Best of Florida Schools 2005
Web-Only Categories—Page 5

Best PR Party
Write on!
There’s nothing like getting to know someone by letting them write all over your chest—and then returning the favor.

The Public Relations Club at Flagler College thought it would be the perfect icebreaker. Students wore their white T-shirts to the White Lion bar, and as music pounded from the speakers, they wrote all over one another—and the tables.

“The graffiti party is something different from the Thursday-night college scene,” says Marie Cirelli, president of the club. “It gets students socially involved with their peers. We like to hold the graffiti party at the beginning of the year so that students can meet new people.”

This year, the event was thrown together at the last minute, but that didn’t stop the group from putting together a massive promotional campaign. It included “sexy” posters and a street crew of girls donning T-shirts with sayings like, “If anyone wants to write on me, follow me to the graffiti party.” But word of mouth was what really helped push the event over the top. When the doors opened, people were lined up waiting to get in. Then, students began doodling and dancing the night away.

Sarah Catalanotto, who attended the first annual graffiti party in 2003, enjoyed it so much that she not only joined the club, she helped organize “The Graffiti Party Revisited” this year. “It was a great way to meet people because it was my freshman year,” she says.

According to Cirelli, at the end of the night, “there wasn’t a plain white T-shirt in sight.” Students not only walked away with a revamped wardrobe, but they had a few new friends as well. —MM

Contact Cirelli at mcirelli@flagler.edu.

Best Exceptional Education Program
Metamorphosis of the Heart
When a boy named Curtis Grams sat next to Ashlee Watson on the first day of the new semester at Florida Southern College, she had no idea that her life was about to make a 180 degree turn.

Curtis wasn’t like the rest of Watson’s classmates. He wasn’t taking the Old Testament religion class to fulfill a requirement or to receive any credit at all. He was there primarily to learn how to improve interpersonal skills with people his own age—something most of us take for granted.

Curtis was a part of the transitional student program offered by FSC in conjunction with the Polk County Public Schools Exceptional Education Department. Through the program, students with mild disabilities such as cognitive and communication disorders are able to gain socialization and vocational skills. The students receive instruction geared toward their needs as well as one or two low-level college courses. “What we’re trying to do is develop a friendship network,” says Kathleen Milburn, special education major coordinator.

Friendship is exactly what Watson found in Curtis. She helped him throughout the semester and in the process met the rest of the transitional students. At the end of the semester, due entirely to Curtis and a newfound desire to work with people like him, Watson changed her major from biology to
special education. Like Watson, most students at FSC have accepted the transitional students with open arms. “They embrace them,” Milburn says. “I don’t think there’s been a discouraging word—ever.”

Student athletes have organized special half-time shows geared especially toward the exceptional education students. FSC even has a club that focuses on exceptional students, the Student Council for Exceptional Children. SCEC invites transitional students to help plan Exceptional Children Week. During the week, five students in the program will stand up and tell their stories.

Brittany Kosik’s story began four years ago. Her father asked her what she wanted to do when she got out of school, and the answer came quickly—she wanted to attend FSC. But due to her disability, Kosik couldn’t keep up with regular college classes. Kosik’s dream moved her father to action. He organized a group of parents who also had older children with disabilities and approached the school board. The school board contacted FSC and the transitional program came to life. Four years later, Kosik is still a student at FSC. Thanks to her dream and her father’s determination, students like Watson were inspired to take on careers they never considered.

“The transition program has touched my life and changed my concept of it more than anything else,” Watson says. “They’re a constant encouragement to me throughout my college career. I just hope that one day I’ll make them proud by becoming a special education teacher who is as caring and compassionate as they are.” —MM

Contact Milburn at kmilburn@flsouthern.edu.

Best Homecoming
Viva Las Vegas
With attention-grabbing ad campaigns and the popularity of TV-broadcasted poker tournaments, Las Vegas reigns as one of the hottest vacation destinations in the country. Although many students at Jacksonville University aren’t yet of gambling age, JU’s “Viva Las Vegas” Homecoming gave them a chance to experience a carefree week of fun under the guarantee that “Whatever happens at JU, stays at JU.”

This October, JU’s student programming board, Dolphin Productions, worked tirelessly to put on a homecoming celebration worthy of the King himself. “We decorated the student lounge with green and white and gold, with balloons and ribbons, and we put poker chips out on table tops,” says Jessica Bonano, DP’s homecoming coordinator. “Decorations helped grab students’ attention, so they knew what was going on.”

Celebrations commenced with a kickball tournament and the Homecoming King and Queen contests. But one of the biggest draws was “Casino Night,” where students could try their luck at black jack, poker, and slot machines while watching Ocean’s 11—all without worrying about losing the shirts off their backs. “Everyone who walked in got fake money, then went to the tables and used that to get tokens for the slot machines or chips,” Bonano says. “For every $1,000 you won, you got a raffle ticket. We raffled off everything from MP3 players to a DVD player to DVDs to CD players.”

