Connection Spring 2013

Connection Alum ni & Friends Magazin e

SPR ING 2013

Behind the Eyes of GuantÁnamo p12 Women’s Soccer Wins National Championship

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Community Partnership Promotes the Value of Education

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Young Alumni Shine in the NICU

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Connection Inside UWF President Dr. judith bense Vice President for University Advancement Dr. kyle marrero Assistant Vice President for University Advancement Martha Lee Blodgett Executive Director, Development & Alumni Engagement Gretchen VanValkenburg Executive Director, Marketing and Creative Services sabrina mclaughlin Director, Alumni Relations missy grace Creative Director pola young Senior Graphic Designer jennifer morgan Writer sarah mccartan Photographer John Blackie Assistant Director of Digital Media Lauren Smith

Editorial Contributing Writers Martha Lee Blodgett, Kenda Hembrough, Sabrina McLaughlin, Megan Prawdzik, Gretchen VanValkenburg & Aaron West

Contact Us Web alumni.uwf.edu Email alumni@uwf.edu Phone 800.226.1893 Mail UWF Alumni Association, 11000 University Pkwy., Building 12, Pensacola, FL 32514

To Give

3 PRESIDENT’S Q&A LETTER FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

ENGAGEMENT

4 Alumni Board 5 news & notes 8 Calendar 10 ATHLETICS AFFINITY

1 7 Student Ambassadors 18 Class notes 20 Value of Education 22 Alumni Success 24 Snapshots

GENEROSITY

27 Ways to give 28 Legacy Giving 30 Planned Giving

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Feature A team of public history graduate students explores the future of Guantánamo through a life-changing journey of memory preservation.

Online uwf.edu/give Direct Kenda Hembrough at 850.857.6112 or khembrough@uwf.edu UWF Connection is published semi-annually by the Alumni Relations Department with the assistance of Marketing & Creative Services. The purpose of Connection is to communicate and engage with UWF alumni, donors, friends and others interested in the activities of UWF.

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Pictured On The Cover Former Guantánamo resident Dave Watson reflects on his memories of his time on base.

President’s Q&A

Judith A. Bense, Ph.D. President How will UWF continue to strengthen its commitment to serving as an economic driver in the region? As the university continues to grow, so will our efforts to aid in regional economic development. In collaboration with area leaders in healthcare, business, technology, government, performing arts, cultural heritage and preservation, military, non-profit organizations and other educational institutions, UWF is dedicated to continuing its commitment to strengthen and grow its strong network of community partners dedicated to making the region better.

Additionally, we actively continue to develop mutually beneficial relationships through UWF Business Enterprises, Inc. (BEI). These partnerships will bring enhanced revenue opportunities that will aid in further addressing our facility needs as we continue to build upon our brand and reputation, and make the transition to a campus that offers a more robust collegiate experience.

How does the support from the university’s area partners ultimately position the institution to more fully “give back” to the community? Partnerships with community leaders create unique learning opportunities for current and future students. Newly implemented programs such as the College of Business Executive Mentor Program pair select students with area business leaders who serve in a mentoring capacity. It is our belief that field experiences will continue to enhance the quality of education students receive during their time at the university, while more effectively preparing them to enter the workforce as trained professionals in their selected fields.

What do you feel to be the true value of education in today’s society? Studies continue to show that a college degree has a profound impact on the lives and careers of graduates. We are proud to know that our alumni are making a significant impact throughout the world as business leaders, educators, engineers, healthcare professionals and more. Our graduates have helped launch space missions, started their own businesses and continually lead the way in groundbreaking scientific research.

In speaking with alumni over the years, one theme has remained constant—each one attributes a significant portion of his or her successes to the quality education received while at UWF. As we continue our dedication to providing an unparalleled educational experience, we are providing a solid foundation for today’s students as they prepare to serve as tomorrow’s leaders.

Letter from the Vice President Dear Alumni & Friends, UWF is on the move! We welcomed the largest class in the history of the institution in Fall 2012 with more than 12,800 students, increased our freshman class by 20 percent over the previous year, and in January 2013 welcomed Dr. Martha Saunders as our new Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. As we approach our 50th anniversary in 2017, we are poised to see a continued increase in transformational growth in physical infrastructure as well as academic programming and student life initiatives.

With a mantra of valued partnerships and community engagement, UWF is committed to being an economic driver of the region. In collaboration with leaders in areas like healthcare, business, technology, government, performing arts, military, non-profit organizations, K-12 and other educational institutions, UWF is cultivating a strong network of partners dedicated to making the region a better place to live, work and play.

It is time for UWF to realize its full potential! As UWF’s 50th anniversary approaches in 2017, it seeks to embark on a historic and ambitious comprehensive capital campaign that addresses strategic needs across all areas of our enterprise and impacts the entire UWF family. More important, however, this effort will ensure the university’s place among the nation’s top comprehensive universities by increasing our national and international visibility while maintaining UWF’s legacy and heritage as a center of higher education excellence for the future.

You, our family of alumni and friends of the university, will be an integral part of the success of this campaign and the future successes of our institution. One of the many tangible results of a successful campaign will be a new Alumni Center in the heart of University Park. Please contact us directly if you want to know how you can help make this and all of our other plans a reality.

As UWF grows in size and reputation, your degree and support of the university becomes increasingly valuable and vital. We ask you to engage with us and improve the opportunities for past, present and future students of UWF.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kyle Marrero Vice President University Advancement U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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A lumni Boar d

Alumni Board President’s Message 2013 Alumni Board of Directors President: ’00 & ’03 Luke van Blaricom; BS Biology & MS Education; Orlando, Fla. Vice President: ’80 Dave Langston; BS Interdisciplinary Sciences; Milton, Fla. Secretary: ’99 & ’02 Ildi Hosman; BSBA Business Administration & MA Communication Arts; Pensacola, Fla. Treasurer: ’98 John Gormley; BSBA Business Administration; Pensacola, Fla. Director of Alumni Development: ’86 Heidi Lannon; MPA; Gainesville, Fla. Director at Large Outside of Northwest Florida: ’88 Robert Lee; BA Communication Arts; Powder Springs, Ga.

Dear Alumni, What a great time to be a University of West Florida alumnus! I hope you share the collective excitement and enthusiasm for the direction UWF is heading. On behalf of the UWF Alumni Association Board of Directors, let me say that we as an association continue to support the leadership of the university and vision that President Bense has presented.

As excited as we are about the future of the university, we are equally enthusiastic about the future of the UWF Alumni Association. During our annual board retreat, we participated in a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis and visioning exercise, and as a result, have established the following 2012-2013 goals: • • • • • • • •

Increase overall awareness and goals of the Alumni Association.

Elevate the status of the alumni board through increased accountability.

Appoint an exploration committee to study the feasibility of an alumni center.

Strengthen communication with administration and the UWF Board of Trustees.

Raise $8,000 in annual gifts through peer-to-peer fundraising efforts.

Generate more revenue for the Alumni Association through additional affinity programs.

Connect with current students through the new Student Alumni Association.

Support the Annual Fund to increase the alumni giving rate.

We invite your feedback and welcome your suggestions on ways in which the UWF Alumni Association can support you and provide meaningful programming. We are very excited about the future of our alma mater and look forward to working with you to increase alumni engagement and strengthen the institution that we so cherish.

Best Regards,

Luke van Blaricom President UWF Alumni Association

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Director of Chapters: ’05 Tim Moore; BA Psychology & History; Pensacola, Fla. Director at Large Within Northwest Florida: ’81 Paul Pratofiorito; BA Accounting; Pensacola, Fla. Director of Multicultural Affairs: ’96, ’01 & ’09 Kismet Rideau; BA Elementary Education; MEd & EdS, Pensacola, Fla. Director of Student Programming: ’04 Becca Tieder; BA Theatre; Clearwater, Fla. Director At Large Outside of Northwest Florida: ’92 Harriett Wyer; BS Marketing; Tampa, Fla. Director of Programs and Services: ’07 Brittany Miller; BA Philosophy; Pensacola, Fla. Director of Alumni Affiliates: ’01 Jay Windham; BSBA Business Administration; Pensacola, Fla. Past President: ’93 Caroline Hartnett; BSBA Business Administration; Pensacola, Fla. Student Representative: ’13 Amy Bueno; Riverview, Fla. Faculty Representative: ’89 & ’99 Stacie Whinnery; MA Clinical Teaching & EdD; Pensacola, Fla.

