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Inside this issue
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Friday, June 25, 2010
» Research from 2005 Red Tide bloom may help predict Gulf’s future, SPC professor says
» Honors College alumni attend big-name schools 
» Baccalaureate Expo offers students a closer look at four-year degrees  
» Technology & Management to divide into two colleges
» Tony Jannus documentary by SPC students to air on WEDU  
» Learning from the experts
» Business services deadlines
» Meeting notices
» July birthdays/anniversaries (pdf)
» June 2010 visual calendar (pdf)

Research from 2005 Red Tide bloom may help predict Gulf’s future, SPC professor says

Heyward Mathews Heyward Mathews, oceanography faculty member.

A serious Red Tide bloom that killed life on two reefs three miles off the coast of Clearwater Beach five years ago may have provided critical data that will help scientists predict damage to life in the Gulf of Mexico from the ongoing BP oil spill.

Heyward Mathews, a professor of oceanography at St. Petersburg College, said information he gathered following the Red Tide bloom in 2005 may provide a critical baseline of information when he and others try to predict how long it may take life in the Gulf to recover from the oil spill.

“We don’t know when the oil will reach our beaches here, or even if it will get here at all,” Mathews said. “But if it does, and if we experience serious damage to fish and other life in the Gulf, we may have a good baseline of data that could be immensely valuable.”

The Red Tide bloom in 2005 was one of the worst such events in about 50 years. The tide killed fish, and the decomposing life forms absorbed oxygen on the bottom of the Gulf, killing almost all the remaining marine life on the reef.

Two reefs off Pinellas County were affected—a natural reef and an artificial reef that Mathews built in the 1960s. After the Red Tide bloom, Mathews and some of his students would boat out to the reefs and then dive down to count fish and other life forms. Over time, they were able to get a handle on how long it took for life to return to the reefs.

Fish came back first. Some species, such as conch and starfish, are still missing.

The baseline of information that resulted from the Red Tide bloom can be critical to predicting how fast the Gulf area off Pinellas County may recover if it is damaged by crude oil from the BP leak, Mathews believes. But he thinks future research may offer another benefit, as well.

Diving down to the reefs and photographing the active life there might be an effective way to convince tourists and others that the waters off Clearwater are still clean and pure.

“I think that short, three-minute videos that really show the good quality of the reefs might be more effective in convincing tourists to come than the kind of ads that we see running on TV now,” Mathews said.  

Mathews and some of his associates plan to form a non-profit corporation to gather and distribute video of the offshore reefs to television stations and other news outlets.

He said the non-profit will apply for grant money to fund the effort. If that fails, he said he will fund the non-profit from his own pocket.

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Honors college alumni attend big-name schools

Stanford. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point. George Washington University. The University of Hawaii. The University of South Florida. These are just a few of the major institutions in which SPC’s Honors College alumni now find themselves.   

Nadia Yevstigneyeva, Director of the Honors College, said that more than 450 students have participated in the program since it began. Fifty percent of all Honors College students have a 3.75 or higher grade point average, and 10 percent have maintained a 4.0.

The program provides not only challenging and interdisciplinary education to its members, it also prepares them for and supports them in their academic endeavors, Yevstigneyeva said.

Benefits of the program include smaller class sizes, more challenging curriculum, and additional scholarship opportunities.

To be admitted into the Honors College, students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and be in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class, or achieve high placement scores on high school standardized testing (SAT or ACT). Current SPC students must have a cumulative GPA average of 3.5 or higher, submit an essay or writing sample, and present two letters of recommendation from SPC faculty or administrators. 

The program has hosted students from 25 countries. Varying in age and background, many of these students participate in the college’s special programs.

Following are five stories of students who have succeeded in their academic endeavors and have made their dreams come true.

Justin Vincent

Justin Vincent, Stanford University

Attending college was not in Justin Vincent’s plans after high school. He didn’t know what he wanted and it took several years for him to figure it out. Now, the 28-year-old is scheduled to graduate from Stanford University in June 2011.

“My extra years away from school helped me to realize the importance of an education in today's world,” said Vincent, who was working as a cook until he decided to go back to school. “I realized that I would only ever earn ‘just enough’ for my family and I to get by on the salaries that would be available to me.

