Speaker series kicks off on Oct. 18
Former NBA executive, author and motivational speaker Lucas Boyce will be the featured speaker on Tuesday, Oct. 18, during the fall 2016 installment of the L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series hosted by the Small Business Development Center and Daytona State College.
The event, free and open to the public, kicks off at 9:30 a.m. in the Mori Hosseini Center on the Daytona Beach Campus. Up to three promising students interested in entrepreneurship will each earn a $1,000 L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series scholarships. DSC students, DSC Adult Education students and Volusia or Flagler county high school students who plan to attend DSC are encouraged to apply. To submit scholarship applications, visit DaytonaState.edu/scholarships. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Oct. 11.
Boyce, 36, was born into a life of poverty in Independence, Mo., and was placed into foster care. However, his pathway has led to executive careers in presidential politics and professional sports. His book, “Living Proof: From Foster Care to the White House and the NBA,” published in 2011, is a testament that when hard work, determination and grace meet opportunity, anything can happen.
Boyce travels the country delivering speeches focused on leadership, team work, overcoming obstacles and making a positive impact on the lives of others.
Board of Trustees approves raises, projects
At its Sept. 15 monthly meeting, the District Board of Trustees approved an on-average 2.7 percent, tiered salary increase for faculty, $200 base raises for part-time staff and base raises from $275 to $500 for full-time staff, depending on their salaries.
DSC President Tom LoBasso cited positive enrollment – up approximately 1.4 percent – and improved retention for allowing such significant raises
In other news, the Board considered a draft-list of priorities for funding requests for the state Legislature next year. Some of the requests will be modified and consolidated, but the top two include $1 million to fund planning for a multipurpose vocational classroom building on the Deltona Campus. The facility will help meet the demand for machinists, expected to rise nearly 10 percent over the next seven years, according to the state.
Also, there is $5.1 million earmarked to transform the Lenholt Student Services Building into a One-Stop Student Resource Center to serve homeless and other needy students. This will give students access to college and community resources in one location.
In the works are requests for state funds for various program and technology enhancements.
Embry-Riddle, DSC students rise to the occasion
DSC and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Students Robert Dimmig, Tyler Walton, Anthony Santoro, Joshua Lesoine, Addison Hicke, Diego Alva-Figueroa and -Logan Genter were participants in two September events as members of the Detachment 157-Air Force ROTC cadets.
On Sept. 11, Detachment cadets ran 3.43 miles on Daytona Beach to honor the 343 paramedics and firefighters killed in the line of duty on Sept. 11. The run was finished with 110 flutter kicks, squats, and push-ups representing each floor lost in the World Trade Center.
Many cadets, who hold the event near and dear to their heart, came to support the men and women lost on that tragic day. Some 108 cadets ran as onlookers on the beach took pictures and watched as the huge column of cadets ran in formation led by the American Flag, the Air Force Flag and the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Flag. Most importantly, honoring the 2,996 people killed on that day, the cadets led the formation with an American flag containing names of every single person lost during the tragic event.
During this event, the cadets were reminded how our nation became unified and came together to help one another in a time of need.
Spirits and morale also were high Sept. 16, as the Air Force ROTC cadets of Detachment 157 celebrated the Air Force’s 69th birthday. The day was filled with laughter and camaraderie as cadets stood in formation listening to professors and retired military members speaking about the significance of the past, present, and future of the Air Force. A cake was cut ceremoniously by the oldest airmen present, Brigadier Gen. Williams, who commissioned in 1955 and retired in 1985, and Cadet 4th Class Jackson, who is the youngest, born on Nov. 19, 1998. Detachment 157 continues this traditional ceremony in order to symbolize the 69 years of experience that senior Airmen pass down to our Airmen today. The latter event was held at Embry-Riddle.
Faculty Senate honors outstanding service
Daytona State College’s Faculty Senate awarded peers and staff with annual recognition for outstanding service to students and their professions. This year, six faculty and one staff member earned accolades from the college’s Faculty Senate. Additionally, two recently retired faculty received professor emeritus titles
The Faculty Advocacy Award went to Krissy Leonard, senior professor in the School of Student Life Skills. Leonard was recognized for going above and beyond to support, encourage, train and assist faculty in the SLS department, most notably as the college ramped up its offering of SLS 1122, Managing Your Success, a required class for new students.
Bettye Parham, a longtime DSC computer science professor, received the Teaching Excellence Award, which recognizes teaching activities characterized by exceptional dedication and professionalism.
The Les Simons Award for Student Advocacy was given to Maggie Karda, Honors-Quanta program chair. The award goes to faculty who demonstrate exceptional commitment to student learning and success. Karda was noted for devoting her time, energy and focus to students, and for a unique ability to connect individually with students through advising and counseling.
The Dr. John Gutherie Jr. Award for Research and Professional Development was awarded to Music Production Technology professor and assistant program chair Jake Niceley, who was lauded for significant contributions as a professor, composer, musician, producer, designer, engineer and lecturer.
Dr. Judith Isakson, an adjunct professor in the School of Humanities and Communication, received the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award, recognized for creativity in her classroom pedagogy and as exemplary in every way.
The Community Service Outreach Award was bestowed upon English Professor Frank Gunshanan. The award recognizes faculty who demonstrate exceptional service and outreach to the local community. Gunshanan is dedicated to eliminating barriers to success among the college’s homeless student population.
The Faculty Senate also presented its Instructional Support and Encouragement Award to John Brady, associate director of professional development and global education. The award recognizes a staff member whose efforts demonstrate an understanding and concern for the challenges faced by faculty as they work to meet student needs.
Two recently retired faculty also received Professor Emeritus Awards based on their years of meritorious and significant contributions to the areas of teaching and service to the college, community and profession during their careers. This year’s award winners were Dr. Len Lempel, professor of history, and Dr. Ram Nayar, professor of science.
Student seeking Muslim adviser for new club
There is a student interested in establishing a Islamic student club, but to do so he needs to secure a club adviser. If there is a faculty or staff member who may be interested in doing so, please contact Donovan Morrel at Donovan_morrel@DaytonaState.edu.