Two Nursing Students Named Siemens Technical Scholars

AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 28, 2017 – SFSC students Melissa Acosta of Highlands County and Angelina Avila of DeSoto County today were named 2017 Siemens Technical Scholars by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (CEP) and the Siemens Foundation.

Acosta and Avila were among 51 exceptional state and community college students selected from some of the nation’s strongest state and community college programs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), which provide outstanding preparation for high-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and information technology.

Acosta graduated from SFSC’s Associate in Science Degree in Nursing program (ADN) in 2016 and works in Tampa as a Registered Nurse in a hospital emergency room.

“Melissa displays excellent leadership skills, a passion for nursing, and dedication to lifelong learning,” said Dr. Michele Heston, SFSC dean of Health Sciences. “She was a model student and will continue to shine in any career path she chooses.”

Avila is a student in SFSC’s ADN program and will graduate in June.

“In a word, Angelina is awesome,” Dr. Heston said. “She will be an asset to the healthcare workforce in our service district. Angelina plans to continue her employment at DeSoto Memorial Hospital as a Registered Nurse.”

As Siemens Technical Scholars, Acosta and Avila will each receive scholarships of $3,500 to continue their education. Acosta plans to use her scholarship award to repay student loans. Because of the Siemens scholarship, she is able to pursue an advanced degree sooner and without debt. She has already applied to the University of South Florida’s Family Nurse Practitioner program.

Avila will use her scholarship to pay for her final term tuition, books, and licensing examination fees and said, “I can now apply for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing program at SFSC sooner than I thought.”

The Siemens Technical Scholars selection committee identified exemplary state and community college STEM programs, like SFSC’s Nursing program, that deliver exceptional training for technical STEM jobs in areas ranging from healthcare to power plan technology.

“The ultimate outcome of the Associate Degree Nursing program at SFSC is to prepare graduates for contemporary practice,” Dr. Heston said. “Program graduates hold a variety of positions in the community, such as nursing directors of long-term care facilities, clinical education directors, nurse managers at a variety of facilities, corrections nurses, hospice nurses, and nursing faculty.”

Overall, jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields are projected to grow at almost double the rate of non-STEM occupations. State and community colleges like SFSC are playing a huge role in meeting this demand. More than half of all STEM jobs across the United States require no more than an associate degree and pay wages that average more than $50,000 annually. And people with a postsecondary education earn 74 percent more than those with just a high school diploma.

“The best community college programs are providing top-notch preparation for the jobs employers are clamoring to fill,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of Siemens Foundation. “We need to change the mind-set about community colleges and make sure that students, parents, and college guidance counselors see these exceptional STEM programs as strong pathways to opportunity, whether that means heading right into a great paying job or getting a more advanced degree.”

Dr. Heston said, “Grounded in the Seven C’s of Caring, nursing education maintains the health of our community, guided by a collective vision: ‘Transforming lives by empowering individuals to maximize their potential as competent and compassionate healthcare practitioners in a relationship-centered, caring environment.’”

SFSC offers four Nursing programs: the one-year Practical Nursing occupational certificate, the one-year Transition: LPN to RN Associate in Science Degree in Nursing (ADN), the two-year Generic: RN Associate in Science Degree in Nursing (ADN), and the two-year Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN). For more information about SFSC’s application process, admission criteria, nursing program applications, and application deadlines, visit www.southflorida.edu or call 863-784-7027.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 22, 2017 – Dr. Tatyana Brusentsova, a physical sciences instructor at South Florida State College, made her first visit to the United States in 2002. Not for a vacation but to attend a scientific conference in Tallahassee, Fla.

“I remember saying to myself, ‘This state could be a very nice place to live,’” the Russian-born scientist recalled, as she gets ready to wrap up her first year with SFSC.

After the conference, she returned to her physical chemistry studies at Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology in Moscow. Back home, Dr. Brusentsova learned she had scored a green card in an annual lottery sponsored by the United States Department of State. She was one of 50,000 applicants who, each year, the State Department chooses at random to receive permanent resident status in the United States.

