YEAR IN REVIEW Northwest Florida State College
Letter from the President Dr. Devin Stephenson
As I contemplate the past year, a sense of pride engulfs me. 2023 witnessed unprecedented accomplishments, progress, and a unified commitment towards the quest for institutional excellence. Significant legislative advancements were made by the College, coupled with remarkable institutional growth, the successful implementation of academic program enhancements, favor with both local and state legislative bodies, and a steady upward trend in student enrollment and engagement, enhancing the vitality of the campus. The 2023 Year in Review encapsulates the extraordinary triumphs of our board of trustees, foundation board members, faculty, staff, and our exceptional student body. Furthermore, you will see the many collaborations and partnerships we’ve established in our communities. A profound expression of gratitude is extended to everyone who played a role in upholding the high standards of Northwest Florida State College. The College’s notable status is a confirmation of the unwavering commitment of NWFSC faculty and staff, the steadfast backing from our generous donors, the vibrant communities that surround us, and the dedicated local and state government officials. As you explore the College’s Year in Review, I hope you appreciate the remarkable feats of our students, faculty, and staff. I am excited for what 2024 holds and I’m optimistic about the opportunities that it will present. Together, we will persistently innovate, inspire, and nurture the leaders of tomorrow. Go Raiders! Warm Regards, Dr. Devin Stephenson #TheBestIsOurStandard
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Spring Semester Women’s Basketball Won Championship The NWF Lady Raiders
Basketball Team triumphed in the National Championship! On Monday, March 27, the Lady Raiders secured the national crown with a hard-fought 66-63 win over Trinity Valley Community College at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock, Texas. This 2023 Championship, marking their thirteenth appearance in the national tournament, represents the Raiders’ second national title in the history of the program. Their first victory at the national tournament came in 2021.
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Military Friendly NWFSC was named a 2023-2024 Military Friendly School with a Silver Distinction by MilitaryFriendly.com. Final ratings were calculated by combining the institution’s survey scores with its ability to meet minimum thresholds for student retention, graduation, job placement, loan repayment, and loan default rates for student veterans. Rep. Joel Rudman
Florida Representative Joel Rudman hos ted a pres s conference at the Niceville campus to announce his filing of HB 517, a bill that will pave the way for veterans with combat-medic experience to receive credit for their service toward nursing degrees.
Sen. Doug Broxson Received AIM Award NWFSC was honored to present
the Advancing Institutional Mission (AIM) Award to Senator Doug Broxson for his dedicated efforts in appropriating funds for the College and helping expand educational and workforce opportunities in Northwest Florida. Since 2016, Senator Broxson has served Florida’s District 1, which includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties. Senator Broxson’s commitment to education has resulted in NWFSC receiving $250,000 in recurring appropriations over the past year in support of high-quality career and technical education.
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The College Tour NWFSC held a press
conference featuring Alex Boylan, the creator and executive producer of “The College Tour” (TCT), to reveal NWFSC’s feature in the show’s ninth season. This episode showcases insights from a selection of students, faculty, staff, as well as highlighting various locations and resources, making this information accessible to audiences globally via Amazon Prime Video and The College Tour’s website.
Coach DeMeo Named to Hall of Fame The Florida College System Activities
Association (FCSA A) recently declared that Steve DeMeo has been honored with induction into the Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame, joining the class of 2023. As the head coach of the men’s basketball team, DeMeo led the team to remarkable successes, including winning the Panhandle Conference Championship for five consecutive years (2015-2019) and securing four FCSAA State Tournament Championships in the years 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019.
SAB Students Traveled for FCSSGA Conference
The NWFSC Student Advisory Board (SAB) participated in the Florida College System Student Government Association’s legislative conference. On February 21, they visited Tallahassee Community College, where they engaged in workshops focused on effectively advocating for legislation and maintaining professionalism and expertise regarding the bills in question. The following day, February 22, the SAB members proceeded to the state capitol. There, they met with elected officials, advocating for educational bills and discussing issues currently championed by NWFSC.
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Summer Semester NWFSC & PSC Ar ticulation Ag ree m e n t f o r Cybe r s ec u r i t y Program Pensacola State College (PSC)
and NWFSC partnered to build a pathway to success for Cybersecurity students. PSC generously hosted an Articulation Agreement Signing Ceremony on June 22, 2023, on their campus. Cybersecurity is one of the nation’s fastest growing industries. This academic partnership provides a seamless transition for students receiving their Associate in Science degree at NWFSC to their Bachelor of Science degree. Both communities will benefit enormously, as this new pathway for students will build a pool of local applicants who are highly skilled, trained, and qualified.
