Best of Florida Schools 2004
General Categories—Page 9

Best Music
The Sight, The Sound, The Fury!
Toes are tapping, fingers are snapping, and everybody’s singing the praises of the band and choir at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville.  Throughout 80 years of musical history, celebrities such as Isaac Hayes, Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick, and Judy Collins have come to let their pipes loose with the choir. When they’re not rubbing elbows with the famous, the choir is traveling throughout the United States and even to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. The choir has performed for Keith Mitchel, the Prime Minister of Grenada; Winnie M. Mandela, the first lady of South Africa; and Sam Nujoma, the President of Namibia. “I’m very proud of the variety of our repertoire, which ranges from early Renaissance to spirituals to pop music,” says Dr. Samuel Shingles, director. “We can do it all; we’re not afraid to try anything.”

Triple Threat—EWC’s new marching band—is celebrating three years under new director Marques Graham, the nation’s youngest collegiate band director at 26. “Triple Threat utilizes a high-march and explosive dance style that’s coupled with new and innovative field drills,” says Phyllis Bell-Davis, EWC’s institutional effectiveness director. “They rock the field at football games during the half-time shows and pep up the crowd at the basketball games.” The band has already doubled its members from 50 to 110 since 2001. “The band has a somewhat bleak history,” Graham says. “When the football program disappeared for 36 years, so did the marching band.” But it doesn’t look like EWC will make the same mistake twice—this exciting band has already gained national recognition by dominating at the Durham County Battle of the Bands, performing twice on national television, and being nominated by the Honda Corporation for its outstanding achievements.

Graham says his main challenge is finding the necessary funds to further his vision for the band, which includes “more scholarships, more equipment, and more travel.” Triple Threat has creatively responded with fundraising events such as fish fries, raffles, car washes, and a haunted house. “We look forward to becoming a 200-piece band by next year and continuing to grow,” Graham says. —MF

Contact Graham at mgraham@ewc.edu.

Best New Club
Follow the Signs
One of the most active clubs at St. Petersburg College—Clearwater isn’t making much noise, but it’s making one heck of a splash. This year, the Silent Titans—the campus sign language club—has gone from new club on the block to boasting 80 members at its bi-monthly meetings and making its presence known to Student Government.

You’d think that the club’s booming membership is due to the large deaf population on campus, but it’s bigger than that. The American Sign Language classes on campus and the interpreter training program also feed the club’s rosters. Even off-campus members are in the club. “The club has connected with the deaf community and does some activities with the Deaf Service Center in our area,” says Debbie Proctor, student activities coordinator.

 The Silent Titans are making their presence heard with a representative attending weekly SG meetings. They’re also putting their money where their, um, hands are, pitching in with this semester’s SG fundraiser for the American Heart Association. “Whatever funds the Silent Titans collects from donations, they plan to match dollar-for-dollar from their own club account,” Proctor says. The club members are also working closely with events through student activities, cranking out a newsletter, celebrating deaf awareness week, and continuing to raise funds and recruit.

But no club can be all work and no play—the Silent Titans enjoy evenings out for their “Silent Dinners.” Talking with your hands can present its own challenge at mealtimes, but the dinners are attended by all levels of signers. “If an individual doesn’t know any sign language, then they usually make up their own signals and do a lot of pointing,” Proctor says. “Beginning students get some great practice, and of course, advanced students try really hard to get a bite to eat because they’re working so hard to keep the conversation going.” —SRR

Contact Proctor at proctor.debbie@admin.spcollege.edu.

Best Party
Up Against a Wall
No shirt, no shoes, no problem! At New College of Florida’s weekend “Walls” parties, casual is key. Barefoot students lounge, dance, and chat in Palm Court on Friday and Saturday nights from midnight until the sun comes up. “It all started about 25 years ago with students sitting around on these knee-high walls and just talking,” says Brian Cody, Student Alliance president.  “So it eventually became an official event.”

The court is generally considered the center of campus because it’s surrounded by dorms on all sides. This approximately 45-by-45 foot square, cited as “The Center of the Universe” in NCF’s constitution, has accommodated as many as 2,000 students in one night. “People will usually come back from doing something and just enjoy the party here,” Cody says. “This way, everyone knows there’s something going on every weekend.”

Different students sponsor the Walls each night, providing their own eclectic blend of music for their peers’ enjoyment. Whether it’s ‘80s tunes, hip-hop, or party favorites, the only criterion for the music is that it must be danceable. “People will open and close the night with some of their favorites,” Cody says. “It’s good exposure to different types of music.”

The three major Walls each year, known as PCPs (Palm Court Parties), are held on Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and near graduation. Some students also go the extra mile for their Walls by adding a theme to the night, such as the Fetish, Blue, and Rock Star Walls. “Everyone dances, everyone listens to music, everyone waxes philosophic—it’s a party,” Cody says. —CG

Contact Cody at ncsa@ncf.edu.

