Presidential Report October 19, 2004
Automotive Groundbreaking
I think you will agree that this morning's groundbreaking for our new $6.5 million automotive facility was a red-letter day for SCC. With five of our legislators in attendance, and approximately 200 people from the community, the hard work of the Central Florida Auto Dealers Association has certainly been rewarded. Thank you to Dr. Charles English, Sid Miller and Rick Lee for joining us this morning. And many thanks to Michael Garlich and his staff for such a smooth and beautiful event!
Introduction
It gives me great pleasure to introduce the newest member of the SCC family, Matt Hodge, Executive Director of the SCC Foundation. Matt comes to us after nearly ten years at the University of Central Florida where he was the Director of Annual Giving. I would like to invite Matt to say a few words to the Board.
Matt is coming to SCC at a great time. We have just received word that one of our graduates, Kevin Spolski, is making a $25,000 gift that will be matched by the State creating a $50,000 scholarship fund. Sun Trust has also just announced a $25,000 gift that will be matched by the State. These donations come during a time when we have just announced that the Foundation has reached $7.5 million of a $10 million goal for our "Changing Lives" capital campaign. Also, we have recently increased the Foundation Board and this morning "inducted" approximately 10 top business leaders as members of the SCC Foundation. Hang onto your hats, or should I say wallets. There is lots more in store for SCC!
Thank You
Many thanks to Verdell Pugh, Sid Miller, Dede Schaffner and Dr. Charles English for attending the recent Annual Congress of the Association of Community College Trustees. Congratulations to Verdell for her appointment (or is that election) to the Diversity Committee Board! You all may want to report on your experiences at the Congress.
Faculty Support
Dr. Robert Rapalje, one of our Math faculty members, is also a prolific author. As part of his charitable giving program, Dr. Rapalje has been donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of his One Step books --$10 per book-to the SCC Foundation for a One Step For SuCCess Scholarship program. Since 1996, approximately $18,500 has been awarded to nearly 80 students from the funds generated from Dr. Rapalje's book. Thank you, Dr. Rapalje!
Congratulations
The Southern Regional Council on Black American Affairs (SRCBAA) sponsors a program entitled "Student Leaders: Class of 2004." This program selects a student from each of the eleven states in the Southern Region to mentor and attend the SRCBAA Fall Conference which will be held in Clearwater, FL, on October 28-30.
Dr. Stephen Caldwell Wright and Diana Dillon nominated Sherman Canty for this exciting honor. Sherman is the current President of our African American Cultural Forum chapter. Mr. Canty was selected to represent Florida and was awarded $500 to help cover his cost of participation. Congratulations, Mr. Canty, Dr. Wright and Ms. Dillon!
"Miss Venezuela"
SCC has truly gone international! We just received word that a student who began at SCC in ESOL at Oviedo, then completed an AA with honors and then graduated from UCF has been named Miss Venezuela. Yes, our own Monica Spear is the new Miss Venezuela. Congratulations, Monica! I have the links to the contest announcement if you would like to see Monica in full regalia. She is gorgeous!
Faculty Achievements
Sherry Savrda has been invited to host a session of SCE 4360 - Science Instructional Analysis by the Department of Teaching and Learning Principles at the University of Central Florida. Professor Savrda has also been appointed Chair of the Two-Year College Committee of the American Association of Physics Teachers.
Michael Staley presented at the National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Conference in Washington, DC, on October 14. Michael talked about our partnership with Daytona Beach Community College in a program entitled, "Exemplary Partners or Shotgun Wedding." Michael will also present at the League for Innovation Information Technology Conference in November in Tampa. His topic will be our Industry Education Model developed via the NSF ATE iTEC program and will include success stores from our industry partners.
Professor Daniel Gilmartin's book review of Lost Revolutions: The South in the 1950 by Pete Daniel has been published in the Fall 2004 issue of Teaching History: A Journal of Methods. A copy of the review is on the Arts and Sciences Bulletin Board outside E-110. Congratulations, Danny!
NACUBO Study
SCC has been selected by the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) for a national study on Building Organizational Capacity (BOC). It is the intent of this study to examine the "growth spurt" that we have experienced and the factors that have contributed to our success as a college. Drawing on case studies, NACUBO's Building Organizational Capacity study will seek to illustrate how to create the conditions needed for such initiatives - especially change efforts - to have impact that continues beyond changes in leadership and the emergence of new conditions. My thanks to the trustees for meeting with the NACUBO representatives. We were pleased to have the President of NACUBO, Jay Morley, on campus yesterday.
