The Torch 2023 by Florida State University Panama City

The Magazine of Florida State University Panama City

2023

FIRST LOOK: Collegiate School freshmen attend dual-enrollment classes at FSU Panama City every Friday. By their 11th grade year, they will be on campus throughout the week. From left are: Walter McDermott and Samira Izmailbayeva (in background); and Zachariah Zawahry, Jack Armistead and Mikayla Liska. [Photo by Andrew Wardlow]

TORCH

PC.FSU.EDU

TORCH The Magazine of Florida State University Panama City 2023 | Vol. 31 FSU PANAMA CIT Y DEAN Randy Hanna, J.D., Ed.D, ‘83 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT STAFF Becky Kelly, Director of Advancement Summer Toomey, Assistant Director, ‘23 Helen Johnson, Web Manager Raemi Creteur, Events Coordinator, ‘22

Katie May, Director of Development, ‘16, ‘17 ON THE COVER: Dr. Elizabeth Crowe and students from The Collegiate School at FSU PC participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school’s grand opening on Sept. 29. The laboratory high school opened in August. [Photo by Andrew Wardlow]

Kyle Middlemass, Marketing and Publications, ‘19 Tony Simmons, Writing Program Manager EDITOR Becky Kelly DESIGNER Kyle Middlemass, ‘19 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tony Simmons, Raemi Creteur, Kaycie McVay, Justine Sowell

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Helen Johnson, Andrew Wardlow, Vy Nguyen, ‘16, Justine Sowell, Tony Simmons, Kyle Middlemass

THE TORCH MAGAZINE is published by the Office of Advancement at Florida State University Panama City. To be included in the mailing list, or to submit a change of address, email us at torch@pc.fsu.edu. Please send alumni updates to outreach@pc.fsu.edu.

TORCH

FEATURES

PROFESSOR EMERITUS

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

ENGINEERING ALUM

Jon Bailey honored with scholarship upon his retirement

Elementary Education alumna receives state recognition

Returning to share his passion with STEAM students

IN THIS ISSUE 6

5 YEARS AF TER

GAME ON

Recalling Hurricane Michael recovery efforts

FSU PC’s official Esports team joins conference

8 FACES OF FSU PC 12 FACULT Y SPOTLIGHT 24 SUMMER STEM 34

DONOR PROFILE

POSTSCRIPT

The Chapman Family Foundation

A first-year student reflects on her choices

PROMISE SCHOLAR

Nakesha Richardson 43

DEAN’S MESSAGE

22-23 NOTABLE ’NOLES

Carrie Baker, ‘96 Wayne Porter, ‘06 Adrianna Swearingen, ‘15 Melanie Boyd, ‘13 Maria Goodwin, ‘02 Sharon Michalik, ‘13 Zacharias Sanchez, ‘11 Judge Elijah Smiley, ‘99 52

SEMINOLE SIGHTINGS

2023 Golf Invitational Notable Noles Let’s Do Lunch

PC.FSU.EDU

THE DEAN’S MESSAGE When I became Dean of FSU Panama City in 2016, I asked our faculty to be mindful not to place self-imposed limits in front of themselves or our campus. I’m proud to say that our faculty and staff embraced that goal, and the results are clear: the expanded ECAP clinic, the first doctoral program in Nurse Anesthesia Practice, the CSI program, The Collegiate School, OLLI at FSU PC/30A, the Estuary Program and ASCENT. We have new graduate programs in systems engineering, law enforcement intelligence and organizational management and communication. Not to mention, personalized advising, new student housing, and an increase in graduate enrollment. I could add many other things to this list. Through the FSU PC Promise Scholarship, we have made sure there are adequate financial resources for those who need it. We are putting more resources into admissions and recruitment, and I have asked all academic units to work with admissions to develop a comprehensive plan that will increase enrollment. We believe all high achieving students in Northwest Florida should have the opportunity to earn a degree from a preeminent state institution regardless of financial limitations. We need them to know there is a place for them here at FSU PC. A lot is happening at FSU. We have a new president in Dr. Richard McCullough, who wants us to increase our university-wide research expenditures. Along with St. Joe, he is championing the development of a new medical research center and hospital in Bay County. Moreover, Dr. McCullough loves what we are doing in Panama City, and he sees the growth of our state occurring right here. He tells everyone that our students are “different,” which he means in a very positive manner. He feels our students have a unique entrepreneurial spirit. Some of them came here with that spirit—and many had that spirit embedded by our faculty and staff as they have worked to deliver the FSU PC Promise. We promise them that we will be their partner. We promise they will be prepared with critical thinking skills, the importance of being involved in their community, and a lifelong love of learning. We promise to remove financial barriers—and that this will always be their home. This year, I asked our faculty to go a step further. I don’t know who said this first, but Canadian writer Robin Sharma has been quoted as saying: “If people are not laughing at your dreams, then your dreams are not big enough.” I want our faculty, staff and students to dream big, and I urge you as alumni and friends to join us in dreaming big. Dream that every student or visitor who walks through our doors knows they are important to us. Dream that our programs expand and we build related programs. Dream about how we can focus on research, while still growing our ability to teach more students. Dream that we all help carry out the FSU PC Promise every day and students leave here truly feeling that all four components of the dream have been met. I challenged all of us to dream big for our students, for FSU Panama City and for our community and region. When we share our dreams with others, let’s make them laugh at our audacity. And let’s have the last laugh, as we make those dreams come true. Let’s dream big—together.

Randy Hanna, Dean, FSU Panama City The College of Applied Studies 6

TORCH

PC.FSU.EDU

FACES OF FSU PC BY TONY SIMMONS

Ammar Alkader

Ammar Alkader, 19, plans to complete a bachelors in Preprofessional Health in 2025. Originally from Syria, he moved the U.S. in 2015, living in Miami for a year before moving to Panama City. He graduated from Panama City Advanced School in 2022 and is currently studying Exercise Physiology. “I want to minor in a science field and get into an optometry school,” he said, taking a break in the Seminole Lounge at the Barron Building. “Here is a better set-up for me. … You never run out of things to do.”

Katie Dier

Katie Dier, 22, chose FSU PC because it was close to her home in Freeport. Now, as she works toward her masters in Corporate and Public Communication, she appreciates the smaller class sizes and the closer attention from her professors. “The professors are really dedicated to helping us grow and find our career paths,” she said. “I have so many ideas. The thing with this degree is that it’s very broad, almost limitless, what we can do with it. I might end up becoming an author, you don’t know.” Dier is a member of Project Runway and the English Club, and she works in the Digital Design Studio. “The DDS used to be run by engineers, mostly men,” she said. “Now it’s communication majors and mainly women. I think we’ve made the space feel more friendly.”

Gracie Kincaid

Gracie Kincaid, 19, is from Tallahassee, but she chose to attend FSU Panama City for a number of reasons. She has family in Panama City, for one, but she’s also drawn to the smaller class sizes and closer relationships that can be built with instructors. “I’m pretty shy, so it’s a great environment for me to branch out and learn to be independent,” she said. “I’ve made so many friends here. … I’m the English Club secretary, I’m in Project Runway and I work at the DDS. All of this allows me to form connections.” As a Psychology major, Kincaid explained, “I want to be a therapist. I like showing compassion to people. I like people to know that they’re heard.”

TORCH

“OUR STUDENTS ARE UNIQUE. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT AND THEY’RE FOCUSED ON THEIR GOALS. WE PROMISE TO HELP THEM GET THERE.” — Dean Randy Hanna

Jaehyun Lee

Jaehyun “Jason” Lee, 24, moved to the United States from South Korea about 10 years ago. He graduated from Mosley High School in 2019 and began studying Computer Engineering at FSU PC because he likes to build and program computers. Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications have him looking in a new direction. “It really made me want to continue with my studies,” Lee said. “Jobs in the AI industry are growing, and I’m happy to work with all of the opportunities given to me here.” Lee works as a peer tutor in the Robbin Center, helping fellow students with math, science and engineering. He also is a student tech in the DDS, helping students use the 3D printers and laser engraver.

Tim Peagler

Tim Peagler, 22, received his bachelors in Public Health in 2022 and is working toward a masters degree. Originally from Pensacola, he followed his brother’s college path to FSU PC. His focus is on helping people find affordable healthcare. “Public health is about seeing the community around you, accommodating the needs and asking the tough questions,” Peagler said. Peagler believes looking at public health solutions in other countries can help him devise even greater solutions at home. “It comes down to who is doing it right and are people buying into it,” he said. “Everyone needs to come together because it’s more of a people issue.”

Keegan Welch

Keegan Welch, 20, first set foot on her educational and career path when she made a new friend in the sixth grade in her middle school in Chipley. “I met a boy in my grade with autism,” she said. “We ate lunch together every day through 12th grade, and we walked together at our graduation. I saw the way he impacted my life. People with autism have a completely different outlook, and he impacted my outlook on life.” Welch chose FSU PC because the Psychology Department’s Applied Behavior Analysis program is first in the nation, she said. Through ABA, she’s able to work at ECAP, the Early Childhood Autism Program, where her oldest client is 16 years old. She provides a variety of direct, one-on-one therapies and works on behavior outcomes, motor skills, speech and more. Also active in Student Government Council and the Pre-Law Club, Welch will begin her masters program in 2024.

