Rotary Club of Highlands County Establishes Endowed Scholarship Through the SFSC Foundation

AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 31, 2024 – More students in Highlands County will have an opportunity to attend South Florida State College (SFSC) because of the Rotary Club of Highlands County Scott Fettinger Endowed Scholarship.

With the Rotary Club’s recent donation of over $21,000, it has met its scholarship goal of $100,000. In fact, it exceeded the goal by $16,500. Its scholarship has now become an endowed scholarship.

According to Jamie Bateman, SFSC vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs, an endowed scholarship enables donors to create a legacy, to carry funds toward student scholarships into perpetuity. Scholarships for students are awarded from the interest that the endowment earns. As the corpus grows, the SFSC Foundation can award scholarships to students for years to come.

In 2006, the Rotary Club of Highlands County established its original scholarship through the SFSC Foundation as a lasting tribute to the members of the Club and to Scott Fettinger. Fettinger was a charter member of the Club, one of the Club’s first presidents, and the driving force behind establishing the scholarship.

“This scholarship has been a hallmark project of our Rotary Club for years,” said Dave Onsted, Rotary Club of Highlands County president. “We’ve always been proud of having the largest service-based scholarship fund with the SFSC Foundation.”

Applicants for the Rotary Club of Highlands County Scott Fettinger Endowed Scholarship must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a certificate, degree, trade, or non-credit program at SFSC on at least a one-half time basis. They must be permanent residents of Highlands County, maintain a 2.75 GPA or better, and agree to attend a meeting of the Rotary Club of Highlands County to provide an update on their College program. Preference will be given to those with demonstrated financial need.

“I commend the Rotary Club of Highlands County members for what they have accomplished with this scholarship,” Bateman said. “They started with a goal and went on a journey of growing their scholarship. I applaud all of their members for this accomplishment. The Rotary Club is the second organization affiliated with the SFSC Foundation that set out to grow their scholarship to an endowment level and far exceeded expectations. The first organization was the Highlands County Bar Association.”

The inaugural Rotary Club was founded in Chicago in 1905 and Rotary International is now one of the largest service organizations in the world. The initial part of its mission states that it is to “provide service to others.”

“One of the needs that our Club saw in this community was to help our students achieve higher education goals,” Onsted said. “That doesn’t always mean a degree. A few years ago, we expanded the scholarship to allow certificate programs to be included. Students deserve an education and if they can’t afford it, that shouldn’t get in the way. So, that was the inspiration behind the establishment of the scholarship.”

Besides supporting a scholarship through the SFSC Foundation, the Rotary Club of Highlands County sponsors veterans for Freedom Honor Flights, in which veterans are flown to Washington, D.C. to visit monuments built in their honor. Currently, members of the Club are working on a Buddy Bench project. Club members intend to place a Buddy Bench at each elementary school in Highlands County by next year. “The Buddy Bench is a place where kids know that if they don’t have a playmate or if they’re left out of an activity, they can sit on the bench and it’s a sign that they need a friend,” Onsted said.

The Rotary Club of Highlands County was established 25 years ago, has approximately 25 members, and meets on Mondays at 6:15 p.m. at Dmitri’s Restaurant in Sebring.

To apply for scholarships made available through the SFSC Foundation, visit AwardSpring at: southflorida.awardspring.com. For more information about the SFSC Foundation or to make a donation, call 863-453-3133 or email foundation@southflorida.edu.

Many SFSC employees work behind the scenes, making sure that programs and events run smoothly. Karen Pelski is one of them. In March 2020, she came to SFSC to work for the Cultural Programs Office in the Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts on the Highlands Campus.

As Cultural Programs specialist, her job has two functions. “I recruit and train volunteers for our theater,” she said. “So, I train people in the community who want to be ushers, ticket scanners, playbill people, drive patrons in golf carts to and from the parking lot, and so forth. I’m also in charge of artist services. For the artists who come to the theater, I help them with transportation, book their hotel, and make sure they’re fed. I make sure they have anything they need in their dressing room.” 

Pelski works in conjunction with Jeanne Tripsansky, the catering manager, who’s in charge of preparing food for the artists, serving the food, and clean up. Pelski trains volunteer to work with Tripsansky in the kitchen.                                                                                              

Pelski and her volunteers need to be ready for just about any challenge that comes along. “Some artists, especially, those who are on the road, drive up in a bus,” Pelski said. “I may book a College van and my volunteers will drive the artists wherever they want to go, such as to run errands or have a manicure. One artist wanted to go fishing. These folks are on the road much of the time, so they appreciate anything we can do to assist them. Our goal is to make sure the second they come to our door, they’re pleasantly surprised.”

Prior to going on stage to perform “The Beat Goes On” Cher tribute show last season, the artist accidentally ripped her costume. When Pelski recruits volunteers, she often asks them if they know how to sew. She found someone who lived close to SFSC. A zipper was purchased at Walmart and the volunteer immediately came to the College to fix the costume.

