Best of Florida Schools 2005
General Categories—Page 8

Best Little Club
Flying S.O.L.O. at BCC
It’s all about heart. Although the members of the Students Overcoming Life’s Obstacles club at Brevard Community College are disabled, you’d never know it by their drive and involvement. Despite being one of the smallest student organizations on both the Palm Bay and Titusville campuses, it’s also one of the most active and successful clubs around.

“S.O.L.O. is a little club with a big heart, “says Lynn Dallas, club sponsor and disability services specialist at BCC—Palm Bay. “Many clubs try to raise money so that they can have parties or go on trips, but S.O.L.O. is more interested in helping others. So much time is focused on the disabled—doctors and illnesses and such—that it’s a relief sometimes to focus on someone else.”

The S.O.L.O. club at BCC—Palm Bay has organized food drives for the needy, collected books for the Brevard County school system, invited massage therapists to campus to give massages to stressed-out students, raised more than $2,000 for the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and helps pay for the care and upkeep of Kat, BCC’s facility dog. Their outstanding efforts have earned the club a five-star rating from BCC over the last two years—amazing considering that S.O.L.O. only has five members, while the other two clubs to match that achievement have more than 10 times that many.

A second S.O.L.O. club at BCC—Titusville is hard to miss—they wear their club T-shirts proudly and display their S.O.L.O. banner at campus events. The club primarily serves as a support group for students with disabilities as they work to achieve a college education, but its 15 members are eager to take part in campus activities, making them the most active club on campus. For example, the Student Government Association frequently calls upon members to help out with campus events like Welcome Back Day, where S.O.L.O. tabled and was in charge of tug-of-war, manning a popcorn machine, and giving away free sodas. “People on this campus know they can always call on S.O.L.O. to help in any way,” says Paula Higginbotham, club sponsor and disability specialist at BCC—Titusville.

S.O.L.O. members aren’t afraid to take on additional campus leadership roles, either. “Two members are in SGA,” Higginbotham says. “One was the past secretary, and she has severe dyslexia, so this was a challenge for her.” By overcoming their challenges before the eyes of other students, S.O.L.O. members help to spread disability awareness.

S.O.L.O. at Titusville helps spread awareness in more direct ways as well. Every October, they help put on a Disability Awareness month that has included blindfold and wheelchair obstacle-courses. Speaking engagements at these events also give S.O.L.O. students the chance to share their experiences and struggles while encouraging their peers to seek help for their own disabilities if they need it. “This club definitely brings disability awareness to the students at BCC—Titusville by being a leader on campus,” Higginbotham says.

Dallas concurs. “When people see a disabled person working hard to help someone else, that makes them stop and think about what they themselves are doing and how they can help too.”—AMC

Contact Dallas at dallasl@brevardcc.edu or Higginbotham at higginbothamp@brevardcc.edu.

Best Book Event
Eckerd’s Bookworm Bliss
Where can you catch Shakespeare buffs, Stephen King fanatics, and Danielle Steel worshippers rubbing elbows and making small talk? Since 1993, Eckerd College has hosted the St. Petersburg Times-sponsored Festival of Reading. From author talks and story telling to musical performances and poetry readings, this event offers something for everybody.

“It really draws a mix of people on all fronts,” says Alizza Punzalan-Hall, Eckerd director of community and media relations. “Families are attracted because of the numerous free activities for their kids, college students are drawn to the big names, and seniors are drawn to the local and regional authors.”

For adults, last year’s event had some serious political overtones, she says. Speakers included Sen. Bob Graham, who wrote Intelligence Matters; Maureen Dowd, who wrote Bushworld—Enter at Your Own Risk; and Andy Borowitz, who wrote The Borowitz Report. Panel discussions included "Writing about God,” “Ethnic and Racial Profiling in America,” and “The Media: Before and After Sept. 11.”

Many activities were tailored for kids as well, and one of the biggest hits was the Big-Top Story Tent. Under its cool canopy, professional athletes, local politicians like including the mayor of St. Petersburg, and other celebrities read books to children. Also, Children’s Story Land featured more story telling in addition to arts and crafts, entertainment, and food vendors.

