Best of Florida Schools 2002

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Best Claim to Fame
“Florida Southern College may never be more than a freshwater college among the big institutions of the country, but its architecture will cause it to become a beacon of light.” While visiting Lakeland in 1949, famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright uttered these prophetic words during a speech at the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel, one of 12 buildings he designed for the school. According to Dr. William Hatten, associate vice president for development, FSC is best known for having the world’s largest one-site collection of architecture designed by Wright, who was 67 years old during his first visit to Lakeland. As he toured the orange grove area, Wright said he envisioned the buildings rising "out of the ground, into the light, and into the sun." His master plan called for the use of steel for strength, sand because it was native to Florida, and glass to bring God’s outdoors into man’s indoors. The dozen structures were built on the 100-acre campus from 1938 to 1958, and all have been in continuous use ever since. TB

Contact Hatten at whatten@flsouthern.edu, or visit www.flsouthern.edu for a virtual tour of Wright’s designs.

Best Turkey Surprise
It isn’t Publisher’s Clearing House with a $10 million check knocking at their doors, but when the Daytona Beach Community College students delivered Thanksgiving dinners to the homes of 65 deserving families, the shock on the families’ faces wouldn’t tell you any different.

“We knocked on the door and said ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ as we handed the basket over,” says Kevin Burd, SGA vice president. “We told them, ‘This was a gift from someone who cares and that we were just asked to deliver it to you.’” Burd says the program gives hope, inspires, and reassures those who may not be experiencing all the good the world has to offer.

The idea for the “Basket Brigade” started with the Anthony Robbins Foundation. In each of the baskets, put together by the SGA, local community leaders, and other campus organizations, are the ingredients for a well-balanced turkey-day surprise including everything from pumpkin pie filling to juice boxes. The total cost of each basket is about $26, not including the turkeys, which are donated.

“The Basket Brigade isn’t like any other food drive,” Burd says. “Participants get to see the results of their efforts, unlike most food drives where you donate food never knowing where it went.” RG

Contact Burd at (386) 255-8131, x3567 or at kevinburd@hotmail.com.

Best September 11 Remedies
Do your part. That’s what five Florida schools did. After the September 11 terrorist attacks, Florida Atlantic University, Stetson University, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, and Miami Dade Community College all reached deep into their hearts to help out the victims at Ground Zero.

Both Florida Atlantic University and Stetson University organized relief concerts.

At FAU, student ambassadors, Terry Bloom and Diego Meeroff, put together a benefit concert to raise money for September 11 victims. With the help of contributions from local businesses, Bloom and Meeroff put together the all day event featuring eight local bands. Despite torrential rain, the event raised $500 for the Red Cross. “We raised more money than any Student Government fundraiser in the past few years,” Meeroff says.

Stetson hosted a rock concert, 5K Fun Run, and 1.5 mile walk on November 10, 2001, as part of a student effort to aid and honor the memory of those who lost their lives. Stetson joined the Unity Weekend effort—a celebration of life and tribute to those who died—to promote unity and raise funds for disaster relief. “It was really nice to see the patriotism of the college students,” Assistant Director of Student Life Holli Berry said. “They put a lot of heart into it.”

At UNF, Bryan Selzer, a part-time student and Jacksonville police officer, assembled a task force of fellow officers to volunteer in relieving New York police officers and help in the recovery effort. Selzer sent out an e-mail to his police comrades to accompany him to New York.  As a result, Selzer received 180 responses. Unfortunately, only 11 officers were chosen because of an increased scheduling demand in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

At USF, robotics assistant professor Robin Murphy and three of her students—Jennifer Casper, Mark Micire, and Brian Menten—assisted in the search effort by using their engineering skills.  Murphy and her students used their robot to search through the rubble at the World Trade Center, and then Murphy presented students with a video.

At all six MDCC campuses, students came together for a Circle of Peace to honor the nation and its victims.  Held on September 20, the Circle of Peace featured white carnations placed at a memorial, white ribbons, excerpted readings of famous writers, songs of America, candle lighting, and a meditation circle of stone and candles. SS

Contact Meeroff at adicobra@aol.com, Berry at (386) 822-7237, or Murphy at (813) 974-2011.

Best Faith and Unity
When terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, Florida State University student Ebenezer Vonhm Benda felt something besides the pain and fear most students experienced. He felt an uncomfortable familiarity. Vonhm Benda fled his home country of Liberia, West Africa in 1997 because of a civil war that left thousands dead, including classmates and family members. No stranger to the turbulent emotions that come in the aftermath of violence, he felt that his perspective could help other students as they dealt with them for the first time, so he single-handedly organized the Faith and Unity Conference, accepting help from the African Student Association to publicize the conference. Students, faculty, clergy, and community members attended the event and discussed their feelings of anger, helplessness, and fear.

Vonhm Benda's experiences in his war-torn country showed him that fear and rage can easily become hate and bitterness, and his goal was to enable students to move past thoughts of revenge and anger and begin the process of healing. "The conference emphasized that while we can't talk people out of hatred, we need to realize that only when we understand how to dissolve the real genesis of bitterness can we feel truly safe," Vonhm Benda says. "I hoped that by sharing my story with them, I could offer those students a way to deal with the aftermath of a great tragedy." SRR

Contact Vonhm Benda at vonhm@hotmail.com.

Best College Schedule
For the rest of Florida, Wednesday is hump-day, signifying three more long work and school days until the blessings of the weekend. But at Webber International University, Wednesday means a day off by the lake.

All classes are shut down on Wednesday, except for night classes. The mid-week break lets Webber’s sports teams catch up on classes (about half of Webber’s 500 students play varsity sports). For the rest of the student body, it’s a chance to study and hold group meetings. “It is also used for guest speakers, field trips, and athletic events,” says Dr. Deborah Milliken, executive vice president.

While some students may blow off studying, most are disciplined and use this innovative break as it was intended. That doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy studying out by Crooked Lake or in the afternoon sun. “Do students take advantage of it? You bet they do,” Milliken says. “So do professors and administrators, club sponsors, and internship sponsors. It has been working for about 10 years now.” WHOJ

Contact Milliken at debmilliken@hotmail.com.

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