“I was already doing graduate-level work, so I decided to move to the United States to continue my studies at a research university,” Dr. Brusentsova said.

“Not knowing too much about particular American educational institutions, I started Googling lists of universities to see a where I could study,” she said with a cadence that showed a mastery of English with a decidedly Russian rhythm. “So, I started at the top with the A’s and found the University of Alaska and, in the C’s, I came across the universities in the Carolinas, then I came across the University of Central Florida.”

“Um, I said, a university in the center of Florida. I liked Florida. And I had an immediate interest in the symbolism of UCF, the Pegasus that represents the university and the motto of ‘reaching for the stars.’ But most important, I saw professors who were doing work in nanoparticles. That’s my field of study, and I figured this place fits me well.”

In Moscow, Dr. Brusentsova put her dissertation preparation at Mendeleev University on hold and arranged a visit to UCF, where she accepted an offer to join the physics program.

The then 24-year-old physical chemistry student entered UCF’s doctoral program in physics in fall 2005, specializing in spectroscopy of minerals, with the hope of delving into the mysteries of space dust, particles floating in space that could give a clue to the origins of the universe.

Dr. Brusentsova’s dual background prepared her for her course load at SFSC, where her teaching spans both sides of the line between the most sought after physical sciences classes: chemistry and physics.

“I don’t make a big separation between the two fields, but for some people it’s one or the other,” Dr. Brusentsova declared. “I’m lucky to have a grounding in chemistry from my Moscow-based studies and in physics from my coursework at UCF.”

Dr. Brusentsova noted that, while still a student at UCF, she earned her doctorate in physical chemistry from Mendeleev University.

“Staying on at UCF to complete my dissertation in physics would have taken another two years,” Brusentsova explained. “I figured one doctorate was enough—plus I wanted to get out on my own, start teaching, and live independently of grant-funded university research.”

In 2010, Dr. Brusentsova became a U.S. citizen, making Orlando her home.

After a several years as an adjunct instructor at Seminole State College and Valencia College, Brusentsova spotted an advertisement for a full-time position at SFSC teaching the physical sciences.

“I had never been to Avon Park but decided to come down and apply for the teaching job,” Dr. Brusentsova said. “What I saw was a beautiful campus, and a region with orange groves, lakes, and abundant natural habitat, and I liked it.”

Dr. Brusentsova said she thought there must have been a “mutual attraction,” saying members of the SFSC Natural Sciences Department liked her too because they offered her the job. She took up teaching chemistry and physics last August, and set about developing a new online course in physical sciences.

Dr. Brusentsova said physics, a subject she came to relatively late in her graduate studies, can throw up some challenges. “Still, I love teaching physics to the students at SFSC,” she said. “I keep reviewing the material myself because, in a sense, I’m still learning along with my students.”

Not only does Dr. Brusentsova straddle both sides of the fence in the physical sciences, she does so when it comes to calling a place home. She lives in temporary digs in Avon Park from Sunday through Thursday while she teaches at SFSC. She returns to her home in Orlando for a weekend of advanced mathematics classes at UCF, leaving no time for pets, hobbies, or marriage.

“I take the math classes for the physics—it’s like exercise for the brain,” Dr. Brusentsova said. “Someone remarked to me that’s easy to say.”

Dr. Brusentsova followed up with, “Yes, it’s easy to say, but I’m not saying it’s easy to do.”

AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 17, 2017 – South Florida State College’s Museum of Florida Art and Culture (MOFAC) plays host to the Pygmy Fringe Tree Wildflower Festival, a celebration of the region’s native wildflowers, on Thursday, March 9, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., on SFSC’s Highlands Campus, Avon Park.

The festival kicks off with guided walks through SFSC’s Wayside Shrine Trail, a footpath winding its way through pristine scrubland on the college’s campus. The tract, blanketed by fine white sand and overspread with shrubs, is home to native wildflowers that bloom in early March.

“The Wayside Shrine Trail on the SFSC Highlands Campus offers the public an easily accessible venue with which to view this rare and extraordinary shrub,” said Megan Stepe, MOFAC’s curator. “This beautiful plant flowers in early March, so now is the time take in this wonderful event.”