NEWS & NOTES

UWF Welcomes a New Provost Dr. Martha Saunders on Quality, Visibility and Community

By Megan Prawdzik

A

s the University of West Florida welcomes newly appointed Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Martha Saunders, it remains evident that UWF is home.

Saunders began her higher education career at UWF in 1984 as a professor in the Department of Communication Arts. From there she served the university in various leadership capacities including: Coordinator of the Public Relations Program, Director of the University Honors Program, and both Associate Dean and Dean of the College of Arts and Science.

Saunders departed UWF in 2002 and went on to serve in multiple leadership positions at other institutions, including Vice President for Academic Affairs at Columbus State University, as well as the first-ever female Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Most recently, Dr. Saunders held the position of President of the University of Southern Mississippi.

UWF welcomed Saunders back to campus at the start of the spring semester to serve in a vital role among senior leadership. Saunders took a few minutes to speak on what she considers to be the university’s top institutional priorities and guiding principles—Quality, Visibility and Community.

Quality

When asked what UWF does exceedingly well, above all Saunders applauds the quality academics provided by a strong network of dedicated university faculty. “I’ve been many places, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a genuine dedication and commitment to student success,” said Saunders. “It’s our responsibility to continuously improve upon and support the quality of our academic courses.”

Saunders believes the Strategic Plan 2012-2017 will act as a key driver of this continuous improvement. Aligning each and every university activity with a strategic priority will allow us to more clearly identify our goals and hone in on our strong points, ultimately increasing our efficiency and effectiveness as a university.

Visibility

In order to make a lasting impact, you must first establish a name for yourself. Saunders looks forward to building upon the existing achievements of the university, to increase UWF’s national recognition and garner further attention, making the institution more visible.

“We certainly have a university with exceptional bragging rights, and it’s important that we share these successes as often as possible,” said Saunders.

These successes extend far beyond the confines of the classroom and into the community.

Community

Saunders affirms that there is an essential tie between universities and their surrounding communities. “Communities are the backbone of an institution.

In turn, universities provide “I’ve been many places, and cultural, social and intellectual I don’t think I’ve ever seen leadership to the communities such a genuine dedication they serve,” she said.

When Saunders speaks of and commitment to student communities, she is not only success. It’s our responsibility speaking geographically, but of the vast networks of pro- to continuously improve upon fessional communities our and support the quality of our current students, faculty and academic courses.” — Dr. Martha successful alumni continue to establish around the globe Saunders, UWF Provost through collaborative projects, presentations, community contributions and other efforts.

Above all, Saunders looks forward to being an active part in writing the next chapter of UWF’s history.

“I have a true passion for the University of West Florida, and the utmost respect for President Bense. I look forward to working with all of our valued faculty and staff and continuing to build upon our exceptional learning environment.”

For additional information on Dr. Martha Saunders, please visit uwf.edu/provost.

U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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NE WS & NOTES

Unparalleled Experiences in Service Learning

The COB Executive Mentor Program

pairs local business leaders with select UWF business students to provide valuable experience.

UWF Department of Government students conducted

exit polls in the local community on Election Day 2012.

By Megan Prawdzik

Teachers Teaching Teachers

Last summer, a cohort of nine graduate students and twelve undergraduate students discovered a new way to teach—by teaching teachers. A collaborative effort between the UWF School of Education and the Santa Rosa County School District, Teachers Teaching Teachers (3T) is a program for teachers wishing to gain an unparalleled level of practical experience working in community schools.

3T fully submerges student-teachers in the lives of a daily classroom, enabling them to more easily transition into professional positions.

Upon completion of the certification coursework for the 3T program, participating UWF graduate students are offered the additional opportunity to continue on to complete a master’s degree in Exceptional Student Education.

Monumental Mentoring

A new partnership between the UWF College of Business and the greater Pensacola area business community is establishing meaningful connections and relationships, while helping students gain valuable insight into issues including career choices, networking skills and career development.

The Executive Mentor Program pairs members of the local business community with select UWF business students based on academic career fields and interests. Mentors provide their mentees the unprecedented opportunity to embrace both the Pensacola community and business culture.

The Energy Dream

POISE 360, an in-class marketing agency comprised of UWF Emerald Coast students, informed fellow students and the surrounding community about natural gas as an energy source through their campaign, “Natural Gas…The Energy Dream. Affordable. Reliable. Domestic.” In an effort to generate awareness, the students participated in the UWF Emerald Coast Fall Festival, visited classrooms, and even held a panel discussion with local industry experts to further educate students and the community about benefits of natural gas.

Making their Voices Heard

The Nov. 6 election made a vital impact on our nation, and on our university. On Election Day, UWF Department of Government students conducted exit polls with fellow students and the local community of voters regarding voting choice and issues that matter to the voting public.

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While gaining insight on voting values, students earned a certificate for conducting human subjects research. This hands-on experience provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to engage with the community in this manner.

Legacy Learning

Dr. Athena Du Pre’s leadership class in the Department of Communication Arts continues to build its legacy. Each fall, students work together to develop and implement a project that incorporates their diverse skills and integrates leadership theory and research to impact the community. The class is designed to raise money for those in need, through hosting community events and designing campaigns that benefit community organizations ranging from the Ronald McDonald House to the Boys & Girls Club.

The Fall 2012 leadership class hosted the re-opening of New Wave, an upscale resale boutique for high school and college students located in downtown Pensacola. Students in the class sold tickets to the reopening to raise money to benefit New Wave along with its host organization, Chain Reaction. In addition to serving as event planners, the class helped renovate the store and organized its inventory.

“Dr. Du Pre’s class has challenged me and developed me into the leader I never knew that I was,” said UWF senior, Catherine Spitznagel. “I have learned more than I ever thought I could in one class, during one semester.”

For university-wide news, visit news.uwf.edu. To receive more information on your college’s latest happenings, visit us online!

► College of Arts & Sciences uwf.edu/cas ► College of Business uwf.edu/cob ► College of Professional Studies uwf.edu/cops

NEWS & NOTES

Each fall, students in Dr. Athena Du Pre’s leadership class work together on a project that incorporates their diverse skills

and integrates leadership theory and research to benefit community organizations and raise money for those in need.

el Trav am Progr

SOMETHIN G FOR EVERY ARGON AUT The Be n efi t s of t h e U W F Al u m n i A s s oci a t i on

UWF

U N IV ER

UWF Alumni Parking Decal UWF Alumni Recreation Facility Memberships

Licen

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UWF

SI T Y O F W ES

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Career Services

Scenic Hills Country Club Membership Opportunities and Discounted Golf Rates

Connect.uwf.edu

UWF Continuing Education

GEICO Discounted Insurance

UWF Library Privileges

GradMed Short Term Medical Insurance

UWF Pen Air Credit Card

Alumni Travel Program

UWF State of Florida License Plate 1234

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Club Membership

THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION consists of more than 69,000 UWF Alumni. Membership is free and open to all graduates of the university. Alumni Relations is pleased to provide networking opportunities, affinity program discounts and rewards, alumni chapter gatherings and special events to all members of the UWF Alumni Association. For more information, visit alumni.uwf.edu.

U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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CALENDAR

Festival on the Green is the

perfect opportunity to celebrate spring with a wide range of art, music, crafts, food and more.

Calendar of Events March March 7

UWF Alumni Chapter Event

The UWF Alumni Association invites Emerald Coast area alumni and their guests to a reception at the Compass Rose Restaurant in Valparaiso, Fla., from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join us for fun and fellowship with your fellow alumni. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be provided, and a cash bar will be available. To make your reservation, email alumni@uwf.edu or call 1.800.226.1893. For more information on this and other upcoming alumni events, visit alumni.uwf.edu and see events listed on the far right.

March 22

UWF Network-a-Thon Held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the UWF Conference Center, UWF Network-a-Thon is an opportunity for alumni and friends of the university to make professional connections while supporting critical needs on campus,

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such as scholarship and departments.

Registered guests will enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres and several engaging breakout sessions, including a roundtable discussion with local business leaders.

For more information, visit alumni.uwf.edu/springintoaction.

March 28

UWF Downtown The final lecture in

the “UWF Downtown” series, titled “An Evening with Natasha Tretheway” by Natasha Tretheway, U.S. Poet Laureate, will be presented at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition in downtown Pensacola. Refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m., followed by the lecture at 6 p.m. “UWF Downtown” is a lecture series promoting the value of liberal arts in contemporary life.

For more information, visit uwf.edu/cas/downtownseries.