PC.FSU.EDU

THE X-FACTOR FSU PC business student rises to top at X-Culture Academy BY TONY SIMMONS

Yamaan Kabuka discovered this summer that his education and training at FSU Panama City was preparing him to compete in international business circles. It also confirmed his appreciation of diverse cultures and what they could add to the tapestry of his experience. Kabuka, 20, an FSU PC Psychology major who intends to pursue a master’s degree in Business Administration, participated in the annual X-Culture Academy, which teams students from all parts of the globe to apply their business educations to real-world challenges. He and his team were among the few invited to the international conference in Poland this summer to present their proposal. “My interest in X-Culture came from a business course I took in the fall of last year” under Associate Teaching Professor Wendy Ritz, DBA, Kabuka said. “She said each student had to write a business proposal. Then she had us enrolled in X-Culture, connecting us with

TORCH

students around the world. Each classmate was teamed with others from somewhere else.” Ritz believes in experiential learning, and X-Culture provides a way for students in Panama City to receive experience with international businesses. “About 8,500 students globally, paired in teams of five or six, compete against each other,” Ritz said. “Yaman’s team was in the top 2.5 percent of all those who participated.” According to information supplied by the organization, real companies present genuine business challenges for the student teams to solve. X-Culture monitors student performance and sends weekly performance reviews. After the students make their presentations, the best teams are invited to the X-Culture Symposium, which was held this year in Poland. “It’s the elite of the elite event in European business,” Ritz said. “I review and grade them from a U.S. perspective

. X-Culture is 20-25 percent of their overall grade, which is enough for them to have skin in the game. I think it’s the best option I can do, other than actually going to Europe.” X-Culture launched in 2010 and has successfully graduated 50,800 students since then. The program benefits students in innumerable ways by providing international experience in business consulting, expanding their professional network and cultural intelligence, and enhancing their resumes. THE GREATEST CHALLENGE Kabuka, a Panama City native, earned his AA while he was a high school student at Panama City Advanced School. His parents moved to Florida from Libya, and he followed his two older brothers, Muath and Obadah, through school. Muath has a master’s degree in Social Science and Obadah has a bachelor’s in Computer Engineering, both earned at FSU PC. The greatest X-Culture challenge, he said, was working with teammates in distant time zones. One of his partners lives in Australia, so she would wake up at 4 a.m. local time to meet via WhatsApp with the rest of the team. Other team members hailed from Brazil, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and North Carolina, which made time management essential. “We managed to find times that worked for all of us,” Kabuka said. “Someone had to take the initiative to communicate in order to take charge of the collective effort.”

The team had to research a country and produce a business proposal for a target market. Kabuka’s team chose to create a business model for a company making robotic limbs in the Swiss market. One of the company’s other products is used for minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.

“THEY WERE THE MOST DEDICATED AND HARDWORKING, AND THE MOST INVENTIVE MINDS” “They invest a lot into healthcare over there,” Kabuka said. “Each member of the team tackled a certain portion of the proposal. We had a few arguments, minor disagreements, but we worked them out.” The greatest value of the trip , he said, was making vital connections with the other participants, “young people who will be at the forefront of the business field in years to come. They were the most dedicated and hardworking, and the most inventive minds.” Kabuka not only found potential partners and gained valuable knowledge. He also made friends from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Visiting Poland was an “eyeopening experience,” in part because he had never traveled alone. “It was amazing, meeting students from all walks, the best of the best. They were all very bright.”

CONNECTING CULTURES: FSU PC student Yamann Kabuka (pictured left) traveled to Poland to participate in the annual X-Culture Academy, which teams students from all parts of the globe.

PC.FSU.EDU

FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS BY TONY SIMMONS & KAYCIE MCVAY

Janelle Ausenhyus, Ph.D., credited the faculty in FSU’s ABA master’s program for being instrumental in shaping and refining her practitioner skills. “I wouldn’t be in the position that I am today without their knowledge, support and guidance,” she said. “When a position opened, I wanted to become a part of the team that is so impactful for the field of behavior analysis.” Ausenhyus earned her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Sociology from Drake University in Des Moines ; her M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Florida State University; and her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Her research is largely guided by clinical work in early intervention. Areas of expertise are in skill acquisition, verbal behavior and caregiver and staff training.

TORCH

Andrew Bonner, Ph.D., BCBA-D, teaches various courses in FSU’s Applied Behavior Analysis master’s program, including Ethical and Professional Issues, Research Methods, and Theoretical Foundations of Behavior Analysis. At the undergraduate level, he also teaches Research Methods in Psychology. “I entered the research domain hungry for a broader impact in my chosen field,” Bonner said. “The idea that my research could enrich people’s lives beyond the scope of my clinical practice for generations to come appeals to me.” Bonner focuses on developing and evaluating interventions that create more nurturing environments for young people through teaching, research, clinical practice and community service. For example, one area involves assessing and treating severe problem behavior displayed by children with developmental disabilities. Another focuses on enhancing early literacy in underresourced schools. He also examines family and home-based interventions to improve social-emotional learning.

Sophia Crittenden, LCSW, holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine and has more than 13 years of experience working in various clinical settings, such as behavioral health hospitals, community-based agencies, nursing homes, hospice and private practices. In the classroom, her teaching approach emphasizes a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application. “I am not in the field of research but desire to dive deeper into research as it relates to mental health and its effects on teens and young adults who have been through a natural disaster and worldwide pandemic,” she said. “I am most passionate about helping others become the best versions of themselves. Crittenden believes in creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment that encourages active participation and critical thinking. By incorporating case studies, interactive discussions, and simulations, she aims to foster a deep understanding of social work principles, and ethics.

Florida State University Panama City is pleased to welcome new faculty members.

Rafit Fatema, Ph.D., came to FSU after earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in physics at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. She completed her second master’s degree in physics and earned her Ph.D. in Physics from Florida State University. Fatema has extensive experience teaching physics in the classroom, including FSU Tallahassee, FSU Panama City and Gulf Coast State College. Seven of her research projects have led to publication. “I was always curious about how things work when I was a little girl,” she said. “I used to disassemble spring-loaded clocks, tape recorders, remote control cars. Sometimes I was successful in putting things back together. I guess that curiosity and love of science were the driving force for me to become a physicist.” She enjoys spending her free time with family and friends. “I love traveling and trying new cuisine from different parts of the world. I also enjoy reading and cooking.”

Lauren Gibson, A visiting professor in the Elementary Education department, earned her Ph.D. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at New York University. She completed her master’s degree in TESOL at Inter American University of Puerto Rico and attended Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky for her undergraduate degree, where she majored in Elementary Education and minored in French. An enthusiastic traveler, she loved exploring new places and making new memories with her family. Her current research focuses on the adaptation and schooling of immigrant youth. “I am most passionate about equipping pre-service teachers to effectively work with Emergent Bilinguals, or English Language Learners, in the classroom,” she said.

Kristin Gibson-Steele, Ph.D., visiting professor of Spanish, created a Spanish for Careers course and is developing the Spanish program at FSU Panama City. Starting with the fall semester, she is the first professor teaching high school students at the collegiate level for the FSU PC Collegiate High School. Gibson-Steele obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with a double major in Spanish and Business. Her first master’s was in Education-Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University-Wisconsin. She taught middle school in Wisconsin for three years before moving to Florida to complete a second masters in Spanish (with an emphasis in linguistics) and her Ph.D. in Spanish (emphasis in psycholinguistics and second language acquisition). She has taught for 12 years at the collegiate level, including Elementary Spanish 1 and 2, and Intermediate Spanish 1.

PC.FSU.EDU

“NOTHING COULD BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF STUDENTS, AND OUR FACULTY ARE COMMITTED TO THAT.” — Dean Randy Hanna

FACULTY NOTES

R. Kyle Hodgen, DNP, CRNA, ACNP is the newest member of the Nurse Anesthesia Program faculty. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force after 23 years of service in both the Air Force and the U.S. Army. Hodgen began his nursing career as an adult critical and cardiothoracic care nurse in the civilian community at the Birmingham (Ala.) Veterans Administration Medical Center. He received his bachelor’s of science in Nursing from UABBirmingham in 1996, and his first masters of science in Nursing as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from the University of Southern Indiana. He began his APRN career working for Ohio Valley HeartCare as a cardiology and cardiothoracic surgical physician extender for three years prior to joining the Air Force in September 2001. Major military awards include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Defense Commendation Medal, USAF Commendation Medals, and multiple other Army and Air Force achievement medals.

TORCH

Jason Martin, Ed.D., is the director of the Dr. and Mrs. James T. Cook Library & Learning Center. Hailing from Florida, he has a BA (History) and MA (Library & Information Science) from the University of South Florida, and an Ed.D. (Educational Leadership) from the University of Central Florida. Before coming to FSU Panama City, he served in various roles at Louisiana State University, University of Central Florida, Stetson University, and Middle Tennessee State University. “I was a member of the inaugural class of the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute, and during the institute I became interested in leadership as a field of research and a topic of lifelong learning,” he said. “It is a topic that sparks lively conversation no matter where I go and has practical applications in every part of society.” Martin’s research interests include leadership and organizational culture, and his work has been published in the Journal of Academic Librarianship and College & Research Libraries.

Stacey VanDyke, DNP, CRNA, director and assistant teaching professor for the FSU Panama City Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program, was among 58 distinguished leaders in her profession to be inducted into the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology’s 2023 Class of Fellows. Inductees were recognized for significant contributions to their profession at the AANA Annual Congress, Aug. 18-22 in Seattle, Wash. Robert Cvornyek, Ph.D., an assistant teaching professor at FSU PC, recently published a non-fiction guide to the early Black baseball teams of Rhode Island. “Black Grays and Colored Giants: A Comprehensive Guide to Black Baseball in Rhode Island, 1870-1949,” is his latest foray into the intersection of race, sports and cultural expression. It is available for purchase through the Rhode Island Historical Society. Wendy Ritz, DBA (business) and Tyler Towne, Ph.D. (psychology) were recipients of the 2023 University Teaching Awards, a program that recognizes faculty for excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching. Recipients must be outstanding in the many aspects of teaching which contribute to successful teaching and learning. This is a student-oriented award with nominations submitted by students and alumni.

