before construction could begin, the project had to be approved by the FSU Board of Trustees and the State University System Board of Governors as well as the FSU Office of General Counsel, the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Panama City, the Bay County Commission and the Bay County Property Appraiser. FSU President John Thrasher and Jeff Zimmer of
SEPT. 25, 2020
Zimmer Development Company signed the lease agreement for student housing at FSU Panama City on July 16. Founded in 1989, North Carolina-based Zimmer Development Company has built its reputation as a national commercial and multi-family housing developer.
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TIMELINE: November 1, 2019 — The FSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a lease for a new student housing facility on the Panama City campus. First public hearing for a campus development between the city and campus was held. December 2019 — Panama City Commission approved the final hearing for an agreement to bring student housing to FSU Panama City. January 2020 — Campus officials and students traveled to Tallahassee to present their plans in front of the Board of Governors. The board unanimously approved their plans. February 2020 — The Florida Board of Governors approved student housing for FSU Panama City. July 16, 2020 — FSU President John Thrasher and Jeff Zimmer of Zimmer Development Company signed the lease agreement for student housing at FSU Panama City. July 27, 2020 — Construction begins. August 18 & 19, 2021 — Move in days August 23, 2021 — First day of classes
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“Despite the current challenges we are facing, this is an exciting time for FSU Panama City. We are growing and our students are excited about the possibilities” — Randy Hanna, FSU Panama City dean
“We are very excited to be partnered with FSU Panama City on this upcoming student housing project. We look forward to serving the students of Gulf Coast State College and FSU Panama City,” said Nicole Mathis, director of student housing operations for Zimmer. Asset Living is the largest third-party property management company in the nation for campus living with properties on 120 campuses across the nation. “Despite the current challenges we are facing, this is an exciting time for FSU Panama City,” Hanna said. “We are growing and our students are excited about the possibilities.” Students around campus are anxious to start applying for the new housing and are asking about all the unique opportunities that will accompany residential life. “I’m going to be the first to apply for housing,” said Student Government Council Senator and Recreation, Tourism and Events major, Mia Bennett. “I want to snag one of the bay view rooms.” To learn more about Seminole Landing, visit pc.fsu.edu/Seminole-Landing.
NOTABLE
’NOLES HONORING OUR OUTSTANDING ALUMNI by:
Erica Martin
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SU Panama City recognized three outstanding alumni for their continued commitment to education as part of a more than 20year campus Homecoming tradition.
The 2019 Notable ‘Noles include Panhandle Educators Federal Credit Union Senior Vice President of Finance Karen Barss, Property Appraiser Dan Sowell and Centennial Bank VP/Commercial Lender Dustin Stokesbary. The award is given to FSU Panama City alumni who demonstrated excellence as students and have made outstanding contributions to the community and within their careers. Since the award’s inception in 1996, FSU Panama City has recognized 71 Notable ’Noles, accounting for less than 1 percent of the campus’s alumni.
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DAN SOWELL, ’88 Bay County Property Appraiser Dan Sowell began his career in the property appraiser’s office in 1987 while he was a social science student at FSU Panama City. A Panama City native, he obtained his real estate brokers license in 1994 and was certified with a Florida Appraiser designation in 2008. He was elected as the county’s property appraiser the same year. Before discovering his passion for real estate, Sowell’s career began as a career advisor for disabled individuals at the United Cerebral Palsy Center. He also worked in the banking industry at First Federal Savings and Loan and owned a carpet golf business. He has a strong sense of service to our community and has served on numerous civic and volunteer boards, such as United Cerebral Palsy, where he was Chairman of the Board. In 1995 they had the most successful golf tournament Bay County had at that point raising over $40,000 for the charity with the Hubert Green Pro-Am Classic, all led by his leadership. Sowell has also faithfully served on the Board for the Panama City Rescue Mission and is a member of the Panama City Commission’s handicapped concerns advisory committee. He is also an active member of First Baptist Church. “Dan’s outstanding service in office coupled with his dedication and support in our community, make him deserving to be honored as a Notable Nole,” Jody Waller wrote in his nomination.