Common Read Play The UWF

Department of Theatre’s Common Read Play opens at 8 p.m. on the Center for Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA)

Mainstage. The performance is based on this year’s book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot, which deals with the history of medicine as well as medical ethics. Each year the university picks a book to serve as a Common Read. This book is provided to each incoming freshman and is used throughout the year in various classes, so that the story is evaluated through the lens of the class. For ticket information and a full calendar of CFPA events, visit uwf.edu/cfpa.

April APRIL 5 & 6

13th Annual Festival on the Green

Join us in celebrating spring at the 13th Annual Festival on the Green. Be a part of Pensacola’s rich history and diverse culture by experiencing a fine arts show, hand-made crafts, music, live performances, a book sale, food and a children’s craft festival. For a full schedule of events, visit uwf.edu/festival.

CALENDAR

Each Year UWF graduates proud Argonauts who go

on to become teachers, historians, biologists and more. Join us May 4, 2013 at Spring Commencement as we welcome our newest members into the UWF Alumni Association.

APRIL 6

Annual Alumni Awards Celebration

Celebrate the contributions of UWF alumni and friends at our annual Alumni Awards Celebration as part of Festival on the Green. This year’s event will be a brunch held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the UWF Conference Center. For ticket information, email alumni@uwf.edu.

8 p.m. on the CFPA Mainstage, and runs through April 29. For ticket information and a full calendar of CFPA events, visit uwf.edu/cfpa.

May May 4

APRIL 8

Ian Parker, Pianist Canadian pianist Ian

Parker performs at 7:30 p.m., in the Music Hall, as a part of the Music Hall Artist Series. An enthusiastic recitalist, Parker has performed across the United States, Western Europe, Israel and throughout Canada on tours with Debut Atlantic and Jeunesses Musicales du Canada. He made his Lincoln Center recital debut at the Walter Reade Theater in 2004. For ticket information and a full calendar of CFPA events, visit uwf.edu/cfpa.

Commencement Join us at the

Pensacola Bay Center (formerly Pensacola Civic Center) as we welcome the newest members into the UWF Alumni Association. Volunteers are needed to help “pin” new graduates as they walk across the stage, and to distribute alumni gifts following the ceremony. For more information on volunteering, email alumni@uwf.edu.

June

APRIL 18 - 29

JUNE 3 - AUGUST 9

Threepenny Opera The UWF

Argo Adventure Camp Register your

Department of Theatre presents, “The Threepenny Opera.” Written in the 1920s by composer Kurt Weill and playwright Bertolt Brecht, the “The Threepenny Opera” is known as “an opera for beggars.” The opera opens April 18, at

child for the 2013 Argo Adventure Camp!

Our camp features a wide variety of activities for grade levels K-5 for the 2012-2013 school year. Campers enjoy daily access to our 36-foot climbing wall and Aquatic Center, as well as sports and

other activities. On-campus registration for the entire summer or individual weeks will be held on May 11 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Health, Leisure and Sports Facility.

Register online at active.com. For camp rates and additional information, visit uwf.edu/recreation.

Alumni Chapter Events Join us for a fun night of networking! Meet and reconnect with your fellow alumni, hear the latest university news and learn about our new alumni programs and services. For more information on upcoming events in your area, visit alumni.uwf.edu.

Upcoming Events: Emerald Coast—March 7 Tallahassee—May 16 Orlando—June 5 Tampa—June 6

U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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ATHLETICS

Building Upon Success Argos Continue to Achieve Champion Status

By Megan Prawdzik

UWF women’s soccer took

home a National Championship title for the first time in program history.

Photo By Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos

U

niversity of West Florida Athletics continues to build upon a long-lasting tradition of success. This success can be attributed to the support and leadership of devoted coaches, coupled with outstanding student-athletes.

This past season, members of the women’s soccer team added national recognition to their already growing list of accomplishments.

For the first time in program history, they won the NCAA Division II Championships, with a 1-0 shutout victory over UC San Diego. Junior Chelsea Palmer scored the winning goal with just minutes left in the game.

“In soccer, sometimes you only have one opportunity,” Palmer said. “National champion-

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ships aren’t won 2-0, 3-0, 4-0. Games are won 1-0. It’s the toe poke. It’s the diving header. It’s unthinkable. You never think you’ll get that chance right in front of the goal. To have that opportunity, you have to finish. You have to compose yourself and knock it in.”

The team finished the season with a dominating 24-1-0 record. Three players were named NSCAA All-Americans including Palmer, who was also named NSCAA National Player of the Year. A total of six student-athletes earned NSCAA All-South Region honors, as well. This national championship win is the seventh in UWF Athletics history.

Meanwhile, the volleyball team continued its conference winning streak, earning the title

of Gulf South Conference Champions for the fifth year in a row. The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) recognized Head Coach Melissa Wolter as the South Region Coach of the Year, and sophomore outside hitter Autumn Duyn was named GSC Player of the Year.

The women’s cross-country team also repeated as GSC Champions with its second consecutive win. En route to winning back-toback conference championships, four women’s runners from UWF placed in the Top 10 for the first time in program history. Additionally, head coach John Bergen was named the Gulf South Conference Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.

ATHLETI CS

UWF women’s volleyball team

raised more than $7,000 in donations that will aid in finding a cure for breast cancer.

Argos Helping Others

Not only do our student-athletes excel in every game, they dedicate their time to helping others. Before, during and even after their respective seasons, Argos involved in every sport generously give their time to participate in youth programs, fundraisers and other events that benefit a wide variety of local organizations and causes.

Last semester, student-athletes eagerly participated in Argie’s R&R, a reading and re-

cess program sponsored by Tom Thumb and Publix. Established Spring 2011, the program provides an opportunity to promote the value of reading and exercise. UWF student-athletes visit local first through fifth grade classrooms, alongside the UWF mascot Argie the Argonaut, to read books, teach basic stretching exercises and share information about UWF sports games and programs.

During the height of its season, the UWF women’s volleyball team made a special ef-

fort to take a step away from the court and support a charity in need. These Argos raised more than $7,000 through donations for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, the Pack it Pink Silent Auction and the Panhandle Charitable Open. The funds collected will aid in raising awareness and finding a cure for breast cancer.

Lastly, the UWF men’s and women’s basketball teams also found a way to make a difference in the community through their sport. To heighten disability awareness on campus, these teams participated in the 11th annual Wheelchair Basketball Game, hosted by the UWF ADA Compliance Office. The basketball teams teamed up with UWF Greek organizations, Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC and players from area high schools to compete against the Mobile Patriots, a wheelchair basketball team.

For a complete look at the Argo’s most recent achievements and upcoming events, visit Goargos.com.

Looking Ahead— Swimming & Diving Builds Team Last year, we proudly announced the addition of a women’s swimming and diving team. Last fall, the team welcomed

its first official team members, including Phoebe Briant, Karisa Kostecki, AnnaMarie Macht and Jennifer Starck. The team will begin competing during the 2013-2014 academic year.

U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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Behind the Eyes of

GuantĂ namo

By Sarah mccartan

T

he eyes serve as windows into memories—memories that not only aid us in discovering the past, but also provide us a clearer outlook into the future.

These memories should be preserved and shared, rather than swept away amid the shuffle, or simply forgotten over time.

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Former Guantﾃ］amo Resident Dave Watson shares his memories of

GTMO with team member Sean Baker.

U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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“Without the Guantánamo Public Memory Project, these stories may have been lost forever.” — Sean Baker

T

hey were relocated here. They built lives here. They faced hardships here and they celebrated victories here. They shared differences here, just as they shared commonalities here. They watched history in the making here.

Ultimately, they all share their story here.

Where is here? Here is not like anywhere else, yet here is not as entirely different as you may think. Here is the Guantánamo Naval Base (GTMO), Cuba.

GTMO has remained an integral part of American politics and policy since the United States obtained a lease from Cuba in 1903.

This lease granted Cuba total sovereignty over the territory and the U.S. total jurisdiction, thus creating a “legal black hole.” This black hole area has housed refugees, endured legal battles, faced immigration issues and fallen prey to rapid closures. It has reopened to house “enemy combatants” and has even been referred to as a prison camp.

Although present-day GTMO remains synonymous with conflict, detainment, uncertainty and even negativity, a substantial amount

Former GTMO Resident Jim Damico and friend sharing a drink after work

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of the base’s history belongs to the local Cuban workers and U.S. military families who resided within the confines of this 45-square-mile radius from the early 1900s through 2000—families who called Guantánamo home.

