The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
November 5, 2020
Dr. Rasheda Likely always was interested in a career in science. A self-described curious child, she “asked why” and questioned just about everything.

Today the Pensacola native and Pensacola State College alumna has reached her goals. This summer, Likely earned a doctorate in philosophy in educational leadership and learning technologies in STEM concentration from Drexel University in Philadelphia. And this fall, she became an assistant professor of science education at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

“I have always loved figuring out how things worked. From trains to ant farms to telescopes to computers to the human body, I have enjoyed being curious about things from an early age,” said the daughter of recently-retired PSC Assistant Director of Human Resources Rhonda Likely.

“There were many days when my mom took us to the library on the PSC campus to check out books. Days that she worked late, my sister and I got to expand our thoughts through library books. She even would check out science textbooks from PSC’s library for me. This is how I taught myself to read ultrasounds, EKGs and X-rays in high school.”

Mary Mabins spoke with Dr. Likely and has this profile of the science educator.
PSC exceeds FCS standards and its own goals despite hardships
Even in this unprecedented year, Pensacola State College has been able to be one of the top-performing schools in the Florida College System.

The College exceeded the FSC average in 23 of 30 evaluated metrics that measure student success and graduation rates, enrollment, transfer performance, college preparatory outcome rates and job placement of students who graduate or complete educational programs. 

Pensacola State also exceeded its own goals in 20 of the 30 metrics and in seven of the 10 metric goals, the College was within 5 percent of the stated goal. The 2020 Pensacola State College Approved Accountability Measures Plan Evaluation was compiled by Michael Johnston, PSC Executive Director of Institutional Research.

Among the findings:

● Pensacola State has exceeded the FCS average in Associate in Arts Student Success by 13 percent for the most recent three years.
● PSC Associate of Science graduation rates increased from 36 percent in 2018 to 66 percent in 2019. Total graduation rates for all first-time, full-time students increased from 47 percent in 2018 to 54 percent in 2019. 
● PSC Associate in Arts students taking a developmental education course had a 47 percent graduation rate, 10 percentage points higher than in 2018. The FSC average in 2019 was 39 percent. 
● The success rate for PSC students taking a developmental class has a 98 percent success rate, exceeding the FCS average of 86 percent. 

Success rate is measured using data that factors students who have graduated, are enrolled in good standing or have left in good standing divided by the total cohort population. 

“These performance metrics have been in place for decades and Pensacola State has always done very well in these evaluations,’’ said College President Ed Meadows. “Looking at the vast majority of the accountability measures, we’re above the FCS average. If I were going to give us a grade for accountability, I’d give us a B-plus. There’s always room for improvement, but we’re way, way above the average.”

Meadows said retention, student success and completion has always been paramount in the College’s own success and noted that Pensacola State has increased measures to thwart any potential student academic problems or deficiencies. 

“We owe a lot to our academic administration and faculty for keeping the eye on the ball in terms of retention and completion," he explained. “Our Advising Center over the past several years has implemented measures that help us flag students who are most at risk. They have intervention strategies designed to help these students who might be struggling.”

Johnston said the assessment takes in all aspects of a student’s progress, from the admissions process through graduation or completion to where the students go to work or to continue their education after leaving PSC.

“It’s good to be held to a standard that is external," Johnston said. “It’s not us evaluating us. It’s the State of Florida evaluating us, and we use their data to present these outcomes. It’s very impressive and demonstrates we’re doing a good job.”
Richard Whatley does his job, sure. The Pensacola State College truck driver is the fella to call if you need something moved from one building to another, or even to another campus.

Apparently, he’s also the guy to call if you need a cross-country course set up quickly.

Whatley, 61, has been with PSC for about 18 months, hauling everything from office furniture to books and even food supplies for the PSC Pirate Pantry.

But in October, Whatley was out at the College’s picturesque Milton campus putting pink marks on tree roots on the ground. Whatley, a familiar presence in the youth track and field culture in Pensacola, was marking out the route for the new 3.1 mile cross-country course that the campus now has. In fact, the course was Whatley’s idea, conceived when he learned the 49th Annual Washington High School Wildcat Invitational was looking for a new course to hold the cross-country meet.
Pensacola State named 2020 SkillsUSA Gold chapter of Distinction 
Pensacola State College SkillsUSA chapter was named a 2020 Gold Medal Chapter of Distinction.

The Pensacola State chapter also received the accolade in 2018. In 2019-2020, three other SkillsUSA Florida chapters were designated as Gold Chapters; Pensacola State, however, had the highest in the state, said Jennifer Ponson, PSC Coordinator for Student and Program Outreach, SkillsUSA Florida Region 1 Coordinator and SkillsUSA Florida Board of Directors, Secretary/Treasurer.