BAILEY RETIRES

PROFESSOR EMERITUS HONORED WITH SCHOLARSHIP UPON HIS RETIREMENT BY TONY SIMMONS

THIS PAGE: Professor Emeritus Jon Bailey, Ph.D., retired this summer after 53 years with FSU. FACING PAGE: Professor Emeritus Jon Bailey poses with some of his former students, including Amy Polick, associate dean for Academic Affairs at FSU PC.

TORCH

Few can say they taught at a university for 53 years. Fewer can claim to have successfully mentored 63 doctoral candidates. Jon Bailey, professor emeritus, can say both. Bailey, Ph.D., has been with Florida State University since 1970, and moved from Tallahassee to FSU Panama City in 1999. He previously led the Ph.D. program in Applied Behavioral Analysis in Tallahassee, and over his decades of work he has produced more Ph.D. graduates in that field than any other professor in the country. “He saw the need for a program where we train people to go directly into the clinical field as opposed to going to teach,” Dean Randy Hanna said during a reception honoring FSU PC retirees in August. “He started the program here in Panama City in 1999 … what is today known as one of the best ABA programs in the entire United States.” Hanna conferred the Dean’s Service Award to Bailey in recognition of his service to the students of FSU PC. And one of Bailey’s former students—Amy Polick, Ph.D., who is now associate dean for academic affairs at FSU PC—announced the Dr. Jon S. Bailey Scholarship for students who exemplify leadership and success in the fields of psychology, education and Applied Behavior Analysis. “In fall 2000, I was a student in Tallahassee and took my first class with Dr. Bailey. He’s been a mentor to me for 23 years now,” Polick said. “I wouldn’t have gone to graduate school without him. I wouldn’t have a Ph.D. if it weren’t for him.” Polick said Bailey personally mentored each of his 63 Ph.D. students through the process, and she pointed out how Bailey’s former doctoral students ended up advising many of the current faculty and staff at FSU PC. “In the beginning of class, we raised our hands, and we made a pledge, every class: ‘I will make a difference.’

And he has made the biggest difference in my life,” Polick said. “Words cannot explain how much you mean to this campus, how much you mean to all of us and how much you enjoy the success of your students.” The Bailey Scholarship, Polick said, means “future students will have you paying it forward to them.” Bailey was surprised and touched by the scholarship. He said the ABA master’s program here happened by chance. At the time, the psychology program was foundering, and rather than close it down, he suggested revising it. “The opportunity was to create a track for people who wanted to work generally in the area of autism,” Bailey said, adding that autism affects one out of every 52 children in the United States. “We have the technology to treat that, and we train our students how to do that—and they change lives, and they save lives and they save families. I can’t tell you how rewarding it is to see that happen.” During the life of the program, 350 students have completed the master’s program track and are working in positions all over the country, Bailey said. In the last eight years, the FSU PC program in Applied Behavior Analysis has ranked first in the world three times. Bailey said the legacy of the program will continue to grow because so many are committed to its success. He enjoyed working at FSU PC “because it’s smaller, it’s more intimate and you get to know people.” He encouraged this year’s faculty and staff to find ways to give back to their academic community. “If you’re in a university setting, you are one of the very fortunate few. It’s the sort of situation where there comes an obligation with that,” Bailey said. “I tell my students this. The obligation is to give back. In whatever way you can give back, do. Even in retirement.”

“THE OBLIGATION IS TO GIVE BACK. IN WHATEVER WAY YOU CAN GIVE BACK, DO.”

PC.FSU.EDU

FLORIDA TEACHER OF THE YEAR

FSU PC alumna earns state’s top honor for educators BY TONY SIMMONS

THIS PAGE: Adrianna Swearingen, Florida’s Teacher of the Year for 2023, poses in a superheroine costume celebrating the power of media in education. FACING PAGE: Adrianna Swearingen, left, reacts to being named Florida’s Teacher of the Year. Other finalists applaud her win.

TORCH

SW E A R I N G E N

On the day Adrianna Swearingen was named Florida’s Teacher of the Year for 2024, she opened her social media to discover a memory: eExactly eight years before, she picked up her ID badge from Bay District Schools to begin the student teaching phase of her bachelor’s degree program in Elementary Education at Florida State University Panama City. ”It’s so amazing how so much can change in such a short amount of time,” she said. “It goes to show, if you’re really passionate about something, you will be recognized for what you do.” Swearingen, the media specialist at Northside Elementary School in Panama City, was selected from nearly 185,000 public school teachers to serve as 2024 Florida Teacher of the Year. She was also named Florida’s Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education. In addition to a $50,000 award from the state, she will receive a tuition waiver to pursue a graduate degree from the FSU College of Education and a two-year scholarship from the Florida Prepaid College Savings Plan to present to a student of her choice. Meanwhile, she will spend the next year advocating for students and representing Florida’s teaching community. State Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. announced her win on July 20, during a gala celebration in Orlando, saying, “With Adrianna’s remarkable dedication, innovation and commitment to student success, she has set an exemplary standard for educators statewide. Adrianna embodies the qualities of an exceptional teacher and serves as an inspiration to fellow educators and students alike.” Humbled by the acclaim, Swearingen said it was her honor to promote what her profession tries to do every day. “I’m not the best teacher, but my job is definitely to celebrate the amazing teachers” of Florida, she said, adding, “I am very excited to highlight the Panhandle and not be overlooked. We have great teachers here.”

allowed for a more intimate personal learning experience at FSU PC, repeating her watchwords of relationships and connections. “I loved the program. When it came to what made sense financially and geographically, it was the perfect program,” she said. “I was able to have the university experience as well as being home and not having to worry about, ‘How am I going to pay for this?’” She also credited her professors for “a fabulous job” preparing her for student teaching. without overwhelming her. “They’re really deliberate about having you intern with whatever you’re learning,” she added. “In math courses, we did some math festivals at schools where we were invited to participate and have those first interactions with students. It built as we reached the end. Student teaching was the grand finale, when you get to immerse in the classroom, take over, and really see what it feels like to be a teacher for several weeks.” When she started teaching kindergarten, Swearingen would spend the first few weeks building those same trusting connections with her students. “Relationships sometimes get overlooked,” she said. “We get bogged down with all the things we need to do as educators, but relationship is where it all begins. If you have that connection with your students, you know them, they know you, and then they’re able to learn because they love you, they respect you and vice versa.”

“KNOW THAT YOU ARE ENOUGH AND YOU MATTER.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTION Mentors in high school and college helped Swearingen through challenging times and transitions, especially during her student teaching weeks when she questioned her choice of profession. “As a college student, it was the light at the end of the tunnel because your student teaching is the last thing you need to do (to complete program requirements),” she said. “But it also was so hard, where we all contemplate, ‘Is this worth it? Can I do it? I’m almost done.’ Now I wish I could go back and tell myself, ‘You’ve got this.’” She praised the low student-professor ratio that

PC.FSU.EDU

SW E A R I N G E N

RELYING ON RELATIONSHIPS After Hurricane Michael struck Bay County in October 2018, Swearingen and a partner teacher spent several days contacting all of their students’ families to ensure that they were not injured or in desperate straits. “Fast forward, we’re back in school,” she said. “I had a student that, every time there was a cloud in the sky, she would melt down. She had PTSD. She had a very traumatic experience.” Just 5 years old, the little girl would curl into a ball every time harsh weather threatened. Almost inconsolable, she still listened as Swearingen reassured her. “I believe in my whole heart that it was the relationship she and I had that allowed her to trust me,” Swearingen said. “By the end of the year, she was able to get through it. She believed me when I said, ‘You can do hard things. You can do this. It is OK.’ “To me, it was very reassuring that I was doing what I need to do in life. That I have a purpose. … We’re all here with one thing in mind, and that is the students and seeing them be successful.” A LIFETIME OF LEARNING Born in New Mexico, Swearingen grew up all over the U.S. and Europe because her father was in the military and the family moved with him as his posts changed. Exposure to other cultures and countries informed her view of life and fed her love of learning. “I think that’s really where my perspective grew,” she said. “It showed me there are many different walks of life and so many cultures. Being exposed to that is very much a part of who I am when it comes to me as a teacher.” Eventually, her father’s moves brought them to

Tyndall Air Force Base. She attended Rosenwald Middle School and Rutherford High School, earned her associate’s degree at Gulf Coast State College, and enjoyed a “painless transition” to FSU PC. She did her student teaching at Hutchison Beach Elementary School and graduated with her bachelor’s in Elementary Education in December 2015. Swearingen now has a family of her own, and continuing education is an important part of their life. She and her husband, Jared, have two sons—Henson, 3, and Benjamin, 7 months. Jared Swearingen, a former U.S. Marine, is employed at Port Panama City and is taking classes to become certified as a firefighter. Adrianna Swearingen shifted from the classroom to become Northside Elementary’s media specialist in 2021. At a time when instructional media choices are being brought into question statewide — and across the nation — she looks forward to using her new platform to promote the importance of media specialists and their jobs. “I’m really excited to be in this role, because I get to highlight all of the things that media specialists do,” she said. “There’s so much more than just library books.” The purview includes textbooks, Chromebooks and other tech, curriculum, social media, yearbook, instructional television, apps and software, as well as training fellow teachers to employ the newest resources and technology. “I’m excited to celebrate all the things we’re doing,” she said. “We joke about it all the time, we say, ‘Build it and they will come.’ We don’t know how the student will respond or how the community will respond, but we put it out there and see who it grabs.”

WELCOME BACK: Elizabeth Crowe, assistant dean for Academic Affairs, introduces Adrianna Swearingen during the FSU PC faculty and staff luncheon in August.