Best Youth Outreach
Rebel with a CAUSE
Matt Morton isn’t a rebel without a CAUSE—and he has no plans to live hard, die young, and leave a pretty corpse. He’s the president of Campaign for Adolescent and University Student Empowerment at Stetson University, and he’d rather work to see CAUSE help young people realize their potential.

“No other agency or program in the DeLand area is really grounded on the philosophy of youth empowerment,” Morton says. Working from the inspiration of Youth As Resources, an international program existing in 80 communities, CAUSE draws from the entire student community at Stetson to reach at-risk youth. “It began with a few students brainstorming about ways to make a difference in the community,” he says. “After persistent advocacy from the students in the Community Service Office, the president’s office soon opened their arms to the project and helped students realize their vision.”

All local teenagers are welcome to join the CAUSE, although the group most heavily markets itself to disadvantaged communities. While Morton does stand at the helm, the group’s goal is to let the teens be in charge. “We have youth involved with this program who often have never been put in substantial leadership roles at all, now learning to fund, market, develop, and create an entire organization,” Morton says. Right now, CAUSE has three areas of development—programming, marketing, and expansion—that all have teen members in there working up a sweat.

Morton knows from personal experience that putting students behind a cause, or in this case a CAUSE, will pay off later. “I personally came from an at-risk youth with very troubled circumstances at home,” he says. “What lifted me above those obstacles were mentors that believed in me and unique programs that sought to empower me.” —SRR

Contact Morton at mmorton@stetson.edu.

Best Communication Device
Big-Screen Hospitality
When it comes to watching sporting events, the bigger the screen, the better. So the thought of seeing “the big game” on an electronic video wall with nearly two dozen 42-inch plasma monitors could make almost any sports fan drool. Students at Miami Dade College—Wolfson don’t use their state-of-the-art screen to keep tabs on their favorite teams, however. Their video wall demonstrates the school’s warm hospitality by helping to give students directions, listing upcoming events, and welcoming campus visitors.

Located on the first floor lobby of MDC-Wolfson’s Emerging Technologies Center of the Americas, more than 10,000 people view the screens each day.  “Generally, the event of the day will be up, the map of the facility, and then course announcements of the School of Technology will alert students of advisement opportunities,” says Jon Sussman, director of the School of Technology and Engineering. “There’s an animated video of the facility which plays in the background if there’s no current item planned.” Students and faculty also have been encouraged to provide content as part of their computer graphics courses, including animated presentations and movies.

The video screen literally arrived with a bang last January, as visitors enjoyed a backdrop video fireworks display, complete with audio effects, during its ribbon-cutting ceremony. Since this explosive unveiling, new campus visitors have been flattered by the screen’s warm greetings. “Whenever a visitor shows up and sees their picture and name on screen, they ‘melt in your hand’ and are overwhelmed with the hospitality,” Sussman says.

The screens represent about $110,000 of technology which was included in a $7.92 million grant from the State of Florida. “This money came to the college as a result of efforts by local business, the Network Access Point of the Americas, and the college to identify the needs for a technology training center to support the growing Information Technology requirements in Florida,” Sussman says. “We’re very proud to have this on our campus.” —AMC

Contact Sussman at jsussman@mdc.edu.

Best Campus Art
Sculpting Servanthood
Two gleaming white figures adorn Warner Southern College’s west courtyard. Their fluid lines and smooth countenances blend seamlessly with the cool green grass surrounding them.

Located between the Rigel Student Center and the Pontious Learning Resource Center, “Love Essence” is the creation of prominent sculptor Esther Augsburger, whose works have captured the attention of many collectors, including President Jimmy Carter, who owns three of her sculptures. The statue has quickly turned into a favorite spot on campus. “It’s now one of the landmarks on campus, and students have their pictures for graduation taken in front of it,” says Doris Gukich, vice president for advancement.

Lowell and Juledine Rupp of Lake Wales, who are personally acquainted with Augsburger, donated Love Essence to the college. The donation was made during a visit the couple made to the school with the artist.

The sculpture stands 9-feet-high and features Peter washing Jesus’ feet in a symbol of servanthood. Augsburger avoided giving the figures distinct faces to avert the possibility of them becoming idols. “She made the first model in a foreign country where they have idols,” Gukich says. “Idols have features on the faces and personalities. She wanted to make sure they would have no personalities of people.”

Augsburger sculpted the featureless forms from fiberglass and resin mixed with marble dust to achieve the statue’s slick, shiny appearance. The effigies, which sit on a black pedestal, aren’t eclipsed by elaborate landscaping, so that the almost stark simplicity that characterizes the statue’s graceful lines is emphasized.

“It’s important that we have an important work of art on campus,” says Charlene Lawson, director of public relations. “It’s a symbol of servanthood, which is the college’s mission.” —MDJ

Contact Lawson at lawson@warner.edu or Gukich at gukichd@warner.edu.

Copyright © 2006 Oxendine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved