Volusia presents $10,000 to WDSC
Continuing its long-held designation as Volusia County’s official public television station for emergency information, WDSC-TV 15 welcomed officials in July for the annual check presentation of $10,000 to Daytona State College President Carol W. Eaton.
This year, Jason P. Davis, Volusia County Council Chair, presented the check to Dr. Eaton, joined by James A. Judge II, Volusia County Emergency Management director.
Daytona State’s WDSC-TV has served the county in this capacity for more than a decades. Each year the county presents the station with a check for this service, noting the importance of the station’s emergency broadcast delivery and community reach.
A prime example of WDSC-TV’s community service takes the form of the annual “Emergency Preparedness” show with guest host WESH-TV reporter Claire Metz. This year’s show, aired in July, was followed by “Hurricane Survival Tips for the Homeowner.” Daytona State journalism and broadcast students work in the studio to help produce the program, among many others shown on WDSC.
New teaching grads rock nominee list
Volusia County schools’ 25 “New Teacher of the Year” nominees for 2012-13 included seven Daytona State College of Education graduates, presented by the Futures Foundation during the May 7 school board meeting: And the nominees are: Denielle Dutil, Friendship Elementary School; Susan Gregor, Taylor Middle-High School;Monica Guidetti, Southwestern Middle School; Nancy Perez, Starke Elementary School; Aaron Shank, Read-Pattillo Elementary School; Aimee Shank, Westside Elementary School; and Jeff Turek, Silver Sands Middle School, Among nominee kudos, Aimee Shank was honored for her and her students’ work with Food Brings Hope, a charity program founded and chaired by Daytona State trustee Forough B. Hosseini.
Grant to aid health literacy
Daytona State College was awarded a $5,000 grant for the implementation of a health literacy program to benefit its ESOL, English for speakers of other languages students. This grant, awarded by Florida Blue and the Florida Literacy Coalition, focuses on integrating health and nutrition awareness into Daytona State’s ESOL curriculum. It will help students acquire information and resources to navigate the medical system and make informed health decisions.
Health-care providers and adult educators around the country are recognizing that limited English language and literacy skills can have a significant impact on health, says Kathryn Clark, ESOL coordinator for Daytona State. Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy report, 14 percent of adults have below basic health literacy skills. Daytona State is one of 17 grant recipients selected for the fourth grant year of this statewide initiative. The award was presented during the 29th Annual Florida Literacy Conference in the spring.
Global Friends launch speaking series
Global Friends Programs will now include a “Global Lunch & Learn” series aimed at providing a venue for DSC faculty and staff to share their international experiences with the college community. Presentations will have a global focus, but are not necessarilly academic in nature. The program continues to seek speakers on potential topics such as living abroad, traveling abroad, working/studying abroad, serving in the military abroad, or participation in international projects, conferences, or associations.
On Nov. 6, Fatima Gilbert of the Academic Support Center will talk about her life and experiences living in Iran before and after the 1979 revolution. On Dec. 4, Margaret Karda, of the School of Humanities, will share her experiences in working with HUV prevention in Nepal in the early 1990s.
For information, contact Vida Renaud at 386-506-3141or renaudv@daytonastate.edu
Journal of Florida Studies now online
A new issue of the Journal of Florida Studies has been released by Daytona State’s Center for Interdisciplinary Writing and Research. It is a peer-reviewed electronic publication dedicated to the study and appreciation of Florida. It features an eclectic mix of research articles, poetry, fiction, photography and other digital arts that reflect on some facet of the Sunshine State’s past, present and future.
The themed Spring 2013 issue, called “CONTACT,” commemorates the 500th anniversary of the European encounter with Florida. In 1513, Juan Ponce de León set foot on the east coast of our state, instigating a long and complicated relationship between Spain and Florida, according to the journal’s editor in chief, Dr. Casey Blanton.
“The journal interprets ‘contact’ widely, offering historical articles on a range of topics: the tricky relationship between white settlers and Seminoles in 1859, Florida’s ghost towns and the brutal Matanzas massacre of 1564, when hundreds of French settlers were mercilessly slaughtered by Spanish soldiers,” she said.
Scientific essays explore Florida’s battle with invasive, non-native species such as the Brazilian pepper tree and, perhaps more insidious, the exotic fungus Raffaelea lauricola, which is quickly killing red bay trees up and down our coast. In addition to these academic articles, this issue offers poetry, photography and book reviews.
For more information, contact Blanton, BlantoC@DaytonaState.edu, or Managing Editor Michael Flota, FlotaM@DaytonaState.edu.
DSC sweeps Spelling Bee 4th time
For the fourth consecutive time, Daytona State College won the Annual Adult Team Spelling Bee benefitting the Volusia Literacy Council. The DSC team took the 20th annual competition by correctly spelling the final word, ‘Schipperke,’ which is a Belgian dog.
The event started out with 20 teams of eight each and a large group of spectators who came to cheer for their favorite team. After a thrilling spell off with Daytona State, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University came in second. The Daytona Beach News-Journal finished a close third.
Judges were Dr. Carol W. Eaton, President of Daytona State, and Bob Davis, president of the Hotel and Lodging Association and a Volusia Literacy Council board member. The event was held on the ERAU campus, hosted by Dr. John Johnson, ERAU president, and his wife Maurie.
The winning team from Daytona State College consisted of Rachel Owens, Frank Gunshanan, Kristen Davis, Ellen Nielsen, Ted Wygant and Ben Graydon.