Honorable Mention Winner
Oliver Davis, III
Okaloosa-Walton Comm. College
Sophomore in Criminal Justice
3.71 GPA

When Oliver Davis, III, 19, responded to Florida Leader's annual "What Florida Students Think" poll in Fall 2001, he told us, "We have shown that life at a two-year college can be as rewarding and enjoyable as anywhere else. We always have fellow students in anticipation of the next activity held by the Student Government Association." This statement is proudly made by one of the people responsible for making Okaloosa-Walton into the spirited institution it is today.

When Davis came to OWCC, "SGA was inactive and un-spirited," he says. "After being elected SGA Secretary, I brought my new attitude to a basically dead college atmosphere and brought out the spirit in every member of my organization." In his two years as secretary, Davis has helped create a number of activities on campus. Some of those activities have been focused on others outside of the student body, including a Red Cross blood drive each semester and a Thanksgiving food drive. Sometimes, he has worked in activities that help boost the "fun quotient" on campus, like the fall and spring picnics and the annual Christmas party. But Davis is most active in creating a strong SGA that serves the school and the student body. "The newborn spirit [on campus] is a product of my college's remodeled SGA, but the newborn spirit in my SGA is a product of my efforts and determination," Davis says. He was president of Open Forum for Election 2000 and has participated in "Campus Visits," where SGA members visit other neighboring community colleges and sit in during their SGA meetings. He also represents OWCC as state executive board secretary for the Florida Junior/Community College Student Government Association (FJCCSGA), as well as District IV secretary. In doing so, he has helped put together the President's Assemblies, and he has travel to Tallahassee to meet with the legislative liaison and with local senators and house members with issues concerning the community college system.

Davis isn’t just about SGA. The Philippine-born student currently is president of the International Club, parliamentarian of the African-American Student Association, and member of the Entertainment Club and Phi Theta Kappa. His intramural football team was champion in fall 2000 and 2001. And don't forget that we're speaking of Sergeant Davis, rank E-5, of the OWCC ROTC.

Davis covers his expenses with a part-time job and scholarships. SRR

Contact Davis at ineedamirakle@excite.com