The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
August 4, 2021
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Like many young artists, Jason Pinckard was inspired by cartoons, comic books and video games. As a child, he would draw all the characters he liked to watch and play on video games, from “Mega Man” to “Looney Tunes” characters.
His affinity with art would continue at Pace High School, where, as a student he would expand his drawing, using color pencils and experimenting with various techniques, expanding his use of light and shadow.
Pinckard’s interest in art never faded or dulled, and today, he is not only a professional artist himself – largely working in digital photography and sculpture – he is surrounded by the art of others. He became PSC’s new Gallery Coordinator on July 1, replacing Michelle Schulte, who recently left the position. He will oversee curating and designing exhibitions for the PSC Switzer Gallery and Lamar Studio in the Anna Lamar Center for Visual Arts on the Pensacola campus.
“This is such a beautiful place,” Pinckard said of the Anna Lamar Center and its galleries. “It’s amazing, quite honestly.”
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PSC’s EMS-Paramedic Program earns 5-year accreditation |
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Pensacola State College’s EMS-Paramedic Program has earned continuing accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
The College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS)-Paramedic Program was first accredited in 1986. The current five-year accreditation will be in effect through 2026.
The CAAHEP accredits certificate, diploma, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the many health disciplines including EMS-Paramedic, advanced cardiovascular sonographer, anesthesia technologist, anesthesiologist assistant, art therapist and more. The organization accredits programs in the U.S. and internationally.
Thirteen students are currently enrolled in the program, said Emergency Medical Tech Associate Professor Don Lee. Since it began, nearly 600 students have graduated from the EMS-Paramedic Program.
“The program has been in existence since the 1970s,” said Lee, who said graduates go on to work at fire departments, in law enforcement, the military, and the health care sector.
“Just about every hospital in northwest Florida has at least two Pensacola State EMS-Paramedic Program graduates employed.”
According to the PSC Office of Institutional Research, 594 students have graduated with degrees or certificates from the PSC program.
The College’s four-semester Paramedic Program is a certificate program. Students enrolled in the program learn pre-hospital emergency care and can become skilled in advanced life support measures.
The EMS-Associate in Science degree program completes the academic progress of a graduate of an Emergency Medical Technician Program and a Paramedic Certificate with 16 hours of general education courses.
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Scholarship created for Patrice Whitten, who helped cultivate hundreds of scholarships, raise millions for PSC |
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Patrice Whitten has always been a leader at Pensacola State College, even before it was Pensacola State College. As a student at then-Pensacola Junior College in the 1970s, Patrice Whitten – then Patrice Shiver – was president of the Student Government Association, recipient of the Faculty Leadership Award and a member of the Delta Chi Omega sorority.
She remained a leader at PSC for decades, and now Pensacola State College even has a scholarship in her name.
The Patrice Whitten Endowed Scholarship was announced on Aug. 3 at a surprise reception for Whitten, who recently retired as PSC’s Alumni Association executive director and Special Assistant to the President. She previously served 18 years as the PSC Foundation executive director. Before that, she served two years as PBS Development Director for WSRE-TV at PSC.
The event in the Milton campus L.I.F.E. Center was a surprise to Whitten, who had no idea of the reception or the scholarship, which was funded by her family and friends and matched by the PSC Alumni Association. The scholarship endowment is $25,000.
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Pensacola State College to hold Open House on Saturday |
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The Pensacola State College Student Affairs and Student Services offices will be open 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug.7, to help new, returning and potential students.
Fall semester class begin Monday, Aug. 16. It’s not too late to register for classes.
The Cashiers Office will be open to process payments or provide payment information. The event will include free giveaways and food.
College staff will be on hand to answer questions, assist with applying for college, accept necessary paperwork to complete financial aid files, help with the scholarship application, meet with an advisor to register for classes, schedule any testing, and learn more about preparing for the first day of classes.
Free money also is available for current and new full- and part-time students for the Fall Semester. The CARES Act funds do not have to be repaid and does not affect financial aid.
Fall semester sessions A and B begin Aug. 16. Other options include:
- Session A: Aug. 16 – Dec.10
- Session B: Aug. 16 ¬– Oct. 11
- Session C: Sept. 7– Dec. 10
- Session D: Oct. 12 – Dec. 10.
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Pat Thomason moves and moves quickly. When he walks, it’s with purpose. When you’re responsible for mustering dozens of children and getting them to where they’re supposed to go, you better move with purpose.
“Earth Science and Zoology let’s go,’’ he said in a loud, clear voice to the dozens of children assembled in the room. A portion of the children move out through a door, heading for a bus parked right outside. He’d repeat the call for children enrolled in other classes at Pensacola State College’s 2021 Kids College ─ classes ranging from gymnastics to theater camp.
The 2021 Kids College ended the last week of July. And so, did Thomason’s time as director of the celebrated children’s camp. Thomason stepped down after 27 years as Kids College director. This was the 31st year the camp has taken place.
“It’s been great,’’ Thomason said of his time at Kids College. “I’ve met a lot of kids over the years, some of whom sent their own kids here when they got older.”
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PSC moves to new, streamlined electronic transcript system |
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For as long as there have been students at Pensacola State College, there has been the time-honored ritual of The Transcript Request.
Students and alumni frequently request their college transcripts when applying to post-graduate programs or for employment. Until now the process could be long and involved, requiring lots of paperwork, phone calls, postage, and, most of all, patience.
Long-and-Involved, meet Faster and Easier.
Pensacola State College has partnered with the National Student Clearinghouse to offer electronic transcripts to our students and alumni worldwide.
"We receive thousands of requests for transcripts every month, from students and former students applying to law schools, graduate schools, employment, and for scholarships" says Michael Johnston, Associate Vice President of Institutional Research and Management Information Systems at PSC. "For us, in the past, it required a more traditional process. The fact that it's now streamlined reduces, at the very least, thousands of phone calls. After all, we have more than 117,000 alumni. This is a process that's really going to enhance the experience for our students and any former students."
Students are still able to request an electronic transcript to be sent free of charge to any FASTER (Florida Automated System for Transferring Educational Records) institution through their Spyglass account. All other transcript requests (hold for pickup, USPS, or electronic to an institution outside of Florida) should be made through the Transcript Ordering page (see the link below).
PSC does not charge for transcripts, but the National Student Clearinghouse charges a service fee of $2.50 per destination and an extra $1 per destination for electronic transcripts. (If the receiving institution participates in the National Student Clearinghouse’s Electronic Exchange, they do not charge the extra $1.)
This service will allow our students and alumni to know the progression of their request. They will receive notification upon ordering the transcript, PSC receiving the order, PSC processing the order, and when the receiving institution opens the transcript.
"Before, none of this was automated," Johnston says. "Now the student or former student automatically will be notified. They'll have that good feeling that the transcripts have been received by the other organization."
Here are some examples of how the fees work:
Let's say you request your transcript be sent electronically to the University of South Alabama. You'll be charged $2.50 since they participate in the Electronic Exchange.
If you request your transcript to be sent electronically to Pensacola Christian College, you would be charge $3.50, since they do not participate in the Electronic Exchange.
If you request three copies of your transcript be mailed to your employer, you would be charged $2.50, since this is one destination.
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Learn how you can support students like Ausia:
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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
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