Pelski has indicated that artists, often, are surprised when they get to SFSC’s theater. “In a small town like Avon Park, they don’t know what to expect,” she said. “We have contract riders when working with artists. They cover hospitality and technical requirements. It’s amazing what the artists ask for. For instance, artists have asked for running water in their dressing room or a private toilet. When we read these contract riders, we often say to each other, ‘What kind of places have these artists been going to where they don’t have running water?’ The artists are happy when they get here. They see our facilities and they’re thrilled. SFSC Performing Arts has a good reputation. Artists talk to each other and tell each other about what great experiences they’ve had here. Of course, we’re proud of that.”

Although Pelski didn’t begin her career in the performing arts or in volunteer services, her accumulated experience over the years came together to prepare her for her current position.

Born in Waukegan, Ill., Pelski grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology in 1983 from the University of Cincinnati. Right out of college, she practiced as a speech pathologist, traveling between three local elementary schools. However, three years later, budgets were cut and Pelski was out of a job.

As luck would have it, she worked a second job in retail that turned into a career. Thirty years of experience later, Pelski has done just about everything you can do in retail. “I’ve been an assistant buyer, a buyer, an assistant store manager, a store manager, a sales manager, and I’ve worked in human resources and in operations. One of my last positions was as a regional merchandise manager with Macy’s and my area of responsibility was women’s shoes.

“I loved my job, but life happens,” she said. “You get divorced and you have a young child. Now you can’t travel as much as you did.”

By the way, Pelski’s son is now 24 years old and graduated in December 2023 from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

Because Pelski held an education certificate, she was eligible to teach Geography at a Montessori pre-school and kindergarten in Cincinnati.

“I loved being a teacher,” she said. “You’re a rockstar. I did that for eight years. When I left, I was the assistant director.”

After marrying her current husband, Paul, he asked Pelski where she’d like to live. They had met online when he was living in Wisconsin and she in Ohio. Paul was originally from Fort Lauderdale and owned a house in Boca Raton for some time. Pelski had always wanted to live by the water, so they decided to move to Boca Raton. Paul had three sons of his own, so now they had a family of four sons, three daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren.

Pelski took a job at the local YMCA as a pre-school assistant teacher. Within a year, she was promoted to the Community Outreach branch for the YMCA, where she gained experience in fundraising and event management. Then a position came open for a volunteer coordinator at the YMCA. Her supervisor suggested she apply for the job and she was hired. She worked with volunteers in the Foundation and the branch board of directors, athletics, and special events.

“At the YMCA, you need volunteer coaches for athletics, so you make sure that everyone is fingerprinted and everyone is trained. Then you have events at the Y, like Healthy Kids Day or Halloween at the Y, and you need volunteers to work the events. Most of the volunteers were high-school aged kids. In fact, Florida Bright Futures was my way to entice high school kids to volunteer. I’d say, ‘If you want to go to college for free, you can get 150 volunteer hours, so come see me.’”

I also started a new program through the Y called “Togetherhood,” in which we partnered with businesses in the community and did beach cleanups, helped the Florida Food Bank sort food, and so forth. I formed great relationships with the local businesses through the program. One of the guys that worked with me on beach cleanup became the mayor of Boca Raton.”

Pelski’s mother-in-law owned three houses in Highlands County. As an adult, Pelski’s husband would bring his children to Highlands County, where he had fond memories of being out on the water. And he loves to renovate houses. The Pelskis found a house in Sebring to renovate in 2014. After four years of hard work on the weekends, the house was in great shape to sell, but the Pelskis decided otherwise. They had fallen in love with the house and moved in.

After moving to Sebring, Pelski said that she “became obsessed with SFSC. A college campus is the heartbeat of a community. So, I really wanted to work here. I applied for a few positions but didn’t get them. Then, I applied for this position. Although I didn’t hear anything about the position for a while, I would come to the College and walk around. Sometimes, the security guys would ask me if I needed a ride and would show me around campus and tell me what all the buildings were.”

Pelski is proud of SFSC Performing Arts and wants to share its events with others. “We have a fabulous facility at SFSC and we get top notch entertainment,” she said. “Professional artists from all over the world perform here. Our students and full-time employees get discounts to shows. We would love to see more engagement with employees and students and we encourage them to come see the shows.”

“Six of us work in the Cultural Programs Office,” she said. “We have the best team. Everyone in our department supports each other. We’re all friends. I feel as if all of my experiences from previous jobs, such as recruiting, scheduling, managing people, and using the Salesforce platform have been combined into this one. I can’t help but love it.”

