The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College

December 3, 2020

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Krist Lien has been teaching art for decades now. He’s taught at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Montevallo. And since May 2006, Lien has been department head of Pensacola State College’s Visual Arts Department. 

His primary focus has been art education, leaving little time for Lien to indulge his passion for sculpture, mainly wood sculpture. That changes in 2021. Lien is retiring and his last day at Pensacola State is Dec. 15.

“I haven’t been able to do as much as I would like to," Lien said of his sculpturing. “This will give me time to definitely do more.”

Lien has guided the Visual Arts Department through numerous successes and milestones, including the 2017 opening of the $3 million Charles W. Lamar Studio Gallery, a 10,000-square-foot addition to the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts. He also has overseen the Visual Arts Department’s continued success in local ADDY awards as the PSC Visual Arts Department almost always dominates the competition. PSC Visual Arts also added a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business and Management degree with a concentration in Graphic Design Management during Lien’s years as department head. 

Troy Moon talks with Krist Lien, who looks to the future

PSC alumna scores high marks in improving Milton testing services

If Pensacola State College Milton Campus Dean Jennifer Hill Faron was giving Stacy Young a grade, it would be an “A-plus.” 

Hill Faron said Young, a Milton Campus Testing Specialist, has completely revamped and improved the Milton Testing Center, adding more tests and assessment tools to the mix.

“She’s impressed everyone with the work she has done," Hill Faron said. “She’s brought in fresh new ideas and more tests that bring in new revenue for the College.” 

Young started at the Milton Testing Center in August, after working as a Kelly Services employee at the Pensacola Campus Testing Center. Before that, she was a student assistant at the South Santa Rosa Center, working while attending College.

“She came highly recommended from the South Santa Rosa Center and the Pensacola Campus," Hill Faron said. “She’s brought new life into the Milton Testing Center.” 

Young graduated from PSC this spring with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree with an emphasis in Human Relations. She plans on pursuing a master’s degree at the University of West Florida or Troy University. 

“I enjoy the College environment," said Young, an engaged mother of two young children. “I’ve enjoyed every department I’ve worked in and everyone I’ve worked with so far.”

Her duties at PSC include ensuring the security of tests that are given as well as researching and bringing in new assessments to expand the Testing Center’s impact. The Milton Testing Center has added numerous new tests under Young’s guidance, including the ParaPro Assessment for paraprofessional students and the ProV exam for employees in construction, homebuilding and other workforce fields.

And Young wants to add more.

“Along with ParaPro Assessment and ProV testing, I have also opened up HESI-A2 (Health Education Systems Incorporated) at Milton and finally have CLEP (College Level Examination Program). CLEP was a bit of a nightmare, but with the help of Liz Gomez (Director of Technology Support), Jeff Ward (Director of Network and Telecommunications) and Rick Smith (Coordinator of Technology Support), we made it happen.”

Hill Faron said Young has been an “amazing” addition to the Milton Campus. 

“She’s a PSC alum, so she knows the College," Hill Faron said. “And to go through College while struggling with two children and having a full-time job is not easy. She’s just a fantastic asset to the Milton Campus as a whole.” 

For more information on PSC Testing Centers, go to www.pensacolastate.edu/current-students/student-services/testing-center/. 

-- Troy Moon

Alumni association’s 2020 quail hunt, pheasant shoot hits the big bucks

More than $23,000 was raised during the Pensacola State College Alumni Association’s Annual Quail Hunt and Pheasant Shoot held Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7, at Dennis Lake Wing Club in Bay Minette, Alabama.

“Thanks to great weather and the wonderful hosts at Dennis Lake Wing Club, participants spent two days enjoying the outdoors and each other’s company all while raising money,” said Hailey Lotz, the College’s Director of the Alumni Association and Booster Club Operations.

Faithful PSC supporter Gerry Goldstein helped PSC President Ed Meadows and the Alumni Association bring the pieces together that made the event a success.

Nine participants turned out for the quail hunt that was held Nov. 6. The event began with lunch before the hunters headed into the fields with the help of Dennis Lake guides and their trusted bird dogs. After a few hours in the field, the hunters made their way to an evening cabin where they visited over dinner and continued socializing outdoors near a campfire.