“I decided to take the steps necessary to begin a journey toward making a positive impact not only on my children, but on my community and hopefully the world at large,” he said.

Vincent enrolled at SPC to complete a general Associate of Arts degree and joined the Honors College for its challenging curriculum.

“Opportunities were available for achievement in academics, leadership skills, and community involvement,” he said.

“You have to be able to think outside of your comfort zone and be open to the challenges of new ideas,” Vincent said “You need to be willing to explore new schools of thought and be comfortable admitting that you don't know it all.”

He graduated from SPC in spring 2008 and enrolled at Stanford University to major in Human Biology with a concentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Disease and Bioethics.

“All school expenses are paid for,” Vincent said about Stanford scholarships he receives. “I do have some student loans to cover the costs of childcare, but I get a pretty generous amount from Stanford for that too.” 

His wife, Faith, and their three young children—Zane, Isaac and Addisyn—all moved to California to be with dad.

“My wife has been my main support throughout my educational career,” Vincent said. “Without her time and sacrifice, I would never have been able to accomplish what I have.” He also thanks SPC Honors College faculty and staff for their support and inspiration.

“Without them, I never would have even tried to get into Stanford,” he said.

Jacob Severn

Jacob Severn, U.S. Military Academy at West Point

Jacob Severn’s family has been serving in the military since the Civil War. Now, the Early College and Honors College graduate is headed down a similar path at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“I always saw myself as serving my country in the military,” Severn said. “My father was a big influence on this decision because he did ROTC at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and hearing his stories of training and service inspired me.”

He said his greatest challenge was getting accepted to West Point.

“That was the lengthiest and most time consuming part of my year,” Severn said. “I needed essays, interviews, physical fitness tests and letters of recommendation.”

The greatest challenge was that during the fall 2009 term, he applied to every military academy in the U.S., along with six other colleges and for three ROTC scholarships.

He will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at the military academy in the fall.

Severn joined the Honors College during his first term at SPC in 2008.

“Honors classes made me feel valued as an individual and inspired me to achieve the very best in those classes,” he said. “My experiences have challenged me to work hard, work with individuals of diverse backgrounds, and learn how to think creatively.”

“Attending SPC also exposed me to individuals of unique cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. I have really grown to appreciate diversity and the perspectives it offers.”

Before enrolling at the college, he attended two years of public high school but was not motivated or challenged by his classes, he said.

“The Honors College held me to a higher academic and ethical standard,” he said. “I feel more academically prepared for West Point because I was a part of the Honors College.”

Denitsa Rakitska

Denitsa Rakitska, George Washington University graduate

Five years ago, Denitsa Rakitska moved to the U.S. from Bulgaria to pursue her academic and professional dreams. Now she is achieving them.

Rakitska began by enrolling in SPC’s Honors College in spring 2006, seeing it as an opportunity to better herself by earning an Associate of Arts.

“Being a student is not a burden,” she said. “It is an opportunity and one of the most wonderful experiences you will ever have.”

After graduating in May 2008, she transferred to George Washington University on a free ride thanks to merit-based scholarships. In May, she graduated from GWU with a major in International Affairs and International Economics. She works at the university while making plans to attend graduate school.

She attributes much of her academic success to her experiences at SPC.

“The Honors College and the classes it offers as a program played an important role in helping me to gain the knowledge and drive I needed to continue my education at GWU,” she said.

“The organization provides numerous opportunities for its students to express themselves through various scholastic projects, trips, and conventions,” she said. “Furthermore, it puts its students in contact with great professors, thus giving them a chance to create long-lasting friendships.”

She encourages other students to become Honors College students.

“It takes all the qualities necessary to be a good student – diligence, dedication, and hard work,” she said. “It is really not as ‘scary’ as it may sound.”

“I believe that each challenge is only as big and as difficult as you want it to be,” Rakitska said. “If you set your mind on something, and you decide to work hard for it, even if it sounds almost impossible at first, you can make it a reality.

“My experiences at SPC and GWU have made me a well-rounded person with an understanding of how to be successful in our busy and challenging modern world,” she said.   