TORCH

FULL STEAM AHEAD Engineering alum leads next generation toward STEM careers BY TONY SIMMONS

As a pair of ninth-graders watched intently, Joshua Everett demonstrated how to wire a small circuit board to LEDs. It was part of a lesson in computer coding he was helping to teach during the FSU PC STEMx camp in July. “These high schools are struggling with implementing STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum into their program because they need to meet the basic needs of the students first,” said Everett, who received a master’s degree in Systems Engineering from FSU PC in May. “Some of the testing gets pushed to the forefront. Since STEM is taking a backseat, we see the opportunity to help where the high schools lack.” An engineer working in a civilian capacity at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division, Everett came to the master’s program in Systems Engineering at FSU PC when he met a graduate during an installation job on a U.S. naval vessel in Bahrain. “I discovered the Navy base was sponsoring a cohort

and decided to check it out,” he said. “And I learned the FSU program is the fastest growing Systems Engineering program in the United States.” He found professors David Gross, Ph.D., and Daniel Georgiadis, Ph.D., each brought something unique to the worktable. Gross was “detail-oriented, in the weeds,” while Georgiadis was “more the big picture kind of guy, ‘I’ve been where you are and here’s how you do it.’” Smaller classes, personal attention and easy access to professors by phone or email all appealed to Everett. But what impressed him most were “the professors … they both were very invested in us finding real-world applications, not just ‘this is what the book says,’ but also ‘here is my experience to back it up.’” Everett grew up in inner-city Miami. His father was a carpenter, and he expected to follow in his father’s trade. He discovered engineering and pursued a bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University in Mississippi before taking

“THE PROFESSORS WERE VERY INVESTED IN US FINDING REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS.”

PC.FSU.EDU

E V E R E T T

the NSWC PCD job. When not going down a rabbit hole of researching innovative technology or working on household renovations, Everett and his wife, Xaviayah, decompress on a local beach. “I want to feel the sun on my face, stick my feet in the sand or in the water,” he said. And he enjoys passing his love of research, exploration and real-world applications of engineering to a new generation of students. This summer, he also assisted with the artificial intelligence session of the Dr. James T. and Jana L. Cook Future Physicists of Florida FSU Panama City Chapter day camp for eighth- and ninth-graders from Bay County schools. “The idea is to inform students about opportunities after college,” he said. “… I wish I had been able to be a part of this when I was a teenager. … I see these kids come in, and when they get it, they get interested. Some kids even worked through lunch trying to figure out how to get certain things working. That is exciting to me.”

APPLIED SKILLS: Joshua Everett works with ninth grade students from Bay County high schools during the summer STEMx camp, which focused on real-world applications.

TORCH

SUMMER STEM GROWING NEW SCIENTISTS BY TONY SIMMONS

BLAST OFF: Students learn about aerodynamics and engineering by creating their own hydro-powered rockets at the FSU PC Summer STEM camp.

TORCH

NEXT GEN: Left, Students experiment with robotics during the summer STEMX event. Right, Students test submarine ROVs at the Future Physicists event.

Summer was STEM season at FSU Panama City, where future physicists, chemists and engineers learned about robotics, artificial intelligence, aircraft disaster response, rocketry, remote submersibles and more. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education. It is sometimes referred to as “STEAM” because the programs often integrate creative activities (i.e., art). “We’re trying to get students to have STEM experiences while they’re in middle school and early high school so we can get them excited about careers like computer science, physics, biology—any of those STEM-related careers,” said Denise Newsome, Ph.D., director of Youth Initiatives for FSU PC. In June, the STEMx Camp gave area high school students training in a pilot program under the Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office. Students learned to write programming code, use AI and apply their new knowledge to a real-world emergency scenario. “Students actually identify radio waves and frequencies from aircraft that are flying over,” said camp director Daniel Georgiadis, Ph.D., Systems Engineering Program coordinator. “They then have the latitude, longitude, trajectory and speed of those aircraft. And we put forth a challenge where they have to apply that to a search-and-rescue type mission.” STEMx aims to encourage high school students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers, particularly in the Civilian Defense Corps. Trenchant Analytics in Virginia was the university’s partner in these efforts to build relationships with local high schools that have underserved populations, such as Rutherford and Bozeman.

“I wanted to be a part of it because I wanted to get more information about what STEM is and also to learn more about the entirety of how to do different things within STEM,” said Sarah Mitchell, a rising Rutherford High School freshman. “I want to do something with STEM in the Air Force or engineering in general.” The camp was supported by a $150,000 grant for curriculum development, purchase of portable STEM kits (which included circuit boards, wiring, LEDs and miniature computers for writing code) and other expenses. “I wanted to explore coding and STEM,” said Jackson Hatcher, a Jinks Middle School student who participated in the STEMx camp. “I’ve done a couple of classes and camps, but I wanted to do it on another level.” In July, the Engineering faculty and STEM Institute hosted the Dr. James T. and Jana L. Cook Future Physicists of Florida FSU Panama City Chapter. Area middle school students, with the help of the Navy’s NAVSEA student interns, built “Rube Goldberg” devices as well as surface and submarine ROVs (remote operated vehicles). The Future Physicists of Florida at FSU Panama City re-named its local chapter in honor of the Cooks in 2017 in recognition of their $100,000 gift to establish an endowment to provide lasting support for STEM education initiatives at FSU Panama City. Ryan Prince, an eighth-grade student at Mowat Middle School, collaborated with a small team of other students to design and build a surface ROV similar to a speedboat that was tested in a portable pool set up by NAVSEA. He said the activity appealed to his interests, adding, “I’ve always been interested in science. I don’t necessarily like math, but I’m good at it.”

“WE’RE TRYING TO GET STUDENTS TO HAVE STEM EXPERIENCES WHILE THEY’RE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND EARLY HIGH SCHOOL.”

PC.FSU.EDU

5 YEARS AFTER: Recalling the struggle and lessons of Hurricane Michael BY TONY SIMMONS

Dan Nix, director of Finance and Administration for FSU Panama City, recalls checking the campus facilities the evening before Hurricane Michael was due to make landfall. All appeared to be well, though he feared a flooding event if enough water got pushed into the bay by the storm. “All of the buildings here are 11 feet above sea level, but they were talking about a 16-foot surge at Mexico Beach,” he said. “We didn’t know then that we should be afraid of the wind.” A late-season storm, Tropical Depression 14 formed on Oct. 7, 2018, east of the Yucatan Peninsula. Hurricane Michael was not expected to be a major hurricane when most Bay County residents went to sleep on Oct. 9, but it continued strengthening through the night and right up until landfall. By the morning of Oct. 10, it had become a monster

TORCH

storm, making landfall at Mexico Beach at 12:30 p.m. ET as a Category 5, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, according to The Weather Channel. The U.S. Geological Survey measures a tidal surge of 15.6 feet at the Mexico Beach fishing pier, though other locations reported between 5 and 19 feet. Unlike homes, businesses and government facilities closer to the eyewall, the campus didn’t suffer catastrophic damage. However, every building had some level of water intrusion because of wind-driven rain and wind-ravaged roofs. Repairs on the flat-roofed buildings were finally completed during the summer of 2023. The Tallahassee campus immediately dispatched a support team and arranged for ServPro to begin water removal and mold remediation. Nix described efforts to dry out the facilities using large plastic tubes attached to blowers to funnel hot air throughout the buildings.

BEACHED: Former party boat El Dorado broke from its anchorage and ran aground on a sandbar during Hurricane Michael in 2018. It was towed offshore and sunken as an artificial reef in May 2019.

Cleanup crews dried out soggy carpets, spread tarps across roofs and cleared downed trees. Meanwhile, Dean Randy Hanna and administration began checking in with faculty, staff and students. Through news and social media, FSU PC continuously reached out to students in the days following the storm, asking them to contact their professors for updates. Facebook checkin groups were established for students, faculty and staff. Student Affairs and Admissions called students to assess their condition, but many were still without power, home phones or cell service for several days. The university established a hotline for students to connect with the campus and get answers regarding classes, advising or any other academic concerns. Area mental health professionals provided crisis support and counseling services through the University Counseling Center, and provisions were made to offer on-campus counseling once

classes resumed. The Seminole Emergency Relief Fund was established, disbursing grants up to $1,000 for faculty, staff and students. Meanwhile, staff worked to find alternative housing for those students whose homes were unlivable. “The toughest part is, and will continue to be, helping the members of our FSU family impacted by the storm get back to life as normal,” said then FSU President John Thrasher in a statement from late October 2018, after visiting FSU PC. “For a great number of our students and employees, especially those in Panama City and surrounding areas, life as normal is still a long way off.” Student Government Council representatives went door-to-door a week after the storm. “Operation Seminoles” canvased the hardest-hit areas to offer aid and distribute food and cleaning supplies. Others aided community service projects. Alumni

PC.FSU.EDU

YE A R S

passed out towels and toiletries in comfort stations, and a staff member distributed diapers through the Junior League’s Diaper Bank. Many others served hot meals to first responders and those in need through Operation BBQ, and the admissions team cleared debris from Lynn Haven Elementary School. After their annual Halloween bash was derailed by the storm, the Psychology Club volunteered at the City of Lynn Haven’s Trunk or Treat. “It’s during difficult times that we need to band together to help each other in any way we can,” said thenSGC President Justine Powell. “One small act of kindness can completely change someone’s day. We are all in this together and we will get through this together.” By Oct. 22, an FSU news release announced electricity was restored to all buildings and “significant progress” had been made in repairing the damage. As planning and repair work continued, Oct. 29 was announced via Facebook as a tentative return date for face-to-face classes. RETURNING ‘HOME’ Dean Hanna wanted students to feel welcome and to spend as much time on campus as they needed. To that end, FSU PC provided “the comforts of home,” including internet access via the reopened campus library, on-campus showers, and food and water. FSU PC served a free breakfast of sausage biscuits and coffee, and a free lunch of Firehouse Subs sandwiches. “The smiles I saw in the first few days of classes prove this is a place that is near and dear to the hearts of each member of our Seminole family,” Hanna said at the time. “During the first week back on campus, the Holley Atrium was abuzz with conversation and the joy of getting back even a small part of an everyday routine.” “We’re on the same Lambda line (for internet access) as Gulf Coast State College and Bay District Schools, but we were the only ones up and running right after,” Nix said. “We had people coming here to pay bills or reach out to family.” The shared experience of surviving Hurricane Michael—as well as the struggle in its aftermath— tightened the bonds among the campus community, who encouraged each other to push through and achieve their goals. More than 330 students received their degrees on schedule by the following spring. Then-student La’Quana Cooper had evacuated to