 The following night, the student union was transformed into a nightclub where all the Elvis-wannabes on campus could swivel their hips in an Elvis look-a-like contest. After a professional Elvis impersonator performed, all the contestants took the stage. The competition wasn’t just a showcase of white sequined jumpsuits and blue suede shoes, however. “One guy was decked out in Elvis gear like Elvis would wear for a show, and then one dressed down like Elvis would be just being casual,” Bonano says. “The guy who won had slicked back hair, glasses, and a brown suede outfit.”

On Friday, more than 500 students gathered on the low-lying green between JU’s residence halls and arts buildings for their traditional “Rally in the Valley” and “Mock Rock” lip-synching contest. Fourteen student organizations, from the cheerleading squad to ROTC, did their best impressions of Vegas headliners during the event. “Everybody was judged on their outfits, how well their song or costume related to Vegas, and their performance,” Bonano says. While the judges debated over who won, the football players psyched up the crowd, encouraging them to come out and support the team at the game. The fired-up fans capped off their experience with a huge bonfire celebration.

On football Saturday, student groups came out strong to sponsor a Family Fun Zone for visiting children and families. More than 100 people enjoyed the carnival games, inflatable rides, and food. And for the big game itself, Lady Luck appeared to be on JU’s side, as the Dolphins racked up one of their biggest wins of the season over Austin Peay State University. More than 300 students celebrated the victory by dancing the night away amid ace, club, and spade decorations at the Radisson Riverwalk Hotel.

This year’s homecoming was so successful that everyone wanted a souvenir to remember their “trip” to Vegas. Throughout the week, DP sold more than 300 of their $5 homecoming T-shirts—black shirts with green and white letters spelling out “What Happens at JU Stays on JU” on the front and “Welcome to Fabulous JU” on the back, a twist on the famous Vegas sign. “Last year, we ordered a lot of T-shirts and were still trying to get rid of them later,” Bonano says. “But this year, we had no shirts left over. The students really embraced our theme.”—AMC

Contact Bonano at jbonano@ju.edu.

Best Volunteer Experience
NSU’s Senior Prom
You’re invited to the third-annual “Senior Prom!” Feelings of anticipation filled the ballroom where Nova Southeastern University students waited for their dates—residents from local nursing homes.

Last December, 41 residents of the Sunrise Health & Rehabilitation Center and the Harbor Beach Nursing Home attended a prom sponsored by NSU’s Office of Volunteerism and Community Service. The 47 students who attended the event accompanied their dates throughout the evening. “It’s amazing how the event unfolds as seniors enter the resort to be greeted by students,” says Jennifer Bowman, graduate assistant of the Office of Volunteerism and Community Service. “The students introduce themselves and escort their dates over for a photo, then fill out nametags, pin on corsages or boutonnieres, and enter the room.” During the event, each senior citizen won a raffle prize. Prizes included watches, stuffed animals, and glassware.

The magical night stayed in the hearts of students as well as their dates. “The Senior Prom had an extremely positive and heartwarming effect on me, as I was able to give back to the senior citizens of our community,” says Robin Furmanski, an NSU freshman.

Residents of both nursing homes received manicures, makeovers, and hair styling before going to the prom, which was held at the Best Western Rolling Hills Resort in Fort Lauderdale.

“I know that eventually one day, I may be in a home similar to one of those, and I would like to see the excitement and joy of young-adult faces,” Furmanski says. “I feel that the seniors enjoyed our prom with them greatly. I’m looking forward to next's year prom!”—MAC

Contact Bowman at jbowman@nova.edu.

Best Volleyball Fans
Super Fans Pump Up PBA
Sure, it’s fairly common to see zealous sports fans decked out in wigs, covered in face paint, and cheering wildly at college basketball and football games. But, when was the last time you saw such a spectacle at a volleyball match? Well, if you’re a fan of the Lady Sailfish team at Palm Beach Atlantic University, the sight of such crazy fans will strike you as nothing new. “They’re just so crazy and off the wall—always full of energy,” says Janice Trigg, director of student activities.

Since last fall, a gang of devoted “Super Fans” has rocked the house and shocked the crowd at every women’s match. Their typical apparel consists of women’s volleyball jerseys, knee-high socks, wrist bands, crazy wigs, and intricate face paint. These fans always make sure to represent PBA by donning the school’s colors of silver, blue, and white. “I think they’re just really happy to be college students and excited to be at PBA,” Trigg says.

Besides their over-the-top appearance, the Super Fans pump up fellow fans with an arsenal of astounding cheers. Their antics include roaring into megaphones, using boom sticks, pumping their fists, boxing with one another, and playing leap frog. But of course, no match would be complete without a group sing-along of the school’s song, “Ole PBA Sailfish.” “They always sit in the front row and really get the crowd going,” Trigg says. “Whatever they do, the rest follow. It’s quite a show!”

Not only do they attend each and every home match without fail, but they manage to make their presence known at away games as well. In fact, they’ve even made the trek all the way to Alabama for the National Christian College Athletic Association South Regional Tournament. Many students and staff agree that the support of these devoted fans helped the team battle their way to the top and become the 2004 NCCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball National Champions. “The Super Fans really keep the players motivated to do their best,” Trigg says. –CG

Contact Trigg at janice_trigg@pba.edu.

Copyright © 2006 Oxendine Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved