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Historic Fundraiser Brings Awareness to Performing Arts
This event can best be described as....
The VIP Fundraiser: Seat to Success was our first event located at PHSC’s new Instructional Performing Arts Center. Event attendees shared in an evening of enchantment and had seats permanently named in their honor in the newly named Weatherford Family Theater. In between live performances from student groups, they learned about the importance of weaving performing arts passion into student’s curriculum and the impact the arts can have on a community. What started as a simple idea, to give our PHSC students a “seat to success” by selling named seating opportunities – developed into a collaborative theatrical event and the largest grossing fundraiser since the inception of the Foundation in 1975.
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We were honored to have Senator Wilton Simpson and family in attendance.
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When the chair of the event, Rao Musunuru, M.D. challenged the PHSC Foundation to a $75,000 matching campaign we happily accepted. We are proud to say our PHSC community is a philanthropic one. With the help of over 30 faculty and staff members we were able to exceed his expectations and raised just over $100,000, in just one week. This event raised over $179,000 of unrestricted funding for the Foundation to apply to operating costs and to support our greatest needs. Over $128,500 of that were cash-in-door donations and sponsorships. Our success would not have been possible without the time, talent, and treasure our PHSC family has put into supporting us and sharing our message. We cannot thank you enough for helping us to Transform Lives and Invest in Tomorrow.
Dr. Timothy Beard, PHSC President giving remarks. Showstoppers: Broadway Intensive Cast Directed by Matthew Belopavlovich
Wiregrass Ranch High School String Quartet Directed by Justin Baggett
PHSC Provides Numerous Opportunities for Faculty, Staff, Students and the Community to Enjoy Exercise and Activities at our Beautiful Campuses.
Bob Bade, Ed.D., VP, student affairs; Steve Winterling, athletic director; Micheal Jones, head basketball coach; Dave Mayler, volunteer coach; Mary Manning, athletic trainer; and Lyndon Coleman, head baseball coach strike a pose. PHSC’S gymnasium (Physical Fitness Center) hosts basketball and volleyball games, intramural activities and events. About 120 student athletes participate in competitive, intercollegiate play.
Cross-Country Coach Jacki Wachtel with Indigo Loughlin after a popular PHSC running camp, offered each summer. Mom and son watch children play on the expansive, shaded childcare center playground at West Campus.
A tennis player takes a break on the West Campus clay courts. Mixing exercise with academics and work contributes to the happiness and well-being of students and staff. PHSC’s volleyball team consistently averages high scores on the court and in the classroom.
Approximately 150 fans watched the Bobcats roar at The PHSC vs. Trinity College Season Opener basketball game in November 2021.
The cross-country team approaches the finish line with confidence. Participation in athletics bolsters student self-esteem and supports classroom success.
They’re off! 5K Runners hit the West Campus perimeter road, the “Rao Musunuru, M.D. Circle Blvd.” at the Annual Run with the Bobcats 5K/Bobcat Trot in November 2021.
Kids participating in the Bobcat Trot completed the one mile “Mrs. Prameela Musunuru Health and Wellness Trail” and proudly accepted awards afterwards. Future PHSC athlete watches from the sidelines.
Student Life and Leadership provides opportunities for students to develop skills, confidence and friendships. Kayaking local waterways is among the most popular free outings–teamwork, exercise and sunshine included.
Dr. Beard flips a coin to determine the starting team at the December 2021 Bobcat Bowl. The Faculty/Staff Team won the friendly match vs. students 31-21. The Engagement Games encourage employees and students to compete in flag football and softball games. Head softball coach Steve Mumaw celebrates a championship win with the team.
Architectural rendering of the potential future entrance to Withlacoochee River Electric Co-op Park, West Campus.
Association of Florida Colleges (AFC)–PHSC Chapter members Emery Ailes, D.Min., Director, Linking in Faith and Education; Mildred Diaz-Santiago, Administrative Assistant III, Provost, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch; Pat McGee, Senior Human Resources Specialist, and Eddie Williams, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Human Services, and Human Services Program Director, completed the AFC Next Level Leadership Program (NLLP) and graduated at the AFC Annual Conference in November. The NLLP provides the next-level leadership principles to community college professionals that can be put into practice daily. This training builds on the Certified College Professional Program.
In August, NISOD’s Innovation Abstracts featured “It’s No Secret – Students are Stumped. Planting the Seeds for College Readiness,” which explains how to create a first-year student initiative, an article by Barbara Booker, Ph.D., Professor, English, and Assistant Director and Vice Chair, Quality Enhancement Plan Development and Implementation Committee; Karen Lotz, Assistant Professor, Nursing Program/BSN, and Misty Price, Ph.D., Professor, Accounting, and QEP Director and Chair, QEP Development and Implementation Committee; and David Sullivan, Ph.D., Professor, Paramedics/EMS.
PHSC Faculty Senate 2021-2022 Senator Election results include: East Campus: Karen Carpenter North Campus: Janet Dean Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch: Sarah Fede Spring Hill Campus: Wendy Neeld West Campus: Danita Hiles Arts and Sciences Division: Michelle Beermann, Kaitlyn Downing, Rick Kay, Fred Prescott, Wanda Vyborny Nursing and Health Programs: Regina Mirabella, Marianne Swihart Workforce Division: Ashley Cobb, Rafael Sanchez
Misty Price, Ph.D., Professor, Accounting, Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Director and Chair, QEP Development and Implementation Committee, serves as faculty senate president and Stacey Thomson, Ph.D., Professor of Physical Science, serves as faculty senate vice president.
John Fey, Assistant Director of Student Life and Leadership, was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow at the 2021 Installation Banquet for Rotary Club of Seven Springs. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition is a very prestigious recognition to show appreciation for contributions to Rotary.
The PHSC Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Program was recognized by a Nursing publication as a “Best Ranked Nursing Program,” ranking third out of 164 LPN public or private programs in the state of Florida. Congratulations go out to Billie Gabbard, Ed.D., Dean of Nursing and Health Programs, and all nursing faculty and staff on displaying a high level of competency and professionalism in educating PHSC nursing students.
Daryle Wane, Ph.D., BSN Program Director, Professor of Nursing BSN, participated in the Fifth Edition of the World Nursing Conference as both a Keynote speaker, Member of the Scientific Committee, and Chair for the second day of the conference. Her keynote address was Nursing Education in a Pandemic—Thinking Outside the Box.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Pasco County bestowed the honor of 2021 Pasco NAMI Hero of Hope Mental Health Professional of the Year for the second year in a row to Eddie Williams, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Human Services, and Human Services Program Director and locally-renowned psychotherapist. The 2021 Pasco NAMI Hero of Hope Mental Health Professional of the Year Award honors an individual who has gone above and beyond the scope of their professional duties to help those with mental health conditions to thrive. “
I am honored to receive the NAMI Pasco Hero of Hope Mental Health professional of the year. NAMI of Pasco advocates and supports those with mental illness in the community. In addition, I provide “ outpatient psychotherapy to those in mental health distress in the Pasco County area. Receiving the mental health professional of the year award lets me know I give the best services to those suffering from mental health disorders, and I am stopping the stigma of mental illness - Williams
PHSC Part of $6.1M Grant for Technical Education Center
PHSC is part of a $6.1 million grant to build a Technical Education Center in Hernando County, as recently announced by Governor DeSantis. The grant was awarded through the Florida Job Growth Grant. This center, a technical training complex, is a joint project between Pasco-Hernando State College, the Hernando School District, and Hernando County Government. All three entities collaborated on the grant application.
“It is rare to see such an ambitious, collaborative project like this work so seamlessly…with the involvement of a state college, a school district, the Florida legislature, the Governor’s office and local manufacturers,” said Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., PHSC president. “The funding for the Citizens Success Center is truly transformational and will fulfill the dreams of Hernando County students, PHSC students, and the citizens of Hernando County.”
