ENGAGE Magazine: 2020 Year in Review

ENGAGE MAGAZINE

2020 YEAR IN REVIEW

campus

classroom

community

Friends and Colleagues, The year 2020 has stretched us, challenged us and forced us to adapt. As we reflect on a year filled with unprecedented challenges, I am humbled by the resiliency and resolve of our College administration, faculty and staff. In January 2020, the Board of Trustees approved new mission, vision and values statements for Northwest Florida State College. In alignment with the new Mission, Vision and Values, Northwest Florida State College launched the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan: Engage NWFSC. The plan is three-fold and precise; Engage NWFSC strives to advance the institution to a place of prominence in the region by focusing our efforts on the Classroom, Campus and Community.

Classroom

Campus

Goal 1 aims to empower students through quality instruction, faculty connections and supportive learning communities to help maximize each student’s potential.

Goal 2 is to thoroughly enhance our employee experience through talent management practices that focus on recruitment, retention, professional development and recognition to optimize our greatest asset.

Community Goal 3 strives to effectively engage our service area through initiatives focused on community, workforce, and economic development.

The 2020-2023 Strategic Plan: Engage NWFSC promotes unity and excellence – everyone coming together to make an impact in the Classroom, on our Campuses and in the Community. I hope you enjoy reading this magazine to see how we have already begun implementing measures to achieve our goals. Join us as we celebrate 2020’s accomplishments and lean into 2021 with great anticipation for continued success and excellence.

See you on The Flip Side, where Coming Together in 2020 takes on a whole new meaning!

Dr. Devin Stephenson President, Northwest Florida State College

ENGAGE

Northwest Florida State College

Classroom

In this Issue Board of Trustees Brian S. Pennington, Chair Lori Kelley, Vice Chair Shane Abbott Craig Barker Charlotte Flynt Reynolds Henderson Maj. Gen. USAF (Ret.) Don Litke Maj. Gen. USAF (Ret.) Thomas “Rudy� Wright Dr. Devin Stephenson, President

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Section Feature: Melissa Mink - Futures Begin Here Professor Brings History to Life Teacher Ed Program Among Highest in State

4 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholars

5 Nursing Continues to Improve in State Rankings 2020 All-Florida Academic Team

Campus 6-13

Feature: 6-7 Section Shawni Jones - New Chapters Begin Here

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Walton Works Coming to Life at Chautauqua Center Launch of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Kay Litke Culinary Arts Greenhouse Opens its Doors Aviation Center of Excellence Takes Flight Raider Athletics Opens Indoor Practice Facility Troy 2+2 Partnership: Student Success

Community 14-19

Feature: 14 Section Allan Castillo - Careers Begin Here

On the Flipside 2020

Year in Review

15 Record Year for Grant Dollars 16-17 Generous Donations and Endowments 18 Mattie Kelly Arts Center Arena Hosts the FCSAA/NJCAA 19 Raider Region VIII Basketball Tournament

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classroom

Teaching Teachers CHS Student Returns to Alma Mater

M

elissa Mink has come full circle. The 2004 Collegiate High School (CHS) graduate said she always knew this day would arrive.

“I remember telling Charla Cotton - who was the principal of CHS when I was there - that I’d be back,” Mink said. “I didn’t know that I would be back in the capacity of an assistant professor, but I always told her I’d be back.”

Mink is now an Assistant Professor for NWFSC’s Teacher Education program, paving the way for students who are pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.

“I am preparing future educators. When they leave me, they are getting a job as a teacher in the local area,” she said.

Looking back at her high school days, Mink said the experiences she had at CHS were imperative to shaping her future in the education field.

“Coming to CHS helped me meet my goals of being able to graduate a little earlier with my Associate’s and go straight into the field that I wanted to go pursue,” Mink said.

As a senior at CHS, Mink worked at the Mary Lou O’Connor Child Development & Education Center on campus and completed the additional practicum hours required for her teaching degree in the Okaloosa County School District.

