The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
October 27, 2021
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Jamey Jones was a poet before he was a laureate.
The Pensacola State College English and composition assistant professor has been a leading voice and advocate of the Northwest Florida poetry and arts scene since he was a teenager participating in and organizing readings in bars, warehouses, coffeehouses and wherever he could convince folks to come and listen.
In 2014, Jones was named the sixth Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida by the West Florida Literary Federation. His stint as Poet Laureate ended last fall, but title or not, Jones commitment to advocating for poetry is the same as always.
“I always said he was poet laureate before he was poet laureate," said longtime friend Scott Satterwhite, a founder of Open Books & The Prison Book Project in Pensacola. “Now, I feel like he’s our forever poet laureate.”
On Oct. 23, Open Books hosted Jones for a reading of poetry from his new book, “morning coffee from the other side," his first new book since 2011’s “Blue Rain Morning.”
Jones joined the Pensacola State faculty in 2013 and was inducted into the College’s Academy of Teaching Excellence in 2019.
The Oct. 23 reading was held in quiet Long Hollow Park across from Open Books, with guests lounging on blankets and lawn chairs in the grass.
Jones said he enjoys poetry readings as much as he did when he was a teenager.
“I love it," Jones said. “This was the first official reading of the book. Poetry readings are something I talk to my students about. I embrace it and want them to embrace the experience as well.”
Jones’ books, including “morning coffee from the other side,” can be purchased at Amazon.com or Open Books Bookstore & The Prison Book Project, 1040 N. Guillemard St.
— Troy Moon
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PSC announces Student Government Association officers |
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If you’ve ever wanted to get involved in politics, here’s your chance.
The Pensacola State College Student Government Association still needs six additional senators to serve student needs and voice the concerns, ideas and advice of students to school administrators and even state and federal officials.
The College’s SGA officers were announced Oct. 25 during a meeting in the Student Center on the Pensacola campus. There were no SGA elections because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Students applied for positions and were chosen by a Student Activities committee. For the 2022-2023 year, SGA selections will be election-based.
The 2021-2022 Student Government Association are:
● President: Jessie McCall
● Vice President: Ceidi E. Rodriguez Soriano
● Secretary: Elizabeth Farose
● Student Initiatives Director: William Jonathan Proctor
● Senators: Rebecca Dunn and Bonnie Parker
The SGA also studies proposed legislation that could affect state colleges, and then offers opinions and suggestions to College administrators and, often, local legislators.
This year, the SGA will consider proposed legislation involving educational benefits for veterans, limiting COVID-19 restrictions, student fee exemptions and licenses for concealed weapons on campus.
“I want to help raise concerns for students,’’ said McCall, who is studying Information Technology and works on the PSC Help Desk. “I knew the SGA needed officers and I wanted to help out and do what’s needed to benefit the students. If they have questions or concerns, I can help voice them.”
Six senators are still needed for the SGA. If you’re interested, email Keyaundra Mobley, PSC assistant coordinator of Student Engagement and Leadership, at kmobley@pensacolastate.edu.
PHOTO: Jessie McCall, SGA president
— Troy Moon
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Kelby Thornton named Pensacola State College’s new coordinator of Corporate and Professional Development |
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While Kelby Thornton was earning a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of West Florida, he also served as president of the university’s Student Collaborative Entrepreneurship Organization, which helped guide young would-be business owners.
“I’ve always been interested in helping someone take a hobby or an idea and show them how to monetize it and make the concept work," Thornton said.
What about his own hobbies?
He paused to think about it.
“Honestly, that’s my hobby," he said of guiding entrepreneurs. “That’s why I was president of the club.”
Thornton has the perfect mindset to serve as the new Pensacola State College Coordinator of Corporate and Professional Development. The Pensacola native has been on the job for about five weeks.
The PSC office of Corporate and Professional Development delivers continuing workforce education training to businesses and individuals wishing to upgrade or develop new skills.
“I’ll be the liaison between Pensacola State College and local businesses and help them develop training programs for their employees," Thornton said. “A lot of businesses are struggling, and we’ll provide training and help them identify growth opportunities.”
Recent clients of the office of Corporate and Professional Development include Ascend, Children’s Home Society, Escambia County School District, Navy Federal Credit Union, and the Florida Department of Children and Families.
A West Florida High School graduate, Thornton earned his Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from Florida State University. He also served nearly two years as Operations Manager for the Gulf Coast Pain Institute.
“Mr. Thornton’s experience and educational background will help grow our offerings and programs in Corporate and Professional Development Training," said Mike Listau, PSC Workforce Education director. “I am excited for him to carry on the high-quality training we are currently providing, as well as expand our training offerings to the skills employers want and need. Our goal is to provide customized training programs where we deliver training anytime, anywhere to employers.”
Thornton said he feels comfortable in his new position.
“Everyone is trying to do the best they can in their area, yet we are also trying to make it mesh and work together," Thornton said. “Some places you don’t find that. It’s a close-knit group and very welcoming. It feels like family.”
— Troy Moon
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WSRE’s documentary on country legend Hank Locklin
is nominated for Suncoast Emmy Award
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WSRE’s documentary on Northwest Florida’s favorite singing son Hank Locklin has been nominated for a 2021 Suncoast Regional Emmy.
The documentary, “Hank Locklin: Country Music’s Timeless Tenor,’’ is nominated in the “Documentary Cultural” category along with three other films – all from South Florida.