The complex, to be located on 17 acres at the Brooksville Tampa Bay Regional Airport, has an expected completion date of Fall 2023. The grant funds will be used to prepare the county’s property and add the necessary infrastructure prior to the start of construction. It will offer convenient, streamlined workforce training to prepare residents for direct entry into positions available in Hernando County.
“The College is excited to be involved in this joint effort to create a dynamic, student-centered educational facility with the mission of building specific skills to meet local employers’ needs in key career and technical fields,” said Stanley M. Giannet, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief academic officer and college provost. “Quality workforce training is vitally important to the economic health of our community and a significant component of our PHSC mission.”
Specialized Free Apprenticeships Now Offered
This fall, PHSC offered students a new, hands-on way to learn an important skill so they can join the job market even sooner. The Apartment Maintenance Technician apprenticeship began in October at the West Campus in New Port Richey.
Ten students spent the first week in the classroom learning about the work they will do once paired with an area apartment complex. On-the-job training at the apartment includes HVAC, cabinetry, electrical, appliance repair and other skills. Each student receives 2,000 on-the-job training hours paid for by the apartment complex where they work. They receive certificates for each skill at the end of the program, which takes one year to complete. The program is not only a paid apprenticeship, but it costs the students nothing to be in this course.
“PHSC continues to identify a variety of academic programs that meet emerging career needs and workforce opportunities—from degrees to rapid credential certifications. Our first state-approved apprenticeship program will provide a quality workforce to our regional housing industry,” says Stanley M. Giannet, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief academic officer and college provost.
The Educator Preparation Institute (EPI) at PHSC provides training to become a certified Florida P-12 teacher. It is 100% online and students can be certified in less than one year. This is an exciting opportunity to begin working toward a new career to become certified for teaching.
Ursula Landsman is an EPI graduate and has had great success following her certification. “The instructors were very knowledgeable and supportive, and my classmates were wonderful—I learned a lot from them, too—some of them had taught previously and others had taught in other parts of the world. The field experience was invaluable, as well. The program is structured, yet there are many different kinds of assignments and activities. I recommend the EPI program for anyone who has always wanted to teach—no matter where you have been on your career journey.”
The EPI program is perfect for people who already hold a temporary teaching certificate, someone with a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree and the academic knowledge to teach in a specific area, or people like Ursula who want a career change. “Florida continues to experience a heightened teacher shortage which requires highly qualified educators to support the children of our region. Our PHSC EPI Program provides the fundamental and practical certification-based training that addresses this critical need,” said Stanley M. Giannet, Ph.D., PHSC executive vice president, chief academic officer, and college provost.
Helping Students in Need
The pandemic brought many challenges to all of us. However, none of our students should be faced with the challenge of not having food or personal hygiene products. This fall, PHSC helped students face one less challenge.
PHSC’s Bobcat Pantry is a donation-based service, free to students in need of assistance in having basic needs met. The pantry provides supplemental food and various hygiene products to ensure none of our students go without.
In addition to the pantry service, the PHSC Foundation also provided financial assistance to current students through the Support Our Students (SOS) funds and scholarship opportunities. The initiative was a great success, as the PHSC Foundation was proud to disburse all allocated funds available to assist students who were facing financial challenges.
We all need angels from time to time, often to help us through the holidays. The Angel Tree Program initiated by the office of Student Life and Leadership, helps student families by providing gifts for their child or children. Each year, students, faculty, staff, student clubs and organizations participate in the program to assist fellow PHSC students in need by purchasing personalized gifts for Angel Families. More than 150 children were selected and received angel gifts this past holiday season.
New Combination Fire/EMT Program Offered
PHSC recently introduced a new combination program—Fire/ Emergency Medical Technician Combined. This new program provides the necessary training required for students to become certified firefighters as well as licensed Emergency Medical Technicians. The program offers a sequence of courses that provide coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers in the law, public safety and security and health science career clusters. The program also provides technical skill proficiency, and includes competency-based applied learning that contributes to the academic knowledge, higherorder reasoning and problem-solving skills, work attitudes, general employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills.
Medical Assistant Week Celebrated
In October, PHSC celebrated Medical Assistant Week with some special program and career field tips from Amanda Soklaski, a student in the Medical Assistant program. Watch Amanda’s testimonial video at: youtube. com/watch?v=n1aOdth-A.
LIFE Seeks Solutions for Mental Illness, Suicide in Youth
PHSC’S LIFE (Linking In Faith and Education) Program is a multi-faceted initiative led by Emery Ailes, D.Min, Director of LIFE, LIFELINE and Success Academy. Collaborating with educators, non-profit organizations, congregations and public service agencies, Dr. Ailes explores the community’s most difficult issues through a series of events hosted at PHSC’s campuses. All topics are on the table.
“Addiction, incarceration, suicide, domestic abuse, racism and mental illness are issues that grow in darkness,” said Ailes. “LIFE sheds light on these topics, fostering meaningful discussions and supporting change by sharing strategies and resources. Find out more about the program at phsc.edu/LIFE.”
United in grief; activism: A LIFE summit explored solutions for youth struggling with addiction and mental illness. Bravely facing the audience were Bonni Snider, far left, who lost a son and grandson to suicide; Marie Kelly; and Teresa Daniels, who each had sons who died by suicide. All three advocate for mental health causes and suicide prevention.
COLLEGE UPDATE
Health and Wellness: Employees Getting Active
PHSC has offered an employee Health and Wellness Program since spring 2007. Then President Katherine Johnson, Ed.D., established a college-wide START Walking program, an American Heart Association initiative. Each year, teams are formed and prizes are awarded to those recording the most miles walked.
When STARTWalking was implemented, the College had three campuses and Florida College System Risk Management Consortium (FCSRMC) provided a $600 budget for the Health and Wellness Program. A Lunch-n-Learn program was offered where speakers from local hospitals and the community presented on a variety of health topics. The FCSRMC awarded PHCC a Star Wellness Program ribbon at one of the College’s HR meetings.
The College also became involved with the Tobacco Cessation program and co-sponsored classes on campus. Several employees and their spouses participated and were able to stop smoking. Some employees are smoke free more than 10 years. PHSC offers spring and fall Walking Challenges for employees. The College’s first walking challenge trophy was a sneaker painted with 10 coats of white and then 10 coats of gold. An East Campus welding instructor designed a base that was bolted to the golden sneaker—defining it as the Golden Sneaker Trophy, sparking a friendly, spirited competition among campuses to win this coveted award.
Walking Challenges have had up to 170 participants among the campuses. Individuals set a weekly mileage goal for four weeks and report progress to their campus wellness coordinator. Total mileage goals collegewide range from 7800 miles to almost 10,000 miles. The campus that wins the Walking Challenge has their name added to the Golden Sneaker award, receives miniature trophies, and celebrates at a luncheon. The fall 2021 Walking Challenge was won by the Spring Hill Campus.
Trustee Transitions
PHSC’s District Board of Trustees elected board leaders at a meeting held on Monday, February 28 at the college’s Spring Hill Campus. In a unanimous decision, Trustees John Mitten and Lee Maggard were elected to respectively serve as chair and vice chair of the board. The terms for both leadership positions will extend through the College’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, to begin July 1, 2022, and conclude on June 30, 2023.
Mitten, of Brooksville, former Hernando County Commissioner, owns and operates Hernando County’s only Chick-Fil-A franchise. He serves on the gubernatorially-appointed Southwest Florida Management District Board and is actively involved in service and community organizations, including the Greater Hernando Chamber of Commerce, Jericho Road Ministries, Hope Children’s Home, MissioSERVE Alliance and the Restoration Center of Florida. Mitten, a PHSC trustee appointed in 2018, succeeds previous board chair, Rao Musunuru, M.D., whose resignation from the board was effective February 22. Maggard, Vice President, Credit Officer for BankFlorida in Dade City, has been employed in the banking industry for 12 years. A lifelong resident of East Pasco County and a PHSC alumnus, he has served on the board since 2018.