“The opportunities available here on campus, you don’t get in a traditional high school,” she said. “The fact that I was able to work at the child Melissa Mink development center my senior year, I think really NWFSC Associate in Arts, established that want and desire to go into teaching.”

Class of 2004 After graduating from CHS, Mink went on to obtain her Bachelor of Elementary Education and Master in Reading Education from the University of West Florida (UWF). Now, after 10 years of teaching in elementary and middle school classrooms, Mink said she is ready to share her knowledge with Florida’s future teachers.

“I want to help the Teacher Education program attract more students,” Mink said. “We need really good teachers so I hope to build the program and bring my experiences as a classroom teacher into that role.”

“I am preparing future educators. When they leave me, they are getting a job as a teacher in the local area.”

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ENGAGE

Northwest Florida State College

Making “Her”story

History Professor Victoria Stewart made learning interactive for her students this year. A pop-up display showcasing the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which gave women the right to vote in the United States of America, was placed outside of her classroom on the Niceville campus.

Stewart secured the display, entitled, “Rightfully Hers,” by submitting an essay to the U.S. National Archives explaining how the display would benefit the College and her students.

“Honoring those activists and agents of change through a display on our campus will help our students see the importance of this anniversary. This is our opportunity to ensure these voices are heard and seen in our college community.”

The “Rightfully Hers” cube depicted scenes and information outlining the struggle, political change and the eventual expansion of the vote to millions of women leading up to and celebrating the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Stewart was awarded one of only 2,500 pop-ups that were distributed nationwide in partnership with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission in celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote.

Active & Engaged Learning

ENGAGE

NWFSC

Q E

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QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PLAN The National Council on Teacher Quality’s (NCTQ) Teacher Prep Review listed NWFSC as one of 16 colleges in Florida to receive an “A” grade in the area of Early Reading Instruction, an accolade our Teacher Education program has earned since 2013. In addition, this year the program received recognition as a “consistently high-performing undergraduate program.”

Faculty members Dr. Lynn Ketter and Therese Sweeney are credited for the exceptional work in developing and teaching the reading and literacy curriculum at NWFSC. The Teacher Prep Review rates program quality by examining each aspect of the early reading curriculum including: class topics, assignments, textbooks, tests and practice opportunities. Also pertinent in the rating process is clear evidence that the course work dedicates time to five key components of the science of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

2020

Year in Review

Star Pupils

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classroom

Coca-Cola

Scholars

Julianna Cannon and Matthew Nguyen (pictured above), both involved with Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) at Northwest Florida State College, were named Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholars for 2020.

Pictured above: The nine NWFSC members of the 2020 All-Florida Academic The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation partnered Team were Noah Bresler, Hannah Brown, Mackenzie Burgoyne, Julianna with Phi Theta Kappa to bring the scholarship Cannon, Morgan Chipman, Carol Ingram, Shelby Jones, Danielle Muir and programs to PTK chapters across the nation.

Matthew Nguyen.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each silver level scholar will receive a $1,250 scholarship and a commemorative medallion.

Nine Northwest Florida State College and Collegiate High School students were selected for the 2020 All-Florida Academic Team sponsored by the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honor Society. PTK is the international honor society of two-year colleges and academic programs. For the second consecutive year, NWFSC’s Sigma Mu Chapter of PTK was designated a five-star chapter, an honor bestowed on the nation’s most elite and high-performing chapters.

Students are nominated to the All-Florida Academic Team competition by their respective colleges in recognition of their academic achievement, leadership and service to the community. This year’s statewide team consisted of approximately 166 students and was recognized at an awards ceremony in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 6.

2020 All-Florida

Academic Team

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ENGAGE

Northwest Florida State College

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Athletes Earned NJCAA All-Academic Honors

(3.6 GPA or higher)

SCHOLAR

Nursing Continues to Climb in State Rankings

ATHLETES

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Our Nursing program was ranked eighth among all Florida college and university nursing programs by RegisteredNursing.org in 2020. This ranking is based on an analysis of past and present pass rates of the NCLEX-RN, a national exam used to assess competency of registered nursing students that is required for licensure.

RegisteredNursing.org ranked the top 50 Nursing Programs by percentage of graduates who pass the exam and the average of pass rates across varying years of the program.

The State of Florida has more than 150 nursing programs.

Under the direction of Dr. Charlotte Kuss and exceptional faculty, NWFSC’s Nursing Program entered RegisteredNursing.org’s top 10 last year as the ninth ranked program and was previously ranked 15th in 2018.

Academic All-State Athletes

(3.3 GPA or higher)

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Academic All-Conference Athletes

(3.0 GPA or higher)

2020

Year in Review

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campus

Piece of

Cake New Chapter Begins with a Passion for Pastry

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““After serving my country for 24 years in the Air Force, I decided to pursue my passion for food…”

Shawni Jones

NWFSC Culinary Student and Pâtissière

his year the College hired its first ever pâtissière. Shawni Jones, a second-year culinary student ,bakes weekly for the Raider Café bakery creating delicacies from chocolate croissants to blueberry whoopie pies.

Jones’ journey to culinary arts was a long one, but she said it is a passion she has always held.

“After serving my country for 24 years in the Air Force, I decided to pursue my passion for food and cooking professionally,” she said. “I used to always watch my mother cook, and I listened to her and loved to eat, so that kind of led me to it.”

In the Air Force, Jones worked as a pharmacy technician, so the move to culinary was like opening a new chapter filled with her love for creating delicious meals and desserts. Although savory meals and Asian cuisine are her favorite to create, Jones said baking allows her to hone her skills on both sides of the culinary spectrum.

Pictured: Shawni Jones enjoys her new roll as pâtissière for the Raider Café.

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ENGAGE

Northwest Florida State College

“I like to bake because I need to have a balance between sweet and savory,” she said. “I want to be a personal chef, so I need to have that balance.”

When it comes to the classroom, Jones said that the two courses that have stood out most to her are actually the more business-related subjects.

“Anything that has to do with the financial portion like the budget and cost control. Those are intricate parts to being a business owner, so that’s very important to me,” she said. “Also, the mentorship I receive from my chef instructors – to listen and learn from their first-hand experiences brings book learning to reality.”

Jones now has one class and her internship left to complete before graduating, and said she has chosen to intern here at Northwest Florida State College.

“I look back on the past few years and everything has been such an evolution with my cooking,” she said. “Much like the military, I have become part of something bigger than myself.

I have found a community again with NWFSC along with fellow students, professors and mentors.”

FIVE STARS BEGIN HERE

northwest florida state college

APPLY TODAY!

(850) 502-2895 | nwfsc.edu Northwest Florida State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Northwest Florida State College. Northwest Florida State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. Materiales de la Universidad son disponibles en Española llamando a la Oficina de Admisiones de Northwest Florida State College al 850-678-5111.

2020

Year in Review

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Breaking

campus

New Ground

Walton Works, coming to life at Chautauqua Center In July, members of the local community joined Walton County officials, NWFSC Board of Trustee members, along with College personnel to celebrate the new Walton Works Training Center of Excellence at the Chautauqua Center in DeFuniak Springs. The building of this transformational center will position the region for quality growth and enhance workforce, economic and community development opportunities throughout Northwest Florida.

The Walton Works Center of Excellence will house 10 new workforce programs, preparing students to earn industry-recognized credentials including state licenses and certifications. The project will expand career education programs in public safety (law enforcement, fire, emergency medical technician (EMT)), cybersecurity, drone technology and building trades (plumbing, electrical, welding, millwright and construction).

By 2024, a minimum of 1,570 industryrecognized certifications will be awarded, providing an expanded talent pool that will bolster northwest Florida’s economy.

