November/December 2020 President's Perspective

State College

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

N O V l D E C 2 0 2 0

A Th a nk ful President Gratitude (noun) 1. The quality of being thankful; 2.

Readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness Above all, I am thankful for the overall health and wellbeing of our College community. I am humbled by the resiliency and resolve of our College administration, faculty and staff. This year, specifically, I have witnessed great efforts to transform longpracticed teaching methodologies and operational processes to better serve our students and personnel.

As we prepare for the holiday season, I find myself reflecting on a number of good things that came from a year that was filled not only with unprecedented challenges, but one that also generated extraordinary opportunities.

Our College has received over $18 million in grant funding in the past year, which will continue to transform our career education offerings and positively impact the quality of place in both Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

Most recently, U.S. News & World Report ranked Northwest Florida State College #1 among all southern region colleges for the least amount of student loan debt realized by our graduates, and ranked 4th nationally among all regional colleges. This is an honor and a testament to our affordable first-class education and the work of our team in assuring that students are made aware of all merit- and need-based financial aid/scholarship opportunities.

Northwest Florida State College is a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Reaffirmation of Accreditation Class of 2020. We successfully completed our decennial review in mid-October and submitted our five-year Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP): Engage NWFSC. The reaffirmation process was a college(continued on next page)

VOLUME 4, NO. 08

NWFSC CELEBRATES OUR VETERANS

The emerald coast is a wonderful place to live for many reasons. The military communities that NWF State College serves contributed to the establishment of the Veterans Success Center in 2019. The Veterans Success Center is a one stop service center for student veterans and eligible family members using VA education benefits.

As we reflect upon the students we support, we are thankful for their service and dedication to the United States. Aside from the educational benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA Student Work Study program is also a beneficial

(L to R): BillyJoe Blevins, VA Work Study Sudent, pictured with fellow Veteran Success Center employees Wanda Morgan, Dorian Busby and Sandra Henry

program to eligible students financially, in addition to gaining valuable experience working in higher education environment.

Mr. BillyJoe Blevins currently is a VA Student Work Study at NWF State College while pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. “As a work study and fellow veteran, it is great to see and work with a great team at the Veteran Success Center that works diligently to ensure that anyone who is entitled to VA benefits receive their entitlement.” Mr. Blevins provides administrative support to the Veterans Success Center School Certifying Officials and guides students through the process of applying for VA education benefits. According to Dorian Busby, Veterans Success Coordinator,

“having a student veteran assist “having a student veteran assist their fellow student veterans is their fellow student veterans a tremendous benefit to the is a tremendous to Mr. the Veterans Successbenefit Center.

Veterans Success Center.

Mr. Blevins is often the first person Blevins is encounter often the first person student’s either on student’s encounter either the phone or in person, andon is the phonestudent or in person, and is someone veterans can someone student veterans can relate to since he is a student relateis to since he iswith a student and familiar the and VA is familiar with the VA processes.” processes.”

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wide effort that guarantees our accreditation for the next ten years and affirms our mission to improve lives by providing high-quality, globally competitive education. Through our QEP, we pledge to become a more present, visible and active partner in our students’ path toward academic and career success.

Updates on our progress throughout the year will be shared in forthcoming President’s Perspective newsletters.

Now more than ever, I am grateful for our community, who have funded, volunteered, celebrated, and advocated for us throughout the years. Your unwavering support throughout this time of great uncertainty, has helped Northwest Florida State College thrive. This year, we are overwhelmed and humbled by the community’s response to assist our students through the College’s Student Emergency Fund and major scholarship endowment donations.

We are fortunate to live in such a generous community with deep roots in patriotism and loyalty. Let us all pause in gratitude for the men and women who have served to protect our great nation. I am thankful for the sights and sounds of freedom that can regularly be seen and felt outside my home and office windows. I am proud that we are doing our part to serve our active duty service members, veterans, and their family members at our one-stop Veterans Success Center (VSC) by offering a tranquil, professional and respectful space, where veterans and their family members can study or pursue other scholastic assignments.

It is my sincere wish that you experience a joyous holiday season with your loved ones.

The year 2020 has stretched us, challenged us, and forced us to adapt. Never lose sight of the goodness around you. Together we will Make a Difference and continue to advance as we have for 56 years. We are in the prime of life as an organization, and we will continue doing great things for Northwest Florida!

Dr. Devin Stephenson, President #TheBestisOurStandard

VP THANKFUL THOUGHTS “The holiday season invites us to pause, give thanks, and celebrate the extraordinary community we live in. As I reflect on this past year, I am grateful for my colleagues who inspire me each and every day as well as for the community leaders and benefactors who support our mission to improve lives and provide others with the gift of education. I am thankful to find meaning in my work, but consider it a true blessing to find joy in strengthening our community, one student at a time.”

CRISTIE KEDROSKI

“I’m thankful for masks and everyone’s cooperation in wearing them. I’m also thankful for our Police Department, Facilities, and Physical Plant personnel who have all worked very hard in keeping us safe in this crazy COVID environment. Lastly I am thankful that the SACSCOC 10-year accreditation visit is behind us and we not only survived it, but came through much better than most.”

