Best of
Florida Schools 2003
General Categories—Page
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Best
Movies
Garnet Carpet and Golden Globes
Red carpet and box office hits are every filmmaker’s dream. For many
Florida State University film students who dream of their sparkling
garnet and gold school colors one day turning into the Hollywood glimmer of
red carpets and Golden Globes, the day when they see their name up in lights
isn’t too far away.
Every year, upperclassmen send their final film projects to film festivals such as Cannes in France. Also, students can go to Los Angeles for a "screening" at the Directors Guild of America, where their films are viewed by Hollywood directors, producers, and alumni. "It's a good way for the industry to meet our students," says Linda Hensley, administrative coordinator. Students also have a shot at meeting possible future employers.
FSU's School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts is the only American institution that pays for all of its students' production expenses. "This way, students can go out there with today's technology," Hensley says. Because students spend more time on their sets than in classrooms, they get needed hands-on experience.
Seven hundred applicants annually apply for admittance, and only 54 get in. —LE
Contact Mwarren@filmschool.fsu.edu or visit www.fsufilms.com/
Best
Career Counseling
Job Help with a View
Chameleons and lizards both can change with their circumstances.
Pensacola Junior College took a hint from this miracle of nature when
creating its first career resource center five years ago.
Starting out in a small space with only six computers, the staff saw the students’ interest spark at the opportunity to receive career guidance. In January 2002, the center saw 340 students. One year later, usage quadrupled to 1,410. How did PJC accomplish this metamorphosis?—by revamping the atrium, a campus building mostly used for student recreation such as playing pool that had fallen into disrepair. This past November, the building re-opened as the home for the Career Connection Center.
The new center has 40 computers surrounded by a décor of bright yellows and blues. “You’d think you’re at a hotel lobby when you walk in,” says Marsha Layfield, career coordinator. The space is divided in half by a glass barrier. One side is used strictly for career and peer counseling, while the other side, according to Layfield, “is a place where nobody’s telling you ‘no’.” It’s open for crisis counseling, academic advising, transfer advising, degree auditing, and course registration, or simply as a place to hang out. “Students have begun coming here every morning just to get a smile.”
Unlike many other college counseling centers, the career connection opens its doors for community members as well as students. Several local lawyers, workers’ compensation referrals, and therapists require their clients to o through the center before receiving any aid for schooling. The center also welcomes juniors and seniors in high school who want to get a head start on career planning. Moreover, many women who are newly divorced go to career connection for help. “It’s a truly people centered place on our campus,” Layfield says. —EG
Contact Layfield at mlayfieldl@pjc.edu.
Best College Cruise
Get Leid
at NFCC
The week before spring break seems to last forever--you’re dying for sun and
beaches, but there are still a few days of books and school left. At
North Florida Community College, the entire student body goes on a
cruise before the vacation ever starts.
The annual NFCC Sentinel Cruise doesn’t sail very far—okay, it doesn’t sail at all—but Student Activities Director Carolyn Sperber goes all out to provide the cruise-ship atmosphere students need to feel like they’re escaping to tropical locales. “It gets everybody in the mood for the break and makes the rest of the week easier,” Sperber says.
The entire student center, normally furnished in pool tables and comfy couches and chairs, is transformed into a luxury liner with all the trappings. When students first walk in, they find themselves on the “ship,” and what’s the most plentiful thing on any cruise? The food! Sperber creates a huge buffet with ice sculptures and “champagne” fountains. “My mom even cuts fruits and veggies into palm trees, flowers, and little animals to garnish the buffet,” Sperber says. After students indulge on board, they cross a bridge and get “leid” with the traditional necklace of tropical flowers. When they arrive at the destination, an area called “Flamingo Bay,” steel drums play and fountains splash as they stroll through an area decorated with palm trees and flamingoes. Students can even exile professors to the “desert island” across the lagoon for a small fee, but the faculty members can ransom themselves off with a donation.
“What lets me know it works is when I mention the event at new-student orientation and people who’ve never been here all say, ‘Oh, yeah, the cruise!’” Sperber says. —SRR
Contact Sperber at sperberc@nfcc.edu.
Best TV
Spin-off
NSU's
Take on American Idol
During Nova Southeastern University Student Government
Association’s annual retreat, members sat huddled around a TV watching the
antics of wannabe pop stars on the hit show American Idol. “We
watched how successful this show was and someone said, ‘We could use some
new events at Nova, so why not try this?’” says Stephanie Savo, SGA’s campus
entertainment director. The result was “NSU Idol,” a spin-off of the popular
TV show, but without the annoying British guy.
Over four weeks, 11 NSU students competed for the top honor of a $1,000 and a personalized trophy. Three faculty members with backgrounds in music judged the contestants and decided whom to vote off after each performance. Audience members then had to cast their own votes.
Anyone could enter; the only eligibility requirement was that he or she must be an NSU student. The event was held in the “flight deck”—a part of the Student Union—and drew 100 audience members its last night. “We had some interesting people who came out to be contestants and livened up the audience a little bit,” Savo says. NSU English major Amber Taisha Gongora took home first prize. “I’ve been a singer for over 10 years, and I’m currently taking vocal lessons through the NSU Theater Arts Program,” Gongora says.
“NSU Idol 2” is planned for this spring. “We can’t wait to do it again,” Savo says. —RGM
Contact Savo at shortieduo@aol.com.
Best Student Appreciation
You Can Feel the Love at
Keiser
For most starving college students, nothing says you’re loved like a hot dog
and a plate from a BBQ chicken buffet. Through Student Appreciation Day,
Keiser College students and faculty know they’re adored.
For instance, Student Services makes certificates for each student who earns an award, such as Dean’s List, Honor Roll, and Perfect Attendance. After shaking hands with the dean of academics and the vice president, students receive these awards at a formal ceremony.
“It’s important to convey that we do this because we care about our students,” says Jennifer Kessinger, director of student services. “They’re not just numbers to us; they’re names, and we’re truly happy about their successes! We want to call out each and every name and take pictures of the students with the vice president and the dean. Our students are so proud to be recognized in front of their peers. It’s truly a wonderful school spirit event for the students, faculty, staff, and administration.”
Additional awards include plaques for faculty members earning “Faculty of the Semester” awards, a chance to win a DVD player in a drawing for students who attend the first day of class, and the “Student Choice Award,” given to the school’s favorite instructor. Students and faculty not receiving one of the 350 to 400 awards still enjoy a complimentary lunch and dinner served up by the college’s administration. --AS
Contact Kessinger at jennifer@keisercollege.edu.
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