Made possible by the commitment of $1.5 million of Walton County RESTORE Act funds approved by the Walton County Board of County Commissioners and endorsed by the Walton County administrative team, this project received a substantial match needed to gain approval by the Triumph Gulf Coast Board. This is the College’s first project to receive approval from the Triumph Gulf Coast Board. The Triumph Gulf Coast Board committed $2.7 million

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dollars of funds to the Walton Works Training Center of Excellence. In addition, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the College to provide access to training facilities (firing range and driving range) in DeFuniak Springs for students in the Law Enforcement, Fire and EMT programs to develop skills, and they donated a firetruck, ambulance and 40 SCBA air packs to equip students for practical, hands-on training.

The site work for the new industrial trades and drone facilities is complete and the foundation is in position. Classes are expected to begin onsite in Spring 2021.

Above: Fire tower construction progress is on track at the Walton County Sheriff Complex.

Below: Architect’s rendering of what the completed Walton Works Training Center of Excellence will look like upon completion.

Above: (left to right): Dr. Devin Stephenson, NWFSC President; Bob Campbell, DeFuniak Springs Mayor; Walton County District 1 Chairman Bill Chapman, Walton County Commissioners; Larry Jones, Walton County Administrator; Shane Abbott, NWFSC Trustee; Charlotte Flynt, NWFSC Trustee; Rudy Wright, NWFSC Trustee; Lori Kelley, NWFSC Trustee Vice Chair simulate a groundbreaking for the Walton Works Training Center of Excellence.

ENGAGE

Northwest Florida State College

therapeutic

environment

Physical Therapist Assistant Program launched at NWFSC The new Physical Therapist Assistant Program hosted an openhouse in August to showcase their new space at the Fort Walton Beach campus. The space houses a newly renovated, dedicated lab space which can accommodate up to 24 students. The room has been outfitted with a new multimedia desk, document camera, pull-down screen, projector and speakers. Students have access to a wide variety of equipment commonly found in physical therapy clinics in our region.

This includes different types of treatment tables and hi-lo mat tables, parallel bars, stairs, a wide range of exercise equipment, theraband station, traction table as well as a variety of educational models.

Above: The new Physical Therapist Assistant program boasts state-of-the-art training equipment at our Fort Walton Beach campus.

Left: Dr. Devin Stephenson, center, and Dr. Charlotte Kuss, right, discuss the new PTA facility with Physical Therapist Assistant Program Director, Dr. Susan DeSmith.

2020

Year in Review

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campus

going

green

Greenhouse to table takes root at NWFSC

Joined by many friends of the College and local hospitality community members, the College celebrated the grand opening of the Kay Litke Culinary Arts Greenhouse on December 2. Major General Donald P. Litke and his family made this project possible with a generous donation to honor and memorialize their beloved wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother, Kay Litke.

Kay was an exceptional cook and hosted countless dinner parties in support of her husband’s active duty military career in the USAF. Her family remembers her fondly for her love of cooking and the joy she found in hosting and preparing meals for others.

This facility will help provide students with fundamental farm-to-table techniques, innovative green practices and equip students with marketable sustainability skill sets. Under the direction of the culinary arts leadership team, the project will also provide opportunities for community engagement.

Using current technologies in hydroculture production, we will produce vegetables that are nutritionally enriched and pesticide free, in a sustainable environment.

In the Kay Litke Culinary Arts Greenhouse, we will be growing six varieties of lettuce family plants, eight varieties of tomatoes, four types of peppers, two types of cucumbers, some squash and a full gambit of herbs, all hydroponically.

Above Left: Maj Gen (ret) Don Litke and daughters, Sue Farrell and Lisa Pack, celebrate the grand opening of the Kay Litke Culinary Arts Greenhouse.

Above: Attendees were gifted freshly harvested lettuce to take home from the event.

