The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
June 10, 2021
|
|
We’ve been living in a very virtual world for more than a year, but now we have a chance to be part of the virtual past.
If you ever wished you lived in the yonder years of Pensacola, here’s your opportunity. To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Escambia County, one of Florida’s two original counties, anniversary officials have created an online mosaic of the 2,276 people who occupied Pensacola at the time when Florida became a U.S. territory and Escambia became a county.
The 200th anniversary official celebration takes place on July 17, but for now area residents can claim a spot in the “1821: A Pensacola Sampler” project that is part of the ongoing anniversary observances.
Everyone is invited to represent one of the 2,276 1821 inhabitants, who range from unnamed soldiers and slaves to Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson, Florida’s Federal Military Commissioner in 1821. (No, it’s too late to portray and some of Pensacola’s other bigwigs of the time. They’ve already been taken.)
But if you want to portray one of the hundreds of the yet-unrepresented residents of the era, it’s easy to do. First, go to https://1821sampler.com/people/ and you’ll find the 1821 Sampler Mosaic, filled with the names of all of the 1821 inhabitants.
Many of the names have photos attached – pictures of Pensacolians who have volunteered to virtually represent the men and women of Pensacola’s past. But plenty of names on the list don’t yet have picture representatives. All the names have information about the person from 1821, including age and race. People of all ages and races are still needed to represent Pensacola’s 19th century inhabitants. And it doesn’t matter anyway. Some people have chosen to represent people whose age/race/gender is different than their own.
There is a Submit Your Photo link on the page where you can do just that and volunteer to be part of the Pensacola Sampler. The project is sponsored by the Escambia County 200th Anniversary Commission.
-- Troy Moon
|
|
PSC’s Johnston elected chair of Florida DOE MIS Advisory Taskforce |
|
Pensacola State College data maestro Michael Johnston is the new chair of the Florida Department of Education’s Management Information Systems Advisory Taskforce. The Taskforce – MISATFOR – reviews data issues related to the required data submissions across the Florida College System databases.
Johnston is PSC’s Associate Vice President of Research and Management Information Systems. He previously served as MISATFOR vice-chair before being recently elected as chairman by representatives of the Florida College System’s 28 colleges.
“I’m so flattered,” Johnston said. “We want to show and tell the story of our colleges working together and are united on a common front and bridge gaps that sometimes people see as being competitive. We want to advance together.”
MISATFOR officer and members meet twice a year with representatives from Florida’s 28 colleges, as well as representatives from the Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement, the Division of Florida Colleges, the Division of Career and Adult Education and others.
MISATFOR issues include legislative changes, DOE policy changes and data quality initiatives to provide tighter controls producing better data across the system.
“Michael is very talented and hard working,” said PSC President Ed Meadows in reference to Johnston’s election. “His leadership as chair will certainly add value to the overall goals of the Task Force.”
Though there are only two meetings a year, MISATFOR members are constantly in touch with each other, pushing ideas and comparing notes, Johnston said.
“We are working throughout the year and we communicate all the time,” he said. “This is a group that has almost an infinite impact because we work with every single facet of an institution, whether it’s scholarships, athletics, new certifications or licenses, enrollment, retention – all of it.”
--Troy Moon
|
|
Brian Rucker first visited Walt Disney World in early 1972, just months after the Orlando theme park and entertainment kingdom opened in October 1971. He was just 11 years old and remembers the stay was far from glamorous.
“We stayed in Wildwood, which is about 55 miles away,” said Rucker, now a Pensacola State College history professor. “It was horrible.”
The family went back to Walt Disney World in 1973 and did it right, staying at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, one of the three original Disney Resorts along with Disney’s Contemporary Resort and the now-closed Golf Resort.
“It was a whole new experience,” Rucker said. “This was the way Disney was supposed to be done.”
Rucker knows how Disney is supposed to be done.
His book “Worlds Within the World: The Story of the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels 1971-2021” was released in May and is the first comprehensive history of the on-site Disney resorts.
|
|
Nonprofits learn the secrets of major gift fundraising at PSC workshop |
|
Kent Huyser knows how to raise money.
As associate vice chancellor for advancement at Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City, Missouri, Huyser launched a $20 million comprehensive fundraising campaign.
The results?
Record fundraising levels. Largest individual and grant gifts. Largest employee giving totals in the college’s history.
Huyser, now a senior consultant with the Chicago-based Gonser Gerber, a leading advancement and leadership consulting firm, shared some of his fundraising expertise with local nonprofit leaders on Wednesday, June 9, at a “Major Gift Fundraising” workshop at the Pensacola State College Nonprofit Center for Excellence and Philanthropy.
Huyser’s topics included:
● Why Do People Give?
● Asking Starts with Identifying the Best Donors
● How to Get Appoints with Your Prospects
● Preparing for the Gift Invitation
● Beyond Expressing Gratitude: Demonstrating Impact.
“I hope (those in attendance) take away the foundation to be able to build thriving major gift programs,” Huyser said. “Hopefully, they’ll pick up some tips and tricks to be that much better of a major gift fundraiser for their institutions. Nonprofits rely so much on generosity, and generosity from donors who can give larger gifts really moves the needle well.”
Ildi Hosman, executive director of Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, said the workshop will help her fundraising efforts.
“From a professional development standpoint, I can get ideas on how to make Junior Achievement stronger,” she said. “And I get to talk about all these things with my counterparts in the community who are doing the same things. And to hear from a consultant of this caliber sharing his best practices and ways I can translate them to my own role is invaluable.”
Andrea Rosenbaum, director of development for the YMCA of Northwest Florida, said the workshop would help her refocus priorities.
“It’s easy to lose track of priorities,” she explained. “But when we have an opportunity to step away and connect with peers and a real leader in the field, it helps us refocus our priorities so we can invest in things that are important and that are going to make our organization, and ultimately our community, a better place to live and work.”
The next PSC Nonprofit Center for Excellence and Philanthropy event is a workshop on “Fundraising: The Role of a Board Member” on July 21. For more information and to register, go to https://npc.pensacolastate.edu/.
-- Troy Moon
|
|
ATTENTION: Get help finishing your FAFSA or Pensacola State application this summer at FAFSA Nights presented by PSC's Educational Opportunity Center (TRiO)-Pensacola
All 2020 and 2021 Escambia County high school graduates. Apply to attend Pensacola State College this Fall and receive a gift card from Publix, Walmart or Target.
If you need assistance in filling out your Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), go to eoc@pensacolastate.edu or call 850-484-1961.
|
|
The summer application for emergency grants for currently enrolled students through CARES Act 3 is now available. Based on new guidelines, international students are now eligible to apply. In addition, students do not need to be degree seeking or Title IV eligible to be considered for an emergency grant. Dual Enrollment and Recreation and Leisure (Continuing Education) students are not eligible for an emergency grant.
The first priority deadline to apply for a summer emergency grant is Sunday, June 13. A second priority deadline for new summer applications will be announced in July.
|
|
Music, poetry, storytelling, dance, food and much more! Featuring two special presentations (via Zoom and before a live audience): Workshop by Bradley Simmons, Percussionist/Educator, Duke University; theatrical play "Harriet" by Kisha Kenyatta. Social distancing and masks required!
|
|
PTK-Beta Beta Gamma chapter is collecting brand-new children’s bedding, in original, unopened packages. PTK is partnering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to provide mattress pads, kid-themed twin-size sheets, blankets, comforters and Teddy bears to area children in need. Drop-off locations: Pensacola Campus: Veterans Center, Bldg. 6, Room 658; Milton Campus: Bldgs. 4200 and 4400.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
