The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
May 1, 2020
Pensacola State College Student Kameron Horak is playing his swan song, the fond farewell. And he’s playing it on saxophone. (Or maybe it’s his grandmother’s clarinet.) Horak, a 20-year-old music student, graduates this spring with enough honors and accolades for an encore. He received three 2020 Student Excellence Awards and is one of more than 200 students honored with the accolade.“These students are academic leaders, College leaders and community leaders,’’ said PSC President Ed Meadows . “Some do a tremendous amount of community service with organizations such as Manna Food Pantries. Others are leaders in College organizations and clubs. This is our way to recognize them and let them know how much we appreciate the work and effort they put in.” Troy Moon looks at this year's award recipients and the work that went into earning that achievement.
#GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity, will take place on M ay 5, 2020 , as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19 . This new day is organized by GivingTuesday, and is being held in addition to the annually scheduled December event.

Pensacola State College is participating in #GivingTuesdayNow and will use donated funds to provide support in areas of the greatest need – that present the greatest potential for impact.

At the start of the COVID-19 crisis, a survey to all students let us know that 588 of students responding to the survey lost their jobs and another 437 were worried they would become unemployed. Students are stressed about feeding their families, housing and education costs. The student survey also identified a need for rent, mortgage and utility bill assistance.

Brianna, a PSC RN student, wrote, “I currently work two jobs to pay for rent, utilities, and school. One of my jobs has closed down and my other job has decreased hours therefore substantially decreasing my earnings.”

The PSC Foundation’s mission of raising financial support for students, faculty and facilities has stretched to encompass complex issues of accessibility and retention. The funds raised by #GivingTuesdayNow will allow PSC to support both students and programs in their most troubled times, in the most meaningful way.

#GivingTuesdayNow is an opportunity for people around the world to stand together in unity–to use their individual power of generosity to remain connected and heal.

P SC's DeWayne Crocker Jr. rides the 'Idol' wave as one of the Top 20
Look for PSC's own DeWayne Crocker Jr., as he performs on the next episode of "American Idol," from 7 to 9 p.m. CDT Sunday, May 3, on ABC stations (including WEAR-TV 3 in Pensacola).

Crocker, a PSC music major with a minor in business, is one of this "Idol" season's Top 20 and is hoping to make it to the Top 10. In the May 3 episode, "On With the Show: Homeward Bound," "Idol" judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie team up with friends and industry heavyweights to give the finalists a master class on what it takes to be a superstar. Plus, Phillip Phillips returns to the "Idol" stage remotely to open the show with an acoustic performance of his bestselling hit song "Home."

A few years ago, you may have happened upon Crocker, 24, singing in a local Walmart Supercenter or heard him belt out the National Anthem at a high school basketball game.

However much has changed for the Escambia High School grad who was the 2015 winner of BET’s “Sunday Best: Race to the Stage” competition.

A few years ago, Serena Williams requested that Crocker sing at her Nov. 16, 2017, wedding to Alexis Ohanian Jr., at the New Orleans’ Contemporary Arts Center.

“I was booked for the wedding back in February (2017) but I didn’t know whose wedding it was,” Crocker said following the event. “I didn’t realize it was Serena’s wedding until the soundcheck. She was walking around, and I saw her. That’s when it clicked that this was her wedding.”
Summer classes begin May 11 at Pensacola State College
Pensacola State College will continue to hold online and live online broadcast classes during the summer semester.

Session A begins Monday, May 11, however it is still not too late to register for classes. Live online broadcast classes are delivered via Zoom, a video and audio conferencing platform.

Summer fees are due by Thursday, May 7 . To avoid losing a summer schedule, students must pay online through their Spyglass account by 8 p.m. May 7. The College will be working remotely until 6 p.m. to assist students with summer registration and payment. The College also will be available remotely from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, May 11 and 12, to assist with summer registration. 

In order to take a live online course, students must login to the class on the scheduled day and time. They will be able to see and hear the instructor and classmates and can participate in the class virtually. 

Reliable internet access, a webcam, and a microphone are required to use the platform. For a preview of a live online Pensacola State class, click here .

Students can choose from the following options for summer classes:

  • Session A: May 11-Aug. 4
  • Session B: May 11-June 22
  • Session C: June 9-Aug. 4
  • Session D: June 23-Aug. 4.

The deadline to apply for fall term scholarships is Wednesday, July 1. In the last three years, the College has awarded $4.3 million in scholarships.  

