There’s a lot more scholarship money to be offered to potential Pensacola State College students interested in Career and Technical Education fields because of a just awarded $726,388 grant the College has received.

The Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund will provide $105,000 for CTE scholarships and about $500,000 for new, state-of-the-art equipment that will bolster a variety of PSC CTE programs which offer training and routes to industry credentialing in high-demand fields. 

The GEER Fund is provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and is aimed at, according to the grant statement, assisting “Florida College System institutions and postsecondary technical centers in their ability to enroll and complete students in short-term, in-demand workforce/career and technical education (CTE) credentialing and certificate programs.” 

The path toward a bachelor’s degree is much smoother for Pensacola State student Jonathan Snell, seen at right, because of a scholarship made possible by Veterans National Homecare donations.

After earning his associate degree in December, Snell was awarded a First Generation Matching Scholarship during the Spring 2020 semester. He is among several PSC students to benefit from a $5,000 donation Veterans National Homecare made to the College in 2019.

On Sept. 3, the company donated another $5,000 in scholarship funds to PSC for first-generation-in-college students. PSC alumnus Denis McKinnon Sr., along with his son, Denis McKinnon Jr., and Wade Wilson presented the First Generation Matching Scholarship donation to PSC President Ed Meadows. In 2019, the company pledged a total of $15,000 to fund scholarships. A third $5,000 donation will be made in 2021.

“When we formed Veterans National Homecare, we wanted to have the opportunity to make a difference in our community and plow some funds back into various causes that help veterans,” said McKinnon Sr.

For those who aspire for a career in public service, Pensacola State College’s JobX website has a position for you.

An unpaid internship with Florida District 2 Rep. Alex Andrade is among the more than 100 employment opportunities now populating the College’s JobX site.

“This is a great opportunity for the right person,” said Jo McArthur, the PSC Business and Outreach Coordinator. “It is 10 to 20 hours a week; and on some days the intern would be working directly with Rep. Andrade. It’s great for someone who wants to learn hands-on and be involved in research, marketing and other disciplines.”

Pensacola State College English instructor Jamey Jones’ tenure as the seventh Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida ends in October after a two-term, six-year span as the region’s poetry ambassador. 

But who knows? Maybe a future poet laureate is being taught by Jones right now. (The Poet Laureate of Northwest Florida is chosen by the West Florida Literary Federation.) 

Jones, who teaches poetry, English composition and American and contemporary literature, has the teaching pedigree for sure. In 2019 Jones, who joined the College’s faculty in 2013, was inducted into the PSC Academy of Teaching Excellence. 

But even though he “teaches” poetry, Jones admitted that art can be nurtured, but rarely properly “taught.”

“My bosses might not like that, but they have heard me say it before," Jones said. “I don’t think poetry or art can truly be taught. What I will attempt to do is nurture a student’s ability and spot what they are doing well and push them in that direction. I can help get students out of certain habits and encourage them to go beyond themselves and what is comfortable. But that spirit can’t be taught. It’s ambiguous.” 

As poet laureate, Jones has looked as his role as being an ambassador for poetry in the region.

“The first year, I was embarrassed by all the attention," he said. “But I’ve grown into it and become more comfortable in the role as the face of poetry in the community.” 

Jones’ poetry is spotlighted in the most recent edition of the legendary New Orleans poetry journal “Fellswoop: The All Bohemian Review.” In fact, the whole issue is focused on Jones and his poetry. Jones has been asked to edit the next edition of “Fellswoop.”

Also, the West Florida Literary Federation will release two collections of Jones’ poems later this year. One book will feature older works that have been published in limited edition poetry chapbooks and in small poetry magazines. Another book will feature more recent material. His previous poetry book, “Blue Rain Morning," was published in 2011.

Jones has been a leading advocate for arts and poetry since his first year as a Pensacola Junior College student in the early 1980s shortly after reading Jack Kerouac’s legendary Beat classic “The Dharma Bums.” Along with his older sister, Llisa Jones, and legendary former Pensacola raconteur Ian Fuller, Jones was a founder of Pensacola’s BackDoor Poets, which brought regular and informal poetry readings to the city for decades. (Jones credits Llisa with being a “major inspiration” on his decision to pursue poetry more intensively.)

And no, Jones didn’t read “The Dharma Bums” in class.

“I would skip English and sit in my VW and read," he said. “I just read so much. It just spoke to me and something about it encouraged me to trust myself and to work hard and be honest in my writing. And I still think that’s a good standard.”

The seasonal flu is one bug that you can protect yourself against with a vaccination. And you can get a flu vaccination from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 22 and Sept. 25 at the Pensacola State College Warrington campus Student Center.

The flu shots will be available to all PSC students, staff and faculty. The shots will be administered by the national pharmacy chain CVS and will be given free to those with health insurance. Those without health insurance can get vaccinated at a reduced rate of $25.

Consent forms must be filled out at least a day before the flu vaccines are given. Consent forms are available in Building 3100 on the Warrington campus, in either room 3156 or 3140.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May.

Wear your masks, keep them on, maintain social distancing (6 feet apart), don’t congregate in groups, wash your hands frequently, and please stay home if you are sick. Special thanks to our student athletes for helping with this important message. L-R: Vernisha Robin, Amaya Bazemore, Dexter McKenzie, Jorja Barrett and Bryan Scribner.