“It’s very exciting,’’ said WSRE’s Mary Riker, the film’s producer. “Even though Hank Locklin is well-known and appreciated among many in country music, there are so many who just don’t know about him or who he is.”
The film was directed by James Roy. Emily Hudson Mitchell was associate producer, Ted King was assistant director and Tracey Burgess created the graphics for the film, which includes interviews with country legends such as Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Dwight Yoakam and more.
“Hank Locklin: Country Music’s Timeless Tenor” premiered in fall 2020. In May 2021, the documentary won a gold 2021 Telly Award for “Excellence in Video and Television Production.”
The Telly Awards honor excellence in television from all 50 states and five continents.
The Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards are presented by the Suncoast chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The chapter covers all of Florida, and portions of Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia and Puerto Rico. The Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards will be presented virtually on Dec. 11.
Locklin was born and raised in rural McLellan in the rural north end of Santa Rosa County. He even released an album in 1972 titled “The Mayor of McLellan, Florida.” He was given the moniker by famed country music disc jockey Ralph Emery because of Locklin’s decision to remain in Northwest Florida rather than relocate to Nashville once he had achieved success.
Locklin is best known for hits such as “Please Help Me, I’m Falling,’’ “Send Me the Pillow You Dream On’’ and “Let Me Be the One.” He was a proponent and practitioner of the “Nashville Sound,’’ which smoothed country’s rougher honk-tonk tendencies adding a lusher, pop-oriented sound.
He died in Brewton, Alabama, in 2009 at the age of 91.
Financial funding was provided by grants from the 2019 documentary “Country Music: A Film by Ken Burns,” and, locally, the Bear Family Foundation and many other donors.
“Hank Locklin: Country Music’s Timeless Tenor” has aired on more than 200 PBS stations nationwide.
WSRE is a PBS member station licensed to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees.
The next screening of the documentary will be at 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, which is a multi-week event across the Gulf Coast. The Hank Locklin documentary will air in the Flora-Bama Lounge on the Florida-Alabama border of Perdido Key.
— Troy Moon
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PSC employees show their support for breast cancer research |
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For Pink Out Day on Monday, Oct. 25, PSC employees from throughout the various campuses and centers paraded in pink to express their support for breast cancer awareness and research.
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The employees of Building 7. |
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Representing the Comptroller Office. |
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The PSC women's basketball team. |
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Cosmetology term 2, Milton campus. |
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Representing Recruiting and Advising. |
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Michael Payne of PSC's Department of Business. |
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Representing the PSC Century Center. |
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The Visual Arts Department shows its support. |
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From PSC Student Activities. |
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The English and Math departments representing. |
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PSC Warrington employees gather in support of breast cancer awareness. |
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (#DVAM), and at PSC a wide variety of events and observances were held with the theme, "#Every1KnowsSome1." "We took it back to the basics of understanding domestic violence," said Veronica Jennings, Project Coordinator, Sexual Assault & Relationship Violence Prevention, Office of Institutional Equity & Student Conduct. "Domestic violence affects us all. Victims are our family members, neighbors, coworkers, and friends. All of us — women, children, and men — must be part of the solution."
Here's a look at some of the DVAM events.
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Representing the Comptroller Office. |
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Phi Theta Kappa - Milton members were the coordinators of the Clothesline Project, in honor of those affected by domestic violence. To learn more about the Clothesline Project, visit: clotheslineproject.info/about.html
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PSC student, Alexis Ashley, wears her purple and bravely shares her story with a simple sentence. |
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PSC student shows their support for #DVAM by wearing a purple bracelet.
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Milton campus faculty, staff, and students participate in a Lunch N' Learn with FavorHouse of Northwest Florida. |
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Above: Lee Ann Ward, left, and Alaina Plowdrey, right, of Visual Arts show their colors with Sheila Nichols, center, of Marketing; Right: Mary Scott and Ruth Davison of the Office of Institutional Equity & Student Conduct show support on Purple Thursday. |
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WSRE to help kick off Pensacola Winterfest with Festival of Trees |
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WSRE will help kick off the holiday season this year with the PBS station’s first Festival of Trees, a benefit for the WSRE-TV Foundation, taking place Nov. 26–28 at the Museum of Commerce in the Pensacola Historic District.
Trees and wreaths, decorated by local designers, will be on display throughout the museum’s turn-of-the-century street scene and available for purchase through online auction bidding. Admission is free.
The WSRE Festival of Trees has been scheduled in conjunction with the kickoff of Pensacola Winterfest and will be located next to the Cajun Christmas performance in Historic Pensacola Village.
For sponsorship information or to inquire about contributing a tree or wreath design, contact Tracie Hodson at 850-484-1246.
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Hour-long workshops with financial experts are scheduled for August-November and January-April. Topics include: Basics of budgeting; recovering your finances; understanding loans and repayment; identity theft; and more. Details: 850-484-2082 or bmwright@pensacolastate.edu.
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PTK Beta Beta Gamma Chapter and Campus Veterans Office present the Fall Semester Annual Collection for Homeless Veterans, Sept. 21-Dec. 1, 2021.
Collections on the Milton Campus at Buildings 4200, 4400, 4300 and 4000. On the Pensacola Campus, collections at the Veterans Office, Building 6, Room 658.
Needed are hats, white over-the-calf socks, scarves, gloves, lapghans, and holiday cards (please do not seal the envelopes).
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Learn how you can support students like Jerry:
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