State College
FA LL 2 0 2 3
VOLUME 7, N O. 04
RAIDER VILLAGE GROUNDBREAKING
What an incredible fall season at NWFSC! The College is experiencing an exciting and vibrant period of growth, including a sixth consecutive semester of increased student headcount. The leadership and commitment of our student body, faculty, and staff, are the key ingredients to this remarkable run of consecutive semesters of higher enrollment. In this President’s Perspective, I would like to share some of summer 2023’s most memorable moments and achievements, as well as new opportunities we have in the works for the NWFSC community. During our Spring Commencement, 682 candidates received their diploma. Additionally, 174 Public Safety/EMT candidates received a diploma and NWFSC nursing graduates earned an almost 100% pass rate on the NCLEXRN. Further, for the first time in school history, each of our four Division One intercollegiate athletic teams won the Panhandle Conference Championship. In August, faculty and staff celebrated the new academic year at Convocation, with many receiving high accolades for their exceptional service to the College. As the semester has begun, all NWFSC locations have been highly active with students attending classes and community engagement activities taking place.
We all love the summer break, but there’s a refreshing sense of energy on the campus when students return. On August 22, 2023, NWFSC hosted an official groundbreaking ceremony to announce Raider Village, the first on-campus student housing in the College’s history. The NWFSC Board of Trustees and Foundation Board members, The Jay Odom Group, Community Bank of Mississippi, and faculty and staff were in attendance for this memorable event. The College plans to welcome students to Raider Village in Spring 2025. I hope you enjoy this issue of President’s Perspective. As always, thank you for your continued commitment and for being a part of our Raider family.
Dr. Devin Stephenson #TheBestIsOurStandard
With great pride, Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) announced the Board of Trustees approval of student housing on its Niceville Campus with a special groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. Raider Village is a significant milestone in NWFSC history and will welcome students by Spring 2025. The launch of Raider Village is a testament to NWFSC’s commitment to enhancing the overall college experience and fostering a vibrant, thriving, and inclusive campus community. This project would not be possible without the participation and leadership of The Jay Odom Group, who designed the buildings, and who will build, own, and manage Raider Village. Special thanks and appreciation are also given to the Northwest Florida State College Foundation and Community Bank of Mississippi for their financial support of this endeavor. The facility will offer modern amenities, as well as allow students to readily engage in extracurricular activities and fully immerse themselves in the academic and social life of the campus. Phase one of the facility will feature 192 beds and phase two will add more than 100 additional beds. Eligible residents will be offered twelve-month leases that coincide with academic calendar years. The priority for housing will be NWFSC students, followed by students at other Florida College System institutions; students within the State University System of Florida; and students of other regionally accredited institutions across the Gulf Coast.
TOP STORIES MATTIE KELLY 2023-2024 SEASON MATTIE KELLY TOURING SHOWS Mutts Gone Nuts! - Oct. 7th Bored Teachers - Oct. 12th Christmas at the Henry’s - Dec. 1st Wheel of Fortune Live! - Dec. 13th Hyprov - Jan. 19th President’s Speaker Series: Taylor Hicks - Jan. 25th The Cher Show - Feb. 22nd Dinosaur World Live - April 5th Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies - April 11th Chicago - April 23rd
CONVOCATION 2023 The 2023 Convocation was a celebration of academics, faculty, and staff successes. Nearly 200 NWFSC faculty and staff celebrated the year’s accomplishments and previewed 2024 plans. This year, Convocation honored 30 employees that reached monumental career milestones, 2 Arpke Faculty Excellence Awards, and 12 Kudos faculty and staff Spotlight Honor Awards. A highlight of the Convocation was an exciting Social Media Marketing Panel. Panelists featured different social media platforms and how to utilize them to build, recruit, and market workplaces like NWFSC.
FAMILY SHOWS Dot Dot Dot - Oct. 13th Stinky Cheese Man! - Jan. 22nd Charlotte’s Web - Feb. 12th NORTHWEST FLORIDA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA War and Peace - Oct. 21st Sounds of the Spectrum - Nov. 8th Handel Messiah - Dec. 2nd & 3rd Holiday Pops - Dec. 8th 5th Grade Education Concert - Jan. 17th Stars of Tomorrow - Feb. 10th Carmina Burana - March 9th & 10th Carnegie Hall Link Up - March 26th & 27th NFSO at Resurrection Catholic Church - April 14th MKAC ART GALLERIES 31st Annual Emerald Coast National Juried Art Exhibition - Aug. 31st - Dec. 15th Myth & Meaning, Ainaz Alipour - Aug. 31st - Dec. 15th From the Collection - Jan. 21st - March 21st Arnie Hart Programming - March 11th - 14th Arnie Hart Juried Student Exhibition 10th - April 4th - May MATTIE KELLY 2023-2024 Art Faculty Exhibition - April 4th - Aug. 2nd Season Northwest Flo Florida St State Co College
SAB INAUGURATION On August 16, 2023, NWFSC held the 2023 Student Advisory Board Inauguration. The Inauguration was well attended with 75 parents, students, and staff members in attendance. The 2023-2024 academic year will have over 20 students actively participating in the Student Advisory Board and 6 students receiving scholarships. During this year’s ceremony, officers committed to their roles taking an official oath and agreeing to the student handbook of ethics.
