Best of Florida Schools 2002
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Best Disabled Web Site
One Flagler College student has overcome several obstacles despite his disability, and now he enables others do the same. After a head injury during Desert Storm, Frank Matzke was left with partial vision in both eyes and impaired limbs on one side of his body. But that didn’t stop the former soldier from pursing a college degree. Matzke, a journalism student, was interning at The St. Augustine Record, a local newspaper, when he helped create the web site “Access St. Augustine.” The site lists information on area tourist attractions that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Access St. Augustine” arms disabled tourists with information on accessible restaurants, attractions, restrooms, and provides a map of all the handicapped parking. The site also allows tourists to fill out a questionnaire that gives them an opportunity to tell others of their stay in St. Augustine. Tourists can rate their satisfaction level, and can type in any additional comments. The message is then forwarded to city officials, in hopes that they will improve any accessibility problems around town.

Matzke also has helped with the redesign of the Ability4u.com web site, an information hub that informs handicapped people of problems with accessibility around St. Johns County. “My work with Ability4u originated when I was doing research for the St. Augustine web site,” Matzke says. “Eventually, it turned into a public relations project for school.”

Aside from his web work, Matzke is also writes feature stories for The Gargoyle, Flagler’s newspaper. As Linda Crisman, co-editor-in-chief of The Gargoyle says,  “Frank does amazing things with his ability, not because of his disability.” MCB

Contact Frank Matzke at monk@aug.com.

Best Atmosphere
The lights are dimmed, music is playing, and the aroma of hazelnuts and fresh coffee beans wafts through the air. With the help of Pensacola Junior College’s Lyceum Committee, the students get together to sip on a cup of coffee as they listen to performers singing at the candle-lit Student Center as part of a coffee house series. Dennis Reynolds, coordinator of student leadership and activities, started the series.

 “We try to focus it around the different times of the year,” Reynolds says. “If it is Black History Month or Women’s History Month, we try to bring someone in who does a program fitting the situation.”

With performers Fran Snyder, Steven Jackson, and Karen Goldberg coming all the way from places like Nashville and Maryland, the series attracts crowds of up to 100 students. Reynolds says that if sponsors remain as positive about the program as they have been, the series will include more shows in the future. RG

Contact Reynolds at dreynolds@pjc.cc.fl.us

Best New Minor
Art students use various media to create their pieces: oil paints and crayons, chalk, charcoal, watercolor, clay, and…glass. Well, glass may not be so common among art students, but at Flagler College, students use it to fashion masterpieces for their stained glass minor. Sister Diane Couture, a Catholic nun of the Order of St. Joseph, teaches all stained glass courses which are open only to fine art majors. Started in spring 2001, the minor allows students to prepare for a field that desperately needs skilled artisans.

The program was developed after representatives from the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA) met with Flagler’s president to discuss creating the minor at the school. After some research, the president agreed. SGAA closely followed Flagler’s progress including the selection of Sister Couture. They were so impressed with the program that they continue to donate materials for classes, which can get expensive for students.

The stained glass minor is the only program of its type in the country. “Traditionally, stained glass is learned through apprenticeships with those seeking to learn the craft working side-by-side with experienced artists, but now students can learn a skill that will practically guarantee employment,” says Daniel P. Stewart, dean of student services. MCB

Contact Darwin White at (904) 819-6255.

Best Honors Program

Acceptance into the University of West Florida’s honors programs is, well…an honor. With 350 members, the four-year honors program represents the top four percent of UWF students. Freshmen entering the program look forward to small classes, early registration, special advisors, an honors dorm and a variety of other opportunities including chances to study abroad. “Because UWF is small, it allows [the honors program] to do really personalized things,” says Heather Newberry, president of UWF’s Honors Council. Don’t be surprised to find professors who know all their students’ names—most classes are limited to 15 students. The honors program also offers students a chance to travel through International Summer Experiences.

Students interested in the program submit an application and a proposal of study—such as going to Italy to study the effects of the Euro on the European economy—then wait for approval. Infinite Wisdom, UWF’s honors council newsletter, won first place at the annual National Collegiate Honors Council Conference Newsletter Competition. The first time they entered the competition last year, they were awarded second place. Newberry says, “It’s amazing all we do on such a tight budget.” MCB

Contact Heather Newberry at hmc5@students.uwf.edu.

Best Welcome Program
That first year away from home—especially from Mom and Dad—can be liberating and a little scary, but students at Lynn University are learning to adjust with a little help from the great Adirondacks.  Kevin Ross, director of development, and Paul Turner, dean of students, developed the Lynn Adirondack Experience (LAKE) as a way for incoming freshman to meet other new students as well as meet faculty members outside of a school setting. During the first week of August, 15 freshmen paid $275, packed their bags, and headed for the six-million-acre Adirondack Park in northern New York. The 5-day experience emphasized life skills such as self-awareness, confidence, leadership, and problem-solving. Activities included hiking and canoeing.

“The primary goal of the trip was to have students in a situation that was informal and comfortable, where they could start to build lifelong friendships with future fellow classmates, come together as a group and learn about each other, and maybe even find out something about themselves,” says Jennifer McFarland, Lynn’s communications specialist. The school provided most of the supplies, although students provided their own sleeping bags. McFarland says the program has expanded and they expect approximately 40 students from the incoming class of 2006 to participate come August. MCB         

Contact Paul Turner at pturner@lynn.edu.

Best Martial Arts Class
“Yashi Hama Tandai Budo Kai”—try saying that 10 times in a row. It’s Japanese for Palm Beach Community College Warrior Way Association. Led by international-renowned martial artist and PBCC alumnus Sensei Jeffery L. Day, YHTBK teaches self-discipline, self-control, character improvement, and confidence.

Students of YHTBK are exposed to a variety of martial arts. However, Day primarily teaches Matsumura Shorin-ryu, a traditional style of Okinawan Karate. Matsukaze Budo Kai, YHTBK’s parent organization, states its mission is “to offer quality programs to educate the public in the true traditional martial arts, at minimal cost to the participant.”

The YHTBK class at PBCC helps students improve their abilities to be students and encourages academic achievement. It is offered to faculty as well as students. Associate Professor of Speech Communications Laurie Crane enjoys learning the disciplines the class offers.“ My students love to come and beat up on me,” she says. “They get a kick out of it.” SS

Contact Crane at cranel@pbcc.cc.fl.us.

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