On Nov. 7, overnight guests joined a fresh group of hunters at the venue’s clubhouse for the pheasant shoot. Overall, nearly 30 hunters participated in the shoot. Eager to start the day, men and women shooters gathered outside where they were officially welcomed and then given a safety briefing. 

“With no rain in the forecast and the sun shining bright, it was another cloudless day for both the guests and the hardworking retrievers,” Lotz said. “Many of the participants were familiar faces who have supported our fundraising events in years past. We did have some newcomers, but everyone had a wonderful time, and together they helped the Alumni Association raise more than $23,000.”

The participants included husband-wife teams, several individuals, and groups from Synovus and Gulf Power Co.

Lotz said each participant impacted the overall fundraising total, and their donations were appreciated. The Alumni Association extended special thanks to Goldstein, J.P. Whibbs, Vaughn Nichols and Mike Thomas for contributing to the annual fundraiser.

“We’re also like to say thank you to Dr. Meadows for his support of this event, and Hamilton Smith and his staff at Dennis Lake for graciously hosting PSC so that we can bring awareness and support to our students and the programs we offer at the college,” Lotz added. “Without their help the event would not have been such a success.”

For more information about the fundraiser and other PSC Alumni Association events, contact Lotz at (850) 484-1714 or email hlotz@pensacolastate.edu. 

-- Mary Mabins

PSC to present Choral Society of Pensacola’s holiday program

The Pensacola State College Pensacola campus will be the site of two performances of “Gladsome Tidings,” a free holiday program presented by the Choral Society of Pensacola.

Performances are set for 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in the gazebo behind the Delaino Student Center, Building 5. Attendees are invited to bring folding chairs or blankets and to spread out on the lawn to enjoy the music.

Social distancing and face coverings are required.

“This year, 2020, has been a stressful and challenging year for everyone. In these performances, we’ll ‘sing the sad of heart to cheer,’” said Dr. Peter Steenblik, quoting from “Caroling, Caroling,” the familiar song that opens the program.

“We hope our music will spark the holiday spirit in everyone who hears it, and we’re grateful to PSC for continuing its long tradition of support for the Choral Society by allowing us to perform on campus.”

“Gladsome Tidings” features an eclectic half-hour of music performed by members of the Society, with solos by Carla Quinn and Mike Nichols, with the participation of collaborative pianist Isabelle Areola, violinist Leonid Yanovskiy, and bassist Max Levesque.

Steenblik will select the program from the chorus’ repertoire, which includes such familiar songs as the “Carol of the Bells” and “Go Where I Send Thee,” as well as an arrangement of a Polish carol, a setting of the 23rd Psalm, a Bach chorale, and an excerpt from Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols.” 

The audience also will be invited to join in singing Nancy Grundahl’s round “Be Swift to Love.” 

Because choruses have proved to be superspreaders of COVID-19, preparing the program while following safety guidelines has required some ingenuity. Steenblik made a thorough study of available research on COVID-19 transmission, health experts’ recommendations, and the practices of other choruses to develop a plan that would allow the group to maintain momentum and a sense of community while protecting the singers from infection.

The fall semester began with sessions on Zoom then transitioned to in-person rehearsals held outdoors in the PSC gazebo, Steenblik added. 

“Not all of the singers on the Society’s roster chose to participate in the experiment, but the two dozen who did have rehearsed wearing special singers’ masks and standing 6 feet apart. They’ll maintain their safety procedures for the program,” he said.

For more information, contact Charlie Smoke at charlie@choralsocietyofpensacola.org or Kelly Ryan at 850-484-1800.

Pensacola State College is offering a FULL SCHEDULE of Classes this Spring - Online, Live Online, and Select Face-to-Face. Classes start Jan. 8. For more information, call 850-484-2000 or click here. #GoHereGetThere #BeAPirate

Pirates, Treasure Your Health!

Wear your masks, keep them on, maintain social distancing (6 feet apart), don’t congregate in groups, wash your hands frequently, and please stay home if you are sick. Special thanks to our student athletes for helping with this important message. L-R: Vernisha Robin, Amaya Bazemore, Dexter McKenzie, Jorja Barrett and Bryan Scribner.