State College
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
JAN l FEB 2021
VO LUME 5, NO. 01
ENG AGE
NWFSC EMPLOYEE DONATION TO
Northwest Florida State College’s call to action in 2021 is to promote engagement in the classroom, on our campuses and around the community. Led by our commitment to improve lives throughout the region, we are leaning into the new year with great anticipation for continued success and excellence. Using the word ENGAGE as our focus, six actionable targets will guide our efforts:
- ELEVATE - NURTURE - GENERATE - ADVANCE - GUARANTEE - EMPOWER
We are striving to ELEVATE educational attainment and our service territory (Okaloosa and Walton counties) to a region of prominence by raising expectations that NWF State College is the first choice for higher education and vital to the success of the Northwest Florida region. We offer accessible, affordable and relevant programming via multiple learning methods. Through innovative partnerships with business and industry, we are equipping the local workforce with valuable credentials and infusing that talent back into the community. To NURTURE a culture of inclusiveness and diversity, we are diligently pursuing a college family where differences are valued, treatment is equitable, and individuals feel empowered to effect change. This creates an environment which allows everyone to reach their full potential; provides multiple perspectives and delivers better performance outcomes. (continued on next page)
SHELTER HOUSE Members of the 2020-2021 PLA class packed and delivered food bag donations to local charity, Shelter House in December.
The 2020-2021 President’s Leadership Academy class challenged College employees to donate 30 meals to Shelter House in December. The response was generous, with enough donations to provide 50 meals to the charity as well as several boxes of bib lettuce from the culinary department’s greenhouse production and many
additional non-perishable items. “We are incredibly grateful to the President’s Leadership Academy for their partnership this holiday season,” said Rosalyn Wik, Executive Director of Shelter House. “It was a tough year for so many people, especially the survivors we serve, but the positive impact made by the PLA and Northwest Florida State College will be one that remains with Shelter House families long past the holiday season.”
NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE CELEBRATES DIVERSITY, UNITY AND COMMUNITY
Empowering individuals to realize their unique potential is a transformational gift. Equal rights and respecting the dignity of every person is a must and something that should not be taken for granted or assumed. We must always remain open to people and ideas. We all benefit when we embrace differences and expand inclusion. People succeed by helping others improve their lives and at Northwest Florida State College we are seeking solutions that truly help every person rise. In the poignant words of the nation’s first-ever youth poet laureate, Amanda Gorman:
“W
e are striving to forge a union with purpose To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us but what stands before us We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside
“
Northwest Florida State College
(continued from page 1)
NWFSC’s 2020-2023 Strategic Plan’s overarching goals are to GENERATE engagement throughout our classrooms, campuses and community. Initiatives focused on community, workforce, and economic development will foster greater opportunities for progress. Check out upcoming Raider Athletic and MKAC spring action inside this edition! By pursuing active and engaged learning in our classrooms, we will ADVANCE high-quality programming that meets the needs of business and industry in our region. As a result, we are preparing our students for university transfer and to be highly competent employees filling jobs in the contemporary workforce. We hope to see everyone at the grand opening of our Walton Works Training Center of Excellence on February 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Chautauqua Center. We are now offering ten new workforce programs preparing students to earn industry-recognized credentials in public safety, cybersecurity, drone technology and building trades in DeFuniak Springs. We aim to GUARANTEE a culture of continuous improvement and best practices. Our institution remains flexible and agile in response to the changing needs of business and industry. Moving forward together, we seek to provide multiple pathways for student success. As influencers, it is our duty to EMPOWER members of our community to effect change. We all benefit when we embrace differences and expand inclusion. Individuals succeed by helping others improve their lives, and at NWFSC we are seeking solutions that truly help every person rise. We are working each and every day to ‘make a difference’ and improve the quality of place in Northwest Florida. Regardless of the career path, Northwest Florida State College is the open door for all students to pursue a strong and progressive future. Dr. Devin Stephenson, President #TheBestisOurStandard
ATHLETICS NEW
RAIDER ARENA GUIDELINES
athletics schedule
2020-21
Northwest Florida State College Athletics announced guidelines last month that will be in place in Raider Arena for the 2021 men’s and women’s basketball season. As the season progresses, guidelines could change according to CDC, NJCAA, and NWFSC mandates. Northwest Florida State College opens the home conference season on Tuesday, February 9 verses Gulf Coast State College with the women playing at 5:30 p.m. and the men immediately following at 7:30 p.m. Visit nwfraiders.com for more information.