A F T E R

her sister Shavona Hird’s home in Niceville to escape the storm, taking only a few essentials — her daughter, her dog and her textbooks. She returned to FSU PC to complete a degree from the Dedman School of Hospitality in Hospitality Management, graduating with honors and a minor in business administration. She recalled the group effort of classmates, who constantly texted and emailed, as well as professors who kept in contact, and Dean Hanna, who called them all personally to reassure them: “It was like one big happy family. It really was a blessing. God put me at this university. It’s our family.” BROADENING HORIZONS Michael wasn’t the first devastating hurricane in the life of Victoria Melerine, 22, now a staffer in the FSU PC library. Currently a student at Gulf Coast State College, she plans to transfer to FSU PC to study Crime Scene Investigation. Melerine originally came to Panama City from her hometown of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina’s impact in August 2005. Having since survived the ravages of Michael, she has found sanctuary in her studies. “I didn’t know I could be so happy in school,” she said in June 2023. “I lost my father a couple of years ago, and dealing with another hurricane without him was rough. But we’re doing well, and I’m happy to be here.” Melerine was studying General Health before Hurricane Michael, but she experienced a “mental shift” after the storm. She is still interested in medicine as well as forensics, but she’s also studying English. “I just want to give myself as broad a horizon as I possibly can,” she said. Extending a student’s reach remains the top priority for FSU PC, with new programs and services coming online every year, a growing graduate student population, new oncampus student housing and much more. “Sometimes we are too busy to notice what is going on around us,” Hanna said as he welcomed faculty and staff in August. “Although none of us would ever want to live through another Hurricane Michael, the growth that is now being generated as we continue to rebuild is phenomenal and will fundamentally change our community.”

“THE GROWTH THAT IS NOW BEING GENERATED AS WE CONTINUE TO REBUILD IS PHENOMENAL AND WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE OUR COMMUNITY.”

TORCH

YE A R S

A F T E R

BEFORE AND AFTER: Top, the campus courtyard. Middle, outside the Holley Academic Center. Bottom, inside the Holley Academic Center hallway.

PC.FSU.EDU

IN SESSION

FSU PC’s Collegiate High School makes history BY TONY SIMMONS 30

TORCH

Debbi Whitaker strolled through the quiet hallways of the Florida State University Panama City Collegiate School on a sweltering morning in June, noting which classrooms were ready for students, where the furniture needed to move, and what areas were still under construction. “It’s a lot,” admitted Whitaker, director of the new school. “But we’re on track.” The Collegiate School opened Aug. 10, welcoming its initial cohort of 100 ninth-graders drawn from all parts of Bay County . But Aug. 8 was the practice run, when families descended on the campus for orientation—finding classrooms, picking up schedules and meeting teachers. The latter part was most important to Julius Conner, 14, who toured the school with his parents, Garrett and Amber Conner. “It seemed like it was really the school to fit his personality,” Amber Conner said. Julius was hoping for something different from other local schools. His father said TCS and its dual enrollment plan would provide a “really cool experience” for Julius. The morning school opened, Whitaker walked the dropoff lane to greet each parent and student, while ensuring there were no traffic issues. Students bustled through the halls, receiving updated class schedules and finding their rooms. “The quiet that was here this morning before the doors opened was a sweet time, and now that there’s noise all in the halls, that’s an even sweeter time,” Whitaker said. Emotions ran high. For World History teacher John Vallas, who came out of retirement to teach at TCS, “morning nerves” were the same for him as on every first day of school in his lengthy career. “As usual, I’m a bit nervous,” Vallas said. “I think most of the teachers are, and the reason for that is that we care. We want to make good first impressions with the students in order to have a good school year.” SOMETHING NEW

BACK TO SCHOOL: Director Debbi Whitaker welcomes a Collegiate School student for the first day of classes in August.

“I like to tell families that we have kids coming to us from every public and charter middle school in Bay County,” Whitaker said. “I think that shows what a great, diverse student population we will have.” Students were recruited through an online application process, with preference given to dependent children of active-duty military personnel. Half of all student vacancies are reserved for those from military families. The school is designed to grow by 125 students each year, with the inaugural cohort graduating in May 2027. “We are our own school district—that’s something that’s very important to note, because we’re a lab school,” Whitaker said. “We are looking forward to research opportunities and to having our students experience not only traditional high school, but also a collegiate environment.” School days run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., giving

PC.FSU.EDU

I N

S E S S I O N

students a full hour in each of four core classes. The last two periods of the day are for career exploration and electives. Students may earn certifications and dual enrollment credits beginning their freshman year. “We feel this is definitely a school that will create a community, a culture and a climate that will be a model for other schools,” Whitaker said. “We want students to have individualized plans, because every child has different needs, wants and expectations for high school.” FIRST TASTE OF COLLEGE “In an echo of opening day, Whitaker again greeted every parent and student in the designated drop-off area by the Bayside Building on Aug. 18, the first day TCS students attended classes on campus at FSU PC. Students gathered in the Bayside courtyard , then strolled to the Holley Academic Center for an assembly at which Associate Dean Irvin Clark encouraged them to “start with the end in mind.” “In a little while, see yourselves walking across the stage,” he said. “Everything is done. You’ve got that academic regalia on, you’re sitting out there with all your loved ones watching and waiting for them to call your name—and they hand you the first diplomas that have been awarded by this brand-new school.” Students took a tour of the campus, enjoyed some downtime playing foosball and ping-pong in the Barron Building, ate lunch back in the Holley Center and attended classes on the third floor. Whitaker noted that her faculty is a mix of well-seasoned, experienced educators and new teachers with fresh ideas. “It’s a great opportunity to be here,” said freshman Olivia Kohler, “getting the experience of what it’s like to go to a college so we have an idea beforehand.” Her classmate, KC Nesmith, was more direct: “FSU Panama City is great.” By grade 11, the students will spend their whole school week on the university campus. “All of our dual enrollment courses will be taught by faculty at Florida State University,” Whitaker said. “We are trying to overlap as many traditional classes that we can with dual enrollment or AP classes. Why would you not want to have your high school credit and at the same time get a college credit?” The articulation agreement with FSU PC allows TCS students to receive an Associate of Arts degree from FSU if they meet specific requirements. “Our goal is to increase the post-secondary attainment in Bay County, which is now at about 30 percent ,” she said. “Our students will come to the FSU PC campus to visit the library, the Registrar’s Office, or otherwise experience the college environment.”

EDUCATIONAL TRIUMPH “The idea (of a collegiate laboratory school) started about three years ago, after Hurricane Michael, with forwardthinking leaders who wanted to create another educational opportunity here,” Whitaker said. “Legislation was changed (in 2021) to allow a lab school near military installations that also had a university campus in the same county.” In 2022, FSU PC received a $7.6 million grant to provide partial funding for a Collegiate Laboratory High School program from Triumph Gulf Coast Inc. The nonprofit corporation oversees the expenditure of 75% of all funds recovered by the Florida attorney general for economic damages to the state from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Triumph Gulf Coast is required to administer the distribution of the funds for the recovery, diversification and enhancement of the eight Northwest Florida counties disproportionately affected by the spill, including Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Wakulla. (For more information, visit MyFloridaTriumph. com.) “We are grateful for our partnership with Triumph Gulf Coast and the investment in our area students,” Dean Randy Hanna said at the time. “This new laboratory school will extend the benefits of having a local, public university to families of high school-aged children and enhance educational opportunities in Northwest Florida.” The start-up grant will be funded over a six-year period. TCS is the eighth lab school in the state and the first in Bay County. The school falls under the umbrella of the FSU College of Education. “With the support of the University, we can determine the latest best-practices research and employ it, and we enjoy the support of their resources as well,” Whitaker said. “We’ve done a lot of research on smaller schools and their impact on individual students.” Students who attend TCS will have unique opportunities to earn industry certifications, complete dual enrollment coursework aligned with their intended majors, and conduct age-appropriate research under the mentorship of FSU PC faculty. Students also will complete a traditional high school curriculum. Whether they choose to go to college or straight into the workforce they will be prepared. Career courses will lead to industry certifications in fields such as engineering, computer science, information technology and health sciences. The opportunity to earn college credits through dual enrollment will save students and their families thousands of dollars

“THIS IS A SCHOOL THAT WILL CREATE A COMMUNITY, A CULTURE AND A CLIMATE THAT WILL BE A MODEL FOR OTHER SCHOOLS”

TORCH

by accelerating the speed at which they attain their college degrees. NEW CHALLENGES Whitaker has been in education for 18 years, having taken a professional break to stay home with her children when they were small. She became a teacher once they started attending school to stay close to them. “I loved it [teaching], and it grew into leadership opportunities,” she said. “For the last nine years, I was with University Academy Charter School. I watched it grow from a K-3 to a K-8 school.” TCS offered Whitaker a new challenge to create a kind of

learning environment unique in Bay County and to shepherd it through its formative stages. “It’s an opportunity to do something for high school students on the brink of adulthood, to help them find a new vision for the trajectory of their lives,” she said. “That was something I couldn’t resist.” She wants TCS students to have opportunities to make decisions involving the school, to let them take on leadership roles early and become confident in their skills. “It reinforces the community aspect for them, to aspire not only to be great academically, but also to become better citizens ,” she said.