The SkillsUSA Chapter Excellence Program honors chapter achievement relative to the organization’s framework of developing personal, workplace and technical skills. Chapters achieve status as a Quality Chapter – Bronze, Silver or Gold Medal Chapter of Distinction. The highest chapter honor is the Model of Excellence designation.

The accolade is one of the many SkillsUSA accolades the College received this year.

“Despite us not being able to host the SkillsUSA Florida State Leadership and Skills Conference this past spring, several of our employees were recognized by the regional and state organization,” Ponson noted. 

Four Pensacola State staff members ─ Rebecca Gunter, Theresa Hoang, Sonja McCall-Strehlow and Ponson ─ were recognized for their service to the College and the organization:

● Gunter, an office assistant in the Student and Program Outreach Department, received the SkillsUSA Honorary Life Award of the Year. 

● Hoang, an office assistant in the Student and Program Outreach Department, was named Alumni of the Year for a second year. 

● McCall-Strehlow, coordinator of the massage therapy program and facial specialty program, received the SkillsUSA Region 1 Advisor of the Year Award. 

● And Ponson was named the SkillsUSA Florida Region 1 Champion of the Year.
PSC students to participate in annual Veterans Day parade
TRIO Veterans Upward Bound (VUB), TRIO Veterans Student Support Services (VSSS) and the Pensacola State College Student Veterans Association (SVA) will participate in the 2020 Veterans Day Parade.

This is the sixth year that VUB, VSSS and the VSA have been in the parade set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in downtown Pensacola.
 
“We will be out in full force with the PSC van and the five-ton PSC truck driving facility vehicle. The Krewe of Vixens also allowed us the use of their Pirate Ship float,” said Rob Gregg, director of VUB and the president of the National Association of Veterans Upward Bound. “Since 2015, we’ve been a part of the annual parade that pays homage to the U.S. warriors who have served and established a legacy of honor, courage and sense of service for a greater good.”

Organized by the Gulf Coast Veterans Advocacy Council of Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, the Veterans Day Parade sponsors include Pensacola State College, AmeriCorps Vista, the American Legion, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Cox Communications, Council on Aging of West Florida, Escambia County, Escambia County Area Transit, City of Pensacola, Pensacola Faith Based Coalition, Pen Air Federal Credit Union, the Studer Group and Wind Creek Hospitality. 

Often confused with Memorial Day, Veterans Day, originally called Armistice Day, was established to commemorate the end of World War I. At the time, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the day to honor those who served the country during peace time or war. Any individual ─ deceased or living ─ was recognized for their sacrifices as they served the country honorably regardless of service branch. In 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. 

All Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 guidelines will be followed during the parade. Gregg said any PSC student or employee who wants to join VUB, VSSS or SVA in the parade should meet the group about 8 a.m. Wednesday at the corner of Garden and Spring Streets in downtown Pensacola.

Gregg said the parade participation is only one part of the mission of the organization. 

“The SVA is club made up of veterans and students interested in supporting active duty and veterans who are now students at PSC. And as a veteran of the U.S. Navy, I personally want to express heartfelt gratitude, thank you to each service member for their service and sacrifice to our nation,” Gregg said. “Bravo Zulu to all veterans ─ past, present and future.”

Coverage of the parade will air at 8 p.m. Wednesday on BLAB TV and WBQP TV-12 and will rerun multiple times on BLAB TV, WBQP TV-12.1, and Escambia County TV platforms.

For more information about participating in the parade, call Gregg at 850-484-1438.
Earn a workforce certificate at Pensacola State College. Registration already has begun for Spring Semester! Classes begin Jan. 8.
Get your CTE goals in gear with scholarships from Pensacola State
$105,000 in scholarship grants for PSC Career and Technical Programs this Spring Semester! Apply for a scholarship by contacting Deborah Hooks at 850-484-2161, or email dhooks@pensacolastate.edu. To view the media release on the grant, go to PensacolaState.edu/CTEgrants. Spring classes begin Jan. 8.
The Pirate Food Pantry still is accepting donations at each of the PSC campus locations to help students in need. Items such as peanut butter, canned tuna or chicken, beans, and rice are especially needed. Quick snacks and meals that can easily be heated up are also in high demand. We know that this is a difficult time for so many in our community and that local resources are stretched thin. Anything you are able to donate will mean so much to our students.

If you are interested in providing a cash donation rather than items, contact Lynsey Listau, 850-484-2128, llistau@pensacolastate.edu.
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