Tyler Heston

Tyler Heston, University of Hawaii

Learning and teaching are Tyler Heston’s passions. He enrolled at SPC at age 14, graduated in spring 2010 from SPC’s Honors College with an Associate of Arts and will begin classes at the University of Hawaii in the fall—all by age 16.

Before enrolling at the college, Heston was a student at Northside Christian High School. After he enrolled, a friend encouraged him to look into the Honors College program, and Heston enrolled during his first year.

“It has been difficult getting into challenging academics because of my youth,” Heston said. “I am grateful to the Honors College at SPC, as it gave me a wonderful opportunity for me to begin my college study without turning me away because of my age.”

He attributes his success as an honors student to having passion, persistence, and an ability to balance school with everything going on in his life.

“I feel that SPC and the Honors College have been a great preparation for the next step in my life, especially in helping me transition from high school to college,” said Heston, who found the experience of taking honors classes encouraging. He loved the opportunity of taking on more challenging classes.

“They are small and provide excellent opportunities for interaction with the teacher and with other students in the class who are genuinely interested and excited about the material,” he said.

When he is not studying, Heston can often be found practicing windsurfing maneuvers. He won the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Florida Wave Challenge junior division competitions. The next stop on his path of education will offer a different surfing venue.

“I am planning on attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa (on a scholarship) beginning fall 2010,” said Heston, who will major in Linguistics and already has a working knowledge of the ancient Greek language. “I intend to finish my bachelor's and master's degrees at Hawaii, and then to study for my Ph.D. or Th.D. at seminary.”

His parents are moving to Oahu while he attends the school because he is a minor. 

“My ultimate vision is to attend seminary for my doctorate and become a pastor-teacher or seminary professor,” he said. “From start to finish, seminary is usually around seven years, so it is likely that I will be in school for a long time to come.”

Adam Goch

Adam Goch, University of South Florida

When his best friend and college classmate, Mikey, was killed by a drunk driver, Adam Goch needed to find a way to honor his friend and cope with his loss.

“Mikey was the type of person I always wished I could be more like,” Goch said. “He was caring and always thinking of others before himself. He also had a raw brilliance and thirst for knowledge.  

“His passing hurt very much, but I realized that to do him justice I must commit myself to the commitment we both had made: our education,” he said.

Goch joined the Honors College shortly after his friend’s death as a way to challenge himself and stay motivated.

“I think the Honors College played a crucial role in fostering an intellectual confidence that may have previously been lacking,” he said. “I entered SPC with less confidence in myself than I probably should have had. The Honors College helped to embolden me.”

He graduated from the Honors College in May 2008 as that year’s Apollo Award winner and transferred to USF to major in politics with a minor in philosophy and economics.

He is motivated by the pursuit of a greater understanding of the world in the belief that he will utilize that understanding to help people who have been oppressed.  

“I try to follow the adage: learn all you can and serve the oppressed,” he said.

He credits many of the Honors College staff and faculty with being supportive of him and his goals. But there is one supporter who stands out above the rest.

“My biggest support comes from my fiancée, Genevieve, who is always able to keep me on an even keel,” Goch said. 

He wants to encourage other students to work to attain their goals.

“I think most people, given a subject that grabs them, could be capable honors students,” Goch said. “The qualities most necessary are tenacity and a desire for knowledge.

“Work hard and find something you love, whether academically, professionally, or personally,” he said. “Pursue that which you love with everything you have.”

He will graduate from USF in December.

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Baccalaureate Expo offers students a closer look at four-year degrees

Maria Greene at Baccalauteate Expo
Maria Greene of the University Partnership Center discusses program options with a potential student at the Baccalaureate Expo.

About 250 prospective students found information about the college and the degrees it offers through the Baccalaureate Expo on June 17.

“It is an opportunity for students to come and talk to advisors from all the baccalaureate programs to see which program best fits their passion and interests,” said Tracy Garrett, Coordinator of Marketing for Baccalaureate Programs and University Partnerships. 

The college’s 24 bachelor’s degree programs were represented, in addition to the University Partnership Center and Corporate Training. Students also were able to speak with advisors as well as representatives from Central Records, Library Services, Financial Assistance Services and Veterans Affairs.