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ENGAGE

Northwest Florida State College

reaching

new heights

Aviation Center of Excellence Takes Flight

Northwest Florida State College’s Aviation Center of Excellence takes flight with the largest grant in school history - $7,064,665 from the Triumph Gulf Coast Board. This transformational center serves as a catalyst for workforce training to support the growing aerospace community in our region.

We have partnered with Dr. Paul Hsu and the Hsu Educational Foundation, who have championed this project and supported the College with a build-to-suit lease at the Crestview Technology Air Park to meet the program’s distinct needs. Additionally, Okaloosa County Airports Director, Tracy Stage and the Okaloosa Aviation Board have supported the project with the construction of the facility’s parking, to ensure adequate space for students, faculty and staff.

Also lending strong support for this transformational project was the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners, Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, CareerSource Okaloosa Walton, the National Defense Industry Association, Bob Keller, and a number of individual aviation industry-related companies.

This collaboration with the Hsu Educational Foundation creates a unique learning environment where students in grades K-12 also have the opportunity to utilize the state-of-the-art facilities for STEM education around the College’s airframe and powerplant programming with the ultimate goal of introducing them to advanced technology in high-growth industry sectors at a young age. Over the next 10 years, the project anticipates at least 307 students will earn 1,255 FAA industry-recognized certificates, in the areas of A & P mechanics and professional pilot certificates.

2020

Year in Review

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th

Year of Flat Tuition

“We are laser-focused on improving lives, offering the high-quality education and growing the economy in our region and beyond.”

- Dr. Devin Stephenson

In June, the Board of Trustees voted to approve the College’s budget for the 20202021 academic year with no increases to tuition or fees. This marks the seventh consecutive year the Board of Trustees has held tuition flat for students.

virtual campus tour!

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Step Up

campus

to the Plate

Raider Athletics opens Indoor Practice Facility The new Raider Athletics Indoor Practice Facility was unveiled in August. Members of the local community joined NWFSC Board of Trustee members along with College personnel and student-athletes to celebrate the grand opening of this state-of-the-art facility.

The Raider Athletics Indoor Practice Facility features 6,250 square feet of indoor arena blend turf. Studentathletes will have access to batting and pitching cages with four retractable dividers that create five tunnels. The entire space is climate-controlled with eight coiling bay doors that can be opened to allow for natural air flow.

“Our Raider athletic facilities

are second to none, and we are excited to add this one to our lineup,” President Dr. Devin Stephenson said. “We are grateful for the support of the community members who really stepped up to the plate and share our vision for Raider Athletics.”

Funded by generous community donors, in-kind contributions and college funds, the Raider Athletics Indoor Practice Facility is a contemporary facility designed to maximize practice days, improve our competitive edge and keep our student-athletes safe.

“We are excited to see the culmination of a lot of hard work,” Athletic Director Ramsey Ross said. “This is a project that has been talked about for some time and to see it completed makes me truly proud to be a Raider.”

Below: Dr. Devin Stephenson, Trustees, donors, and athletes gathered for a ribbon cutting during the grand opening of the Raider Athletics Indoor Practice Facility.

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ENGAGE

Northwest Florida State College

Troy 2+2

NWFSC students and employees receive a 10% tuition scholarship and waived application fees when transferring to Troy University Nic Nolan

Former Raider baseball infielder Nic Nolan (featured left) began his journey to Troy University as a hometown kid returning to his roots at local Northwest Florida State College. After a successful start in the pandemicshortened 2020 season, Nic took advantage of the 2+2 agreement with Troy University and signed to play baseball in the upcoming season. He is following in the footsteps of several Niceville High School products that have made their way to Troy University via NWFSC, most recently Robert Price and Danny Collins.

CHAMPIONS BEGIN HERE

northwest florida state college

2020

Year in Review

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community

Igniting

the Spark NWFSC Welding Certification Leads to Stellar Job

“Everything I’m doing now, I learned from Northwest Florida State College.”

