Winter 2023 President's Perspective

State College

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

WINTER 2023 VOLUME 7, NO. 01

Happy New Year, Raiders!

As we kick off this academic year, I’d like to start by thanking everyone who helped make 2022 a successful year for Northwest Florida State College. This issue of President’s Perspective recognizes some of our incredible students, faculty, and staff who exemplify what it means to be a part of the Raider family and highlights just a few of our achievements from last year. These include 16 Raider athletes being named to the 2021-2022 All-Academic team, three Collegiate High School students being selected as National Merit Semifinalists, and the College receiving a $21 million grant from the Triumph Gulf Coast board for the expansion of our nursing program as well as a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education for our Title III Part A Strengthening Institutions program.

I am eager for you to read about our achievements and to learn more about what is in store for the College this semester.

As we work toward new goals this year, I encourage you to remember what American forester and politician Gifford Pinchot once said, “The vast possibilities of our great future will become realities only if we make ourselves responsible for that future.”

I challenge you to take the future into your hands and continue to strive toward greatness as we make a difference in our community and improve the quality of life in Northwest Florida.

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

Last year ended with a bang as the Triumph Gulf Coast board awarded Northwest Florida State College $21,787,560 for its Nursing Program Expansion project on its Niceville campus.

The Nursing Program Expansion project consists of four parts: the renovation of the Niceville Campus Health Sciences building, the integration of instructional enhancements through virtual technology, professional development for faculty, and increased accessibility of pre-nursing coursework to support a pipeline of students.

The project’s impact is expected to extend throughout both Okaloosa and Walton counties as it helps the College meet health care industry needs and expand the availability of qualified nurses throughout Northwest Florida.

“The College recognizes the critical need for a dramatic increase in qualified nurses throughout Northwest Florida,” said NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson. “We are proud to offer excellent health sciences programs that boast a reputation for exceptional instruction and are known for meeting high standards of excellence. With the support from Triumph Gulf

Dr. Devin Stephenson #TheBestIsOurStandard

Coast, the College stands ready to expand its program resources and services as it proactively recruits and trains nursing students to meet urgent staffing needs in the region.”

The College’s A.S. in Nursing (ASN) program is nationally accredited through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and boasts NCLEX pass rates that have exceeded state averages by double digits for the past 14 years. The job placement rate for NWFSC nursing graduates remains greater than 98% with students having positions lined up prior to program completion.

NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AWARDED $2.2 MILLION GRANT

The U.S. Department of Education awarded Northwest Florida State College a $2,245,280 grant as part of its Title III Part A Strengthening Institutions Program.

The Strengthening Institutions Program helps eligible higher-education institutions expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen their academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability. The awarded grant will provide 70% of the funding needed to support NWFSC’S Title III Raider Flight Plan Project which will enable the College to tackle academic performance, persistence, and completion issues among this population.

Through this project, NWFSC will be able to meet the critical needs of these low-income and underrepresented students by introducing an enhanced College Success Course that teaches degree program completion strategies. The project will also allow the College to develop and implement an Academic Outreach Plan and design new processes to improve student success in online and high-enrollment General Education courses. Additionally, the program will provide intensive academic outreach and support to students in Gateway English and mathematics courses and establish an Achievement Mentorship Program for lowincome students.

“Northwest Florida State College is committed to assisting each student who comes through our doors in achieving their individual goals for education and career success,” said NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson. “With this funding, we will ensure that all students are provided access to quality higher education programs and will provide the support system needed to create a foundation on which everyone can succeed.”

THREE CHS STUDENTS SELECTED AS NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS

The National Merit Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of over 16,000 high school students who have been selected as semifinalists in the 68th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Among those chosen were NWFSC Collegiate High School students Aiden Black, Alana Davis, and Serapia Silva.

The NMSC is a non-profit organization that honors the nation’s scholastic champions and encourages the pursuit of academic excellence. With the support of 340 businesses, colleges, and universities, NMSC is granting nearly $28 million in scholarships to students wishing to pursue higher education opportunities.

The nationwide pool of semifinalists represents less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. As semifinalists, students will remain in the running to receive some of the 7,250 National Merit Scholarships that will be awarded this spring.

“We are extremely proud of Aiden, Alana, and Serapia for this prestigious achievement, as it is a great indicator of their academic

excellence and dedication to their studies. Regardless of the outcome, we are confident that our students will continue to succeed in their academic endeavors and achieve great things as they pursue their career goals,” said Northwest Florida State College President Dr. Devin Stephenson.

The 2023 Merit Scholars will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April 2023. The scholars will join nearly 368,000 distinguished individuals who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

16 RAIDER ATHLETES

JOIN THE FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION’S

20212022 ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM

Northwest Florida State College was pleased to announce that 16 Raider athletes were named as members of the Florida College System Activities Association’s (FCSAA) 20212022 All-Academic Team.

The FCSAA is a statewide non-profit corporation that regulates, coordinates, and promotes intercollegiate activities in athletics, brain bowls, forensics, Model United Nations, music, student governments, student publications, and theatre.

This year, 1,161 students participating in FCSAA programs were recognized for maintaining a minimum 3.30 GPA throughout the 2021-2022 academic year.

“We are proud of our Raider athletes for their commitment to excellence in everything they do,” said NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson. “I look forward to seeing what they accomplish as they continue working toward their academic goals and hone their talents and skills this season.”

Fort Walton Beach native Tony Chavez is a true testament to what it means to be a part of the Raider family.

After graduating high school in 2010, Chavez wanted to pursue higher education but knew that large universities weren’t the right fit for him.

As an Asian-American, first-generation student, Chavez prioritized saving money and staying close to home. Although there were a few higher-education institutions to choose from in the surrounding area, Chavez knew that he belonged somewhere where he would feel valued and supported as he navigated adulthood and balanced new responsibilities. He chose to become a Raider and earned an Associate in Arts degree at Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC).

“What made this school the number-one choice for me at 18 years old was not having to think about other stressors associated with college life and instead just focus on myself for the first time,” Chavez explained. “As a new adult, it was awesome to just prepare myself for the real world with the luxury of staying home and being next to my family and just working toward my goals without having to be miles and miles away.”

Although he initially pursued a medicaldegree track, Chavez gained a mentor in college who showed him all of the career possibilities in higher education. After transferring to Troy University and earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Chavez returned to Fort Walton Beach and realized that he could pursue his career goals at NWFSC.

Since 2017, Chavez has served the Raider community as an admissions office specialist, admissions navigator, career navigator, and student engagement coordinator. He currently serves as the new associate director for admissions navigation.

Reflecting on his previous roles at the College, Chavez said one of the most rewarding moments has been interacting with students and seeing the fire in their eyes as they become passionate about their education. He has also enjoyed training fellow recruiters and seeing them develop in their roles.

“Making a difference in someone else’s life is always rewarding for me,” he said. “We’re so outward facing and help students make their dreams into a reality. Seeing them at the Commons or at different restaurants and having them stop you to say, ‘Hey, I remember you. I was able to start my first semester, and it has

been awesome,’ it has touched me knowing that I’ve had that impact in someone’s life.”

If Chavez could leave prospective students with three pieces of advice, it would be to come in with an open mind, work with an advisor to optimize your time at the College, and get involved on campus and in the community. He explained that campus involvement allowed him to further develop his interpersonal skills while also making an impact in the Raider community.

When asked what it means to be a Raider, Chavez passionately shared his answer.

“On campus tours, I always tell students and their families as we head through the Doolittle exhibit that our mascot is named after the Doolittle Raiders,” he said. “We’re not only a part of American history but also local history. We’re so rooted in our community, it’s awesome seeing people throughout town that you recognize as being part of your Raider family.”

“THE NAVIGATORS WERE VERY HELPFUL IN FIGURING OUT MY TWO-YEAR PLAN. I LEFT MY MEETING FEELING MUCH MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT MY EXPERIENCES IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND I’M NOW EVEN MORE PREPARED FOR WHAT’S AHEAD OF ME.”

- JENNA CYRUS NWFSC Student

ONCE A RAIDER, ALWAYS A RAIDER - TONY CHAVEZ

FOUNDATION

FOUNDATION WELCOMES NEW TEAM

A’ISHA CRISTOBAL

OFFICE SPECIALIST

“ In Foundation, we find the people that have the heart to give and help match them with the students that are in need. It is an honor and a blessing for me to be able to make a difference in the lives of others.”

JENNIFER BERNICH

DONOR RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION

COORDINATOR

“I look forward to the opportunities of engaging the local community to further the educational goals of the students of NWFSC.”

WENDY MCADAMS DORR

ACCOUNTING & OPERATIONS MANAGER

“I look forward to connecting with our community of donors and college employees and seeing the impact that we can have on lives and community through our college scholarships and program funding.”

CONNER ROGERS

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

“I look forward to helping students attend college cost-free! I look forward to helping our programs grow to offer our students a top-tier education. I also look forward to growing our alumni program and connecting with community members to showcase all the wonderful things taking place at our school.”

FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT GIFTS $30K FOR VETERANS & MILITARY SUCCESS CENTER

Bernard Johnson of Florida Power & Light presented the NWFSC Foundation with a $30,000 check to support the Veterans & Military Success Center. This gift represents the final installment of a $150,000 multi-year pledge. We are grateful for the partnership with FP&L as we support the veterans who are pursuing their education at Northwest Florida State College.

FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Lori Kelley, Chair

Thomas “Rudy” Wright, Vice Chair

Charlotte Flynt

Graham Fountain

Bo Arnold, Chair

Alan Wood, Vice Chair

Jonathan Ochs, Treasurer

Ken Wampler, Past Chair

Chris Stowers, Secretary

Don Litke, Trustee Liason Dr. Devin Stephenson, President

FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Don Litke

Tanner Peacock

Dr. Jon Ward Dr. Devin Stephenson, President

Christie Austin

James Bagby

Destin Cobb

Cindy Frakes

Todd Grisoff

Teresa Halverson

Tyler Jarvis

Dave Jefferson

Bernard Johnson

Heather Kilbey

Gordon King Kim Kirby

Vincent Mayfield Michelle McGee

Freeman

Jonathan Ochs

J.D. Peacock

Brian Pennington

Steve Rhodes Hu Ross Stan Siefke

Rhonda Skipper Cecil Williams

A’isha Cristobal

Wendy McAdams Dorr

Conner Rogers

Jennifer Bernich