“Students can also find out information about financial assistance, and how they can get help paying for their classes through loans, grants or scholarships,” she said. “If they haven’t already applied to SPC, they could get everything done at this event.”

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Technology & Management to divide into two colleges

SPC’s College of Technology & Management will become the College of Computer and Information Technology and the College of Business.

Dr. Sharon Setterlind, Dean of Business Technology, will lead the new College of Computer and Information Technology. Dr. Greg Nenstiel will be the acting dean while a national search is under way for a dean to lead the new College of Business.

The College of Computer and Information Technology will include lower division technology programs as well as the upper division BAS in Technology Management and will allow for smooth articulation for students. All other majors will reside in the College of Business.

“This is really a success story for SPC’s four-year programs, which began in 2002,” said Kay Burniston, Vice President for Baccalaureate Programs. “Diversity of the programs in Technology & Management has grown to the point where we feel we can better serve our students by forming two separate programs.”

The College of Technology & Management has grown significantly since its inception, from one major and more than 200 students to six majors and more than 1,500 students. It encompasses 24 percent of SPC’s Upper Division and has produced more than 750 graduates.

Dr. Shri Goyal, who had a strong engineering background and was internationally connected in technology, was the founding dean. He announced his retirement last month.

“Dr. Goyal’s retirement provided an opportunity to look at these diverse programs and our lower division, and design a new way to serve students,” according to Burniston. “It was determined to align the technology related programs within one college and the business and management programs within another.”

Burniston said SPC plans to seek accreditation for the business program from the Association to Advance Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (AACBSP).

The organizational split will occur officially on August 1, Burniston said. Students enrolling in the fall semester will be the first students to study under the new structure.

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Tony Jannus documentary by SPC students to air on WEDU

Tony Jannus
Tony Jannus, the world’s first commercial aviator.

A group of St. Petersburg College video production students have teamed with local PBS affiliate WEDU to produce and air a 30-minute television documentary that will air on WEDU on July 15 at 8:30 p.m. with an encore showing on July 18 at 2:30 p.m. After it airs, the video also will be available to view online at www.wedu.org. 

The program, “Tony Jannus: American Aviator,” educates viewers about American aviation history, advances in technology and industry pioneers. The documentary shows how the trillion dollar commercial aviation industry started from the purchase of one ticket: a flight on the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line, piloted by Tony Jannus.

“I hope that the audience gets a sense of what a daring and intelligent person it took to be a pilot in those early days, and how St. Petersburg is really the birthplace of scheduled passenger airline service,” said Executive Producer Michael Johnson.

“It’s a huge benefit to the local community,” he said. “Knowing our own history and where we fit in in the world—it’s a sense of pride and of belonging.”

The documentary will explore five themes to tell the story of Jannus and commercial aviation:

  • Aviation Firsts – National interest in aviation was growing through the exploits of early pioneers such as the Wright Brothers, Samuel Langley, and Glenn Curtiss. Among the early enthusiasts of aviation was a boat engine mechanic named Tony Jannus. Contracted to install an engine in an experimental biplane, Jannus began his fledgling career as a test pilot.
  • Jannus the Pilot – Jannus made headlines on a regular basis in Washington, D.C., which attracted the attention of Thomas Benoist, an aviation leader and aircraft builder in St. Louis. As a team, Benoist and Jannus accomplished many firsts in flight and set records across the country. With Jannus at the controls of many Benoist aircraft, exhibition crowds grew and the stakes became greater. 
  • St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line – Although the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg stood less than 20 miles apart, travel by train or steamship took hours. In 1913, Florida businessman Percival Fansler presented the idea of a scheduled air service between the two cities to Benoist. With the support of the city of St. Petersburg and the financial backing of several businessmen, the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat line—the first commercial aviation service—began in 1914.
  • Tony Jannus’ Legacy – Though Jannus died at age 26 in a plane crash, he left a legacy for future aviators still evident today. In 1964, The Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society was formed to honor that legacy and recognize pioneers in commercial aviation. Today, the society looks to the future by awarding scholarships to future aviators and inspiring interest in Jannus through high school essay contests.
  • Today and Tomorrow – Today, commercial aviation is a safe, reliable and affordable form of transportation. It’s a trillion dollar industry that has connected billions of people across the globe. But the possibilities of commercial aviation are still being discovered. Companies like Virgin Galactica will soon transport passengers into space.