PC.FSU.EDU

KEEPING THE

PROMISE FSU PC Promise scholarship helps Law Enforcement student succeed BY TONY SIMMONS

Nakesha Richardson’s interest in law enforcement began in her teens. “I started out in high school telling my parents I wanted to become a warden,” she said. “I ended up in the military. Once I came home and went into the reserves, I applied to a prison and became a correctional officer. I wanted to feel like I was helping, so I wanted to keep going in the field and try out different aspects of law enforcement.” Her search for a pathway to a career in law enforcement finally brought her to FSU Panama City, where the FSU PC Promise Scholarship helped to make her dreams a reality. Now a student in the Law Enforcement Operations program, Richardson is on track to complete her bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2024. “FSU PC is one of the best schools that I have attended, hands down,” she said. “I love how the staff cares and works with you to help in any way possible.” Originally from the small town of Blakley, Ga., Richardson chose to attend FSU Panama City because she “felt it would fit my life,” and if she needed to, she could always take additional classes in Tallahassee. And becoming a recipient of the FSU PC Promise Scholarship means that her family doesn’t have to do without while she chases a lifelong dream. “I can finish without having to stress over trying to become a better person while I provide for my family,” she said. All new, returning or transfer students from Northwest Florida families with a total annual income of $60,000 or less are eligible for free tuition through the Promise Scholarship. Some of the other eligibility requirements include good academic standing and engaging in 30 hours of community service per semester. The student must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester and the scholarship will be available for up to 120 cumulative hours. The scholarship covers tuition and fees not covered by 34

TORCH

other federal, state and institutional benefits. If students are eligible for Pell grants, state grants or Bright Futures Scholarships, those funds are applied first and then the FSU PC Promise Scholarship is applied to the remaining balance, ensuring all tuition and fees are covered. About $1 million in donations was raised to launch the program in the spring of 2021. The Promise Scholarship was funded by local residents and organizations like the Chapman Family Foundation, The St. Joe Community Foundation, Larry and Pam Perry and others who remained anonymous . Recent supporters have included Century 21 Commander Realty, the City of Panama City and the Charles A. Whitehead Foundation. “We believe that financial need should never hold you back from achieving your dreams of attaining a higher education,” said Randy Hanna, Ed.D., JD, and dean of Florida State University Panama City, during the kickoff for the new scholarship. “It is our goal to give hope to hard-working, high-achieving students in our region by eliminating financial uncertainty of earning a degree from a top university.” The Promise Scholarship has helped Richardson in numerous ways, but foremost by removing the stress of worry over how to make ends meet as a full-time student and a full-time working mom who is involved in her children’s educations and extracurricular activities. “I am grateful that I chose FSU PC,” Richardson said. “I am overwhelmed with joy knowing that I will be completing this degree comfortably because my school not only told me they care, but also showed me they care by going above and beyond to help find ways to make this possible.” For more information, call the FSU PC Promise information number (24/7) at 850-832-5649, email admissions@pc.fsu.edu or visit pc.fsu.edu.

GAME ON ESPORTS TEAMS BUILD COMMUNITY BY RAEMI CRETEUR, KAYCIE MCVAY & TONY SIMMONS Wesley Williams was looking for friends who shared his passion for playing video games. What he found was a community. Williams, 21, joined the FSU Panama City Esports team in 2021, discovering like-minded individuals with a love for competition. This summer, he became the president of the Esports Team and now serves as captain of the Valorant varsity team. “I think that being in leadership roles has its own merits, but I enjoy being heavily involved in competitive video games because it allows me to have a deeper knowledge of the medium that I can use in a future career of game development,” Williams said. Cross-Collegiate Esports is the first varsity team in FSU PC history, and in January the team was admitted to the Division II Peach Belt Conference (PBC) as an associate member. Open to any full-time students in good standing, the team is university-funded and provides mentorship, the opportunity to travel and the potential to win monetary prizes. “Tallahassee doesn’t have the option to compete at this level in Esports. That adds a level of prestige to it,” said Nicolas Sellers, Ph.D., communications professor and director of the Esports team. Sellers is also an industry-recognized video game researcher. He lists among the benefits of playing Esports improved hand/eye coordination, mental acuity and visual processing, as well as soft skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. “There’s also a camaraderie that comes with playing on a team and being part of something bigger than yourself,” Sellers said. “For me, it’s about creating an experience for students that augments their time here at FSU PC.” He pointed out that students who don’t want to play the games can still be involved with the team, such as helping to promote the games on social media: “From a community standpoint, it allows students interested in gaming and technology to do this right here on campus.”

TORCH

ZONED IN: Student Doug Williams practices his skills as a member of the FSU PC Esports team.

PC.FSU.EDU

PLAN OF ACTION: : The FSU PC Esports team meets in the DDS.

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS The PBC was the first NCAA conference to hold an E-sports championship (2017-2018 academic year) as well as the first to partner with Riot Games, publisher of “League of Legends,” the most-played online game in the world. It was also the first to hold an in-person live conference championship. Sellers hopes one day to host a championship game at FSU Panama City. He pictures it vividly, with bright lights playing across the bay and a stage in front of the Holley Center. “I hope we can get to that. It would be great for our campus, our students and our community too,” he said. Esports has become a popular competitive sports category with dozens of multiplayer games eligible for championship leagues—and sizable cash prizes for the winners. “League of Legends” had $2.5 million in prizes in 2021, Sellers said. “I don’t think a lot of people are aware of how big this has the potential to be,” Sellers said. “It’s inclusive too. We aren’t all LeBron James, we can’t just become athletes in the same way.”

friends, they teach us social skills and behaviors, and help us learn how to engage in teams. These are all skills needed for the 21st century job market.” And seeing E-sports listed on a job resume would make Sellers take notice: “I think it says a lot about a student when they’re able to commit to a team schedule and competitions. If I were reviewing a resume and saw two years of varsity E-sports at FSU, it demonstrates a level of commitment.” Sellers recruited Doug Williams because of his competitive nature, although Williams had never played “Overwatch” at the time. “I said I’d be willing to help out,” Williams said. “You take on this role, you don’t want to disappoint the team and the organization because they put so much time into it. I just enjoy the challenge. I came from the bottom, and I ended up working my way up.” He added that, despite being incredibly competitive, it isn’t all about winning. “We definitely want to succeed, but at the end of the day, it’s that community aspect that I really enjoy about video games,” Williams said. “Especially for incoming freshmen, if they don’t have a group or community and they’re trying to find their way on campus, it’s a great way to meet friends because they probably already play video games. They can find a home with E-sports.” Williams would like to see E-sports treated like traditional collegiate sports with scholarships, other student benefits and additional funding for the program. He would also like to see Panama City’s teams graduate to a larger conference in coming years. “We can bring more students to the school on a larger scale if we continue to grow and excel,” Doug Williams said. “This is just the beginning.”

“THERE’S ALSO A CAMARADERIE THAT COMES WITH PLAYING ON A TEAM AND BEING PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF.”

OVERWATCH Doug Williams, 23, is in his second semester on the team this fall. In his first semester, the spring debut, the team placed third in the PBC Masters bracket playing “Overwatch.” Now he’s the captain of the Rocket League team, which played its first game on Sept. 17. “I always tell people video games bring many benefits to individuals and to communities, despite the stigmas placed on them,” said Williams, who is working on his masters in Corporate and Public Communication. “We hope to eliminate these stigmas because I’ve made a good number of

TORCH

CENTENNIAL BANK SUPPORTS FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY! MY100BANK.COM

A Home BancShares Company | Member FDIC

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Chapman Family Foundation supports PC Promise Scholarship BY TONY SIMMONS

The FSU PC Promise Scholarship program, launched in 2020, was first funded through the generous support of the Chapman Family Foundation, alongside St. Joe Community Foundation, Larry and Pam Perry and an anonymous donor. “For almost 30 years, the foundation has contributed to local education initiatives for the betterment and development of our most precious resource, our youth,” said Kristian Chapman representing the Chapman Family Foundation. “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.” Based in Panama City, the Chapman Family Foundation provided the lead gift to establish the FSU PC Promise Scholarship. In April 2021, the FSU PC Center for Academic Advising and Student Success was renamed in honor of the Chapman Family Foundation. “What we (recognized) by the naming of our advising center is a commitment to education and to giving people hope,” Dean Randy Hanna said at the time. “Thanks to the generosity of the Chapman Family Foundation and others, we provided hope to nearly 50 students this spring semester with the awarding of the FSU PC Promise Scholarship.” 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 $60,000 or they are Pell eligible. “We are always so humbled that we can give back to the community, because the one thing that is a great investment is education,” Pamm Chapman said at the naming ceremony. With a degree in Finance from FSU, she has served on the foundation boards of for Bay Medical Center, Gulf Coast State College and Tom P. Haney Technical Center, as well as the Bay Education Foundation. The foundation was established by Joseph Fleming Chapman III, a local business executive and banker who grew up in Millville and died in 2016. His son, David Chapman, described his father’s driving force this way: “The overriding

TORCH

GIVING BACK: The Chapman Family poses outside the Academic Advising office building that bears their name.

PC.FSU.EDU

C H A P M A N S

theme of his life was, what could he do or how could he help someone less fortunate than him.” Besides the Chapman Family Foundation, Joe Chapman launched or supported many local nonprofit and charity organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs and the Bay Education Foundation. His mother, Gladyss Chapman, was his role model: Originally a school teacher, she served as Bay County Supervisor of Elections for more than 30 years— the first woman ever elected to public office in Bay County. According to information supplied by the Chapmans online, Gladys Chapman was the first president of Bay

County Classroom Teachers Association; instrumental in the organization of the Junior Museum of Bay County, where she served as the director; charter member of the Board of Directors for the Bay Medical Foundation; served on the Board of Directors for the Bay County Council on Aging; and helped to organize the local chapter of the League of Woman Voters. With a role model like that, it’s understandable that the Chapman family described Joe Chapman as being “raised in a household that believed the greatest personal satisfaction came from public service and the ability to help others.”