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KAREN BARSS, ’05 Panhandle Educators Federal Credit Union Senior Vice President of Finance Karen Barss has been dedicated to staying current in her field for 34plus years. Since she began working in the credit union industry as an accounting clerk in 1985, she has continued to attend workshops and conferences across the nation to stay abreast of current and upcoming rules and regulations regarding accounting procedures, investments and asset liability management. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2005 then completed the Certified Credit Union Executive program. As a primary leader on the management team that has led Panhandle Educators into multiple “top lists” for many years, Barss is “a Credit Union superstar,” Chris Ford wrote in her nomination. Since she joined Panhandle Educators in 1990, she has seen the organization grow from just over $20 million in assets and two locations to a network of six locations totaling $250 million in assets. Panhandle Educators FCU is now a leading Florida Credit Union with an A+ Top 200 rating by Lending Tree and has a 5 Star rating by Bauer Financial. Barss is a past board member and treasurer of the Gulf Coast Area of Credit Unions and past board member of the FiServ User’s Board. She volunteers at her church, St. Andrew Assembly of God, and participates in a quilt ministry that makes and donates quilts, blankets and pillowcases to various organizations in town. “Karen loves letting people know she’s an FSU PC grad,” Ford wrote. “With just one glance at her office, you’ll see she rocks garnet & gold.”
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DUSTIN STOKESBARY, ’06 Dustin Stokesbary, the VP/Commercial Lender at Centennial Bank, has been an avid FSU Panama City supporter since earning his degree in business administration in 2006. He has worked in the banking industry for almost 20 years and served as a branch manager of Innovations Federal Credit Union while earning his degree. To utilize his business skills, he transferred to commercial banking at Prosperity Bank, then Coastal Community Bank, which was purchased by Centennial in 2010. “I had several years of banking behind me and somehow knew nothing about it until Centennial Bank took over,” Stokesbary said. “I’ve been there now for the last 9½ years and still grow every day.” Since he began serving on FSU Panama City’s Development Board in 2014, Stokesbary has grown from a member to chairperson of a committee to vice president then president of the board in 2019. FSU Panama City’s golf tournament chairman, he has revamped the fundraiser to be more engaging with supporters and draw more sponsorships. He is a past president of the Panama City Beach Rotary Club and a marathon/triathlon participant. He teaches Sunday school, participates in the angel tree program and serves with the children’s ministries at Woodlawn United Methodist Church. He also volunteers to work concessions with his wife, Barbara, at Miracle Strip Junior Women’s Club event such as Gulf Coast Jam, Sand Jam, Softball World Series and Jeep Jam. Proceeds from the concessions of these events go to community causes like PCB Schools, Community Assistance, College Scholarships, Christmas Charities and Easter Blessings. “He is genuinely a nice guy who is fun to be around,” Randal Hamilton wrote in his nomination. “He brings an unusual high level of energy and commitment to FSU PC.”
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A FSU PANAMA CITY COMMEMORATIVE BRICK IS THE
PERFECT holiday GIFT
GIVE THE SPECIAL ’NOLE IN YOUR LIFE A GIFT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME Perfect for graduation or celebrating your alumni status, bricks cost $200. Purchase includes a matching miniature keepsake brick. Mini bricks will be available for pick up at the Office of Advancement at no additional cost or can be shipped for $10.
Personalized bricks will be incorporated into a legacy courtyard between the Holley Academic Center and the Technology and Barron buildings. Your brick purchase is 100 percent tax deductible and is maintained and covered by a lifetime warranty.
pc.fsu.edu/alumni-friends/brick-program
’NOLE NOTES We’ve all had a chance to travel life’s path in different ways; stories to tell, adventures to reveal, milestones to share, and lessons learned. Let your classmates know what is new with you — email alumni@pc.fsu.edu with your name, major, graduation year and life update for inclusion in the next edition of the Torch magazine. Pictures encouraged, but not required.
1990s
2000s VICKIE GAINER, ’04 (M.S. corporate and public communication) was honored with
TRICIA PEARCE, ’99, ’03 (B.S. communication, MBA)
became the program director for BayCares, a nonprofit connecting those in need to specialty medical providers who can help, in November 2019.
the 2020 Gene Wright Municipal Resilience Award for her work as the Lynn Haven city manager. She won the award from the Northwest Florida League of Cities, which is made up of cities from 16 counties stretching from Jefferson County to Escambia County.
2010s CASEY LATHEM, ’12 (B.S. professional communication)
celebrated the second anniversary of
the Sugar Bean, her online clothing boutique, in May. Casey is also the business development coordinator for Buffalo Rock. She and her fiancé, Mark, are currently planning their spring 2021 wedding. KEVIN ELLIOTT, ’13 (M.S. corporate and public communication) opened Wewa
Films in Nov. 2019. He has been the senior marketing and communication specialist for ARA since 2015 and an adjunct professor for FSU Panama City since 2014. ERIN WOMMACK, ’13 (B.S. professional communication)
became the marketing director for Walborsky, Bradley & Fleming in June 2020.
KELLY LATHEM, 12’ (B.S. elementary education) was
CRYSTAL (QUIMET) McHENRY, ’08 (B.S. professional communication) and
husband, Ian, welcomed daughter, Quinn Alexandra, on October 22, 2019. Crystal is a success coach at Ambassador Software.
recently honored as Bay Haven Charter Academy’s 2019-2020 Middle School Teacher of the Year. Kelly serves as the sixthgrade team leader and teaches advanced language arts.