Bored Teachers Comedy Tour
Wheel of Fortune Live!
Improv Under Hypnosis
Taylor Hicks January 25, 2024
The Cher Show February 22, 2024
Dinosaur World
Syncopated Ladies
CHICAGO
April 5, 2024
April 11, 2024
April 23, 2024
Mutts Gone Nuts October 7, 2023
HYPROV January 19, 2024
October 12, 2023
Tickets go on sale July 17 For more information and ticket sales visit
MattieKellyArtsCenter.org
December 13, 2023
CHS BACK TO SCHOOL CARNIVAL
COLLEGE NIGHT 2023
The Collegiate High School welcomed students to school with an Innovators Carnival on July 31, 2023. The Raider Café was filled will fun-filled innovative ideas for excited faculty, students, and parents.
This year’s College Night was attended by 44 schools and over 1000 attendees.
BAKING AND PASTRY SHOWCASE
The NWFSC Culinary Management Program held an amazing free Baking & Pastry Tasting Showcase Event on August 3, 2023. Students presented over 2,500 delicious tasting portions of desserts pastries, mousses, crème brulees, cakes, pies, tiramisus, fruit tarts, trifles, strudels, cookies, and brownies! Plus, everyone got to enjoy a gorgeous artisan “baked from scratch” bread display.
RAIDER LIFE OPEN HOUSE
HEALTH SCIENCES PASS RATES
RAIDER CAFÉ OPENS FOR FALL SEMESTER
BREAKFAST WITH THE PRESIDENT
The new Raider Café menu includes a Noodle Bar, a Burger Bar, a Panini Bar, and a Chicken/Wraps Bar. Raider Café is also serving breakfast paninis from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. and breakfast smoothies from 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
In September, the Foundation held Breakfast with the President for the College’s President’s Circle. Alongside a delicious breakfast, Mr. Alan Wood welcomed attendees, Mr. Hu Ross gave a beautiful invocation, and Mr. Johnny Brewer delivered an outstanding National Anthem on the trumpet. Speakers at the event included Foundation Executive Director Chris Stowers, Director of Government Relations and Special Projects Kevin Brown, and NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson.
NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Lori Kelley, Chair Thomas “Rudy” Wright, Vice Chair Cory Fosdyck Kristen “Rhea” Goff Megan Harrison
Don Litke Tanner Peacock Jon Ward Dr. Devin Stephenson, President
State College
100 College Boulevard, East Niceville, FL 32578
FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Alan Wood, Chair
Jonathan Ochs, Vice Chair Cindy Frakes, Treasurer Bo Arnold, Past Chair
Chris Stowers, Secretary Don Litke, Trustee Liason Dr. Devin Stephenson, President
FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Christie Austin James Bagby Destin Cobb Cindy Frakes Todd Grisoff Teresa Halverson Fran Hendricks Tyler Jarvis
Bernard Johnson Heather Kilbey Gordon King Vincent Mayfield Wendy McAdams Dorr Tim McCool Zach McCluskey Jonathan Ochs
Brian Pennington Steve Rhodes Hu Ross Stan Siefke Neko Stubblefield Cecil Williams
FOUNDATION HAPPY FALL!
FOUNDATION BOARD INSTALLATION AND CEREMONY
The Northwest Florida State College Foundation held its Annual Board Installation and Recognition Reception on Thursday, August 24, 2023, to welcome new Foundation directors, recognize new officers, thank outgoing directors, and highlight some of the Foundation’s many accomplishments within the last year. Dr. Bo Arnold, 2022-23 Foundation Board Chair, recognized the Foundation’s six outgoing board members, Ken Wampler, president of Newman-Daily Resorts; JD Peacock, Okaloosa County Clerk of Court; Dave Jefferson, Michelle Freeman, Fleet & Smith, P.A.; Rhonda Skipper,
Walton County Tax Collector; and Kim Kirby, Walton County School Board Member. Mr. Alan Wood, 2023-24 Foundation Chair, welcomed new members Brig. Gen. USAF, Ret. Fran Hendricks, Tim McCool, Wendy McAdams Dorr, Zach McCluskey, and Neko Stubblefield Dr. Stephenson closed the program stating this is “a significant time in the institution’s history. A time when we will be looked upon, us in this room today, as people who committed to the greater good and selflessly worked to enlarge the College’s influence and create an even stronger foundation.’”