RANDY WHITE

“I am grateful for you. It is my sincere honor to work alongside some of our students’ biggest champions--and many of my biggest heroes! You make me excited about the work we do, and it remains my privilege to show up each day in the service of our students. Thanks for all you do.”

DR. DEIDRE PRICE

“This year, I am thankful for the continued health and safety of our College employees. Despite the many internal and external challenges we faced this year, we have achieved many accomplishments. I am most thankful to everyone for their work on our successful SACSCOC on-site visit. It is truly a testament to the passion the faculty, staff, and administration have as we work to improve lives.”

DR. NATE SLATON

“Throughout this challenging year, we pulled together and accomplished great things. This year saw the successful launch of the new strategic plan. This success would not be possible without the fantastic colleagues I work with every day. My colleagues are what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving.”

PAULINE ANDERSON

IN THE SPOTLIGHT RAIDER FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS Since its opening in the fall of 2018, the NWF Raider Pantry has become a staple of support for students at Northwest Florida State College. The Raider Pantry is housed on the Niceville Campus; however, students at any one of NWFSC’s six locations may request items to be delivered at their respective centers.

We are excited to announce our new initiative, “Pop-up Pantry,” starting in November, where we will take the Pantry on the road to our Fort Walton Beach Campus, along with our other center locations to provide ease in the use of these services.

Food | Hygiene Products | Baby Supplies

The Pantry exists to provide food and personal hygiene items to students in need.

All requests for services are confidential.

https://www.nwfsc.edu/pantry/

QE P CORNER

Having served approximately 300 students, we recognize our ability to do so is due mainly to campus and community support through your donations of food and hygiene items along with monetary contributions. We are thankful that you have joined us to help ease these burdens that impact many of our students. For more information or to donate you may call 729-5348 or email raiderlife@nwfsc.edu The QEP Implementation Team would like to thank the NWFSC faculty for showing tremendous support of the SACSCOC QEP On-site Visit and professional development opportunities during this Fall 2020 semester. The on-site visit and the in-person and virtual fall faculty forums were successful because of your passion for teaching and dedication to students. We look forward to continuing the conversation regarding active and engaged learning for our students.

THANK YOUDr. KC Williams, Executive Director of Academic Strategies & Innovation Dr. Patrice A. Williams-Shuford, QEP Director Dr. Elizabeth Ponder Melick, Faculty Development Coordinator

MKAC IS THANKFUL FOR ...

Our donors & sponsors: ERA Realty, Merrill Lynch and Fred R. Semasko Jr., Financial Advisor

The Audience who puts their trust in us The Musicians of the NFSO who show up and perform (many with masks)

Our fabulous staff (to include technical crew and administrators) who put in hours of planning to make an event happen

Thankful for the unity of other arts organizations who have lifted us up during this trying time.

NWF STATE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Brian S. Pennington, Chair Lori Kelley, Vice-Chair Shane Abbott Craig Barker Charlotte Flynt

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 J.D. Peacock, Chair Ken Wampler, Vice Chair Bo Arnold, Treasurer C. Jeffrey McInnis, Past Chair

Cristie Kedroski, Secretary Maj. Gen. Don Litke, USAF Ret., Trustee Liaison Dr. Devin Stephenson, President

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 EILEEN H. ARPKE CREATES FACULTY EXCELLENCE AWARD ENDOWMENT College President, Dr. Devin Stephenson pictured with Eileen Arpke. Ms. Arpke’s generosity spans more than 30 years and has touched many areas of the college including the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, President’s Circle, Institute of Senior Professionals and Raider Athletics.

Eileen Arpke, an ardent advocate and long-time supporter of NWFSC, is once again demonstrating her love for the college by establishing an endowment in the amount of $20,000 which will be used to recognize Faculty Excellence. The cash award and commemorative medallion will celebrate quality, promote academic excellence, and reward competencies in teaching and engaging students in the liberal arts and sciences disciplines at Northwest Florida State College.

A former Trustee, Ms. Arpke’s generosity spans more than 30 years and has touched many areas of the college including the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, President’s Circle, Institute of Senior Professionals and Raider Athletics. Her most recent gift of $50,000 assisted in closing the gap on the necessary funds needed to construct the Athletic Department’s New Indoor Practice Facility. Over the years she has also endowed two scholarships, the Eileen H. Arpke Scholarship and the Charles and Eileen H. Arpke Scholarship, as well as named the Charles K. and Eileen H. Arpke Conference Room.

Ms. Arpke’s hope is that her newest gift will acknowledge the achievement of Northwest Florida State College Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty. The award is designed to recognize achievement in one or more of the following: • Innovative course design and a creative, unique, and effective teaching style that elicits academic excellence through love of the subject matter • Demonstrated excellence in job performance and student success contributions • Demonstrating flexibility for educational change initiatives • Using the results of learning outcome assessments to affect change and improvement The Academic Affairs Division of the College will gather input from a committee that will nominate three faculty members (Full-time, Part-time, Adjunct) annually. Nominations will be presented to the President who will select the award finalist who will be announced and recognized at a college-wide event.

For more information about the Eileen H. Arpke Faculty Excellence Award Endowment please call the NWFSC foundation Office at 850-729-5357.