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’NOLE NOTES
2010s cont. HAYDEN DeFORGE, ’17 (B.S. computer engineering) as
part of the LED Air Warning System (LAWS) team from Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) was selected by the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) to receive one of its highest honors — a 2019 Excellence in Technology Transfer (T2) Award.
KATIE (HOLZER) RICCA, ’13 (B.S. professional communication) married John Ricca on March 14, 2019. Katie, a
first grade teacher at North Bay Haven Charter Academy, was featured on major media outlets including Good Morning America, MSN and People for going above and beyond to connect with one of her students during the COVID-19 shutdown this spring. Katie and John are also the owners of The Bake House (formerly Cakes by Ricca).
MICHAELEAN (DRYER) STEWART, ’14 (B.S. professional communication) and
husband, PATRICK STEWART, ’15 (B.S. recreation, tourism and events), welcomed daughter, Grayson Fay, on October 25, 2020. Michaealen is the interactive marketing manager for Visit Panama City Beach and Patrick is the sports marketing and special event operations manager at the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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CAMERIN DIXON-HATCHER, ’17, ’20 (B.S. professional communication, M.S. corporate and public communication, JD)
is a law clerk at Jeffery D. Hatcher Attorney at Law and completed her Juris Doctor degree from the FSU College of Law this spring. JACKIE JERMYN, ’17, ’19 (B.S. electrical engineering, M.S. electrical engineering) was
awarded a Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship from NSWC PCD for her research in electrical engineering. She is a doctoral student at the FAMUFSU College of Engineering where her research is on mobile robot navigation. JUSTICE WOBSER, ’17 (B.S. electrical engineering) was
awarded a SMART Scholarship from the NSWC PCD for his research in electrical engineering. He is currently a electrical and computer engineering graduate student at the University of Florida.
’NOLE NOTES RYAN ISON, ’20 (B.S. social science interdisciplinary) was
recently accepted into the Officer Training School with the U.S. Air Force. This highly prestigious program is open to individuals with a bachelor’s degree and a passing score on the Air Force Qualifying Test. Candidates must also pass a physical and mental screening as well as a selection board interview process. Ison anticipates completing the training program in the spring. MARSHALL SOWELL, ’20 JUSTINE POWELL, ’17, ’19 (B.S. professional communication, M.S. corporate and public communication) closed on
her first home with her (now) fiancé, Alan Pressley, on June 12. Less than two months after moving into their home, Alan proposed to Justine in their backyard on Aug. 7, 2020. They are now planning a spring wedding.
SARAH HARRIS, ’19 (B.S. professional communication)
started her own wedding and event planning business SLH Events. SLH Events was nominated for Best of Bay and placed in the Top 5 for wedding planners in Panama City/Bay County in 2020. ANGELA DONAHUE, ’19 (B.S. professional communication)
is a graduate teaching assistant at Florida State University pursuing a combined master’s to doctoral degree in communication.
2020s BAYLEE BROWN, ’20 (B.S. computer engineering, B.S. electrical engineering) after DEVIN BURNETT, ’19 (B.S. professional communication)
will begin his graduate studies at the FAMU College of Law this spring.
becoming the first female to graduate with a double major in computer engineering and electrical engineering from FSU Panama City, Baylee is working on her master’s degree in engineering from the University of West Florida.
(B.S. electrical engineering) was
awarded a SMART Scholarship from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWC DD) in Dahlgren, Va. for his research in electrical engineering. He is a graduate student at Oklahoma State University where is research his on electromagnetics. TONI WEAVER ’20 (B.S. mechanical engineering) was
awarded a SMART Scholarship from the NSWC PCD for her research in mechanical engineering. She is currently an electrical engineering graduate student at Florida State University.
FSU PC ALUMNI CONNECT WITH US! Join our FSU Panama City Alumni Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/ FSUPCAlumni
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A PLACE TO CALL HOME: Construction began on Seminole Landing, FSU Panama City’s first-ever residential housing on July 27, 2020. Located on the west side of the campus facing North Bay, the apartment style living complex for FSU PC and Gulf Coast State College students is scheduled to be completed by fall 2021. Learn more at seminolelandingfsu.com.
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FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY PANAMA CITY Office of Advancement 4750 Collegiate Drive Panama City, FL 32405 pc.fsu.edu
FSU PC PROMISE
W E P RO MISE TO B E YOU R PART N ER • YOU WI LL BE PR EPAR E D • YOU CAN SET YOU R PAT H • FSU PC WIL L A LWAYS BE H OME • TO REMOVE FI N AN CI AL BARRIERS
pc.fsu.edu/promise
