Best of Florida Schools 2002

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Best Free Enterprise Projects
Short on cash but need your leather shoes polished? A banana peel can actually shine shoes when applied and buffed off.  This is some of the advice you might hear during the “Mr. Cheapskate” segment of Flagler College’s Radio Free Enterprise. “Mr. Cheapskate” gives funny and practical advice on how to get things free, or at least really cheap. “Radio Free Enterprise focuses on money issues for the financially challenged,” says Donna Webb, advisor for Flagler College Students In Free Enterprise (FCSIFE). The eight-minute show is broadcast three times a week on Flagler’s radio station WFCF 88.5 FM. FCSIFE members, an organization that teaches students and the community about the economic marketplace, produce the radio show.

Last December, FCSIFE held its first “Kids Marketplace” to help kids ages 6 to16 become entrepreneurs for the day. Twenty-five children participated in the event by selling products they made or found: shell ornaments and jewelry, ornamental snowmen made out of 2-liter bottles, baked goods, and old toys from their closets. The kids were encouraged to donate a portion of the profits to charity for the children of Afghanistan.

FCSIFE also helps run Flagler’s Legacy, a small shop in the center of St. Augustine’s busy tourist shopping district. All items sold are related in some way to Henry Flagler, Flagler College’s namesake. “In its first year of business, the shop had sales of $190,000 with a net profit of $25,000—32 percent greater than anticipated,” says Connie Kolisnyk, FCSIFE president. MCB

Contact Donna Webb at dwebb@flagler.edu.

Best Pupil Pact
At New College of Florida, students are bound to graduate. Enrollees at the Sarasota school register for classes with academic contracts outlining their educational goals and how they plan to achieve them. Rather than earning grades, New College students must complete seven contracts, complete three independent study projects, write and defend a thesis, and pass an oral exam. Designed to encourage pupils to “reach beyond the scope of academics,” the contracts give students safeguards so they can explore interesting courses without worrying about blowing their GPA. For example, a literature major could sign up for a quantum physics class but sign a contract to pass three out of four courses. “Thus, you can ‘fail’ quantum physics but still pass your contract, and only the classes that you pass will be placed on your transcript,” says Alena Scandura, coordinator of student activities. Luckily, students who feel locked into their agreements still have a loophole, even after they sign the dotted line. “The contracts in themselves are unique and may be renegotiated until the 11^th week of classes,” Scandura says. WHOJ

Contact Scandura at ascandur@sar.usf.edu.

Best Space Students
Some people buy a ticket into space like recent millionaire-turned-astronaut Dennis Tito. But most people take a more down-to-earth approach to the space program. Students at Brevard Community College get involved through its aerospace technology program where they can earn an A.A. or A.S. degree.  They attend classes at either the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Center for Space Education, or in the offices and labs of BCC's Spaceport Center. There, scientists, engineers, and technicians provide lectures and demonstrations on topics such as life-support systems, clean-room techniques, and specialty materials and processes.

Because of the increasing commercialization of space, BCC is hoping to see nearly a 100-percent job-placement rate when its first aerospace class graduates next year, says Kimberly Prosser, community relations and marketing manager. Thirty students are currently enrolled in the program, and BCC is exploring a connection with University of Central Florida for students to go on and earn their B.S. in space technology. SRR

Contact BCC at aerospace@brevardcc.edu.

Best Russian Studies
Yes, the Russian Studies program at Stetson University has classes in the Russian language. But it doesn't stop there. "Our specialty is that we're offering at an undergraduate level an interdisciplinary kind of study that many schools offer at the graduate level," says Dr. Paul Steeves, program director.

 "But we offer an area studies program that has a strong component in the social sciences."

Students study not only the Russian language but also take courses in Russian economics, political science, geography, and history. Students take a semester, usually in their junior year with at least four semesters under their belt, to study at Moscow State University. Stetson always hosts a visiting professor from Moscow State to teach the advanced language classes so that the students have the benefits of instruction from a native speaker.

Last semester, the program was truly interdisciplinary as Vice-Rector of the St. Petersburg Arts Academy Sergei Tcherkasskii directed theatre students in the Russian play, Dear Elena Sergeyevna. "We're not just a language and literature department," Steeves says. SRR

Visit the program at www.stetson.edu/departments/russian.

Best New ROTC
Okaloosa-Walton Community College saluted its new Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps detachment last September at a ceremony to initiate the only full-time ROTC detachment at any Florida community college. In a unique partnership with the University of West Florida, military science instructors travel from the university to the college to teach leadership courses that are transferable to any branch of the military. In addition, OWCC students are an active part of the UWF Corps of Cadets. “Students don’t have to commit to the U.S. Army to enroll in ROTC at OWCC,” says Major Steve Duckworth, military science instructor. “ROTC is a college elective that offers leadership training, develops confidence, and affords the opportunity to become a commissioned Army officer.” Though ROTC just launched last fall, the school’s 36 cadets already have formed a color guard and a Ranger Challenge Team that will participate in competitions with other Southeastern schools.

Contact Duckworth at duckworth@owcc.net.

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