BASEBALL SC AN BELOW
MEN’S BASKETBALL SC AN BELOW
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SC AN BELOW
SOFTBALL SC AN BELOW
IN THE SPOTLIGHT WHITNEY RUTHERFORD JOINS NWFSC AS GENERAL COUNSEL
Northwest Florida State College is pleased to announce Whitney Rutherford as the new General Counsel. Rutherford is a Northwest Florida native who has experience in both educational and governmental law. A graduate of Liberty University School of Law in Lynchburg, Virginia, Rutherford served as a research assistant for the college during her six semesters as a student and graduated at the top of her class. Gleaning from her years as a policy intern for Virginia State Senator Steve Newman, Rutherford has first-hand knowledge of both higher education and state law processes. “We welcome Whitney Rutherford to Northwest Florida State College,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, NWFSC President. “We believe that her well-rounded legal background and enthusiasm for higher education will bring innovation and a passion for institutional excellence.”
T H E G A L L E R I E S AT M AT T I E K E L LY A R T S C E N T E R
Sa r a h K n o b e l : Sy n t h e t i c N at u r e
Pictured (Above): Mass, Foam Insulation #3, 2019, 42” x 50”, archival pigment print. (Below): Mass, Insulation #2, 2019, 42” x 50, archival pigment print and Mass, Foam Insulation #1, 2019, 42” x 50, archival pigment print
The submission period is now open for the Mattie M. Kelly Environmental Institute 14th Annual Amateur Photo Contest. The deadline for entering photos is Monday, March 8, 4 p.m. CST. Top three winning photos and additional honorable mentions will be featured in the 2022 MKEI Calendar. Prizes: $250 for first place, $150 for second place, and $100 for third place. Email mkei@ nwfsc.edu for submission guidelines, contest rules, and entry forms and requirements. No purchase or payment necessary to enter.
Mattie Kelly Art Center Galleries at Northwest Florida State College is pleased to present our newest exhibition January 22 – March 5. This solo exhibition is composed of the artist’s traditional works of highly-staged digital photographic installations about nature and technology; for example, building materials as seen in Mass Foam #3, created with wall insulation. The artist will also debut three large-scale collage responses about humanity and nature intersecting in the Emerald Coast. Sarah is an international artist who teaches at a private college in upstate New York. The Galleries are open Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; excluding major holidays and are open 90 minutes prior to most MKAC Mainstage performances.
NWF STATE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Lori Kelley, Chair Shane Abbott, Vice Chair Craig Barker Charlotte Flynt Graham Fountain
Reynolds Henderson Maj. Gen. Don Litke, USAF Ret. Maj. Gen. Thomas “Rudy” Wright, USAF Ret. Dr. Devin Stephenson, President
State College
100 College Boulevard, East Niceville, FL 32578
FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Cristie Kedroski, Secretary Maj. Gen. Don Litke, USAF Ret., Trustee Liaison Dr. Devin Stephenson, President
J.D. Peacock, Chair Ken Wampler, Vice Chair Bo Arnold, Treasurer C. Jeffrey McInnis, Past Chair
FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eric Aden Marek Bakun Wayne Campbell Destin Cobb Cindy Frakes Todd Grisoff Chad Hamilton Walter Hooks Tyler Jarvis
Dave Jefferson Bernard Johnson Heather Kilbey Gordon King Michelle McGee Freeman Jonathan Ochs Dennis Peters Steve Rhodes
Donnie Richardson Ashley Rogers Hu Ross Rhonda Skipper Cecil Williams Steve Wills Steve Wolfrom Alan Wood
FOUNDATION NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE ANNOUNCES 2020 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS The Northwest Florida State College Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI -
Jennifer Frances
AGAINST THE ODDS -
Wendy Jones
RISING STAR -
Eric Brown
JENNIFER FRANCES - DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI Frances established Bess the Book Bus (BBB), a nonprofit program in Tampa that provides literacy access to families in under-served neighborhoods by providing free books. WENDY JONES - AGAINST THE ODDS A single mom of three boys and her nephew, Wendy obtained her Medical Coder/Biller certificate and landed her dream job at White Wilson Medical Center. ERIC BROWN - RISING STAR After graduating from FSU College of Medicine, Eric was promoted to Lieutenant and began his surgical internship in the US Navy. VALERIE BOGAR - HOMETOWN HERO Valerie was one of the six original teens when the Youth Village started in 1999. Now she serves as the program director, leading the incoming preschool and voluntary prekindergarten programs.
HOMETOWN HERO -
Valerie Bogar