Allan Castillo

NWFSC Welding Certification Graduate

Allan Castillo heard about NWFSC’s nationally accredited welding program from a friend and decided to check it out.

Fast forward, he competed in the 2019 Associated Builders and Contractors National Craft Championship, where he placed 6th best pipe welder in the nation and graduated in December 2019. In late April, Allan passed a rigorous certification test and was hired by SpaceX in Cape Canaveral, Florida on a contract where he welded on platforms that are used to send rockets into space.

Once you graduated, how did you find out about the opportunity to work for SpaceX? I did a couple jobs before this and then I saw a post online that SpaceX needed some welders. I sent my resume and they called me a month later.

How did your training at NWFSC prepare you for your job at SpaceX? My training at NWFSC basically taught me everything I know, from safety to how to wear the tools; everything I’m doing now, I learned from Northwest Florida State College.

What would you say to someone who is considering the NWFSC welding program?

It’s a great point to start a career in the welding industry and it’s a great program.

The program has a lot of experienced welders come visit the shop and that is something that trained me best about how the industry works.

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ENGAGE

Northwest Florida State College

Record Year

$12.3 Million made for a record year in Grant Dollars Over the past year, NWFSC’s Grants Development Office, in concert with Academic Affairs and Institutional Research, accounted for the largest cumulative total grant award dollars in College history! The majority of the grant dollars come from state and federal sources and are being funneled directly into workforce development initiatives. The most notable being: $275,000 to develop unobstructed apprenticeship pathways for those desiring to enter the fields of plumbing, electricity and construction; $1.15 million to stand up the NWFSC Job Corps Scholars Program offering certificates in high-growth career paths; $2.7 million to fund our Walton Works Training Center of Excellence, which establishes 10 new workforce programs in DeFuniak Springs;

Top: NWFSC adds Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as a transfer partner Above: Dr. Stephenson dines with legislators, Trustees and the President’s Leadership Academy in Tallahassee Left: Employees celebrate sinking a long put at the Raider Golf Tourney Below: Diners enjoy a night out at Seagrass, the College’s Culinary Program pop-up restaurant

$1.5 million to launch the NWFSC Youth Apprenticeship Program to offer apprenticeship opportunities in construction trades, public safety and hospitality industries; and $7 million to fund the Aviation Center of Excellence that will house airframe and powerplant mechanics training along with professional pilot certificates in Crestview.

2020

Year in Review

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community Judy-ann Zoghby Donation

With a generous pledge of $500,000, the Judy-ann Zoghby Family Fund established the Zoghby Learning Commons at Northwest Florida State College. The Zoghby Learning Commons will be located within the Susan Myers Learning Resources Center. The Learning Commons will be designed to increase student engagement and learning through a campus-wide implementation of innovative academic support strategies and will positively influence the student experience.

Claudio Family Endowment

With an initial gift of $25,000, Jeff and Leonora Claudio established the Jeff & Leonora Claudio Scholarship for students pursuing degrees in either Nursing or Emergency Medical Services.

Roger L. Hall Scholarship Endowment

Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast Guild created the Roger L. Hall Legacy Scholarship Endowment with a pledge of $15,000 to support students enrolled in a degree program in finance, business or health sciences.

The

Heart of

Our Community Spotlighting the Generous Donations and Endowments to Northwest Florida State College Throughout the Year

Jackson Family Scholarship Endowment

Niceville native, Scott Jackson and wife, Wanda,, established a scholarship endowment to honor their family with a $20,000 bequest to support NWFSC students.

President’s Circle Donors

President’s Circle members are dedicated individuals who give a minimum unrestricted gift of $500 that provides NWFSC the opportunity to strategically assist those who have the greatest need. Since last February, the President’s Circle has given more than $26,000 in unrestricted contributions to the College to support the Student Success Fund, the Feed-A-Raider Food Pantry and other initiatives.