These thousands of men and women have not been presented an outlet in which to publicly share their stories, that is, until now.

Thanks to a network of university students from around the country, their memories are being developed into stories that are being shared as a part of the continuing dialogue surrounding the current state and undetermined future of GTMO. The Project Members of the UWF Public History Graduate Program, under the lead of Program Director Dr. Patrick Moore, teamed up with schools from around the country to take part in the Guantánamo Public Memory Project. These partnering institutions include Arizona State University, Brown University, The New School

Jim Damico relaxing by the pool

Northeast Gate

for Public Engagement, Rutgers University New Brunswick, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and University of California at Riverside.

Initially launched in 2009 by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, the national project set out to gather and make public information surrounding the lives of as many individuals involved with GTMO as possible.

This unique collaboration continues as an ongoing dialogue among students, communities and individuals with first-hand experience at GTMO, supported by a traveling exhibit that is a sampling of these collected histories displayed visually, exploring GTMO’s history in relation to today’s debates and visions for its future.

Though the project originated on a national level, much of the work UWF students conducted took place right here in our own backyard, as many former GTMO residents currently live amongst our local military community.

UWF’s preliminary involvement dates all the way back to 2001, prior to the national

Base Housing

project taking on its current form. The bulk of the research was initially conducted as part of Dr. Moore’s Summer 2012 Oral and Community History course. The class quickly generated community interest by way of an article that ran in the Pensacola News Journal, along with several spots on WCOA talk radio, inviting those who spent time at GTMO to come forward and share their stories.

During the Fall 2012 semester, the involvement expanded and gained momentum, taking on its current and final shape—a team comprised of select first-year public history graduate students—Sean Baker, Charles Danzey, Jane Gagne, Jamie Gray, Jeremy Hatcher and Martha Tye. The nature of the team’s involvement is unique in that, unlike other partnering institutions, these UWF students primarily conducted their research firsthand. Team members engaged in focus groups with both GTMO residents and fellow institutions, conducted an extensive series of video interviews and even embarked on a GTMO reunion cruise, spending uninterrupted days at sea and in port growing closer to these “GTMOites,” as they often refer to themselves.

Throughout the process the team kept the nature of the project truth telling and community focused, recognizing this to be just as relevant to the future of GTMO as the current wavering political state. After conducting more than 150 oral histories with former GTMO residents, the team found that GTMO served as a foundation for life-long friendships, and many still consider the base home.

For the basis of their involvement with the national project, and ultimately their piece of the national exhibit, the team posed the question—how do memories of GTMO survive?

The answer? They live on through the stories.

The Stories A large portion of UWF’s collection focuses on civilian dependents of those in the military serving on the base—dependents such as Dave Watson.

The team first met Watson on their reunion

Former GTMO Resident Kathy Toomey and friends playing on a cut pipe

cruise last October. Upon returning to land, Sean Baker conducted a formal interview on location in Watson’s Pensacola residence.

Watson was relocated to Guantánamo in the tenth grade, his stepfather serving as an airplane mechanic, his mother a teacher. Although only on base from 1958-1960, his time at GTMO had a profound impact on his life, and ultimately led to his life calling of professional diving.

“GTMO was a definite milestone. It is responsible in a way for where I am now,” Watson shared in his video interview with Baker.

What began as an adventure for Watson, and his first experience on a plane and out of the country, provided him opportunities he may not have been presented as an AfricanAmerican, had he remained in the states during that time period. At William T. Samson High School, Watson found himself in an integrated school setting for the first time.

“It was my first time sitting in a class with someone that was a different color, a different race, a different culture. I found it was a daunting experience at first, but by the time school started, I already had a number of friends,” Watson shared.

At GTMO, Watson was granted direct access to new ideas and activities, including diving.

“You didn’t see too many black folk doing that kind of thing, at least not in our part of the country,” said Watson.

Whenever GTMOites get together, they share stories, talk about friends, show pictures, and plan future reunion events.

The process of meeting new people and creating more bonds is, in itself, a method of perpetuating and sustaining their community of memory.

Longtime GTMO residents Winston and Nelda Williams with friends at Kittery Beach

Daughter of Winston and Nelda Williams swinging at the beach

Team member Martha Tye shares her experiences….

What is your biggest takeaway from this collaborative experience?

Collaborative efforts yield profound results—not only within our own UWF team, but also on a national level.

What was it like seeing the hard work of the team come together and be displayed nationally in NYC? Seeing our panel in New York was extremely fulfilling! I think my favorite moment of the exhibit opening was when I saw a passer-by, unaffiliated with the project, take the time to stop and look at our panel. Seeing the words and images we had worked hard to select being viewed by the general public let us know that the hundreds of hours we had dedicated were serving a higher purpose— educating the community.

How will the ongoing national dialogue continue to impact those involved?

As the exhibit travels around the nation, each university that hosts the panels will create its own unique process for creating this conversation in its community. The goal of the project is to allow those who view the exhibit to gain a complete understanding of the base from which they can discuss the nature of GTMO and form their own conclusions about this controversial issue. The former residents of GTMO will continue to play an important role in this dialogue as we are continuing to collect their stories to contribute to the online portion of the project. As former GTMO residents constitute a significant portion of the population, we hope to involve them in the open-ended dialogue that surrounds the exhibit.

U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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Dave Watson’s William T. Samson High School yearbook

GTMO also opened Watson’s eyes to issues of global concern. Although GTMO residents were not permitted to exit the gate and enter into Communist Cuba, they were able to visit neighboring islands to escape island fever. A quick hop to Panama opened Watson’s eyes to hunger.

When it came time for Watson to return home to the U.S., he returned home to a nation still battling the elimination of segregation, whereas in GTMO he recalls being treated no differently than any other teenager.

In some respects Watson returned to the states feeling advanced. He finished his studies and served in the U.S. Air Force. From there he pursued his passion and became a professional diver, eventually settling in Pensacola, where he currently resides with his wife.

Watson indicates that he would return to Guantánamo—as it was then—in a heartbeat.

Watson’s positive memories of GTMO overpower any fear or negativity, though he understands how and why today’s perception of the territory exists.

“The perception today is that it’s like Devil’s Island. Now it’s a penal colony,” Watson said.

“It used to be an ideal place to live, at least for a dependent, military person or civilian.”

Watson likens his attitude toward his life at Guantánamo to the tune of the Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken.”

“GTMO prompted me to not worry about being hesitant to take on something that has not been done before—that is off the beaten track,” he said. “Don’t be discouraged by the fact a lot of folks say you can’t do it. Maybe you can, maybe you can’t. You won’t know unless you try.”

The Impact Across the great many interviews conducted, materials analyzed and relationships forged throughout the project and process, the UWF team of students confirmed GTMOites remember and articulate their time at the base in an overwhelmingly positive way.

Not only has GTMO had a profound impact on former residents such as Watson, but on each individual team member who was

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Spring 2013 UNIVERS IT Y of WE ST FLOR IDA

granted the opportunity to participate in such a monumental experimentation, aiding in the preservation of memory through bringing a diverse range of stories to life.

The Unveiling The exhibit officially opened at New York University’s Kimmel Center for University Life Windows Gallery on Dec. 13, 2012. The unveiling proved to be emotional and powerful, as the collection of stories was shared publicly on a national front for the first time. In addition to the unveiling of the visual panels, each team from the partnering institutions was given the opportunity to present.

The traveling exhibit will continue on to nine sites throughout the country through 2014, including Pensacola’s T.T. Wentworth Museum in Historical Pensacola Village in Spring of 2014.

Each stop allows the respective partnering institution the opportunity to directly engage its own community.

The Future It is oftentimes stated that in order to fully move forward, we must first look back. As much as the GTMO Public Memory Project aims to look back at the past, it sets forth to present questions relevant to the uncertain future of the base.

“The most important thing about GTMO in my mind is that it was a good place to be in our time,” Watson said. “Maybe it will be that way again sometime in the future. We will just have to see.”

While we can’t know exactly what the future of GTMO looks like, each institution leaves the public with an open-ended discussion question. Our students’ question to you: Should memories of the past residents be part of the current dialogue surrounding GTMO?

To become a part of the ongoing national dialogue, visit the virtual home of the GTMO Public Memory Project at gitmomemory.sitesofconscience.org.

The unveiling and group presentation at New York University’s Kimmel Center for University Life Windows Gallery

Many former residents believe that their time at GTMO changed their lives and values by making them more culturally aware, reducing their materialism, and increasing their appreciation of family and neighbors.

STUDENT A M BASSADORS

Student Ambassador Q&A How did you initially become interested in UWF’s Student Ambassador Program? During the fall semester of my sophomore year, I knew I wanted to become a part of an organization that I would be passionate about and that has a visible impact on the UWF community. The Student Ambassador Program seemed to be just that!

How long have you been involved? I have been involved for five semesters as a Student Ambassador and recently joined the group’s Leadership Council, which established the Student Alumni Association (SAA). I also recently became the Student Ambassador Coordinator as well as the Student Alumni Association President.

How has being involved made an impact on your student life experience at UWF? Being a Student Ambassador has increased my student life experience by 100 percent. I have valued each step I have taken in the Ambassador Program, and it has led to some of my greatest successes.

It has given me the opportunity to be involved and know about campus updates before the rest of the student body. In my opinion, there is no other program on campus that would have given me these kinds of opportunities. As an Ambassador, I am having new experiences all the time and learning so much. These experiences have helped me to become a strong, confident and knowledgeable student and citizen.

Kelsey Haupt

K

elsey Haupt is a graduating senior majoring in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, specializing in Children and Society and minoring in Leadership Communication. Born in North Carolina and raised in St. Augustine, Fla., Haupt has a passion for working with children and plans to work with non-profit youth development organizations after graduation. She is also interested in pursuing a master’s degree in the Strategic Communication and Leadership Program at UWF in the fall.

UWF ST U D E NT AMBAS SA D OR S

est.

1987

U W F ST U D E N T A M B A S S A D O R S

10,000 HAVE CON DU C TED M ORE T HAN

C AMPUS TOURS

Serving as the Ambassador Coordinator has allowed me to meet and network with amazing staff, donors, faculty and university VIPs, and I could not be more proud to be the leader of the “green coats.” Serving as the SAA President has allowed me to meet all types of students at UWF. We have such a diverse group on campus and each group is represented in the SAA. As a graduating senior, what advice would you offer current students? Life lessons learned in college don’t strictly come from the confines of a desk. These lessons are learned through experiences you have in organizations, during events and at social outings with your peers.

To have a full college experience, you must be involved and active as a student. There are so many opportunities, but they are not going to come to you. You must go out and find them, and when you do you will have nothing to regret!

70,000 285 SA students have earned more than

SERVICE HOURS

ST U D E N TS I N T H E P RO G R A M

Since 1987

U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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C LASS NOTES

Class Notes

books. “Wounds” is a novel for middlegraders. “Fantastic Flight,” a Children’s Literary Classics Seal of Approval awardee, is a picture book for the younger set.

►

► ’71 Ronald B. Lewis, BA Marketing, presented “Keeping America’s Promise” in conjunction with National POW/MIA Day. The presentation featured Lewis’ personal accounts and excerpts from his 2007 essay titled “Shipmates Forever,” which provides insight as to how and why he is involved with the promise to bring America’s unaccounted men and women lost in combat home with honor. ► ’72 Michael S. Mullin, BA Political Science, has been appointed to the Fourth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission

by Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Mullin’s term began Sept. 6, 2012 and extends through July 1, 2014. ►

’78 Dr. Anna Eblen, MA Communication Arts, will retire after 26 years at Western Washington University. Eblen has been honored with the establishment of a scholarship in her name. This scholarship will be awarded to students demonstrating a commitment to social justice, community involvement and the advancement of women, peace or social movements.

► ’79 Holley H. Hayes, BA Special Education, has been accepted into the Peace Corps and is in Azerbaijan training as an English Education Peace Corps volunteer. During her service, Hayes will live and work in an Azerbaijani community, teaching English language skills to local community members. ► ’84 Julian L. Jackson, III, BA Accounting, has been hired as the first city manager of Peachtree Corners, Ga. He took over the duties of running Gwinnett County’s largest city. ► ’84 Rev. Augustine J. Moore, MA Interdisciplinary Humanities, recently published a book of poetry titled “With Warm Breast…and Bright Wings.” The book may be ordered from Robert Moore Christmas Town in Mobile, Ala. ► ’84 & ’85, Jill Singer, BS Systems Science & MS Systems Analysis, received the Global CIO Community’s 2012 Breakaway Leaders Award. Singer was among 10 award recipients. The award recognizes high-performing CIOs who are changing their company’s competitive position in leadership and business. ► ’86 Barbara Hembree Bockman, MA English, has published two children’s 18

Bockman

Spring 2013 UNIVERSIT Y of WE ST FLOR IDA

’88 John D. Cassani, CDR, USN, BS Marketing, recently completed his command tour with the Naval Special Warfare Group ONE’S Logistics Support Unit at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.

Cassani’s next tour of duty will be with the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

► ’89 Raymond “Chip” Cravaack, MEd, is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Minnesota. Cravaack is a 24-year Navy veteran and a former Northwest Airlines union representative. ► ’91 Dr. Christopher J. Brouillette, BS Biology, is the Medical Director of the Nuviva Medical Weight Loss Clinic in Lake Mary, Fla., one of 13 clinics in Florida for medically supervised weight loss. ► ’92 Gregory Garrett, BA Political Science, was recently named the 20112012 Escambia County School District Social Studies Teacher of the Year.

Garrett

► ’93 Tammera L. Cooper, BA Art History, is the manager of Colorado Springs’ first Walmart Neighborhood Market. Cooper began her career at Walmart as a cashier. ► ’93, ’96 & ’00 Dr. Richard Hill Sites, BS Business Administration, MEd Educational Leadership & EdD Educational Management, Vice-President of Client Services, co-authored a new book titled “Leaving ADDIE for SAM: An Agile Model for Developing the Best Learning Experiences.” ► ’94 Seth Martin Waller, BS Business Management, joined EverBank in the newly created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. Waller will be responsible for the leadership and oversight for all commercial and consumer lending functions within EverBank. ► ’95 & ’98, Evangeline M. Leventhal, BA International Studies and MBA, is the new Vice President of Business Operations for the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Leventhal has also been named the new team President for the Mississippi Surge. Leventhal will lead the day-to-day operations of the clubs and develop the front office staff in the areas of ticket sales and corporate partnership fulfillment. ► ’96 Michelle Desiree Jones, BA Communication Arts, will oversee community news operations in Mobile, Ala. for the newly formed company, The Alabama Media Group.

► ’96 Suzanne B. Fulkerson, BA Elementary Education, is the new principal of Ortiz Elementary in Abilene, Texas. ► ’96 Brian C. Davis, MS Health Leisure & Exercise Science, was promoted to the Director of Public Services for the city of Davis Vestavia Hills, Ala. The position includes the divisions of Engineering, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works. ► ’98 Matthew D. Myers, BA Theatre, performed with Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta, Ga., in a production called “Two Drink Minimum.” Myers has been performing in the Atlanta area for the past 13 years. ► ’99 LCDR Michael J. Rancour, USN, MA in Political Science, and his fellow sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise formed a Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions committee. The program is a peer-to-peer mentoring program geared toward assisting sailors in making positive decisions in all areas of their lives. Rancour and 5500 sailors and Marines returned from deployment to the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas in early Nov. 2012. ► ’00 & ’06 Elona M. Jouben, BA Political Science & BA in Legal Studies, won an honorable mention for her article “What Paralegals Wish Attorneys Knew: Help Us, Help You,” which she submitted to the Paralegal Society’s essay contest on the topic of mentoring. ► ’01, ’02, ’03 & ’08 Kathleen “Katie” Hudon, BA History, Hudon MA Communication Arts, BA International Studies & Specialist in Education, Curriculum & Instruction, was selected to present her dissertation study and research results at the international conference held in Paris. She was the recipient of five grant awards that supported her participation in the conference, where she shared her research with individuals from Australia, Asia, Europe, South Africa and South America. ► ’02 Bryan T. Clarke, BS Health, Leisure & Exercise Science, is the new Women’s Golf Coach at UWF. Clarke is a three-time All-American and the third coach in UWF Clarke women’s golf history. ► ’02 Rebecca Anne Gunter, BA Communication Arts, is the city of Seminole, Fla.’s new recreation director. Gunter was previously the recreation superintendent for the city of Palm Coast, Fla.

C L ASS NOTES

► ’04 Jim Bills, BA Studio Art and ’06 Andrea Dickey Bills, BA Studio Art, welcomed their son Elliott James into the world on June 4, 2012 in Fairhope, Ala.

Bills

► ’06 Keith Peter Keremes, BA Political Science & Pre-Law, graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Keremes completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills. ► ’07 Marvin Wilhelm Max Paul, BS Computer Science, and his partner, Paul Sheaffer, opened a start-up company, Paul Capigami, in San Francisco. The company’s app, Out of Milk, allows users to manage multiple shopping or to-do lists and sync the information on mobile devices or computers. The app has been listed among the top 10 shopping list apps. ► ’08 Brian Donigan, BS Biology, was married to Leah Whitney Bentz on May 19, 2012. The couple resides in Gulf Breeze, Fla. ►

’10 Jeremy Wyatt, MBA, Vice President of Software Engineering at ActiGraph Wyatt represented ActiGraph at the Seventh Annual European Youth Heart Study Symposium in Madeira, Portugal in Oct. 2012. The study is a longterm investigation of the personal, environmental and lifestyle factors that influence cardiovascular disease risk factors in children ages 9 to 15. Four countries (Denmark, Norway, Estonia and Portugal) are involved in the study, and thousands of the ActiGraph devices are being used to measure physical activity in kids. Wyatt has worked remotely to help design some of the software features.

Wyatt’s presentation on the evolving benefits of the products was well-received at the symposium and will be pivotal for ActiGraph’s growth in Europe. Wyatt is pleased to know that he is helping improve the health of kids around the world from right here in Pensacola, Fla.

► ’09 & ’10 Richelle Nicole Stacey, BA Communication Arts & MA Strategic

Communication, is the new president/ CEO of the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce. In addition to her chamber job, Stacey will also be responsible for managing the Pensacola Beach Visitor Information Center and organizing chamber events on the beach.

► ’09 Lisa Rutherford, MEd Curriculum & Instruction, attended the First Global Mobile Learning Congress held at the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, UAE. ► ’09 Joseph Bergstrom, BS Marketing & Global Marketing, was part of the team that landed a rover on Mars on Aug. 5, 2012. Bergstrom works Bergstrom for NASA in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His role is to ensure that government owned property is protected, maintained, preserved and tracked. Bergstrom and his colleagues worked to provide logistic support to four missions in 2012. ► ’09 Michael Jasek, EdD Curriculum & Diversity, has been hired as the Dean of Students at New Mexico State University.

Jasek was previously the Associate Dean of Students at UWF. ►

’11 David LaRowe, Jr., MSA Public Administration, joined Thomas University as an Assistant Professor of Medical Laboratory Science. LaRowe, a Certified Laboratory Scientist, retired from the Air Force as a decorated Master Sergeant.

►

’11 Scott David Erickson, MEd Curriculum and Instruction, was the 2012 Santa Rosa County Career Academy Teacher of the Year, and the Air Force Association Hulbert Chapter #398 High School and Overall Teacher of the Year.

Leadership, Sept. 20, 2012 ’77 Dan Chilcutt, MS Aeronautical Systems, Aug. 20, 2012 ’78 Joeann Townsend, BA Elementary Education, Sept. 22, 2012 ’78 Donald Austin, BS Marketing, Oct. 26, 2012 ’79 Pauline K. Taliaferro, BS Technological Vocational Studies, Sept. 27, 2012 ’79 Brian Bartkiewicz, BA Accounting, Oct. 21, 2012 ’80 Samuel James, Jr., BA Management, Nov. 4, 2012 ’82 & ’84 Jackie L. Wilson, BS Technology Vocation & MEd Educational Leadership, Sept. 22, 2012 ’86 & ’89 Marshall A. Mann, BA Mathematics & MA Mathematics, Sept. 9, 2012 ’95 Rondel “Ronnie” A. King, II, BA Accounting, Nov. 4, 2012 ’96 Stephen H. Crane, BA Special Education, Aug. 26, 2012 ’96 Lillian Saulich, BA English, Oct. 17, 2012 ’97 Mary Hartshorn, BS Environmental Science, Nov. 15, 2012 ’98 Amber Brabham, BS Communication Arts, Aug. 26, 2012 ’05 Eugene Edward Kozak III, BS Health Education, Aug. 1, 2012 ’07 Brenda Louise Mains Hall, BA Interdisciplinary Studies, Sept. 12, 2012 ’09, David Jason Hodge, BS Information Technology, Aug. 8, 2012 Dr. Manning Hanline, Retired Faculty, Aug. 10, 2012 Dr. William L. Maloy, Retired Employee, Sept. 9, 2012

In Memoriam ’69 Richard A. Buck, BS Physical Education, Nov. 3, 2012 ’71 & ’79 Earl Greenwood, BA History & MEd Educational Leadership, July 27, 2012 ’72 Daisy L. Jackson, BA Music, July 15, 2012 ’74, Dr. Andrew Leavins, MA Educational Leadership, Nov. 8, 2012 ’75 & ’81 Alfred S. “Jack” Benziger, Col, USAF, Retired, BA Interdisciplinary Social Science & MBA, July 25, 2012 ’75 Christopher Lee Merritt, BS Marine Biology, Sept. 29, 2012 ’75 Margaret Ross, MA Early Childhood, Oct. 26, 2012 ’76 Susan A. Garman, BA Elementary Education, Aug. 2, 2012 ’76 Dr. Mary F. Wasson, MA Educational

Pat Neff Groner 1920-2012 Pat Neff Groner, the original CEO of Baptist Hospital and a pioneer in the health care field, died on Dec. 14, 2012 at Azalea Trace, the continuing care retirement community opened in 1980 under his direction and vision. Not only was Groner a vital member of the health care community, he remained strongly tied to the university throughout his lifetime, serving as a generous contributor. In 1993, Groner was named a UWF Foundation Fellow for his outstanding service and commitment to the university and the UWF Foundation.

Among his many honors he received throughout his lifetime, Groner was awarded a Doctor of Laws by UWF.

U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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VALUE OF EDUCATION

Hospitality students gain

hands-on experience at Innisfree Hotels.

Community Partnership Promotes the Value of Education

By Sarah McCartan

I

n response to the widespread growth of the hospitality and tourism industry, and the increased workforce demand for hospitality students across the Northwest Florida region, the UWF Hospitality, Recreation and Resort Management Program (HRRM) is expanding through the support of mutually beneficial community partnerships.

Currently, more than 200 students are majoring in HRRM, with an additional 100 students minoring in the program. Recent partnerships, such as the direct-admit program with Northwest Florida State College, are expected to further increase program enrollment growth. Now, a new partnership with industry leader Innisfree Hotels is set to bring additional program enhancements, while providing UWF students with superior onsite learning opportunities.

Step inside any one of Innisfree’s hotels and resort properties and you will be immediately greeted by a team of knowledgeable staff members, dedicated to providing the utmost level of personalized service, resulting in an unparalleled guest experience. Innisfree embodies a top down approach of fostering a workplace environment that promotes both responsibility and service to humanity.

“At Innisfree, we live and breathe our core principles, and believe that if you give people purpose, they’ll do a whole lot with it,” said Julian MacQueen, Innisfree Founder and CEO. This value-driven corporate culture allows the company to thrive as a successful industry leader and valuable economic contributor to the region.

Innisfree also promotes creativity, innovation and mobility, positioning itself to serve as a prime employer for UWF graduates.

Similar to the business culture MacQueen has adopted at Innisfree, the UWF HRRM Program cultivates innovation, encourages creative thinking and rewards excellence in performance. The program couples dynamic classroom instruction with hands-on field experiences, allowing students to learn the value of providing an exceptional guest experience, while gaining real-world industry expertise.

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Spring 2013 UNIVERSIT Y of WE ST FLOR IDA

Recognizing the value of higher education and its role in meeting industry workforce demands, the MacQueens have pledged $250,000 to go toward the university’s HRRM Program. As a part of this gift, the program will be named The MacQueen Hospitality and Resort Management Program, making it the first named academic program in the university’s history. The gift is representative of both the MacQueens’ steadfast commitment to the community and their affinity for the university.

“President Bense is a great role model and example of what education can do for a community. Her commitment to the community creates affinity for the university,” stated MacQueen.

As a UWF alumna, Julian’s wife Kim MacQueen (’87 BA Psychology, ’92 MA Psychology) recognizes the value of her education and is grateful for the experiences she received during her time as a UWF student. She hopes that this contribution will allow the program to further serve in producing qualified, workforce ready graduates.

“I’m proud of the education I received at UWF,” she stated. “We wanted to give back to the university that has given so much to us. Contributing to UWF is an excellent opportunity to support the next generation of leaders.”

This mutually beneficial partnership with Innisfree will enable UWF hospitality students to participate in onsite training, internships and field experiences at Innisfree properties located along the Gulf Coast in Florida and in neighboring Alabama. In turn, Innisfree will benefit from having a future workforce locally trained and integrated within the corporate culture. The partnership will also allow UWF to develop a more unified hospitality curriculum, designed to address current industry needs. The MacQueens anticipate funding scholarships in Innisfree Hotels’ name.

For more information on how your generosity can help prepare our students for success as future alumni, visit uwf.edu/give.

VA LUE OF EDUCATION

I want to

manage a hotel .

Each year we graduate proud Argonauts who go on to become successful hotel managers, operations directors, event planners, chefs, venue CEOs and more.

With more than 50 majors and programs, small class sizes and over 300 ways to get involved, UWF offers endless opportunities for you to discover your own successful career path and impact your surrounding community.

We encourage you to consider the many reasons higher education is vital in shaping today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders. Visit uwf.edu/HigherEd for more information.

$

Our State University System’s overall economic impact to the state is nearly

$80 billion annually.

$

$

$ $

For each dollar invested, the University of West Florida returns to the state economy.

$14.22

UWF currently supports nearly 15,000 jobs across the state of Florida and generates more than $1.5 billion in personal income annually.

U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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“Miracles happen every day in the NICU, and I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of them.”— April Denny, B.S.N., ’12

Young Alumni Shine in the NICU

By Sarah McCartan

W

hile premature birth is certainly a widespread global concern, one in every nine babies in the United States is born preterm each year, a rate higher than that of most developed nations. This amounts to nearly 500,000 preterm births occurring annually in the U.S. Not only did our nation earn a grade of “C” on the March of Dimes 2012 Premature Birth Report Card, our very own state of Florida received an even lower grade of a “D.”*

*Statistics according to Peristats, the March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center

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Spring 2013 UNIVERS IT Y of WE ST FLOR IDA

A LUMNI SUCCESS

Aarika Buzynksi

Kady Lawson & April Denny

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a spethat the most critical patients requiring isolation, incialized niche to which many individuals typically decubation and extensive care begin their stay and are vote their entire lives of practice. Day in and day out, monitored around the clock. Once able to maintain NICU nurses tend to delicate babies often weighing their temperatures and show signs of improvement, as little as two pounds, requiring constant care and these infants are transferred to the less critical Level II demanding the utmost level of personalized attention. “growing and feeding” area.

Serving in the NICU not only takes great skill, it “It’s rewarding to care for babies when they first get takes great heart, and a team of recent UWF graduates admitted to the unit in critical condition, and follow is proving they have plenty of both. them all the way through their NICU journey unStep inside the doors of Sacred Heart Hospital’s til their conditions improve and they are ready to go NICU and you will find 2012 B.S.N. graduates Aarika home,” said April Denny.

Buzynksi, April Denny and Kady Lawson. Under the Not only do NICU nurses care for these babies as lead of Assistant Professor Dr. Angela Blackburn, Neothey progress, they also act as educators, guiding faminatal Nurse Practitioner for lies in providing their child Pediatrix Medical Group at “The UWF Nursing Program gave with the proper care.

Sacred Heart, these indi“Our unit is what we call viduals gained hands-on ex- me the scholastic background ‘family oriented,’ meaning perience in the NICU prior and clinical experience I needed. we welcome and involve to graduation—experience Having had the opportunity to families to participate in that enabled them to hone the care of their infants,” their skills and ultimately explore the various departments said Kady Lawson. “It is find their calling. of nursing, I was able to find my very heartwarming to get Immediately upon gradto watch their child grow true calling here in the NICU.” uation from the program, healthier together as a team Blackburn assisted these — Aarika Buzynksi, B.S.N., ’12 each day.” alumni in acquiring fullJust several months into time positions at Sacred Heart as proud members of their positions in this specialized unit, it comes as no the NICU team of Neonatal Nurses. surprise to see the trio of young alumni shining in this “The NICU is a place in many areas of the country environment. that doesn’t typically hire new graduates. The fact that “No family expects to spend the first part of their our area hospital does shows that we are forward thinkchild’s life in an intensive care setting, but if you can ing,” said Dr. Ermalynn Keihl, UWF Department of bring comfort to a family just for one minute a day Nursing Program Chair. “Our own Dr. Angela Blackthen you know your job is worth it,” said Buzynksi. burn having her practice there is like a gift that keeps “Knowing that these babies rely on you for their health on giving.” is a very humbling reality.”

Sacred Heart’s NICU houses 55 beds and encom“Miracles happen every day in the NICU, and I feel passes the area’s only Level III NICU. It is at this level so blessed to be able to be a part of them,” said Denny.

Recent B.S.N. program graduates have shown a great run of success on the NCLEX Florida Board of Nursing state exam. Of the 38 Spring 2012 graduates, 100 percent passed the exam on the first attempt.

Florida Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida) contributes $100,000 to the School of Allied Health and Life Sciences In December of 2012, Florida Blue provided a $100,000 contribution to help establish an endowment providing annual income for programmatic support of the health-related programs within the UWF School of Allied Health and Life Sciences (SAHLS).

The Florida Blue (BCBS) endowment will provide annual funding, some of which will be used to offer direct support for both need-and-performance based scholarships and internships. Funds dedicated for this purpose will provide support to approximately 10 students per year. The remaining proceeds from the endowment will be used to help defray costs normally borne by the students through course fees to cover the costs of materials, equipment and supplies required for conduct of laboratory and lecture sections in the health sciences.

Thus, the Florida Blue donation will be used in ways that will provide a financial benefit for all 2,000 of our students in SAHLS as well as more direct support for our best and most deserving students.

This gift, along with gifts from Florida Blue (BCBS) over the last decade, represents more than $800,000 in support to the Nursing Program and SAHLS. Florida Blue has truly impacted our program development and education of Northwest Florida’s healthcare professionals and is transforming lives at the University of West Florida.

U NI V E R S I TY o f W E ST F LO R I DA Spring 2013

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SNA PS HOTS

A future graduate meets Argie

Jim Mathis, Jerry Maygarden, Rhonda Maygarden, Ed Ranelli, Mike Holland and Collier Merrill take time out for a photo at the 2012 Donor Dinner in the Museum of Commerce

Students enjoy the Senior Send Off

SGA President Cora Merritt and Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Bailey visit with Argie at Homecoming

Social Studies

Whether gathering at Homecoming festivities, a recognition dinner, a chapter event or the annual golf tournament, our UWF Alumni Association events provide the perfect opportunity for us to show our appreciation of your continued support. They are also a wonderful chance for you to socialize with fellow alumni, current students, staff, faculty and friends of the university.

Dr. Bense visits with students at the golf tournament 24

Spring 2013 UNIVERS IT Y of WE ST FLOR IDA

Don’t miss out! Our Alumni Association keeps adding more events into the mix. For a look at upcoming events, visit alumni.uwf.edu.

S NAPSHOTS

Dr. Judy Bense and Dr. Kevin Bailey pose with UWF student leaders after a successful 2012 Donor Dinner

Edwin Watts, Jerry Pate, Kyle Marerro, Sandy Sansing and Steve Dana enjoy the UWF Alumni Golf Tournament

Thank you to our Sponsors of the Annual UWF alumni golf tournament • GEICO • UWF Bookstore • Pen Air Federal • Florida First Credit Union Capital Finance Corporation • Chartwells • Sandy Sansing • Morette Automotive Company Alumni Golf Winners

The GEICO Team at the Alumni Scholarship Classic DC Chapter representative, Mir Ali, reconnects with alumni at Madhatters DC

1st Place—Randall Wells, John Switzer, McGee Lorren and John Brewer 2nd Place­—Hugh Fones, David Erickson, Marty Stanovich and Tim Anthony 3rd Place—Pete Wright, Mark Pursell, Tom Marucci and Jim Witt Sharon Morette, son Michael Morette and daughter Nikki Morette Bell enjoy the College of Business Grand Opening

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SNAPS HOTS

Alumni pose with Argie at the Pensacola Ice Flyers hockey game

Jeanette and George Rayi at Madhatters DC in October Atlanta chapter representative Robert Lee with Rosa Betancourt and Martha Newton at the Atlanta Chapter event

Alumni, faculty, staff and students gather at the new College of Business Education Center Atlanta area alumni network at The Atlanta Fish Market

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Alumni Relations Director Missy Grace with Atlanta Alumnus Wayne Williams

WAYS TO GI VE

AT&T $50,000 Gift set to Expand BEST Robotics in Northwest Florida

By Gretchen VanValkenburg Close your eyes and imagine the sound of more than five hundred middle and high school students, cheerleaders, pep bands and spectators cheering on their favorite team. You might guess it’s a basketball game or volleyball match, but instead, it’s BEST Robotics.

On Oct. 20, 2012, the University of West Florida hosted participants, parents, mentors and teachers from 15 teams throughout Northwest Florida for the sixth annual sport-like science competition. Newpoint, Pensacola High School, Woodham Middle School and Seaside Neighborhood School advanced to the regional competition in Auburn, Ala. The mission of BEST is to inspire middle- and high-school students to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology.

Thanks to a generous gift of $50,000 from the AT&T Foundation, the Emerald Coast BEST Robotics hub at the UWF School of Science and Engineering will be able to expand its footprint in Northwest Florida by increasing an understanding about the field of robotics. Through awareness events and training workshops, the hub will be able to host additional teams and increase the number of teachers, mentors and volunteers who become engaged with the program.

Donations are vital to the success of BEST robotics, because the funding of hub operations depends entirely on corporate and individual sponsorships. Material kits to build the robots are provided to the teams by the hub.

No fees are paid by students or schools participating in BEST robotics. The Emerald Coast BEST Robotics hub is housed in UWF’s School of Science and Engineering.

For more information about the program, please visit uwf.edu/ecbest.

“We are extremely grateful to AT&T for their generous contribution and the opportunities it will provide for area students. Science, technology, engineering and math activities with our K-12 partners continue to be an important part of the school’s outreach activities.”

— Dr. Leo ter Haar, UWF School of Science and Engineering, Director

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LEGACY GI VING

The Impact of Discovery

By Aaron West

“Our area has an outstanding maritime history, plus our rivers, bays and the Gulf of Mexico provide a natural ‘classroom’.”­— Ted Brown, Pelican’s Perch Marina and Boatyard

UWF Maritime Archaeologist, Dr. John Bratten, leads Ted Brown and students on a demonstration of side-scan sonar equipment.

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D

iving on sunken ships and searching the ocean floor for historic treasures is what students, faculty and staff in UWF’s Maritime Studies Program dream of doing. By nature, these individuals are explorers—drawn by the thrill of discovering and documenting what many have forgotten. But in order to study and document history, you must first find it.

LEG ACY GI VING

One of the technical specializations that UWF Maritime Studies faculty and staff have developed involves remote sensing survey capabilities, primarily utilizing magnetometer and sonar devices. In 2011, the program purchased a state-of-the-art side-scan sonar and two dive helmets with built-in communication devices to help better facilitate underwater discoveries.

Purchase of these critical pieces of equipment was made possible by a generous donation from long-time Pensacola residents Ted Brown and Kathy Horton-Brown. The Brown family name has been synonymous in Pensacola with maritime activities since Ted’s father, Captain Shirley Brown, founded Brown Marine Services, Inc.—providing tugboat and barge service to local and surrounding maritime communities for more than 50 years. Since his father’s passing in 2005, Ted has carried on the legacy in the form of Pelican’s Perch Marina and Boatyard. Today, Ted and Kathy continue their love of history and maritime-related study by funding projects through their family foundation.

Ted and Kathy’s equipment purchase is a more valuable contribution to the program than the two could have ever imagined. For some faculty and staff members, the drive to discover has led them down a different path, one that puts them in a position to help locate much more sensitive subjects—people.

Over the past several years, UWF Maritime Studies faculty members have been asked by the local sheriff department and search and rescue teams to participate in multiple searches for missing persons presumed to have drowned. Although typically used for locating shipwrecks and other submerged archaeological sites, the new side-scan sonar tool has been applied successfully for submerged crime scene investigations and in the location and recovery of drowning victims.

While these are obviously unfortunate accidents, this form of outreach to the local community has provided significant help to law enforcement staff and support to grieving families who are eager for closure. Many search and rescue teams are staffed by volunteer divers, and limited budgets preclude the purchase of sophisticated sonar units or navigation software necessary for systematic marine survey.

Faculty within the UWF Maritime Studies Program are expanding this outreach further by establishing training sessions with Escambia County Search and Rescue, in which their personnel will join UWF Maritime Archaeology faculty, staff and graduate students to become more familiar with side-scan sonar search techniques.

This continued relationship with law enforcement and search and rescue teams provides an excellent avenue for community engagement and serves as a valuable component in UWF’s commitment to community partnerships.

UWF Alumni Association

Awards Program & Celebration

APRIL 6, 2013 | 9:30-11:30 A.M. | UWF Conference Center Join us as we celebrate the contributions of UWF alumni, friends, faculty and staff of the university at our annual Alumni Awards Celebration as part of Festival on the Green.

These annual awards recognize those who work to help and promote the university, the alumni association and more than 69,000 UWF alumni.

The Chambered Nautilus Award of Merit, Distinguished Alumnus, Honorary Alumnus, Outstanding Young Alumnus, Friend of the University, Alumni Service Award

Contact Alumni Relations at 850.474.2766 or alumni@uwf.edu to reserve your seat today.

Cost is $18 for individual seats or $100 to reserve a table of six.

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PL ANNED GI VING

The Patees enjoy a special campus tour hosted by our alumni and development team

Accomplished Alumni Pay it Forward

By Martha Lee Blodgett

A

ccomplished, active and generous are just a few of the adjectives that describe retired U.S. Naval officers and UWF alumni Captain Jerry Patee (MS, Sports Science) and Commander Jeannie Patee (MS, Health Education). While stationed in Pensacola in the early 1980s, this dynamic couple earned their graduate degrees from the UWF Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science.

Immediately after graduating from UWF and departing from Pensacola, Jerry and Jeannie began their history of loyal support to the university by making annual gifts.

After more than 20 years of thoughtful annual giving, the Patees named UWF as a beneficiary in their estate plan, specifically designating this planned gift to scholarships. As the endowment agreement for their estate gift was being drafted, the Patees made yet another gift decision. They decided to begin making gifts to create this endowment.

The “Jerry & Jeannie Patee Scholarship Endowment” is being funded throughout their lifetimes. When their estate gift comes to fruition, it will then be added to this existing scholarship endowment.

When asked why they are so generous, the Patees explain that they have been extremely fortunate in their careers and have benefited from the support of their family and friends along the way. The Patees give back to UWF in an effort to

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pass along a portion of what they have received to support future nurses, teachers and musicians.

While on active duty, Jerry served in the Medical Service Corps as an Aviation Physiologist, working for 31 years with Navy and Marine Corps aviation personnel in Aviation Safety “There were many times when and Survival Training. During this time, Jerry was also a dedicated a word of encouragement marathon runner and triathlete— from family, friends and completing 31 marathons in total, teachers made all the including the esteemed Boston Marathon five times. Jeannie spent difference in our success. We her 21-year Navy career as an OB/ would like to leave a portion GYN nurse practitioner and contin- of what we have received to ued practicing at the Ann L. Baroco Center of Sacred Heart Hospital support future nurses, teachers upon returning to Pensacola. Jean- and musicians.” — Jerry Patee, nie completed two marathons and MS, Sports Science, ’81 was team-support for Jerry during his other 29.

Today, the Patees are not only giving back to UWF, they are also active volunteers at Perdido Bay United Methodist Church. They have served as team leaders for the United Methodist Committee for relief in the U.S. and have also participated in several mission trips to Central America.

GENEROSITY

PERSONALIZED. ACCESSIBLE. SM ART.

UNIVERSITY of WEST FLORIDA

28 Advanced Degrees

25

Master’s Degrees

With More Than 50 Academic Specializations

2

1

Specialist Doctorate Degrees Degree in Education With 6 Specializations

At the University of West Florida Graduate School, we are proud to provide each individual student with a personalized educational experience. Designed with the working professional in mind, our programs are conveniently accessible both on-campus and online. These accredited, nationally ranked programs prepare our graduates to advance and succeed in their current and future careers, making the UWF Graduate School a smart choice.

To learn more about the UWF Graduate School, visit uwf.edu/graduate.

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Connection

University of West Florida 11000 University Parkway Pensacola, FL 32514 uwf.edu/alumni

UNIVERSITY of WEST FLORIDA

APRIL 5 & 6, 2013

uwf.edu/festival

FINE ARTS • CRAFTS • CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL • ENTERTAINM ENT