The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
July 23, 2021
Patricia “Patchi” Gandolfo started playing volleyball in her home country of Brazil when she was 9 years old. It was her mother’s idea and it was for the young girl’s own good.

“I actually wanted to play tennis,’’ Gandolfo said. “My sister played volleyball and had a lot of friends. She was much more outgoing. I had like one friend. My Mom suggested I play a team sport to meet some other people and I did and I loved it.”

Volleyball has been part of her life ever since.

Gandolfo was announced as the new Pensacola State College volleyball coach on Thursday, July 22. 
Pensacola State's Garde Manger event is celebration of College’s friends and donors and a showcase for Culinary program
Pensacola State College’s annual Garde Manger Celebration brought more than 150 of the College’s donors and supporters to the Pensacola campus on Wednesday, July 22 for an event featuring food and friendship.

Hosted by PSC President Ed Meadows and the Pensacola State College Foundation, the event is a thank you to donors whose financial gifts help fund student scholarships, programs, facilities and more.

While guests dined on scrumptious small dishes prepared by PSC Culinary program students, Meadows noted that so many students depend on scholarships to help finance their education.

“I just wanted to extend a big thank you to all of you,’’ Meadows said. “One of the reasons we have some of the talented students that we do is because of all of you and your generosity.”

Students in the Culinary program’s Garde Manger class prepared the dishes, which ranged from tropical pork sliders and salmon-stuffed tomatoes to roasted pepper salad and strawberry basil soup.

Longtime PSC supporter Dona Usry, like many of the donors, chatted up culinary students who were at their various themed garde manger stations. 

“The food is excellent,’’ Usry said. “It always is whenever the culinary students are involved. The students are so prepared and talented, and their instructors are top notch.”

Culinary student Mike Johanson chose a New Orleans theme for his station and served up dishes ranging from jalapeno bacon-wrapped poppers to the strawberry basil soup – the strawberry is the official Louisiana State Fruit.

“This is a great experience for us when we go to work in the outside world,’’ Johanson said. “You not only get a chance to prepare the dishes, but to meet the people and interact for the people you’re serving. It’s great to have that opportunity and experience.” 

PSC Culinary instructor David Langham said the event can help jump start a culinary career.

“Some get jobs just from this event,’’ he said. “I’ve seen people give students a card and tell them to go see them on Monday. Everyone is looking for workers these days so this is a great way for students to show what they can do.”

-- Troy Moon
Former Pensacola State College English professor Marian O’Shea Wernicke’s latest novel does mirror some aspects of her life. 

The book, “Toward That Which is Beautiful,’’ tells of a young American nun in a small Peruvian town in the 1960s who leaves the convent after becoming desperate and afraid of her romantic feelings for an Irish priest.

Yes, Wernicke was once a young American nun in Peru in the 1960s, but no, this isn’t her story.

“No, it’s not, and that’s an important distinction,’’ Wernicke said. “But I did write about what I know.”

Wernicke’s novel has recently been named an American Book Fest International Book Awards finalist in two categories – Literary Fiction and Literary Romance. The International Book Awards recognize books from mainstream and independent publishers as well as self-published books. 

Wernicke was a Pensacola State English professor from 1986 until her retirement in 2010. During her time at the College, she taught subjects ranging from English Composition to British, World and Contemporary Literature to Creative Writing. She also served as head of the English/Communication Department from 1997 to 2003. 
Former 911 dispatcher doesn’t miss traumatic calls in new job
Michelle Maddrey still has to answer some phone calls in her new job as an administrative assistant in the Pensacola State College Facilities, Planning and Construction Department. 

But the phone calls aren’t as constant and not nearly as traumatic as those she fielded as a 911 operator for, most recently, Pensacola Police Department, and previously, Escambia County EMS. In all, she worked 20 years as a 911 dispatcher.

“It was stressful – very stressful,’’ said Maddrey, who began her position at PSC on July 6. “It affected me emotionally, then physically. Day in and day out you’re dealing with tragedies. It was rewarding, but it takes its toll.”

“I still answer phones,’’ Maddrey said. “But the calls are a lot different, a lot calmer. There’s a big difference between there and here.” 

She’s had friends who have worked at PSC throughout the years.

“I heard about what a great workplace it is, and it’s been a pleasant experience so far,’’ she said. “I love the overall climate here. People at PSC want you to succeed.” 

Her supervisor, Diane Bracken, said Maddrey seems to be a perfect fit.

“She has one of the best personalities I’ve seen in interviews,’’ said Bracken, director of the Facilities, Planning and Construction Department. “She’s outgoing and I have the feeling she’s going to fit right in with this group. You have to be a special person to work with all the different types of people we have here.” 

Maddrey is married to Escambia County firefighter Michael Maddrey. They have three teenage children – sons, Jackson and Blaise, and daughter Paxtyn. 

She said she keeps busy supporting her children’s extracurricular activities, including sports and cheerleading.

And…

“We like to roller skate,’’ Maddrey said. “We make a big family outing a couple of times a week to skate. It’s a pretty simple life, but I like it that way.”

-- Troy Moon
When Cassidy Gadsby was in high school back in Pennsylvania, she heard all about the scholarships being pitched to upcoming Class of 2018 graduates. Then 17, Gadsby had already enlisted in the United States Navy in the Delayed Entry Program and was just waiting to graduate to start her military career.

“I thought ‘I’m going into the military,’’’ she said. “I don’t need any scholarship.”

Times change. Situations change. Goals change.

Today, Gadsby is an active duty Navy Corpsman and a Pensacola State College honor student. On July 14, she was named a 2021 Coca-Cola Military Leaders of Promise Scholar, one of 25 active duty members nationwide to receive the honor and the accompanying $1,000 scholarship. 

The scholarships are provided by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, which awards 200 scholarships annually – 25 of which are reserved for active duty military or veterans. All scholarship recipients must be members of their schools’ Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapters. 

“I had never won a scholarship or anything like that,’’ said Gadsby, who is taking general education classes at PSC. “It’s neat to selected for something like this.”
Because of the threat of COVID increasing once again, you have only two responsible options: Either continue to mask, social distance, and follow all of the CDC guidelines you have followed for the past year, or you need to get vaccinated now. Doing neither and behaving as if COVID has been eliminated is not a safe option for you or your loved ones. By doing neither, a person is acting irresponsible toward other people.
 
IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN VACCINATED FOR COVID, THEN YOU NEED TO VAX UP OR MASK UP!

Vaccinations are literally available all over town. To get a vaccination today, check out www.vaccines.gov to find a location near you.

Ed Meadows
President, Pensacola State College
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