President's Perspective July/August

State College

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

J ULY /AU GUST 2 022

VOLUME 6, NO. 03

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CONGRATULATIONS GRADS! “THE BEST PREPARATION FOR TOMORROW IS DOING YOUR BEST TODAY” As we approach the upcoming fall semester, it’s important to reflect on our accomplishments over these past few months, as they set a benchmark for the forthcoming academic year.

I want to start by congratulating our 2022 Northwest Florida State College graduates.

All of your hard work and dedication has paid off! We are pleased to have been a part of your journey as you work toward your personal and professional goals, and we hope that you stay connected with your alma mater as you achieve great things.

I would also like to recognize our 92 Collegiate High School graduates who have taken the first step toward their academic careers. I am proud to share that 99% of our graduates earned an associate degree in addition to a high school diploma!

We were pleased to celebrate our CHS graduates as some of them were named as Take Stock in Children Scholars in May. This is an excellent program for our students as it helps prepare them for success by providing them with mentors, student advocates, case managers, and early intervention while

also awarding them scholarships. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for these bright, young individuals.

As we look toward the future, it’s important to remember what H. Jackson Brown, Jr. once said: “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”

The College has continued to strive to be its best as it has provided the highest standard of resources and educational services to not only our current students, but also our community.

Last month, the College launched its new Futures Forward camp for current and incoming high school students. This hands-on program provided students with a unique, high-impact educational experience in Career Technical Education fields, including welding, aviation, culinary, and emergency medical services.

The College also focused on extending its reach throughout the community, providing over 1,800 students with a highquality post-secondary education in the Walton County area.

This past year, the College saw a 94%

program completion rate at its Walton County locations and contributed to a job growth increase of 4% in the area. It also served an employment population of over 30,600 people and invested more than $2.8 million in job growth opportunities.

We look forward to growing our presence throughout Northwest Florida as we expand the educational opportunities in the area and prepare those who walk through our doors for a bright future by giving them the resources and education they need to succeed.

I look forward to sharing many more achievements with you as the fall semester begins.

As always, thank you for being a part of our Raider family.

Dr. Devin Stephenson #TheBestIsOurStandard

ATHLETICS NWFSC IS PLEASED TO WELCOME NEW ASSISTANT COACHES TO THE RAIDERS MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMS

JOSHUA SHEN Joshua Shen has joined the women’s basketball team after finishing one year as Assistant Coach at the reigning Division 3 American Southwest Conference Regular Season champs, University of Mary HardinBaylor (UMHB) in Belton, TX. During his time at UMHB, Shen assisted with video breakdown, scouting, recruiting, and post-player development. Prior to his role at UMHB, he facilitated strength and conditioning, basketball equipment operations, social media management, and statistics. Shen has been instrumental in developing NJCAA All-American Odeth Betancourt, who signed with the University of South Florida, and Region XIV AllConference and Region players Alana Swift and Ginger Reece.

ADAM SWEENEY

NICK FRUSCIO

Adam Sweeney has retur ned to Northwest Florida State College after spending last season at New Mexico Junior College. During the 2021-2022 season, Sweeney helped guide the Thunderbirds to a 19-13 record with a 3rd place finish in the WJCAC Conference, including 2 All-Conference Selections, 1 Honorable Mention, and the Freshman of the Year.

From 2017 to 2019, Sweeney spent two seasons at NWFSC, where he helped guide the Raiders to a 58-9 overall record with two Panhandle Conference Championships, two Region Vlll Championships, and two Elite 8 Appearances. The Raiders also had 12 All-Conference Team Selections, six All-Region Team Selections, two 1st Team All-Americans, and one NJCAA National Player of the Year. Sweeney was integral in developing NJCAA National Player of the Year, Chris Duarte.

Joining Sweeney on the men’s basketball team is Nick Fruscio. Fruscio has six years of experience at the Division 1 level as a former player and graduate assistant. Prior to joining NWFSC, he served as a graduate assistant for two seasons at East Carolina University, where he assisted with daily operations and played a crucial component in player development. During the 20212022 season at East Carolina, Fruscio worked for NWFSC Men’s head basketball coach, Steve DeMeo.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

CHS STUDENTS NAMED AS TAKE STOCK IN CHILDREN SCHOLARS Northwest Florida State College was pleased to join the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation in May as it honored Collegiate High School students during the Take Stock in Children Student Awards Ceremony.