Leading the walking tours will be Dustin Angell, a conservation photographer and education coordinator from Archbold Biological Station. He will be joined by Claire Miller, an SFSC librarian, and Diana Cleghorn, a member of SFSC’s Information Technology Department.

The festival takes its name from the pygmy fringe tree (Chionanthus pygmaeus), a now rare flowering shrub that grows between three and six feet tall. The pygmy fringe tree once thrived throughout central Florida. But farming and development nearly swept it from the region, prompting the federal government to declare it an endangered species in 1987.

The trail was conceived by Mollie Doctrow, a former curator at MOFAC and an award-winning artist whose work revolves around capturing natural habitats. The trail opened in 2011.

The public can also glimpse other native plants flowering along the trail: the big flag pawpaw, sky-blue lupine, and another endangered species, the scrub St. Johns Wort.

This year’s festival includes storytelling by Florida Seminole songwriter Rita Youngman and storytelling and song by Florida folklorist Carol Mahler. Photography walks will be led by Karla Respress, an art instructor in SFSC’s Art Department.

Visitors to the trail can write their impressions in notebooks found in wooden shrine boxes along the path. The boxes, designed by Doctrow, contain information that showcases the shrubs and wildflowers.

One side of each box has a plant image in relief, allowing visitors to make a rubbing on paper as a memento of their visit. Rubbing kits will be available for purchase, with proceeds going to SFSC art club.

Members of the Audubon Society and the Ridge Rangers will be on hand to answer questions from the public. Visitors will find members from the Lake Placid Art League along the trail doing plein air, or open air painting of the shrubs.

Visitors can purchase lunch from local caterer Loafin’Around, who will set up a food tent at the site.

A walk through the trail gives visitors a chance to see the land, known as the Lake Wales Ridge, as it existed for centuries. The ridge, an ancient beach and sand dune system formed 1-3 million years ago, has been home to flora that has struggled to survive against development.

The guided walks start from the MOFAC’s entrance adjacent to the Wildstein Theater for the Performing Arts at 11 a.m. Take Entrance 3 from College Drive to reach MOFAC. SFSC’s Highlands Campus is located at 600 W. College Dr., Avon Park.

The trail is open to the public during regular college hours. To reach the trail, visitors should look for Entrance 5 along College Drive.

For more information on the festival, call Stepe at 863-784-7240 or follow the events link on MOFAC’s website: mofac.org.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 13, 2017 – In early February, Paul Blackman had just wrapped up his first month as Highlands County’s new sheriff. Sitting in his office, Blackman took a moment to reflect on the journey that placed him atop the county’s law enforcement community.

As it happens, Blackman said that seven out of 10 voters who swept him into office can tip their hats to SFSC baseball and a Panther cheerleader for the chance to choose him as their sheriff.

“I was a kid just out of high school in Saint Augustine, and SFSC baseball coach Clay Gooch offered me a scholarship to come to Avon Park to pitch for the college,” Blackman said. “One day the team was parading through the cafeteria, and the cheerleaders were on hand rating each of us on our looks.”

Whatever his rating might have been, one of those cheerleaders took a shine to the new pitcher. The two started dating. “It might sound goofy, but Melissa and I have been together ever since,” Blackman said of his wife. The couple will shortly celebrate their wedding anniversary, having wed on the shores of Lake Jackson 26 years ago.

Blackman came to SFSC with dreams of moving up to the major leagues. He picked up his love for the game from his grandfather, Paul Gillespie, who played catcher for the Chicago Cubs in 1945, the last time they were in the World Series before their championship win last year.

“Back in high school, I thought I had a decent arm and would go on to the big leagues,” Blackman recalled. “But after two days at SFSC, it dawned on me I was just one fish in a big pond.” Still, Blackman finished out a season and a half before transferring to Warner University, where he played for another season.

“Melissa said if I loved her I would have to love Highlands as well, because she wasn’t moving away,” Blackman said. “Her dad was a deputy with the Highland County Sheriff’s Office. I went out with him on some calls, and I got an angling for law enforcement from hanging around him and his buddies.”

In 1992, Blackman returned to SFSC and put himself through the college’s Criminal Justice Academy.

“Then-Sheriff Godwin gave me a chance, and I started as a deputy in 1993,” Blackman said. “Through the years, I’ve worked in every position at Sheriff’s Office.”

Blackman realized his career advancement in law enforcement would require a college degree. He returned to SFSC to pick up the credits he needed for an associate degree and other, not so easily measured, benefits.

“It’s only years later that I can look back and realize what an impact the folks at SFSC had on my life,” Blackman said. “I think of Coach Gooch, and Jack Parr, a counselor during my time on the Highlands Campus, who took an interest in giving me guidance that made a big difference.”

Blackman said he shares those memories with his son, Gerig, who is midway through his first year at SFSC, where, like his father, he pitches for the Panthers.

“I try to pass them along to my son by telling him to build relationships with his mentors at SFSC, folks like Coach Hitt and his instructors, whose influences now will make a difference later on in his life.”

Blackman later returned to Warner University, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business. When he’s not running the Sheriff’s Office, Blackman gives his time to the United Way, Sebring Noon Rotary, and Big Brother Big Sisters.

Melissa Blackman, the former SFSC cheerleader who eyed the young pitcher, has risen through the ranks of the Highlands County School Board, recently assuming the post of assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

The couple, along with their son, love the beach, where they enjoy surfing as a family at Fort Pierce State Park.

Blackman returned recently to Panther Field early on a sunny afternoon to throw out the season opening first pitch when SFSC faced off against Eastern Florida State College. On hand to take in the game was Clay Gooch, the SFSC coach who brought Blackman to Highlands County.

“After I threw out the first pitch, Coach Gooch came up to me and said ‘Why didn’t you throw the ball that hard when you played for me?’,” Blackman said. “That’s typical Coach Gooch, who is another great SFSC influence who has been so important to me.”

Blackman will soon move to a new desk when the Sherriff’s Office moves to its new headquarters down the street. He has filled out the command structure of his office and said his major challenge has been finding time to accommodate all the requests from the many people who seek him out.

Describing himself as a man of faith, Blackman sees his role as that of a servant leader, an approach to public service that emphasize the role of the leader as one committed to serving others. But while faith plays a central role in Blackman’s life, he recognizes the complementary role education plays.

“I am hopeful that through my education at SFSC, I’ve been prepared to be a great leader at the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office.”

AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 9, 2017 – South Florida State College has started registration for its summer term. Classes for the summer term begin May 5. The term ends July 31.

New students can apply for admission to the college by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the top of SFSC’s home page at: www.southflorida.edu. Students should apply for admission before the beginning of the term so that they’re ready to start classes on time.

Returning students can register and pay for classes through the college portal, Panther Central.

The summer term schedule of classes is available online at www.southflorida.edu/current-students/class-schedules.

Students can register in person for the summer term on the SFSC Highlands Campus in Avon Park by visiting the Advising and Counseling Center in Building B., 8 a.m.- 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Fridays. Students can also register at these SFSC locations: Hardee Campus in Bowling Green, the Lake Placid Center, or the DeSoto Campus in Arcadia.

Financial aid is available to those who qualifiy. Students planning to seek financial support from the SFSC Foundation should apply soon. The priority deadline for SFSC Foundation scholarships is March 15.

Students who plan to apply for financial aid should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible. The application is online at: fafsa.ed.gov For more information about financial assistance and scholarships, contact the SFSC Financial Aid Office at 863-784-7134.

For more information about registration, call 863-453-6661 (Highlands Campus), 773-3081 (Hardee Campus), 993-1757 (DeSoto Campus), or 465-3003 (Lake Placid Center). For information about SFSC and its programs, visit www.southflorida.edu.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 3, 2017 – The South Carolina Ballet returns to the Wildstein Center at South Florida State College on Saturday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m., for the Florida premiere of its newly staged ballet, “Beauty and the Beast.”

“‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a love story that’s perfect for all ages,” said Cindy Garren, director of SFSC’s Cultural Programs. “Adults and children will be captivated by this fairy tale, but it’s important to note that this is not the Disney version with dancing tea pots and candlesticks.”

The production features choreography from South Carolina Ballet executive director William Starrett, with music composed by Leon Fyodorovich, and costumes by Alexis Doktor.

Last November, Starrett held auditions at the SFSC Wildstein Center for local children, with 60 dancers cast to serve as villagers, bride’s attendants, flower girls, wedding guests, and more. Nancy McDuffee, a Sebring resident and teacher at Dance Unlimited, served as the local ballet mistress, who rehearsed the young dancers every week.

“The production is a classic story mixed with despair, love and patience,” Starrett said of his company’s production of the traditional fairy tale. “It’s a magical and enchanting story for the whole family where love conquers all!”

The production features enchanting medieval sets including the mysterious castle nestled in old France. A one-of-a-kind Belle gown has been designed to debut in this production. The Beast’s character is artistically elegant with a touch of menace.  

Before joining the South Carolina Ballet, Starrett was a principal dancer for the Joffrey Ballet and the American Ballet Theater under the direction of Mikhail Baryshnikov. He has made guest appearances with more than 40 of the world’s most renowned ballet companies, Garren added.

Tickets for the performance range from $29 to $39. Children and students receive a 50 percent discount. Groups of 12 or more save 25 percent and receive one free ticket for the group coordinator. Tickets can be purchased online at www.sfscarts.org or by vising the Wildstein Center Box Office on the SFSC Highlands Campus, 600 W. College Dr., Avon Park.

The Wildstein Center box Office is open Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To phone the Wildstein Center Box Office, call 863-784-7178.

Florida Hospital is the presenting sponsor of the production. Additional sponsors are: Dr. Andrew and Beth Kulick; Terry and Dr. Michele Heston; Carol Emery; Dr. Witford and Inga Reid; Dr. Catherine Cornelius; Joan Hartt; All Around Septic and Sewer Inc,; Dr. Donald, Ruth and Kimberly Geldart.

SFSC presents more than 30 national and international touring artists at the 1460-seat Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts and the 250-seat University Center Auditorium on the Highlands Campus. Upcoming performances include: contemporary Christian best-selling artists, Point of Grace, March 9; Bravo Amici, March 21; magician Adam Trent, April 11; and bluegrass group The Hillbenders, April 6.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 3, 2017 – The Museum of Florida Art and Culture (MOFAC) at SFSC will mount an exhibition of work by Muffy Clark Gill titled, “The 20th Century Seminole Experience: Paintings from the Florida Indian Tribes Series.”  The exhibition will be on display Feb. 15 – March 7 in MOFAC’s gallery on the SFSC Highlands Campus in Avon Park. On Thursday, Feb. 16, 1-2 p.m., Gill will present and discuss her photographs of the state’s Native Americans who inspired her paintings. The talk is open to the public at no cost. Gill will speak in Building G, Room 101, on the SFSC Highlands Campus, Avon Park.

Gill uses batik, a painting technique originating in Indonesia using wax on cloth.

“Gill appreciates the use of simple figures and vibrant colors that are often associated with the artwork of indigenous cultures, and she creates images that weave this love of color and design with Native American history,” said Megan Stepe, MOFAC’s curator.

Gill described her Seminole series as offering a modern insight combined with a historical perspective of the Native Americans who live in South Florida, with a particular focus on the Seminole and Miccosukee peoples, according to Stepe.

Accompanying Gill’s works, MOFAC will also display a collection of Seminole dolls. Members of the Seminole tribe have created dolls since the 1940s. They used designs based on brightly colored fabric in a patchwork style typically worn by Native American women. The dolls were sewn with intricate designs inspired by animals and elements found in the natural environment.

“The Seminole tribe makes many of their dolls from the palmetto leaves found in swampy marsh areas,” Stepe said. “These dolls have been often used to teach children important lessons about life and are considered highly prized by collectors of Seminole artifacts.”

Also on display during the Seminole exhibition are a series of unconventional paintings by Melanie Hubbard. Titled “Text and Textures: Erasure Poetry by Melanie Hubbard,” the paintings are based on a 1924 book dealing with child rearing. Using watercolors, Hubbard paints atop enlarged images replicating pages from the book to effect what she asserts is an “erasure” of the antiquated advice given to mothers.

Hubbard is a scholar, poet, and teacher whose work has received support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

MOFAC is located in the Wildstein Center at SFSC, 600 W. College Dr., Avon Park. The museum is open to the public on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12:30 – 4:30 p.m., or by appointment for group tours. Patrons of the Wildstein Center may visit the museum one hour prior to matinee and evening performances.

For more information about MOFAC and its programs or to request a museum tour, contact Stepe at 863-784-7240, or email stepem@southflorida.edu. Visit the MOFAC website at mofac.org.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Feb. 3, 2017 – On Feb. 1, Maria Gloria arrived at the Lake Placid High School expecting a typical day. Instead she got the surprise of her life.

Gloria, a senior at Lake Placid High School, had been called to a meet with school staff for a routine meeting.

Instead, a stunned Gloria entered a room to find SFSC administrators, Lake Placid High School staff, and her mentor from Take Stock in Children (TSIC) waiting to break the news she earned a $40,000 Leaders 4 Life college scholarship from the Asofsky Family Foundation. TSIC, a mentoring program for middle and high school sttudents, is operated by the SFSC Foundation.

“I just can’t believe this is happening,” said Gloria, stunned and visibly shaken, as she was handed flowers and glancing toward her parents.

Gloria was one among six students statewide who were tapped to receive the scholarship, an award that covers non-tuition expenses like housing, books, and transportation. Gloria’s tuition will be covered by a separate TSIC scholarship she will earn when she graduates in May.

The Leaders 4 Life scholarship is an initiative of the Asofsky Family Foundation, which supports programs aimed at helping the state’s youth. The foundation awards the scholarship in partnership with TSIC.

Gloria was eligible for the fellowship because of her participation in the local TSIC program. The program matches students at-risk of not completing high school with mentors who guide them toward earning their diplomas, with college scholarships awaiting those who graduate and enroll in college.

Irene Castanon, who heads up SFSC’s TSIC program said Gloria’s academic achievement and leadership on campus were key to her success in earning the scholarship.

“Gloria is graduating among the top ten in her class and she serves as the vice president of the student government association and was elected her class president,” Castanon said.

Castanon said Gloria has applied to both Florida State University and the University of Florida, and has her hopes set on going to Gainesville next fall.

On hand to share in the surprise announcement were Gloria’s mother and father, Esmeralda Avila and Omar Gloria, including her brother Omar Gloria. Also watching was Gloria’s TSIC mentor Pamela Karlson, who practices law in Lake Placid and serves as the attorney for SFSC’s District Board of Trustees. Karlson started mentoring Gloria when she was in the seventh grade.

“Mrs. Karlson has been such an amazing inspiration to me,” Gloria said. “She’s a lawyer and I want to follow her example and practice law when I finish my studies.”

Gloria participates in SFSC’s dual enrolled program at Lake Placid High School. The program offers students the opportunity to complete their high school diploma at an SFSC campus while simultaneously earning college credits or an occupational certificate. SFSC has similar arrangements with Hardee and Highlands counties.

“This is a huge accomplishment and you deserve it,” said Jamie Bateman, SFSC’s executive director for institutional advancement, who oversees the SFSC Foundation and the local TSIC program. “We are touched that someone as deserving as you will represent SFSC.”

TSIC mentors typically meet with their assigned students each week during the schoolyear, offering encouragement, advice, and a sympathetic ear. A TSIC college success coach provides support and guidance to the mentor and the mentee.

Gloria’s selection from among 90 scholarship applicants also brings her a MacBook Pro laptop. She will travel to Tallahassee on March 7 for a formal ceremony arranged by the Asofsky Family Foundation that will include state legislators and educators.