“WE ARE ALWAYS SO HUMBLED THAT WE CAN GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THE ONE THING THAT IS A GREAT INVESTMENT IS EDUCATION.”

NOTABLE

’NOLES HONORING OUR OUTSTANDING ALUMNI

BY BECKY KELLY, TONY SIMMONS & JUSTINE SOWELL FSU Panama City announced the 2022 and 2023 Notable ‘Noles as part of a more than 20-year campus homecoming tradition. The 2022-2023 Notable ‘Noles include Gulf Coast State College business and technology chair and professor Melanie Boyd, CareerSource Golf Coast deputy director of operations and programs Maria Goodwin, Bay District Schools director of communications Sharon Michalik, Real Estate agent and multi-business co-owner Zack Sanchez, Circuit Judge Elijah Smiley, retired educator Carrie Baker, elementary school teacher Adrianna Swearingen, and Bay County employee Wayne Porter. 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 88 Notable ’Noles, accounting for less than 1 percent of the campus’ alumni.

PC.FSU.EDU

CARRIE BAKER, ’96 Carrie Baker, Ed.D. ’96, hails from Marianna, where she taught at Marianna Middle School early in her career. Now a resident of Lynn Haven, she has called Bay County her home since the mid-1980s, when she was recruited by Gulf Coast State College, leaving a position as legislative assistant to former Congressman Don Fuqua. As the director of Retention and Diversity at GCSC until her retirement in 2016, she was a distinguished educator who assisted hundreds of young people in their pursuit of higher education. Her dissertation was based on that effort, which included tutoring, financial aid, career counseling and more. “Dr. Carrie Baker cares deeply for her communities in Bay and Jackson counties,” said Janice Lucas (’89), who was named a Notable ’Nole in 2020. “She embodies the adage that ‘service is the rent we pay for the space that we occupy,’ as she gives of her time, talent and tithes to worthy causes to uplift others.” In a 2013 interview with The News Herald, Baker described her childhood experiences with lingering segregation and racism that included being kept out of the National Honor Society because teachers “would take turns giving us C’s” and never learning to swim because “we weren’t allowed to go the pool.” She also discussed dealing with inferior facilities and outdated textbooks in a 2016 interview. These experiences made her an advocate for providing educational opportunity and access to minority students. “A young man called me about a month ago from Atlanta to say, ‘Thank you for everything you poured into me. I see.’ And I said, ‘Finally!’” Baker said. “I always wanted them to have that ‘a-ha’ experience where they got it. I could see where they could go, but to get them to see, ‘I can do this.’ To have one call me after all these years and say, ‘I’m in a good place.’ Working with young people was always very important to me.” Baker, a past board member of the Girl Scout Council of the Apalachee Bend, received the Pearl Lifetime Achievement Award from the Girl Scouts of the Florida Panhandle eight years ago. The Pearl Award is bestowed upon an adult Girl Scout for her significant contributions to the Girl Scout movement, building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. “FSU became our home,” said Baker, one of the first FSU PC graduate students to pursue the Ed.D. program in Educational Leadership and Administration. “We would leave work, come here, take a couple of classes, then try to do group study. … That program gave us the ability to keep working and pursue our goals while getting a doctorate degree." 44

TORCH

WAYNE PORTER, ’06 Wayne Porter (’06) is the Certified Flood Plain Manager for Bay County and manages the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System. This program helps ensure safe property development and provides for reduction in flood insurance premiums for Bay County residents. “He and his expertise have been vital to the Planning Division and the County,” according to information provided by Valerie Sale, the chief communications officer for Bay County. Porter served six years in the U.S. Air Force. After his service, he returned home to Panama City and attended FSU Panama City, earning a bachelors degree in Criminology. During this time, he was a counselor for at-risk youth. “I have always been, since I was a child, a fan of FSU athletics,” he said, noting his office décor features artwork of a Seminole warrior and photos of Doak Campbell Stadium. “When I came home from the service, I jumped at the chance to opportunity to attend a prestigious university right in my hometown.” In 2004, he went to work for Bay County as the Building Trades Investigator. In 2007, he was promoted to Planner with the Planning and Zoning Division. He received a master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy University, and in 2021, he earned his American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification and was promoted to the position of Planning Official for Bay County. Porter weathered Hurricane Michael in the Sand Hills area where, fortunately, his property sustained minimal damage. His parents, however, lost their home of 30 years to the storm. Porter worked to help his parents salvage any personal belongings they could while coordinating efforts to replace his childhood home, which his parents were able to move into only four months after the storm. He also assisted other family, friends and neighbors with their storm damage, and then went to the Emergency Operations Center to offer help in any way possible. “The massive devastation of Hurricane Michael has obviously caused the complete rebuilding of hundreds of homes in Bay County,” Sale said. “Wayne has tirelessly worked with citizens and surveyors on explaining flood plain management and land development regulations to ensure safe and proper redevelopment.”

PC.FSU.EDU

ADRIANNA SWEARINGEN, ’15 Even as she was being lauded for her exceptional commitment to students, Florida’s state Teacher of the Year Adrianna Swearingen (’15) praised her professors and the Elementary Education program at FSU Panama City. “I think they do a fabulous job to prepare you a little at a time so as not to overwhelm you, because at the end of the day, being a teacher is a lot of work,” she said. That’s an understatement. In addition to her job duties as the media specialist at Northside Elementary School, Swearingen spearheaded Northside’s first LEGO club, securing robotics resources and grant funding. She taught children to write computer code, engage in teamwork and organization. She organized student talent showcases and presented a school improvement plan to the Parent-Teacher Organization. She put on a Book Fair twice a year, oversaw the Yearbook, lead the Learning Enrichment Activities Program, mentored students as part of a Professional Development Certification program and was part of the School Leadership Team. She also coordinated the Viking Bucks program, whereby students earn credits for good behaviors and spend them on prizes. “Swearingen hosts school pep rallies, a monthly activity that focuses on the Core Values—she is also Core Value Coordinator,” said Tiffany Forrester, the parent of two Northside Elementary students. “She leads the ITV Pep Tech Squad, which allows fifth graders to produce morning announcements and commercials. My oldest daughter participated in the first quarter this school year and loved her experience. She learned much and is disappointed the quarter is finished.” It’s little surprise that Swearingen was credited as a key factor in Northside’s overall school grade increasing by 12 percentage points in the past year. “From the beginning of her studies at FSU, Adrianna distinguished herself as ambitious, creative, thoughtful and committed to the career of teaching,” said Elizabeth Crowe, Ph.D., assistant dean of Academic Affairs at FSU PC. “She is a leader of teachers for teachers with the passion and drive to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students in Florida. I'm thrilled that Adrianna has been recognized for her efforts, and I applaud her gracious representation of educators.” Swearingen said her message for teachers across the state was simple, though it bears repeating in a time when the profession is embroiled in political issues and experiencing a workforce shortage: “Know that you are enough, and you matter,” she said. “We are doing amazing things in education. We are game changers. Ignite that passion and the fire within.” 46

TORCH

MELANIE BOYD, ’93, ’95 Melanie Boyd has dedicated her career to public service. She has served in the military, facilitated elections, and provided vital community services through public works. Currently, she is a professor of Business and Entrepreneurship and chair of the Business and Technology Division at Gulf Coast State College where she prepares students to be tomorrow’s leaders and maintains a commitment to excellence within her division. Boyd earned her bachelor’s degree in Management and her master’s degree in Business Administration. Both degrees have served her well. Under her leadership, the Business and Technology Division team has pioneered the first unmanned vehicle program in the state, acquired cutting edge emergency communication technology and equipment and continuously ensure that their programs stay relevant and meet or exceed industry standards. Despite experiencing personal adversity, Boyd persevered and achieved great professional and personal success. Her pride and legacy are reflected in her children. Joseph Williams, a graduate from the Naval Nuclear Power Training Program, was commissioned as a Naval officer right out of college. Her daughter, Karen Williams, followed in her mother’s footsteps and dedicated her career to public service. When considering the qualities of a Notable ’Nole, Boyd’s daughter noted an individual who faces challenges with grace, optimism and strength. She also stated that the designation reflects a person who gives selflessly to others and continues to grow through education and training — qualities she observes in her mother. “She [Boyd] not only demonstrates each of these characteristics daily, but she inspires and encourages these traits in those around her; and that is what makes her extraordinary,” said Karen Williams. For Boyd, being recognized as a Notable ’Nole is an honor but also a challenge. “Looking back over the years at the caliber of people who have earned this recognition, I am incredibly proud to belong to such an elite group,” said Boyd. “My challenge is to continue serving this community and living up to those high standards.”

PC.FSU.EDU

MARIA GOODWIN, ’02 Maria Goodwin is recognized for her professionalism, her positive attitude, and her understanding that partnerships are vital to achieving great results. Her work ethic earned her the Dean’s List and high honors when she graduated from FSU Panama City with a bachelor’s degree in Communication, cum laude in 2002. Goodwin has dedicated her professional career to serving her community. She has worked with the Bay County Chamber of Commerce and the Bay County Economic Development Alliance. In 2008, she joined CareerSource Gulf Coast as its first director of communications. “Her degree has served her well,” said Kim Bodine, executive director of CareerSource Gulf Coast. “She [Goodwin] put our organization on the map by developing our brand and increasing our presence in our 3-county service area.” Goodwin was promoted to the Director of Workforce Services in 2012 and then to her current position as Director of Operations in 2017. In all her roles, she has advocated for jobs and workforce development within Bay County and the region. She successfully branded CareerSource Gulf Coast, expanded its service area to include Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties and developed a professional team dedicated to providing specialized services to both career seekers and employers. She facilitated training opportunities for economically challenged students and implemented programs focused on the needs of veterans and military families. “She [Goodwin] is a huge advocate for growing and bringing excellent jobs to our community and a great ‘first face’ for Bay County,” Bodine said. “Her knowledge, personality, and determination to succeed create a lasting first impression.” Goodwin has successfully managed her career and community service while raising twin boys with her husband Michael.

