Best of Florida Schools 2004
Web-Only Categories—Page 6

Best Health Fair
Vitamin BCC
Eight hundred slices of pizza doesn’t sound like a very diet-friendly lunch, but it made for tasty snacking as 600 students chowed down, climbed high, bled profusely, and got educated at the second annual Health Fair at Brevard Community College’s Melbourne campus.

Phi Theta Kappa and Student Government Association organizers know that if you feed them, they will come. But after going through all that pizza and 600 bottles of water, the participants still found they had plenty to do. First order of business for many was to work off that lunch at the rock climbing wall, provided by On the Edge Rock Climbing Gym. More earthbound attendees could do bicep curls with their increasingly heavy bags of goodies from booths handing out information on everything from cancer awareness to fitness programs. The lamentably out-of-shape could even get adjusted by a local chiropractic clinic if they threw their backs out of whack doing the clean-and-jerk gathering up all the freebies.

After all that exercise and info-gathering, students found a nice place to lie down, thanks to the American Red Cross. One little needle stick and people hadn’t just taken good things from the health fair but donated to the wellness of people who really needed it. “Over 24 units of blood were collected, and the American Red Cross stated that it was their best blood drive at this campus,” says Catherine J. Beam, student services and student development specialist. “Many students said it was their first time giving blood, and it wouldn’t be the last.” —SRR

Contact Beam at beamc@brevardcc.edu.

Best Food Event
Choco-Palooza
For most men, it would be judging the Miss America Pageant. For a lot of women, the Mr. Universe Contest would be tops. For chocolate lovers, the ultimate dream job is judging Broward Community College’s Chocolate Festival.

The festival is a rare delight for those who crave the taste of processed coca beans. For one full day, these judges rigorously taste every single dish that the nearly 30 participating clubs make, deciding which concoction tops the three main categories. The day is a chocolate orgy for the judges. They eat chocolate dishes all day and only have their pick of chocolate milk or chocolate shakes to wash it down.

“We usually have to beg people to judge most of our contests, but I’ve gotten phone calls from people requesting to be judges for the Chocolate Festival,” says Mareta Sizemore, student life director. “I’ve even had someone say that they heard it was going to be open to the public next year, which it’s not.”

Three categories rank the sweets: Godiva, which is a dish to die for; Willy Wonka, a fun and silly dish; and the best display. The Computer Club’s creation of an edible computer and a matching mouse won best display. A close runner-up was Phi Theta Kappa Omega Phi chapter’s periodic table of elements made of nothing but, of course, chocolate. Student Life won the Willy Wonka category with their huge self-serve s’mores display.

Next year, BCC hopes to fundraise before the event so cash prizes can be awarded to the winners. However, judges may feel a little nutty next year since the festival is changing its name to, “The Chocolate Festival–Goes Nuts”. —JT

Contact Sizemore at msizemor@broward.edu.

Best Financial Aid Workshop
Show Me the Money!
“Show me the money” is a phrase commonly heard from the lips of those financing a college career. Chipola Junior College offers financial aid workshops to both future students and their parents to help both generations get over the financial burden of college. Last semester, Chipola hosted one seminar, which five students attended, but this semester, they’re expecting over 50 future students to attend--most with a parent.

College tuition costs force high school students and their parents to transition from not paying a penny for their education to forking over thousands of dollars a year. Chipola steps in to help both the students and parents handle the transition better. Local high schools invite Chipola officials to their campus to do the presentation for their students. However, the college usually holds two workshops at its own campus each year.

“Chipola has always educated both parents and students about financial aid, because when you look at the situation, the fact is that many students are still dependent on their parents. For example, students have to use their parents’ past year’s taxable income figure to be eligible for financial aid,” says Sybil Cloud, financial aid director. “So, it’s in the best interest of all who are involved to hear all the information.”

“The parents and students are usually very appreciative towards Chipola staff because we’ve come out and provided them with the latest information,” Cloud says. —JT

Contact Cloud at clouds@chipola.edu.

Best New Students Services Facility
No More Run-Around
Students at Edison Community College aren’t getting as much exercise anymore. Anytime an ECC student has a problem that requires help from the Student Services office, he doesn’t have to run all over campus. The newly built Taeni Hall creates a one-stop approach to student services from career services to college recruitment.

“We decided to construct a building which could house all of our services so our students could have a one-stop place that would solve their problems without running around to each different office,” says Michelle Releford, vice president of student services.

Another service students need fulfilled is a regular feeding schedule. Just in case a student starts to feel hunger pains while seeking help, a cafeteria called The Garden Café is also located on the first floor of Taeni Hall so they can meet their friends for a social lunch or pick up a quick bite.

Rather than waiting around for a counselor to finish with another student and look up their schedule, students can march to a special room on the first floor and can view their records or register on-line.

Thanks to the new Taeni Hall, students no longer have to rush around to different buildings to meet with Student Services advisors. However, with all of that running around decreased, students might have to use those computers to register for another PE class. —JT

Contact Releford at mrelefor@edison.edu.

Best Design Program
Seeking Sophisticated Lady
"SEEKING sophisticated lady, elegant and beautiful, for warmth and relaxation. Sleek body, cork slim, and plywood bottom a must."

Lounge lovers can meet this lady of their dreams, thanks a Florida Community College at Jacksonville Interior Design student. Brittany Gruber Cagle’s creation, "The Lady," won first place in the 2003 Florida State Competition in Furniture Design supported by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).

Cagle is one of 225 students enrolled in FCCJ’s Interior Design Technology Program. "The program focuses on preparing the students to have the technical skills necessary for today's work environment," says Joyce Butts, professor and director of the program. Students in the program have a 90 percent placement rate when they graduate, and some of them become officers of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and IIDA, national professional associations.

Other students are part of the Technology Advisor Board, which aids students with their curriculum, prepares them with skills for their internships, and helps them with resume writing and portfolio review.

In addition, Butts works directly with a list of about 50 companies that asks for interns. Students attend meetings with professional interior designers and can share their work at receptions where members and designers are the honored guests.

Students in the program are not just about looking good. Students also volunteer raising money for the Jacksonville Symphony through the SunTrust/ASID Symphony Showhouse.

"I develop strong respect for the energy and professionalism that students put into their projects,” Butts says. —MAC

Contact Butts at 904-381-3447.

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