The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
August 18, 2021
Local builder Amir Fooladi didn’t put his or his company’s name on the endowed scholarship he established to help Pensacola State College students hoping to enter the construction field.

The goal of the PSC Student Constructors Endowed Scholarship isn’t to build the Fooladi name. It’s to help strengthen the College’s workforce commitment and supply Northwest Florida with more qualified workers in the construction and contracting trades. 

 On Tuesday, Aug. 17, the endowed scholarship was announced at a press conference held outside Building 18 (building trade work and storage area) on the Pensacola campus.

“One of the biggest hurdles in our industry right now is finding good people and having a skilled labor force,’’ said Fooladi, president and CEO of ParsCo, a Pensacola construction firm. “This scholarship isn’t about me. It’s about our industry.” 

Ted Sumrall likes to help people. He’s just that kinda guy. So, he’s working in the perfect place, because Sumrall is one of the folks who answers the phone when you’re having technology problems and call the Pensacola State College Help Desk.

“I like talking to people,” said Sumrall, a recently-hired PSC Technology Support specialist. (He’s worked in the position since 2020 but was officially a Kelly Services – an employment staffing agency – employee.) “One of my favorite things to do is to talk to strangers. I like socializing. It’s always rewarding to me to meet someone new and talk to them.” 

Sumrall was officially hired by the College just a month ago.

“If he’s not the best technician I’ve had come through here, he’s in the top three,” said Sumrall’s supervisor, Ricky Smith, PSC Technology Support coordinator. “He’s on the short list, for sure.” 
First off, the Pensacola State College EMS program’s new test subject isn’t a mannequin. It’s a manikin, which is designed to simulate the human body, while most mannequins have largely featureless body parts and are designed to show off clothes or hairstyles.

And the EMS program’s new manikin is top of the line. Not only does it have realistic body parts, it has the capability to bleed, breath, speak – in English and Spanish – show a pulse and more.

It’s called a TOMManikin and it is manufactured by North American Rescue Simulation, a national company that provides tactical training equipment for military, medical and emergency training. TOMManikin’s are hyper-realistic simulators which allow instructors to build numerous realistic traumatic casualty scenarios with reactive patients.

“I saw a demonstration at a symposium and I’ve been trying to get one for the last four years," said Don Lee, Director of the PSC EMS program. “It has so many capabilities. You have to ask yourself ‘What can’t it do?’”
WELCOME, STUDENTS!

Sure, it’s still summer, but the Pensacola State College 2021 fall semester began this week.

Students filled PSC campuses and centers for the first day of classes and – a sign of the times – many wore masks, which are strongly encouraged in all classrooms and buildings.

If you’re interested in attending PSC you can still register for fall sessions. The next fall session begins Sept. 7. The final fall session begins Oct. 12. 
Confused about financial aid? The Title III: Pirate PATH to Success team and the Office of Financial Aid are offering the program, “Understanding Your Financial Aid” to students from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 26, in Building 5, Room 509, on the Pensacola Campus.

Free to-go lunches are available to student attendees if they RSVP in advance to Brenna Wright at 850-484-2082 or bmwright@pensacolastate.edu.
Did you know that Pensacola State College has free financial incentives for you to attend college?

In a partnership between the Florida Department of Education and Helios Education Foundation, the Now. Not Tomorrow. initiative was launched to open the door to college for all students. The thoughtful action behind this initiative will jumpstart the future of students and create a pathway to comprehensive success with less debt. The 28 colleges within the Florida College System, including Pensacola State College, have financial incentives available for students to enroll immediately.

Apply Today! More than $30,000 in scholarships is available. 850-484-2000