“We are, as an organization, committed to providing local content to the communities that we serve and reach 16 counties in Central Florida through our public television station,” said Jack Conely, Vice President of Content for WEDU, West Central Florida’s primary PBS television station.

 “This sort of content is relevant locally, and we feel like we’re providing an opportunity to the students here in the media arts program to provide them with a real world type experience and give them something that they can have for their resume going forward.”

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Two classes at Allstate Center view video

Learning from the experts

Two classes in the college’s police academy at the Allstate Center viewed a highly circulated video Thursday of a Seattle policeman punching a woman in the face. After the video, a five-member panel discussed the event.

The panelists, from left, are: Henry Oliver, retired Superintendent, School Board, Inglewood City, N.J.; St. Petersburg Police Det. Annetta Cooper; Ken Afrienko, Fraternal Order of Policing attorney; Watson Haynes, SPC administrator and community leader; and Tom Lange, Executive Director of the Pinellas Police Standards Council.

“By convening a panel of law enforcement professionals, community leaders and educators/trainers to discuss the many issues involved from multiple perspectives, we believe our academy students can benefit greatly from this real life incident that they may soon face as new police officers,” Campus Executive Officer J.C. Brock said in welcoming the group.

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Business Services deadlines

June 25 is the deadline for final TRV’s and FRV’s to be submitted to Accounts Payable for all travel completed through 06/19/10.

June 28 is the deadline for Pay-for-Print deposits for 2010 to the Business Office.

June 29 is the deadline to process 2010 check run.

June 30 is the deadline for budget supervisors to print Assets Missed List, sign, date and send to Asset Management.

July 1 is when Purchasing will continue the review of PO rollover requests with Budget Supervisors, Grant Accountants, and Facilities Planning and Institutional Services Accountant.

July 2 is the deadline for submitting check requests, invoices to AP to be paid from 2010 budget.

July 2 is the deadline to submit paper receiving reports to Site Receivers for goods, services, etc. received through June 30.

July 6 is deadline for 2010 Payroll accruals created, reviewed by Grant Accountants and Facilities Planning and Institutional Services, and posted.

July 7 is the final day for input of receivers for deliveries through June 30.

July 8 is final day for AP input of 2010 business.

July 8 is when Signed New Accountability forms are sent to Asset Management.

July 9 is deadline for submission of Accruals.

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Meeting notices

The St. Petersburg College Foundation Inc. will have a Finance & Investment Committee meeting and the Annual Board of Directors meeting at the SPC District Office. The meetings will be to consider routine business of the Foundation.

  • July 1, 10:30 a.m. – Finance and Investment Committee meeting, District Office, Corporate Consular Conference Room 102
  • July 1, noon – Board of Directors meeting, District Office, President’s Dining Room

The St. Petersburg College Alumni Association Board of Directors will meet on Tuesday, June 29 at 6 p.m. in the District Office Consular Corporate Conference Room 102. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss general business.

The Collections Committee for the Board of Directors of the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art will meet on Wednesday, June 30 at 2:30 p.m. in the Associate Curator and Registrar’s office. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss general business.

The Board of Directors for the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art has three upcoming committee meetings.

  • July 14, 3 p.m. – The Development Committee will meet in the Interactive Gallery of the Museum.
  • July 15, 3 p.m. – The Education Committee will meet in the Fine Arts Auditorium on the Tarpon Springs Campus.
  • July 20, 8:30 a.m. – The Ad Hoc committee will meet in the Administration Building on the Tarpon Springs Campus. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the accreditation process.

Board of Trustees updates
SPC encourages open access to all Board of Trustees information. Organized by date, the BOT website serves as an ongoing record of all BOT meetings and decisions and includes the most current information on:

  • Board meeting schedules, legal notices, agendas, rule development notices, supplemental board materials, meeting minutes and highlights
  • Official board rules
  • Board member profiles and terms of service
  • NEW – Rule Development Notice

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