Of course, many events were open to book lovers young and old. The Spoken-Word Stage featured theatrical performances, musical groups, and performers reading the works of famous authors. Furthermore, slews of book vendors set up shop so patrons had the chance to buy books as inspiration struck.

Twelve years and still going strong, the festival draws in crowds ranging from 8,000 to 12,000. Punzalan-Hall credits the variety of activities and big-name writers for the event’s continued success. Some parts of the festival teem with frenzied fans while other sections allow bookworms to browse at their leisure, she says.

“Anticipation of one's favorite author reigns at the speakers' venues,” she says. “With so many activities occurring simultaneously, one experiences both excitement and calm during the festival.” –CG

Contact Punzalan-Hall at punzalat@eckerd.edu.

Best Hockey Team
The Puck Drops Here
Picking up a Florida Gulf Coast University brochure, you read of its sterling academic reputation and see pictures of a beautiful, palm-tree-filled campus where students play beach volleyball and jet-ski on a sparkling lake after class.

But students at this Florida school aren’t just making waves in the ocean—they’re making them on the ice as well.

In only three years, FGCU’s Eagles hockey team has skated into the national spotlight. The team competed in the 2004 American Collegiate Hockey Association Nationals in Scottsdale, Ariz., and are currently ranked No.1 in the South Region for ACHA Division III.

“Our team is one of the best around because we have depth,” says Nick Wichmanowski, 2004 team president. “Most of our team is comprised of Canadians and Minnesotans, but—believe it or not—Florida is full of very talented hockey players, too.” In fact, several of the team’s players are south Florida natives.

Coaches Don Awrey and Bob Brinkworth bring years of NHL experience to the rink and foster positive morale. “We have talent, experienced coaches, and a strong organizational staff,” Wichmanowski says. “Most of our players look at this team as very competitive but fun.”

Wichmanowski says his most memorable moment on the team was scoring their first goal three years ago during the inaugural game against Florida Atlantic University. “As a team, though, the most memorable moment would definitely be earning a spot in the national tournament,” he says.

However, no matter how many goals they score on the ice, the team’s players don’t lose sight of their academic goals. “We all came here for an education, but to be able to play hockey in Florida is just a huge plus,” Wichmanowski says. “Make no mistake about it, though—we play to win.” –LD

Contact Wichmanowski at nrwichma@eagle.fgcu.edu.

Best Alternative Spring Break
Tourists on a Mission
For many college students, spring break is all about tanning and tequila. For students at Warner Southern College, however, spring break is more than a much-needed vacation from school and an unneeded hangover—it’s an opportunity to improve the lives of others.

Each year, students at Warner Southern venture on an “alternative” spring break working with the Center for Student Missions. “The mission of our college is to promote faith, scholarship, and servant-hood,” says Mike Sanders, associate professor and campus pastor. “These students were interested in making a difference during their spring break.”

This year, students packed their bags and headed to Washington, D.C., where they fed the hungry and worked with disadvantaged youth though organizations like Martha’s Table, Vision DC, Iona HealthCare, and Food and Friends.

One of the most rewarding parts of the trip was when Warner Southern students tutored and played games with children at The Fishing School’s after- school program. “When we told the students at The Fishing School that we had to go back to Florida, they climbed on some of our students and simply wouldn’t let them go!” Sanders says. “We had to pry them off.”

The trip wasn’t all service and no sight-seeing, however. The spring breakers ate lunch on historic D.C. monuments, enjoyed dinner at ethnic restaurants, visited art exhibits, and sat in the audience during a taping of CNN’s Crossfire at George Washington University. “We had several students who are very interested in politics, so they truly enjoyed the Crossfire experience,” Sanders says.

The spiritual students also took in an evening prayer service at the National Cathedral. “The majesty of that cathedral just adds to the experience,” Sanders says. “Our desire is to make this service experience a worship experience. These kinds of things are just the icing on the cake.” –LD

Contact Sanders at sandersm@warner.edu.

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