May 2021

State College

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

MAY 2 0 2 1

VO LUME 5, NO. 04

Building Momentum, Staying the Course & Catching Excellence Oftentimes unrealistic expectations become a foundation for growth and the breeding ground for exceptional performance.

Overachievers look beyond what can be. Real dreamers see what hasn’t been thought of. Vision casters view things over the horizon and far out ahead of those who live in mediocrity and dwell in the average.

Unrealistic expectations can be found residing in those who live and walk in a different sphere.

Those expectations drive ingenuity, innovation, creativity, and visionaries.

We have those people right here at Northwest Florida State College - our dedicated faculty members, instructors, staff and students all driving toward a common goal: to be the BEST. It is that drive that creates a

• 5-STAR PTK Honor Society Chapter that is one of the top 100 in the Nation.

• A Fire Academy Program that has reached a 100% Pass Rate on the State Exam and overall Public Safety Academy Ranked #6 in the State of Florida.

• A Nursing Division with a 99% Pass Rate on the NCLEXRN - Ranked #8 out of 150 programs in Florida.

• A Collegiate High School Ranked #1 in test scores and graduation rates in Florida. (continued on next page)

ON-RAMP TO SUCCESS BACHELORS

2+2 TRANSFER

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES

CAREER TRAINING

Northwest Florida State College offers many pathways to success. From changing careers, to earning licenses and certificates in the work field, and from beginning an educational journey to completing a four-year degree, NWFSC is an on-ramp to student success.

CONGRATULATIONS

NWF WOMENS BASKETBALL

On April 24, all dreams came true as Northwest Florida State defeated Trinity Valley, 67-60, to claim the program’s first-ever NJCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship.

“This is really sweet,” Walker said. “This is a special bunch of kids. They played for each other. I can’t describe how proud I am of this team and this program.”

The Raiders (24-2) became the sixth consecutive Panhandle Conference school to win the women’s national title and earned the fourth championship in school history following the 1994-95 men’s basketball, 2014-15 men’s basketball, and 2015 baseball teams.

• A Welding Program that is producing students who are building rockets for Elon Musk and SpaceX • An Arts Program that is producing stars who are shining on some of the BIGGEST stages in America.

• A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP NJCAA DIVISION 1 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM The Northwest Florida State Raider Women’s Basketball team defeated Trinity Valley, 67-60, to claim the program’s firstever NJCAA Div I Women’s Basketball National Championship. It takes leadership, resilience, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence to bring a national championship to a college, and I am extremely proud of each and every one of the coaches and players.

With a shared vision for excellence, Northwest Florida State College along with the Walton County Sheriff’s Department jointly opened the Walton Works Public Safety Complex expanding our top-ranked Public Safety program into north Walton County. The training opportunities offered at the Walton Works Public Safety Complex will produce hometown heroes who will immediately make an impact in our local community. It is due to the unwavering commitment of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners and the Triumph Gulf Coast Board that we persevered, and that this joint project became a reality.

As we look forward to our 56th annual Commencement Ceremony, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our great faculty, instructors and staff members for your unwavering dedication to student success. I am humbled to work along side of you every day. To our students – you are the best and the brightest; filled with promise and hope for a prosperous future. Go catch excellence!

Dr. Devin Stephenson, President #TheBestisOurStandard

ARTS NWFSC ARNIE HART JURIED STUDENT

ART EXHIBITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED The winners of the annual Arnie Hart Juried Student Art Exhibition at Northwest Florida State College were recently announced. The student art exhibition, as well as the annual NWFSC Faculty Exhibition, is currently on display through May 7, 2021 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Galleries.

BEST-IN-SHOW

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Mercedes Damon, Organized Chaos

1st PLACE:

2-DIMENSIONAL ART Matthew Nguyen, Abandoned

1st PLACE:

3-DIMENSIONAL ART Josie Wenner, First Angel

IN THE SPOTLIGHT MEET THE COACH Greg Heiar has been named head men’s basketball coach at Northwest Florida State College, Athletic Director Ramsey Ross and NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson announced in late March. Heiar (pronounced “higher”) most recently served as an assistant coach at East Tennessee State.

“This is a great day for Northwest Florida State athletics,” Ross said.

“We are excited to welcome Greg and his family to Niceville. He has proven himself as a winner on the court and will be an outstanding addition to our department and community.”

Heiar, who has over 20 years of coaching experience, spent three seasons on LSU’s staff, where he was an associate head coach in 2019. Prior to LSU, Heiar held assistant coaching stints at Wichita State (2011-17), Southern Miss (2009-11), Chipola College (2003-04) and Loras College (2002-03). Heiar was the head coach at Chipola from 2004-09, while he began his career as a student assistant at Mount St. Clare College in 2000 and started as a graduate assistant at Loras in 2001.

“I am thrilled to become a part of the Northwest Florida State College family,” Heiar said. “In my years as an assistant at the highest levels of Division I, I have always been eager to return to the head coach’s chair. I’d like to thank Dr. Stephenson and Ramsey for this opportunity. Let’s get to work Raider Nation.”

NWFSC STUDENTS NAMED ALL-FLORIDA ACADEMIC 2021

AND COCA-COLA ACADEMIC TEAM SILVER SCHOLARS

Students are nominated by their respective colleges to the All-USA Academic Team competition sponsored by the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. This year’s team of 137 students were recognized during virtual awards ceremony webcasted on April 23, 2021.

Five members of NWFSC’s Sigma Mu PTK chapter were named to the All-Florida Academic team for 2021:

EMMA BORDERS NICOLE HASKELL KIEANNA KILGORE STEPHANIE MANNING HAYLEY SIMMONS Florida College System announced the 2021 All-Florida Academic Team, which recognizes outstanding students for their academic achievement, leadership and service to the community.

Stephanie Manning, was also named a 2021 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar and will receive a $1,250 scholarship.

NWF STATE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Lori Kelley, Chair Shane Abbott, Vice Chair Craig Barker Charlotte Flynt Graham Fountain

Reynolds Henderson Maj. Gen. Don Litke, USAF Ret. Maj. Gen. Thomas “Rudy” Wright, USAF Ret. Dr. Devin Stephenson, President

State College

100 College Boulevard, East Niceville, FL 32578

FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE J.D. Peacock, Chair Ken Wampler, Vice Chair Bo Arnold, Treasurer C. Jeffrey McInnis, Past Chair

Cristie Kedroski, Secretary Maj. Gen. Don Litke, USAF Ret., Trustee Liaison Dr. Devin Stephenson, President

FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eric Aden Marek Bakun Wayne Campbell Destin Cobb Cindy Frakes Todd Grisoff Chad Hamilton Walter Hooks Tyler Jarvis

Dave Jefferson Bernard Johnson Heather Kilbey Gordon King Michelle McGee Freeman Jonathan Ochs Dennis Peters Steve Rhodes

Donnie Richardson Ashley Rogers Hu Ross Rhonda Skipper Cecil Williams Steve Wills Steve Wolfrom Alan Wood

FOUNDATION LOCAL MAN DONATES PAINTING

Mattie Kelly Arts Center

During the lockdown months of 2020, retired pharmacist Johnny Pope of Shalimar decided to get back into his long lost passion of painting. His inspiration? The sculpture of the seven dancers in the fountain at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center.

Pope said that although it took him several months to create the piece, it was the ideal lockdown pastime as he spent hours in his garage working on the painting daily. Over the past 10 years since his retirement, Pope said he is making up for lost time, taking art classes here at Northwest Florida State College.

It took a year for Pope to finally get the courage to bring the painting to Niceville as he said he wasn’t sure if it would be accepted.

“When Johnny called I didn’t know what to expect,” said Mattie Kelly Arts Center Director Jeanette Shires. “But once I saw it, I was flabbergasted. It’s incredible, and it captures the beauty of the fountain with the seven dancers at night. We are just thrilled to have it.”

Local Artist Completes Mosaics of

COLLEGE LOGO AND SEAL FOR NWFSC After months of dedication, creativity and grout, two new mosaics are completed and installed in the President’s Office Suite of Northwest Florida State College thanks to local artist Sarah Hawkins. Hawkins was commissioned to create the mosaics in early 2020.

The mosaics are made in the colors of Northwest Florida State College’s logo; red, black and white. The first art piece is an interpretation of the logo called “Swoosh,” and the second is a version of the College seal called “Educatio Optima.”

Some of the tiles used in the mosaics are remnants from the red plexi-glass doors of the original administrative building. The old door pieces were provided for the artwork by former NWFSC trustee and generous donor Eileen Arpke and long-time College Librarian Janice Henderson.