TORCH

SHARON MICHALIK, ’13 Sharon Michalik is a passionate advocate for those in need and has spearheaded Bay District School’s community outreach efforts. This was never truer than after Hurricane Michael devastated the county in 2018. Sharon joined the school district’s administrative offices in 2012 as the executive director of Human Resources. After Hurricane Michael, she stepped up to assume leadership of shelter operations at the Emergency Operations Center. There, she worked to find temporary housing for hundreds of homeless employees. In addition, she worked with state and federal agencies to secure resources to help employees rebuild and replace essential personal items and held a clothing drive for work clothes. At the same time, she managed an international outreach for supplies, secured more than $150,000 in private funding to help teachers and managed to secure funding and donations to provide clothing for more than 10,000 students. Since then, Michalik has developed a shelter operation manual and employee training. During the pandemic, she was instrumental in developing a food delivery plan that had buses on the road every day delivering meals to students and families in need. In her current position as Director of Communications, Michalik works to ensure the community has ease of access to essential information. She had a large role in developing social media outreach campaigns and creating a two-way channel of communication with district stakeholders. Through her volunteer work with various agencies in the community, Michalik ensures she is giving back to her community in every way possible. She is definitely a deserving Notable 'Nole. A two-time graduate from FSU Panama City including a bachelor’s degree in Communication in 1998 and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership in 2006, Michalik credits her success to her non-traditional education. “My path to graduation was non-traditional, and I would never have been able to realize my dreams without the Panama City Campus of Florida State University,” said Michalik. “Balancing classes and fulltime employment as a single mother of two was very challenging, but I got so much support from the FSU PC faculty and staff ... they never let me doubt myself or my abilities.”

PC.FSU.EDU

ZACHARIAS SANCHEZ, ’11 A native to Panama City, Zacarias “Zack” Sanchez showed an inclination toward business and entrepreneurship at a young age. His parents served as his role models both professionally and personally. Ruben and Iris Sanchez owned and operated a restaurant that became a local favorite and the place where Sanchez would learn his business skills. Working in the family restaurant, he established a strong work ethic and earned enough money to buy his first piece of real estate at the age of 15. When Sanchez graduated with honors from FSU Panama City in Business Administration at the age of 19, his journey began. From there, he started working in banking and then in insurance. He learned management, how to successfully collaborate and lead a team, and how to build effective and meaningful relationships with clients. It didn't take long for him to realize that real estate was really his true calling, and this realization was the beginning of Think Real Estate. Currently, Sanchez is a co-owner of Think Real Estate, C&G Sporting Goods and Structure Painting. “Zach is truly committed to making Bay County a great place to live, work and play,” said his wife, Olivia Crosby-Sanchez. Sanchez sits on the board of directors for the Bay County Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers, Big Sisters of NWFL and serves as chair of Be the Light Family Foundation. For Sanchez, it is important to have an unmatched work ethic and to act on one's goals. “Always do what you say you are going to do in life,” said Sanchez. “Give back to your community. Soak in every moment of life.” Sanchez is also a devoted husband and father to his wife Olivia and two girls, Vivian and Violet.

TORCH

JUDGE ELIJAH SMILEY, ’99 Judge Elijah Smiley graduated with honors from Port St. Joe High School. After completing a summer program at Florida State University, he went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Government, a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of West Florida and a juris doctorate from Florida State University College of Law. Even with this long list of accomplished learning, Judge Smiley graduated Cum Laude from FSU Panama City with an accounting degree in 1981 and became a certified public accountant. Judge Smiley’s love for learning, combined with a desire to use his education to best serve his community, played a significant role in his decision to continue furthering his education. Throughout Judge Smiley’s long career in justice, he has served as a felony and criminal judge in the 14th Judicial Circuit, which covers Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties. As a result, his monthly caseload ranges from 200 to 300 cases. Throughout his career as an attorney, public defender, professor and judge, Smiley has dedicated time to serve the needs of his community. He has created programs to honor women and educators, and established youth events to provide a safe environment for kids. Together, he and his wife Kathy began a Christmas tradition of preparing and distributing customized gift bags for those in need. For his leadership and initiative, Smiley has earned several special community-based honors and awards, including the Bay County Educators Outstanding Leadership Award, the Advisory Committee for Urban Revitalization Equity’s Distinguished Government Service Award, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity Citizen of the Year Award and Legal Services of North Florida Crump-Park Thurgood Marshal Award. “Of all his achievements, it is his ability to effectively be a supportive husband, father, and member of his extended family, that is the most remarkable,” said his wife, Kathy Smiley. “He is indeed the embodiment of a Notable ’Nole.” Judge Smiley advises one to “dream big.” “I am thankful for the educational opportunities provided by FSU that made it possible for me to dream beyond my imagination and achieve my goals,” he said. “There are no limitations on your imagination. Dream Big!!!”

PC.FSU.EDU

SEMINOLE SIGHTINGS

BOBBY BOWDEN INVITATIONAL PANAMA COUNTRY CLUB MARCH 31, 2023

1. Mike Nichols, Don DeLoach, Frank Hall, Chuck Perdue & Paul Dick 2. Tyler Johnson, Josh Sostheim & Jason Crowe 3. Roy Grice, Jamah Terry, Justin Day & Wes Pickenpaugh 4. Ryan Mulvay, Ryan Kincer, Kris McLaine & Tom Lewis 5. Brian Taylor, Heinz Falke, Kevin Obos & Christian McCarter 6. Scott Campbell, Brut Campbell-Work, Dustin Stokesbery & Thad Stokes

5 52

TORCH

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

SEMINOLE SIGHTINGS

NOTABLE NOLES LUNCH

1. Frank Hall, Glen McDonald, Kathy Boyd, Holly Kuchner, Cheryl FlaxHyman, Melanie Boyd, Karen Williams, Mary Jones, Sharon Brewington & David Boyd 2. Zachary Murzen & Justine Sowell 3. Miranda Stewart & Maria Godwin 4. Charlotte Schwoerer, Sharon Michalik & Natalie Williams 5. Judge Elijah Smiley 6. Zach Sanchez & Olivia Sanchez

FSU PANAMA CIT Y S E P T E M B E R 2 7, 2 0 2 2

5 54

TORCH

SEMINOLE SIGHTINGS

LET ’S DO LUNCH

1. Author Tracey Wood 2. Elizabeth Crowe, Nancy Boyd, Janice Lucas & Kathy Bennett 3. Gale Cooney & Nadia Smallwood 4. Salie Cotton, Tracey Wood & Tricia Berry

FSU PANAMA CIT Y MARCH 9, 2023

Events* *SCAN THE QR CODE ABOVE TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON ALL OF OUR EVENTS.

PC.FSU.EDU

STUDENT POSTSCRIPT: LIFE WITHOUT A SAFETY NET BY ISABELLA DE GROOT

My name is Isabella de Groot, and I came from a small, sheltered, suburban bubble of a town called Keller, Texas. Part of spending my most crucial personality-forming years in a town that prides itself on helping thy neighbor and being able to leave your doors unlocked is that I didn’t really learn who I was when I had no help and no safety net. I took up safe hobbies like painting, jigsaw puzzles, baking and reading—and my parents did a bang-up job of keeping me away from anything that might cause me harm, injury or adrenaline-related stress of any kind. So, when the time came to choose a college, I knew I had to pick the farthest and scariest option, halfway across the country. I chose FSU Panama City, not because of my neighbor’s and sister-in-law’s glowing reviews, but because I knew I needed to be uncertain. I needed to step out of my comfort zone and learn how to be independent. I took this class largely as a requirement, but also because it’s a safe first step in the right direction. I’ve been good at English most of my life—a core blow-off class, if you will. But this is a college class, in a lecture building, of my own willing participation, and I look forward to this challenge. Aside from academics, I wanted to challenge myself at home, too. I could’ve applied to any of the same colleges as my friends, who I’ve known for years, or down the road from my house in Texas, where I can drive home and have my mom do my laundry. But I chose to go it alone. I chose to accidentally put the red sock in with the whites and have to

cook my own meals. I chose to make my own mistakes—and my goal for tomorrow, next month, and for the rest of the semester, is to learn from them. In spite of all my fear, and in spite of all my nervousness about all the “new” that would be entering my life, so far I have found so many people to support me. Besides my roommates, who are kind of stuck with me for worse or for better, I learned the importance of getting to know your neighbors. Less than a week into living at Seminole Landing, I met my year-long friend group and the kindest group of girls I’ve ever had the pleasure of living next door to. Even just one week in, I’ve already learned so many things about myself. For one thing, I am not incapable of being my own person. I have thus far surpassed not only my parents’ expectations but my own as well. While I still may not be a laundry expert or a cooking extraordinaire, I have so far learned from my roommates and my girlfriends and my neighbors that my ability to survive and thrive as a person doesn’t have to exclude everyone else in my life willing and able to offer help. It does include learning how to accept the help at my disposal, take that knowledge and building on it myself. My goal when I first moved to Panama City was to learn to live life the hard way. To live without help from anyone else. But now, after realizing that accepting help does not have to mean weakness, my new goal for the semester is to learn to be a better student.

“ACCEPTING HELP DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN WEAKNESS.” 56

TORCH

FIRST STEP: “Izzy” de Groot is a Seminole Pathways freshman planning on majoring in Psychology.

PC.FSU.EDU

LAST LOOK: Ninth grade students from Bay County schools collaborate to construct a Rube Goldberg-style device during a summer STEM camp hosted by the Dr. James T. and Jana L. Cook Future Physicists of Florida FSU Panama City Chapter. [Photo by Tony Simmons]

TORCH

PC.FSU.EDU

Office of Advancement 4750 Collegiate Drive Panama City, FL 32405 pc.fsu.edu