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ENGAGE

Northwest Florida State College

Okaloosa Public Arts creates Scholarship

With a generous cash gift of $24,000, Okaloosa Public Arts (OPA) established the Okaloosa Public Arts Scholarship. The OPA scholarship will support NWFSC students enrolled in visual arts courses, based on talent.

Eglin Federal Credit Union Donation

In response to the College’s efforts to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic, Eglin Federal Credit Union (EFCU) took action by donating $5,000 to the NWFSC Student Emergency Fund.

Ernie Green Scholarship Fort Walton Beach High School (FWBHS) alumni, faculty and other community members joined together to establish the Ernie Green Memorial Scholarship Endowment in memory of late FWBHS coach Ernest Green to support a student enrolled in a STEM-related degree program.

Lucinda J. Frakes Scholarship Endowment Local real estate broker and First Vice President of ERA American Realty Northwest Florida, Lucinda “Cindy” Frakes, pledged $15,000 to establish the Lucinda J. Frakes Scholarship Endowment to provide financial assistance to students who are pursuing an AS degree in a career or technical field.

Arpke Faculty Excellence Award An ardent advocate and supporter of NWFSC, Eileen Arpke established the Arpke Faculty Excellence Award with a gift of $20,000. The cash award and commemorative medallion will celebrate quality, promote academic excellence and reward competencies in teaching and engaging students in the liberal arts and sciences disciplines.

2020

Year in Review

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community

Setting

Above: Lee Greenwood lit up the night in the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Amphitheater in the 2020-2021 Arts Center opening event, An Evening With Lee Greenwood.

the Stage

Top Left: Social distancing and mask wearing didn’t stop the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra show from going on.

The Mattie Kelly Arts Center Brings Home World-Class Entertainment

Top Center: Hanging out backstage with The Jersey Boys in February 2020.

Top Right: The Stephensons with television personality, John Quiñones, at the President’s Speaker Series, January 2020.

MASTERPIECES BEGIN HERE northwest florida state college

APPLY TODAY! (850) 502-2895 | nwfsc.edu Northwest Florida State College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Northwest Florida State College. Northwest Florida State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. Materiales de la Universidad son disponibles en Española llamando a la Oficina de Admisiones de Northwest Florida State College al 850-678-5111.

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ENGAGE

Northwest Florida State College

State

Slam Dunk Raider Arena hosts the State Tournament Northwest Florida State College was awarded the bid to serve as the host of the FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament from 2020-2022. The NJCAA Region VIII Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament is a single-elimination, predetermined bracket tournament with the men’s winner advancing to the NJCAA Men’s National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas and the women’s winner advancing to the NJCAA Women’s National

2020

Year in Review

Above: Raiders take on GCSC Commodores in championship game.

Left: Dr. Stephenson presents the game ball.

Below: Raiders celebrate the state championship.

Tournament in Lubbock, Texas.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host the FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments beginning with the 2019-2020 season,” said Athletic Director Ramsey Ross. “Since the opening of Raider Arena in 2011, our community has rallied around the prospect of one day hosting this tournament. Now that it is a reality for the next three years, we are fully committed to providing the best experience possible for all of the incredibly talented teams and student-athletes throughout our state.”

The tournament welcomed 16 total teams, featuring the champion and runner-up teams as determined by the Panhandle, Mid-Florida, Suncoast and Southern Conferences for both men and women.

After claiming its second consecutive Panhandle Conference regular season title, the women’s basketball team advanced to the FCSAA/Region VIII Tournament as the league’s top seed. Ultimately, with two seconds remaining in overtime of the championship game, the Raiders claimed the 2020 FCSAA/Region VIII Women’s Tournament title, 57-55, in Raider Arena.

The tournament title was the fourth-ever FCSAA/Region VIII Women’s Tournament championship for women’s program and the first since 1996. since 1996. and first

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