Students may submit a single online application for more than 260 scholarships and can receive multiple awards each term. To apply, visit

For more information on scholarships, contact the College’s Financial Aid Office at fava@pensacolastate.edu or 850-484-1680.

Fall semester registration begins Monday, June 1. For more information on registration, visit www.pensacolastate.edu  or call 850-484-2000. 
PSC’s SkillsUSA chapter earns Florida Gold Medal of Distinction
Pensacola State College’s distinguished SkillsUSA chapter has earned another well-deserved accolade.

The PSC chapter was awarded the Gold Chapter of Distinction for the 2019-2020 year by SkillsUSA Florida. Three other chapters were designated as Gold Chapters, but PSC’s score was the highest in the state, said Jennifer Ponson, PSC Coordinator for Student and Program Outreach, as well as SkillsUSA Region 1 Coordinator and SkillsUSA Florida Board of Directors, Secretary/Treasurer.

The PSC SkillsUSA chapter now qualifies for the National Models of Excellence competition. Winning national chapters will be announced June 1.

Look for a more in-depth feature on the PSC SkillsUSA program in next week’s Pirate.

-- Troy Moon
Fourteen Pensacola State College student-athletes will continue their academic and athletic careers at Division I, Division II and NAIA institutions this fall.

Three athletes each will come from baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball. Two athletes come from softball.

More student-athletes are expected to sign letters of intent later this spring and summer. 

Meet the 14 who have signed by clicking here.
"PENSACOLA STATE TODAY" GOES ZOOM -- In a special "Zoom" edition of "Pensacola State Today," host Dr. Rameca Vincent Leary and her guests -- all communicating remotely via the Zoom video conferencing platform -- explore how Pensacola State College is addressing the COVID-19 global pandemic by taking proactive measures, such as fostering innovative classroom instruction and providing much-needed resources for students. The panel includes PSC President Dr. Ed Meadows; Dr. Kirk Bradley, Dean, Baccalaureate Studies and Academic Support; Kathy Dutremble, Dean, Student Affairs; Andrea Krieger, Executive Director, Institutional Development; Dr. Lynsey Listau, Executive Director, Institutional Equity and Student Conduct; MaKenzie Johnson; Coordinator, Student Engagement; and PSC students Verona Hutchinson and Tom Ford. The program will air at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2 and May 16; 1 p.m. Sunday, May 3 and May 17; on WSRE-TV, a service of Pensacola State College.
Workday Team sets dates for Phase I of End-User Training
The Workday Project Team has set the dates for Phase I End-User Training of the new Workday Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system scheduled to Go-Live, Wednesday, July 1. Training will begin Tuesday, May 26, and continue through Thursday, June 18.

The Workday platform will replace PSC’s current financial records system, Phase I (Accounting, Purchase Orders, Budget, Payroll, HR) and Phase II, student system, (eRosters, eAdvising, eManagement, Spyglass).

This training is for all career service employees, employees under contract during the training time period, Kelly Services staff, and student workers employed during that period. Faculty not under contract during that time period will receive training during Convocation in August 2020 and during the fall semester.

The training schedule, as well as updates and other information, is available here: https://www.pensacolastate.edu/workday-training-schedule/ 
Student services still are available at Pensacola State College
Pensacola State College summer registration has begun -- and fall registration is set to start June 1 -- and the Student Services department is here to meet students’ needs – virtually.

Current and potential students can still access the Admissions, Advising, Financial Aid and Records departments – though not face-to-face.

• Admissions: Potential students who have not completed a PSC application and have general questions can an email Askus@pensacolastate.edu. For more information, visit www.pensacolastate.edu/admissions, click the live chat button in the lower right-hand corner to reach a member of the College admissions team for assistance. Staff members can also answer calls at 850-484-2000.

• Advising: Virtual advisors are available 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Current students can call 850-484-1630 or email advising@pensacolastate.edu to reach an advisor. For an appointment via QLess, visit www.pensacolastate.edu/pirateq/advising/.

• Financial Aid: The Financial Aid call center is available to assist with questions. The center’s FAVA inbox is being monitored closely to ensure timely responses. Students also can call the center at 850-484-1680 (leave a message if there is no answer), or via email at fava@pensacolastate.edu. Students should monitor their PirateMail for additional requirements.

The Cashier’s Office and Testing Center are closed until further notice. However, students can leave voice messages for someone to respond.

• Cashier’s Office: Staff members in the Cashier’s Office are monitoring phone calls and can be reached at 850-484-1782. If there no answer, please leave a voice message.

• Testing Center: The Testing Center is not taking any appointments at this time. For questions, call 850-484-1656 and leave a voice message. Staffers in the Testing Center will return voicemail messages.

For more information, visit the College’s COVID-19 response site at pensacolastate.edu/COVID19.
Calling all laptops (Well, new laptops. With Windows 10. And a webcam. And a microphone.)
Based on a recent survey of Pensacola State College students and their technology requirements during the COVID-19 crisis, the College is putting out a call for donations of new laptop computers that can be loaned to students in need.

“Through the survey we have discovered that, to date, 27 percent of students responding to the survey have lost their jobs” said Andrea Krieger, Executive Director of Institutional Development. “While technology is one of the greatest needs, they have additional needs related to rent, food, utilities. We are working to help meet those additional needs, but in the meantime we are putting out a call to the public for help with the technology.”

The College is asking for donations of new laptop computers with these minimum requirements: an Intel i3 processor; 8GB RAM; 128GB solid state drive; Windows 10; built-in webcam and microphone.

For more information, or to make arrangements for the donation, contact Krieger at akrieger@pensacolastate.edu or 850-484-1477.
PSC students use computer labs, Wi-Fi hot spots available on campuses
Pensacola State students without home internet access are making use of the College’s computer labs and Wi-Fi hot spots to do coursework.

More than 100 students have used computer labs on the Pensacola, Warrington and Milton campuses since March 30.

On the Pensacola campus, 71 students signed into the computer lab between March 30 and April 11. The Warrington campus had 23 students while the Milton campus saw nine students use the computer labs during the same time period.

The labs are open on a limited basis to currently enrolled students only, said Tom Gilliam, vice president of administrative services.

“Students must present a valid PSC student ID card and we’re limited to only 10 persons (students or faculty) per lab,” he said. He added no more than two students have been using the computer labs at any given time.
The computer labs location and hours are:
Pensacola Campus
Bldg. 21, Rm. 2163
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday -Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Warrington Campus 
Bldg. 3100, Rm. 3142
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday -Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Milton Campus 
Bldg. 4400, Rm. 4413
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Friday -Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Gilliam said the computer labs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and for students who have no other means of accessing courses or completing coursework.

“If they have other alternatives such as use of a cellphone or a relative’s computer, students should take advantage of those options first,” he added.

In the computer labs, users are required to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from each other at all times. Also, use of the computer labs by vulnerable populations is discouraged because the Florida Surgeon General issued a Public Health Advisory on March 25 advising vulnerable residents to remain in their homes.

Vulnerable populations include anyone over age 65 as well as those with serious health conditions such as lung, renal or heart disease or a compromised immunity.

Some internet service providers (ISP) may offer COVID-19 promotional plans. Students are advised to check with their ISP about free or discounted internet services.

To learn more

For more information, visit the College’s FAQs 
Parking lot Wi-Fi hot spots
College Wi-Fi is available on each campus and a student may park in College parking lots to access Wi-Fi. Students are expected to remain in their parked car. The parking lots available for use are listed below (Or see the orange areas in the maps above and below):

Campus parking lot Wi-Fi hot spots include:
● Pensacola: Lots S, T and U (near buildings 13, 17 and 21)
● Milton: Lots A and B (main parking lot)
● Santa Rosa: Lot C (north of the building)
● Warrington: Lot C (center of campus near the breezeway) and Lot D (service road north of the library parallel to Highway 98).

In accordance with the Federal Communications Commission’s Keep Americans Connected Pledge, local service providers have issued statements regarding the COVID-19 virus and how they can assist with internet connectivity.

P irate parents, here are some resources to keep your families occupied
Hey, Pirates, the Student Activities Staff has gathered some resources for you and your families to help keep you occupied during this social distancing time. These resources include virtual tours of famous museums, national parks, and landmarks. They include live animal cams, websites for children's activities, and some wellness videos. They’ve also included ideas to help keep any little ones you may have occupied while you study or work. Please note that Pensacola State College does not endorse any of the companies or organizations listed in the pack. Also, the PSC Marketing Department has created a couple of coloring pages for Pirate-style activities. If you or your family colors the pages, send us the end results and we’ll post it to our social media.

The links to the Pirate Pack and the coloring pages are below.

Don’t forget to follow Student Activities on Instagram (@pscpirateslife) and Facebook (PSC Student Engagement & Leadership) to participate in some virtual events they’ve created for you.