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Most Friendly Tradition. Make new friends, but keep the old. That is the theme that pervades St. Thomas University’s Festival Villanova, an annual event that honors its patron saint. More than 300 students, alumni, faculty, staff and family members unite for a mass, honoring Saint Thomas of Villanova, and then a picnic, where they eat and play with old and new friends. "So many people get a chance to meet who wouldn’t normally have a chance to meet," says Susan Smith, associate director of development and external relations.

Best Point of Order. Business students at the University of North Florida go through the motions in the school's new Corporate Strategy Classroom, designed to look and feel like an actual boardroom. Housed in the College of Business, the room has a seal-the-deal feel with wallpaper and comfortable chairs to welcome visiting lecturers and business professionals. Weekend MBA candidates and students in UNF's policy classes enjoy multimedia presentations powered with Pentium PCs and document cameras connected to digital processors and LCD projectors.
     According to Associate Dean Jeff Michaelman, two more of the facility's technological wonders are the CSX technology lab and the J.M. Family classroom, which at first glance appear to be computer-free. In each room, 44 student workstations feature a clean desktop with an internal computer that's viewed through the mirror-like tabletop. All PCs are networked and have internet access so professors can guide classes through on-line research.

Best Episode of the Real World. University of Tampa students are tuning into the real world with direct access to a day in the life of a local executive. Students are chosen by each department in the College of Business and attend a training workshop prior to their live performance—a day of mentoring that puts them at the heels of local execs. Companies offering casting calls for CEO for a day include the American Red Cross, Charles Schwab & Co., Smith Barney, and The Tampa Tribune. "These companies are giving above and beyond the call to help and are going to get a great group of students in return," says Dale Bracken, director of the College of Business Center for Leadership.

Best Home Away From Home. Floridians who are on the move can touch down at the Florida House, a renovated townhouse near the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. The townhouse was first refurbished in 1971 by former Florida First Lady Rhea Chiles, who envisioned a place where Sunshine State visitors could relax and grab an O.J. The building, which marked its 25th anniversary last year, is the only facility of its kind in the Capital and welcomes about 25,000 visitors a year to enjoy refreshments, videos, and mini-lessons on government and history. Florida Congressional interns gather there to network, and corporations that donate $2,000 annually earn the privilege of hosting a business or social function at the Florida House, according to executive director Ellen Stavros.

Best Campus Safety Measure. To protect the school’s 700 on-campus students, Barry University constructed an 8-foot wrought iron fence, an aesthetic addition to the college’s award-winning environmentally friendly lighting. The thin black bars were built to replace a 4-foot masonry wall around the 40-acre main campus and now create a natural protection, along with 24-hour patrols by security officers. According to Freddy Ulloa, associate vice president for facilities management, "Perimeter fencing was put in place to augment patrols to prevent anyone from entering the campus except at controlled access points."

Best Brush with Stars. Still waiting for your 15 minutes of fame? Try transferring to Florida Atlantic University. Last September, Richard Hayes, a microbiology junior, took in a Florida Marlins vs. St. Louis Cardinals game at Pro Player Stadium, where he caught Mark McGwire’s 58^th home run ball. For returning it, Hayes got an autographed ball, bat, and hat, plus had his picture taken with the record-breaking Cardinal. Another FAU student, Chris Kopchak, a 21-year-old communications junior, met his favorite rock band and was on TV at the same time. MTV surprised him in July with a limo ride to the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Kopchak flew to Boston for an appearance on the show "Fanatic" to meet Aerosmith after he proved he was truly "Crazy" about the band.

Best Hump Day. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a hypnotist on campus to help you escape from school pressures and refresh your mind for classes? At Seminole Community College, hypnotists, jugglers, comedy shows and concerts come to campus every Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. to help alleviate mid-week meltdown. A recent rush party for the Outdoor Club drew more than 1,000 students. More than 200 persons attended the weekly events at the Student Center Cafeteria in fall 1998. According to Randy Pawlowski, coordinator of student activities, planned spring semester activities include a swing party, hypnotist Ronny Rom, a Hawaiian luau, and ventriloquist Taylor Mason.

Best Welcome Wagon. "We Are the World"—That might be the theme song for the World Friendship Society, part of the International Student Association at Florida Southern College. This user-friendly gang puts out the welcome mat for foreign students by introducing them to American culture. Maria Fossi, director of international students, says WFS organizes the BUDDY Program, which pairs new overseas students with FSC students who show them around the campus and town, and American Holiday, which shares traditions with the students. Fossi says the Society’s efforts to make the visitors feel comfortable are well-received. "A lot of the students wind up becoming good friends," she says.

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