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Best Adjustment Agent
     Breaking up is hard to do–so is fighting with a roommate and adjusting to college. When being a little fish in a big pond gets old, Florida Southern College students swim to the director of First Year Experience. The new position at the Lakeland school lets any freshman who’s homesick, stressed, or overwhelmed get one-on-one counseling help. The position even provides weekend and evening appointments for the 300 students that the director sees. "It’s been a break-through here in helping students become more successful academically," says Linda Mosure, director. "I see about seven appointments a week and I try my best to keep them on track."
Contact Mosure at (863) 680-4197.

Best Body "Building"
     At Pensacola Junior College’s Milton Campus, education doesn’t stop in the classroom. It’s everywhere–even the gym. Whether you want to get buff and bulk up with free weights, or tighten and tone in a fitness class, the L.I.F.E. Center provides some sort of recreation, with an educational catch, for everyone. PJC’s Lifestyle Improvement Fitness Education Center was developed with the intention of offering college credit classes in fitness and health. "This is not just a gym," says Arthur "Butch" Branch, L.I.F.E. Center coordinator. "To access the center, one has to enroll in one of these courses. This way they’ll get a complete education on wellness." The gym offers 35,000 square feet of advanced workout equipment to all students, including local high school teams that want access. Currently, almost 400 members pay $50 each semester to use the center. "During the ‘Relay for Life,’ the rowing team got involved to promote the sport and gain support," says Kelly Coggins, row team member. "Without the L.I.F.E. Center, I don’t know where we’d host that event. It’s great to have this huge facility in such a close proximity."
Contact Branch at (850) 484-4491.

Best Selfless Servers
     Move over boy scouts! Saint Leo University has them beat when it comes to helping others. On Community Service Day, group leaders call volunteer agencies that need extra help, then about 200 students go to work at soup kitchens, nursing homes, childcare centers, and churches. "This past fall, I went to the Florida Pioneer Museum in Dade County," says Sarah Hard, Student Government Union president. "I began at 8 a.m. by doing some yard-work, such as raking, and then I ended the day around 1 p.m. by finishing up a paint job on some outdoor benches. I’m glad St. Leo continues with this event, because I feel it’s really important to incorporate service with learning."
Contact Hard at (352) 588-8844.

Best Alumni Babies
     The pitter, patter of little feet never sounded so sweet at Barry University in Miami until now. Through the new "Rosebuds for Barry Babies" program, The Alumni Association "announces" every birth or adoption by former grads. After parents notify the school of the good news, the campus’ Cor Jesu Chapel displays a rosebud on the altar to remember the child during that day’s mass. But it doesn’t end there. For the next 16 years, the kids can count on getting a birthday card from the association. So far, 12 little Bucs’ buds sit in the chapel. "It’s really special that it was the current Barry students who played such a significant role in designing this program," says Nancy Murphy Brink, Alumni Board of Directors member. "And, of course, we would love to see these new babies become Barry students years from now."
Contact Murphy Brink at mnbrink@aol.com.

Best In-Demand Band
     You know your school band has it together when students from rival colleges sing along at games. And you know your school’s band is "all that" when other universities try to copy its past performances. At Bethune-Cookman College the Marching Wildcats or "The Pride," as it’s also called, flew to Nassau for a football game. No big deal right? Well, not when the Bahamian Ministry of Tourism paid for all 254 members’ airfare. The Daytona Beach band even recorded a greatest-hits CD and performed live with popular singer Shaggy during the halftime on MTV’s "Rock and Jock" special. "I’ve been a part of this band for five years," says Eric O’Neal, alto saxophone section leader. "We’ve grown in size and maturity over the years. We’re really respected and having a greatest-hits CD shows we’re moving in the right direction."
Contact Band Director Donnovan Wales at (904) 255-1401.

Best Holiday Helpers
Pasco-Hernando Community College has some pretty important allies–Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. The college teams up with the two children’s favorites to hold an annual Christmas party and Easter egg hunt for Head Start kids. At the Christmas Party, 200 tots got snow globes and head-boppers as gifts. They also sat with Santa and indulged in juice, snacks, and games. For the Easter event, the big bunny himself posed for pictures with the kids. Then, bright, plastic eggs filled with candy awaited discovery, as everyone searched the grounds for them. "The nurses helped pass out snacks for the Christmas party and we also did some face painting," says Joshua Wozniak, Student Nursing Association president. "We painted Christmas trees, wreathes, and candy canes on the children’s faces."
Contact CARES Coordinator Billie Jo Stoddard at (352) 567-6701 ext. 1224.

Best Dribblers
     Dribbling isn’t just for babies and basketball players anymore. Through Dribble-A-Thon at Okaloosa-Walton Community College in Niceville, the Student Government Association teamed up with students and faculty to boost support for the school’s sports teams. To open the Panhandle Conference basketball season, students, faculty, and community members dribbled a basketball for 20 minutes during the 24 hours before the tip-off against Pensacola Junior College. The Entertainment Club, which asked participants to donate five cents per hour, raised $450 and area businesses donated food. "The event really showed the comradery of the students," says Tony Chandler, SGA president. Because of the 1,200-fan turnout, the president of the college wrote a heartfelt thank-you letter the next to SGA.
Contact Chandler at sga@owcc.net.

Best RA Reader
It’s your first day as a resident assistant and the dorm kitchen is on fire! What do you do? If you’re a Nova Southeastern University student you flip to page 50 in your RA guidebook fast. The 178–page, spiral bound manual has nine sections covering everything from emergency procedures and counseling to educational discipline and job description. RAs annually revise and improve their handbook so things can run smoother each consecutive year. The book proved so popular that when taken to conferences, other schools asked to use it as a model. "Each section has inspirational quotes and phrases which are fun to read," says Rick Mayfield, director of housing. "We made sure to use lots of colors and pictures, too."
Contact Mayfield at (954) 262-7052.

Best Off-Campus Greeks
     Don’t go looking for Frat Row at the University of South Florida–won’t find one. But surely there’s some Greek haven on campus—members are all over the school grounds. Even without fraternity and sorority housing, Greeks held about 300 service activities this past year. "Because they aren’t living directly on campus, they have to work twice as hard to make sure people come to meetings and events," says Mike Farley, Greek Life director. "To me, it displays an incredibly positive attitude about their environment." Things may change within the next two years as USF currently works on campus housing plans for Greek chapters. "Our university does a great job of working with the Greek community," says Tyvi Small, SG president and Kappa Alpha Phi member. "And we’re all making sure we get out there and stay active. Just because you’re Greek doesn’t mean that’s all you are. There’s other leadership roles to take on all over."
Contact Small at (813) 974-2328.

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