Jan. 16, 2024 – After the South Florida State College (SFSC) Foundation’s seventh annual Million Dollar Hole-in-One Golf Shootout, sponsored by Bill Jarrett Ford, on Saturday, Jan. 13, no one won the $1 million, but Kyle Braxton was the sole golfer who landed his ball on the green at 24’ 7” from the hole and winning $750. The event raised $11,551 for SFSC’s athletic programs.

This year, golfers swung in wet and cold conditions to qualify during the three-day Golf Shootout that began on Thursday, Jan. 11, and was held at Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club in Sebring. Despite the weather conditions, 94 people turned out to vie for the $1 million prize. Golfers included 12 from out-of-state, two from outside the country, and 12 women, the highest female participation in the event’s history.  

The golfers who rounded out the group of 12 qualifiers were: Tod Phillips, Steve Sortore, Ricky Weppler, Michael Thayer, Chris Pingel, Mike Nelson, Kyle Braxton, Richard Sinclair, Rodger Dowe, Tom Kestler, Michael Kelly, and Bill Parrett. Tod Phillips hit a hole-in-one during day two of the qualifying rounds.  

“The 2024 SFSC Foundation’s Million Dollar Hole-in-One Golf Shootout sponsored by Bill Jarrett Ford was again an outstanding event,” said Rick Hitt, SFSC athletic director. “Thank you to our sponsors, to our volunteers, and of course to our outstanding participants who came out each day regardless of the weather to get themselves on the leaderboard. We continue to be blessed to live in a community that supports so many different events and the Million Dollar Shootout is no exception. SFSC Athletics is extremely grateful for the proceeds from this event to assist in all aspects of the Panther athletic program. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue hosting this event and look forward to 2025 with great anticipation.” 

Proceeds from the golf shootout benefit SFSC Panther athletic teams in women’s volleyball, women’s cross country, men’s baseball, and women’s softball. SFSC’s student-athletes assisted throughout the Golf Shootout. 

For more information on the event or how to become a sponsor for next year’s Golf Shootout, contact the SFSC Foundation at 863-453-3313. 

Jan. 12, 2024 – The DeSoto Campus of South Florida State College (SFSC) received a check for $10,000 from the DeSoto County Education Foundation (DCEF) through local resident John Olin. This check is the first of nine that the College will receive to create possibilities for DeSoto County students to become teachers and boost employment in the local public school system to reach their goal of becoming fully staffed with certified teachers. 

Olin has a passion for education and believes it is the key to improving the community. He specifically wants to remove barriers between potential educators and the needed degrees to ensure that they are on the path to a career in education. 

“SFSC responded to the needs of our school district and our community, and with the very generous support of this donor and DCEF, we are set to make local dreams come true,” said Asena Mott, director for the DeSoto Campus. “This is a great example of a caring community that works together for the benefit of its future.”

The majority of the donated funds will be used to hire the instructors needed for SFSC’s DeSoto Campus. The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Teacher Education (BSETE) at the DeSoto Campus is a hybrid program with some online classes and the remainder of classes at the DeSoto Campus in the late afternoon/evening, making it ideal for schedules of current paraprofessionals or substitute teachers who wish to take classes and fulfill their dreams of becoming teachers, without giving up their current jobs. 

“We are so grateful for the DeSoto Education Foundation and their dedication to enriching the lives of our students,” said Jamie Bateman, SFSC’s vice president for institutional advancement and external affairs. “What adds to this, is the dedication and support that we have from our community friends who also see a need and want to step up in an attempt to make a change for the better”

DCEF offers teacher scholarships for those who are currently employed by DeSoto County Public Schools. For more information, call 863-231-2611 or email marykay@burnsbrian.com.

Interested students can begin the program with the prerequisite course, Introduction to Teaching, which is a 13-week course beginning on Feb. 1 and continuing each Thursday from 4-6:45 p.m. at the DeSoto Campus.

For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Teacher Education (BSETE) at SFSC’s DeSoto Campus, or to inquire about prerequisites, call the DeSoto Campus to speak to an advisor at 863-784-7040.

About the DeSoto County Education Foundation

DeSoto County Education Foundation, Inc. is an independent not-for-profit organization whose corporate purpose is to focus the private sector upon enhancing the quality of and support for public education in DeSoto County.

 Jan. 10, 2024 –Magic, comedy, international dance, and music headliners are coming to the 1,460-seat Alan Jay Wildstein Center for the Performing Arts located at South Florida State College (SFSC) in Avon Park.  

“SFSC presented its first performance in 1984, so we are celebrating our 40th season with spectacular performances,” said Cindy Garren, director of cultural programs. A full schedule of performances, videos, and online ticketing is available at sfscARTS.org. 