The Take Stock in Children program serves deserving, lowincome youth throughout Florida, helping them succeed in life by providing them with mentors, student advocates, case managers, and early intervention. Students who maintain the terms of the program’s contract are awarded scholarships.

Collegiate High School students Nyla Griffin, Grace Michelli, and Ingrid Mueller were inducted as Take Stock in Children Scholars during this year’s award ceremony. Griffin and Michelli received college tuition scholarships for 60 hours, and Mueller received a college tuition scholarship for 120 hours.

FUTURES FORWARD AT THE AVIATION CENTER OF EXCELLENCE The College was pleased to kick off its new Futures Forward program on June 6, 2022. Futures Forward is camp for current and incoming high-school students that focuses on various Career Technical Education (CTE) fields. Backed by the Entrepreneurship Education and Training (EET) grant, sessions are high-impact educational experiences held at various campus locations. Students chose from a variety of week-long classes in fields like welding, culinary, business, nursing, aviation, and emergency medical services.

TRIUMPH GULF COAST PRESENTS COLLEGE WITH THE HORIZON AWARD Northwest Florida State College was recently presented with the Triumph Gulf Coast Horizon Award for its accelerated implementation of the FAA certification program at the Aviation Center of Excellence. Triumph’s Horizon Award is presented to organizations that demonstrate outstanding innovation and lead efforts to create substantial job opportunities throughout the region.

“Northwest Florida State College is a model education partner that continues to exemplify Triumph Gulf Coast’s mission of broadening and diversifying the workforce opportunities in Northwest Florida,” said Triumph Gulf Coast Chairman Don Gaetz. “Through its innovation, research, education, and training, the College has continued to develop a qualified and capable workforce that has real training, real jobs, and real earnings.”

NWF STATE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Lori Kelley, Chair Thomas “Rudy” Wright, Vice Chair Charlotte Flynt Graham Fountain

Don Litke Dr. Devin Stephenson, President

State College

100 College Boulevard, East Niceville, FL 32578

FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Ken Wampler, Chair Bo Arnold, Vice Chair

Alan Wood, Treasurer J.D. Peacock, Past Chair

Chris Stowers, Secretary Don Litke, Trustee Liason Dr. Devin Stephenson, President

FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Christie Austin James Bagby Marek Bakun Destin Cobb Cindy Frakes Michelle McGee Freeman Todd Grisoff Tyler Jarvis Dave Jefferson

Bernard Johnson Heather Kilbey Gordon King Kim Kirby Vincent Mayfield Jonathan Ochs Brian Pennington Steve Rhodes Ashley Rogers

Hu Ross Rhonda Skipper Cecil Williams Steve Wolfrom

FOUNDATION WOLFROM FAMILY ESTABLISHES COMMUNICATIONS SCHOLARSHIP ENDORSEMENT Steve and Patti Wolfrom spent their careers in the communications and marketing professions. Their common interests in community service, volunteer leadership and communications brought them together as a couple. Their shared passion for excellence in all forms of communication and marketing led them to establish an endowed scholarship for a student pursuing a communications career at NWFSC. Steve graduated from Bowling Green State University (Ohio) with a degree in journalism. He worked for newspapers in Northwest Ohio as a sports writer, regional editor and editor-in-chief for a daily newspaper. He eventually left the journalism world to work in public relations and marketing for electric utility cooperatives, winning numerous national awards for his work. He became CEO for an Indiana electric cooperative before moving to Niceville to become vice president of a CHELCO division from 2013-2019.

Patti earned a BA in communications from Miami University (Ohio) and an MBA in marketing from Bowling Green State University. Her career included technical editing, marketing, fundraising and management for a variety of organizations. Exchanging her full-time career for full-time parenting, she remained involved in school, church and community organizations and occasional part-time work.

MS. DOTTY BLACKER ESTABLISHES FIRST RESPONDER DEVELOPMENT FUND With a $120,000 gift from Ms. Dotty Blacker back in December 2021, the First Responder Development Fund has been created. This fund is designed to enhance and exclusively support the NWFSC Fire Academy, Law Enforcement Academy, Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic programs and will contribute to special equipment purchases, facility upgrades, and faculty development that will enhance First Responder training.

Previous gifts from Ms. Blacker have helped create the Public Safety Memorial and provided support to Public Safety training. Ms. Blacker’s contributions total more than $978,000 since February 2000, and have helped reshape the campus and transform vital programs. The effects of her generosity will be felt for years to come.