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Best Conversation Piece
     Unlike Copernicus, students at South Florida Community College have proof that the earth rotates: its Foucault Pendulum. While pendulums used to be time-keeping devices, today SFCC instructors use them to teach students. "My physics class calculates the periods of time and uses the answer in a formula to calculate the length of the cable," says Dr. Bill Smith, chair of the science and mathematics department. Because the pendulum takes more than an hour to move from one pair of obelisk to the next, viewers experience a hypnotic effect. "The pendulum is called the ‘great student sleeping pill,’ because anyone seated in the comfortable chairs that surround the device tend to fall asleep while observing the movement," says John Scherlacher, coordinator of community relations and marketing. The pendulum was first installed and set to motion at SFCC in May 1994.

Best Campus Firsts
     "Around the world in 80 seconds?" Sound impossible? Not to the families of graduating seniors at Jacksonville University. At a click of a button, families who live halfway around the world watched commencement ceremonies live via the internet. "The site received several dozen hits from around the world," says Peter Casella, media relations coordinator. More than 500 students earned diplomas during JU’s first live commencement cybercast. The entire ceremony was transmitted on JU’s web site, www.ju.edu/jugrad.htm. "Watching it over the internet was the next best thing to being there, and it allowed family members to become a part of that special occasion," Casella says.
     While some schools were trying to out-do last year's homecoming festivities, Broward Community College-South just had their first. However, any of the participants would have a difficult time believing this was the college’s initial attempt. "Under the Stars" featured Olympic events such as a Twister competition, a three-legged race, a softball game, and free old-time photo sessions. Nine groups from all BCC branches performed in a dance and hip-hop show, and birthday chronicles informed attendees about the history of their special day. The week ended with a formal dance and banquet dinner, says Charles Lyle, coordinator for student life. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship showed the most enthusiasm during the events and won a private office for a year.

Best Freshwater Farming
     At Indian River Community College, students in the aquaculture A.S. degree program farm fish, cultivate clams, and sow shrimp. "Aquaculture is the farming of marine freshwater plants and animals," says Michelle Abaldo, institutional advancement officer. The Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, one of the largest aquaculture research and development programs in the world, works with IRCC, the only Florida college with an aquaculture degree program. "The HBOI provides a commercial-production setting so that the students will have hands-on experience," Abaldo says. With 20 enrollees, the program is perfect for those interested in outdoor careers such as aquaculture engineer, fishery technician, biologist, shellfish grower, or system designer. "This is a big field in Florida, which makes it an ideal area for the program," Abaldo says.

Best Homecoming Theme
     The Y2K frenzy didn’t stop students at the University of West Florida from celebrating a week of "Millennium Mayhem." "It was extremely successful, and more students attended then we expected," says Nikki Elston, homecoming committee chair. Homecoming ’99 kicked off the week with "Schmack"—a mini-carnival produced by Baptist Campus Ministries with free food, a live band, and prizes. One event, the UWF Gamesters Series, involved a life-size Monopoly board. Each team, equipped with its own student-made Monopoly piece, played for prizes such as framed prints and other dorm-room decor. Other events included an inflatable laser tag and obstacle course, human bowling, arm-wrestling competitions, and a Super Nintendo tournament.
     "Everyone was just ranting and raving," says Tiffany Taylor, activities coordinator. "We had off-the-wall ideas, and everyone turned out for them. It was packed—we didn’t have enough of anything." Nearly 1,500 of UWF’s 8,000 students turned out to relive a different decade each day, representing the years of the school’s existence. For example, a 1960s flashback to "Argostock," featured peace signs, tie dying, and spaghetti wrestling in kiddie pools. "I was thinking we would have to coax students into it, but they volunteered," Taylor says. "We also tried to start a tradition. We named homecoming ‘Argofest’ and came up with an emblem that can be used in the future."
     The fun and games during UWF’s homecoming continued with the President’s Cup Kickoff. Coed teams competed in a volleyball game on Tuesday, international games on Wednesday, and a softball game on Thursday. The winners were announced during half-time at the men’s soccer game. Also, anyone with loose change got a chance to vote for Mr. and Mrs. UWF in a Silver Drive. All week, students dropped nickels, dimes, and quarters into the jars of their favorite nominees. Points were deducted from a candidate’s votes if pennies were donated. All proceeds from the drive went to a scholarship fund. "The turnout was double from last year," Taylor says. "We had more students, faculty, staff, and administration. It was so neat to see everyone out."

Most Selfless Service
     A special group at Florida Beacon Bible College brings joy to the hearts of terminally ill children each Christmas. Every year, students and faculty members host an Outreach Christmas Party for the youths of Sable Palms Children Pavilion. "Some of the children can’t walk or talk or even see," says Dr. Dwight Martin, FBBC president. "Only willing students and faculty come along, because not everyone is emotionally equipped to handle the situation." The school’s group visits each year bringing a clown and donating around $200 to the nurses to purchase toys for the 15 to 25 children. "We’ve been doing this for about five or six years," Martin says. "It’s an opportunity for the spirit of giving, mercy, and encouragement."

Hairiest Campus Residents
     Freshmen weren’t the only new faces at Manatee Community College last year. Two albino squirrels, first noticed in September, now tread around campus with the rest of the student body. "Albino squirrels are very rare," says Carl Keeler, a biology professor. "When was the last time you saw one?" While you’d think the critters’ bright fur would make them vulnerable to predators such as hawks, owls, cats, or dogs, "In the wild, they would be susceptible to dangerous predators, but they’re safe here on the campus," Keeler says.

Best Game Show Contestant
     A third-year law student at the University of Florida beat the odds when he won $64,000 on the network game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" hosted by Regis Philbin. After Kenneth Hesser made it through the game’s computer phone test and the final five-question "fastest fingers" portion, he was whisked away to the Big Apple to compete for $1 million. "I was calm and collected, plus I just wanted to have fun," Hesser says. Once he made it through the $64,000 question, Hesser quit and walked away with his prize. "I knew that it would be harder to answer the questions on the show than sitting at home and watching it on television," Hesser says. The lucky law student plans to invest most of the winnings and pay for his honeymoon with his fiancee.

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