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New Cheerleading Coach
NWFSC announced Shannon Tucker as the new Cheerleading Coach. Tucker is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Fitness, specializing in coaching and sports injuries. Ms. Tucker has an impressive r e s u m e, i n c lu d i ng ow ni ng Destination 850 in Niceville, Florida, and 17 years of coaching experience.
Softball Team Won First Panhandle Conference Championship Since 2016 The NWFSC Raider Softball Team achieved remarkable success,
setting new records with a season finish of 57-11, becoming the NJCAA National Runner-Up. Their thrilling victories earned the Raiders their inaugural entry into the NJCAA National Tournament, a first for the program, as well as their first Panhandle Conference Championship since 2016. This extraordinary team proved to be a formidable presence, breaking numerous school records over the course of the season!
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The Voices of NWF Sang Their Way to Noirmoutier, France
The Voices of NWF showcased their talent at a variety of locations, from cathedrals dating back to the 10th century to a prominent theater on the island of Noirmoutier. Their year of hard work and dedication culminated in a per formance at the globally acclaimed Les Salorges. Additionally, the group embarked on a tour of Paris, France, where they immersed themselves in the city’s rich culture, exploring museums, architec tural marvels, and numerous historical sites.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
N W FSC ’s ve r y o w n C o ll e g ia te High School Student, Sean Arbuckle, was selected to receive Phi Theta Kappa’s 2023 Hites Transfer Scholarship. Arbuckle was one of only fifteen students to receive this scholarship and was up against more than 2,700 applicants. This is the Phi Theta Kappa Society’s most prestigious and largest scholarship offering at $10,000. Hites Scholars are selected based on outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community activities.
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Kids On Campus This
year’s Kids on Campus was a huge success! Both weeks, kids thoroughly enjoyed every moment of their classes from learning to bake or play a spor t to ge t ting hands - on experience in a career field. Kids on Campus summer camp is a unique opportunity for summer enrichment and fun learning in a college environment.
TecMEN Industry Day On
Wednesday, May 17, the College took part in TecMEN Industry Day, held at the Okaloosa County Convention Center. The NWFSC booth was creatively designed to resemble a TV show set, where interviews were conducted with several prominent co m m u ni t y l ea d e r s, i n c lu d i n g Rep. Michelle Salzman. TecMEN Industry Day stands as the Gulf Coast’s premier one-day event in technology, manufac turing, and engineering. Launched in 2017, this annual expo merges substantial and pertinent content with valuable networking opportunities.
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Fall Semester Raider Village Groundbreaking NWFSC proudly declared the Board
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of Trustees’ endorsement of student housing on its Niceville Campus, marked by a special groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. Raider Village represents a significant landmark in the history of NWFSC and is set to open its doors to students by Spring 2025. The development of Raider Village underscores NWFSC’s dedication to enriching the college experience and cultivating a dynamic, flourishing, and inclusive campus environment.
Convocation
This year’s Convocation celebrated 30 employees for achieving significant career miles tones, awarded 2 Ar pke Facult y Excellence Awards, and presented 12 Kudos Faculty and Staff Spotlight Honor Awards. A standout feature of the Convocation was the engaging Social Media Marketing Panel. The panelists showcased various social media platforms, discussing strategies for leveraging the platforms to develop, recruit, and promote environments such as NWFSC.
Nursing Wall-Breaking
The College hosted a wallb r ea k i ng c e r e m o ny f o r Building 420, which will serve as the dedicated space for Health Sciences and the Nursing Program. This ceremony marked the initial phase of the NWFSC Nursing Program Expansion project. The priority in the Nursing Programs will be implementing teaching technologies and strategies that improve student success while accelerating the learning process. The generous support of over $21.8 million from Triumph Gulf Coast has made this transformative project possible.
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Baking & Pastry Showcase The NWFSC
Culinar y Management Program held a free Baking & Pastry Tasting Showcase Event on August 3, 2023. Student s presented over 2, 5 0 0 d e li c i o u s t a s t i n g 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.
CHS Innovative Carnival The Collegiate High School welcomed students to school with an Innovators Carnival on July 31, 2023. The Raider Café was filled with fun-filled innovative ideas for excited faculty, students, and parents.
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Raider Life Open House
Raider Life has been updated and upgraded! The Raider Life restyle project began in October of 2022, with a new Raider Life debut in September 2023, showcasing new furniture and a beautiful new mural. Students can now reserve and utilize the R3 Room for club meetings. Clubs can “Rest, Recharge, Restore” in R3.
Halloween Costume Contest Individual Category:
First Place: Ashley Abraham as Dark Fairy Second Place: Lesha Porche Denega as Steam Punk Third Place: Dr. Sandy Arteaga as Glinda
Group Category:
First Place: Business Services as Alice in Wonderland Second Place: Nursing as Bones Third Place: Foundation as Starbucks
Cybersecurity Ethical Hacking Team The N WFSC
Cybersecurity Club Ethical Hacking Team competed in the Florida College System’s first annual Cyber Range Competition. The event requires students to use handson cybersecurity hacking and defensive skills. The team placed 5th out of 20 schools!
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New Board of Trustees Members Cor y Fosdyck is dedicated to communit y ser vice. He has spear headed initiatives at the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, of fered his exper tise to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, and once led the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. He is a Senior Vice President and Senior Resident Director for Merrill Lynch.
Kristen “Rhea” Goff is the Chief A d mi ni s t r a t i ve O f f i c e r a n d a Senior Vice President of the St. Joe Company. Her influence extends to the Great Northwest Foundation in Florida, and she actively contributes to the South Walton High School’s advisor y board for business and culinary arts.
Megan Harrison serves as President and Chief E xecutive Of ficer of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. She’s known for her work with the Walton County Economic Development Alliance and has strong ties to the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association in the Northwest Florida Region.
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Dr. Devin Stephenson Received Harold L . Bishop Award
NWFSC President, Dr. Devin Stephenson received the University of Alabama College of Education’s 2023 Harold L. Bishop Award for Leadership on October 13, 2023. This is a highly prestigious Capstone Education Society Alumni Award that commemorates University of Alabama alumni who ser ve as outstanding lea d e r s in t he f iel d of education.
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 has had over 20 students actively participating in the Student Advisory Board and 6 students receiving scholarships. During the induction ceremony, officers committed to their roles, taking an official oath and agreeing to the student handbook of ethics.
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Inaugural Emerald Coast PCA Rodeo NWFSC and the Emerald Coast PCA held their first Rodeo on November 10th and 11th, 2023. The two-night event on the NWFSC’s Niceville campus entertained nearly 3,000 spectators of all ages! The Rodeo featured heart-stopping bull riding, daredevil barrel racing, breathtaking roping, and specialty acts.
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Seacoast Collegiate High School Groundbreaking In a
partnership aimed at transforming educational opportunities in Walton County, NWFSC and Seacoast Collegiate High School were thrilled to break ground on a new Dual Enrollment and Workforce Development Center. The highly anticipated celebration and ceremony was held on October 2, 2023. The strategic efforts of NWFSC and Seacoast Collegiate High School signify a shared commitment to provide students with innovative pathways, seamlessly blending high school education with college coursework and essential workforce skills.
NWFSC Hosted the 2023 HEI Presidents’ Conference
NWFSC was honored to host the prestigious 2023 Higher Education I n n ov a t i o n ( H EI ) P r e s i d e n t s’ Conference in Oc tober on its Niceville campus. This significant event attracted higher education leaders from all over the nation. With the dynamic shifts in the higher educ ation sec tor, HEI underscores the imperative for transformative change in both institutional struc tures and leadership approaches.
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Years of Service 5 Years
15 Years
Amanda Briant
Julie Cotton
Heather Dietzold
Adam Guiles
Layne Eggers
Doug Martin
Lisa Haddorff
Raquel McKay
Amy Hunt
Teresa Ryan
Kim-Anh Brechtel
Brian Majka Mary Mizell Aaron Murray Sonja Quinn Conner Rogers Steven Schroeder Amy Silva
10 Years
Tanya Beauregard Jeffrey McGill Richard Nadeau
Dennis Burns
20 Years
Patrick McArthur
25 Years
Benjamin Gillham David Schjott Deanna Simpson
30 Years
Jonathan Bryan Anne Southard
David Nance Christopher Snellgrove
Arpke Faculty Excellence Award
Heather Hartness - Asst. Professor, Rhetoric & Composition, English and Communications, QEP Faculty Development
Ryan Adams - Professor, Mathematics and Natural Science
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Staff Kudos
The following College employees received recognition at the 2023 Convocation.
2023 Recipients Chris Abadia - Director, Aviation Programs Scott Bennett - Director, Welding Technology Tony Chavez - Associate Director, Admissions Navigation
Lauren Dixon - Office Specialist, Accounts Payable Amy Goodman - Purchasing Dawn Hunter - HR Specialist, Human Resources Kym Lang - Senior Affordability Advocate, Financial Aid Julie McSwain - Student Success Navigator, Student Success Navigation
Julie Payne & Team - Testing and Accommodation Sonja Quinn - Executive Director, Academic Records & Enrollment
Bailey TaraBori - Visual Designer, Strategic Communications
Belinda Wise - Associate Director, Career Education
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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 100 College Boulevard, East Niceville, FL 32578
850.502.2895 | nwfsc.edu
Northwest Florida State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Northwest Florida State College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).