Grammy-nominated country vocal duo Thompson Square will present an acoustic set of their hits, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not,” “If I Didn’t Have You,” and “Everything I Shouldn’t Be Thinking About” plus their current release, “Without You” on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. This husband-and-wife team of Keifer and Shawna Thompson have won multiple ACM, ACA, CMA, and CMT awards; earned No. 1 records in three countries; and appeared on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, NBC’s TODAY Show, CBS This Morning as well as numerous primetime TV specials and award shows. Harry Havery, a local singer-songwriter, will open the show. AdventHealth is the title sponsor and performance sponsors are Cowpoke’s Watering Hole, Paradise Real Estate International/Dawn Dell, Kris and Mike Rider, Michele and Terry Heston, and the SFSC Foundation.   

A.J. Croce, a “Billboard” artist, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, celebrates his father’s music in “Croce Plays Croce: 50th Anniversary Tour” on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. For the past seven years, Croce Plays Croce has sold out in venues throughout the United States including New York’s famed Town Hall and the Royal Oak Music Theater in Detroit.  

“People often come in thinking the show will be a quiet, nostalgic, precious display of my father’s songs —but it’s not precious at all. We give them a really energetic, live show. The audience expects one thing, but by the time they leave, they realize they got something completely different—and they leave with a new perspective on Jim, but as fans of mine as well.”  

Jim Croce’s two No. 1 hits are “Time in a Bottle” and “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” stayed on the charts for 93 weeks. “I Got a Name,” his final studio album, was released a week after his tragic death in 1973. The album featured the smash hit ballads, “I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song” and “Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues.” In December 1973, Jim’s two albums charted on Billboard at No. 1 and No. 2. Croce Plays Croce is sponsored by MidFlorida Credit Union and First Southern Bank.

Since breaking out on America’s Got Talent in 2015, Piff the Magic Dragon has won the heart of America through his Vegas residency, network television appearances, and non-stop touring. Currently headlining at the iconic Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Piff and his dog, Mr. Piffles, were crowned the 2020 winner of TBS’s Tournament of Laughs. Trip Advisor honored him in 2022 with a Traveler’s Choice Award. In 2019, he was voted one of Variety’s Top 10 Comics and won Best Comedian, Best Magician, and Best Headliner at the Best of Las Vegas Awards. David Copperfield calls Piff “the best” and “a true original.” Piff the Magic Dragon is scheduled for one performance on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.  

Argentina’s Forever Tango, the international dance sensation that appeared on Broadway in 1997, 2004, and 2013, has been heralded as one of the best tango performances in the world. “This production features exquisite dancers, live musicians, and spicy, sensuous dancing,” said Garren. Creator/director Luis Bravo is a renowned Argentinean choreographer, director, and producer who has significantly impacted the world of dance. Sponsored by MidFlorida Credit Union and Dr. Catherine P. Cornelius, Forever Tango is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. 

Tickets are available at the SFSC Box Office located at 600 West College Drive in Avon Park, by phone at 863-784-7178, and online at sfscARTS.org. Group rates are available for most shows.

AVON PARK, Fla. – Jan. 8, 2024 – CareerSource Heartland’s Panther Youth Partners (PYP) program garnered an Adult and Community Educators of Florida (ACE) Award during the ACE of Florida Annual Conference in Orlando in October for its partnership with South Florida State College’s (SFSC) Adult Education Department. It was awarded Business Supporter of the Year. In addition, SFSC’s Adult Education volunteer, Laura Smutnick, was honored as Volunteer of the Year.

According to its website, “Adult and Community Educators of Florida, Inc. represents, promotes, and advocates for adult and community education professionals and volunteers through its commitment to improving and expanding adult and community education programs and services throughout the state.”

CareerSource Heartland and PYP have been youth service providers for approximately 30 years in Highlands, DeSoto, Hardee, and Okeechobee counties. The PYP Program supports youth between 16 and 24 years of age to assist in reducing youth unemployment rates in this region.

These programs support and encourage individuals in the SFSC Adult Education Department to complete high school and continue lifelong learning through career exploration activities, work experience, job shadowing, work readiness courses, and support through mentoring. Further, CareerSource Heartland supports students by offering a grant, “Workforce Innovation and Opportunities” to pay for training programs at SFSC. Some of those programs are Construction Trades, Nursing, Welding, Mechatronics, and Commercial Vehicle Driving.

“I am so thankful that we have such a strong and collaborative partnership with CareerSource Heartland because it can only help our students and the community,” said Courtney Green, SFSC director of Adult Education and Technical Dual Enrollment.

Laura Smutnick, who won the ACE Volunteer of the Year award, is a former math teacher. She came to SFSC in 2008 as a volunteer through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer network that is administered through SFSC.

“Based on General Educational Development tests (GED®) data, approximately 82% of all Adult Education students have difficulty in math,” Green said. “Laura volunteers, specifically, on math with individual students or small groups. Her knowledge of math concepts and her passion for students has reduced students’ fear of math. Even through the COVID-19 pandemic, personal injuries, and bad weather, Laura never wavered in her volunteer hours. She continued to serve students through Zoom.”