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

January 22, 2020



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Bill Hamilton is a head coach, an athlete and athletic director, and the consummate team player.

So when Hamilton announced his retirement as the Pensacola State College Athletic Director on Jan. 14 at a press conference in Hartsell Arena, he made sure to pay tribute to the team. Not just the players he’s trained or the coaches he’s coached with during his 30 years at PSC.

Hamilton’s team goes beyond athletics. His team for the past 30 years has been Pensacola State College – the whole College.

Troy Moon covers the Bill Hamilton announcement press conference

See also: PSC Athletic Director Bill Hamilton announces retirement

Bill Hamilton, who led the PSC Pirates baseball team to its first-ever state championship in 2004, plans to devote his time to becoming the “Best Grandpa” to his grandchildren – Bailey, 7, and Ty William, 3.

“First, I plan to sleep late and do nothing before tackling the chores in my two honey-do list jars,” said Hamilton, the PSC head baseball coach from 1990 to 2010.

Read the complete article

Bryan Lewallyn to take helm as PSC new Athletic Director

Softball coach Lyndsey Angus selected Associate AD

Pensacola State baseball coach Bryan Lewallyn and softball coach Lyndsey Angus have been named the College’s new athletic director and associate athletic director, respectively.

The two were introduced at a press conference Jan. 20 in Hartsell Arena. Lewallyn and Angus will assume the responsibilities on Monday, Jan. 25, from Bill Hamilton, who is retiring.

Both coaches said they are honored to be selected for expanded roles at the College.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve PSC student-athletes, the athletic department, PSC and the community. I have been blessed with more than I ever deserve. I am very fortunate to get to work with young people, watching them grow and develop into adults and leaders,” said Lewallyn, who will oversee the day-to-day operations of the PSC Athletic Department, its budgets, staff organization, facilities, emergency/crisis management and serve as a community liaison.

Angus will be in charge of NJCAA compliance, eligibility, Title IX, Section 16 and most internal and external reports. Both also will remain in their head coaching positions.

“I feel honored and humbled to be given this opportunity to serve the College in this role,” she said. “This position ─ associate athletic director ─ has been created to not only work with Bryan, but also cover things dealing with compliance and reports.”

Read more about the new Athletic Directors

Pensacola State College sports -- they're back, baby!

Play ball! Like, starting now!

The Pensacola State College volleyball team just played a scrimmage Jan. 15 against Gulf Coast State College. Later, both the women’s and men’s basketball teams played their first scrimmages of the season in PSC’s Hartsell Arena.

After a fall in which all sports except women’s cross country were shutdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spring season has five PSC teams – baseball, softball, volleyball and men and women’s basketball – starting their seasons this month.

“We finally are able to get going, and we have all of them going,” said outgoing PSC Athletic Director Bill Hamilton, who announced his retirement in an emotional press conference a day earlier. “We’re ready to go, but it’s going to be a challenge. We’re going to have a bus shortage, a van shortage and a driver shortage with all the games. And it’s been a challenge for the kids, having to deal with all the changes – remote learning and family issues. It’s been tough.”

Though the teams are back competing, they’ll be doing it, largely, without the full support of fans. Baseball and softball will allow 50 percent capacity attendance, but there will be no general admission availability for volleyball and basketball games. There will be a limited number of passes issued for the indoor sports, going to boosters and, on a first-come, first-serve basis, to students, staff and faculty.

Temperature checks will be administered to all who enter the Lou Ross Center, home of the PSC Athletic Department and Hartsell Arena.

“We are so excited,” said PSC Volleyball Head Coach Jennifer Belarmino, minutes before her team’s scrimmage. “We’re ready to get rolling. We practiced last week twice a day. We’re ready to kick off the season – finally.”

To see complete schedules and the College’s COVID-19 guidelines relating to athletics, go to athletics.pensacolastate.edu

PSC Foundation welcomes new members to Board of Governors 

Several new faces and a familiar one have joined the Pensacola State College Foundation Board of Governors for the 2021-2023 term.

New board members are Jo-Ann Price, Fallon Kurpuis and Dick Dixon (seen above, left to right). Lisa McKenzie Dampier, who served on the Board of Governors in the 1990s, rejoined the board.

The incoming Board of Governors join 27 other members of the College Foundation’s Board.

Meet the new Foundation board members

PSC partners with Academic Impressions for pro development training

Pensacola State College students, faculty and staff members soon will have access to a world of professional development training – all available online.

The College has partnered with Academic Impressions ─ a professional development resource that focuses on providing leadership, personal development and skills-based training opportunities. The content is delivered mostly through live and recorded webinars.

“We were able to purchase this institutional membership through our Title III grant, and it offers some diverse and strong training opportunities for staff, administration, and even students,” said Kathy Dutremble, dean of Student Affairs.

The year-long membership also will allow Pensacola State access to all live and recorded webinars free of charge.

Martha D. Vignes, Title III activities director, said Academic Impressions offers more than 1,500 resources. Training options also include courses specific to Title III grant objectives: retention, degree completion, and overall student success strategies for at-risk students. 

“These courses are evidence-based and presented by subject matter experts through webinars and on-demand videos. At a time when our nation’s colleges and universities are all challenged with decreased enrollment, Pensacola State staff members have the opportunity to access best practices and cutting-edge methods to help our students persist in the midst of a pandemic and unstable work environment,” Vignes noted.

Academic Impressions will officially launch at the College on Monday, Jan. 25. Niecie Washington, an Academic Impressions senior meeting planner, will be the PSC liaison. 

Juanita Scott, director of professional development, is most excited about the Academic Impressions Learning Plans.  

“Learning Plans allow departments and programs to customize training based on specific needs. All Learning Plans include a ‘Reflection’ piece where participants document highlights of the training experience and ways they plan to implement strategies shared during the training,” she explained. 

“Our ultimate training goal is student success and each resource is connected to that goal. SPD will schedule a series of orientation sessions that will be open to anyone looking to maximize training and enhance their professional development.” 

Based in Greenwood, Colorado, Academic Impressions has served approximately 3,500 higher education institutions over 18-plus years. Also, more than 200,000 post-secondary faculty and staff members have enrolled in sessions ranging from leadership; women in leadership; academic leadership; faculty success; institutional and academic planning; student success; enrollment management and marketing; advancement; diversity, equity and inclusion; and Title IX compliance.

To learn more about Academic Impressions, visit academicimpressions.com.