Florida Leader magazine publisher Butch Oxendine and  Michael Wielgus, President, ClassCredit, Inc. for Sun Trust Educational Loans with the 2000 Florida College Student of the Year Award finalists.

     All 20 students were honored at the annual Florida College Student of the Year Awards ceremony in Tallahassee on April 14. The event was held on the scenic 22nd floor of the State Capitol Building and is televised by Sunshine Network. Call (352) 373-6907 or email info@studentleader.com for more details on when the Student of the Year TV show airs.

Overall Winner
Richard Vidal
Florida State University
     Some may think Richard Vidal has leadership in his DNA. Vidal won’t argue with that. "I think there’s an inborn drive within everybody in my family," he says. "I get passionate about work—I won’t eat or sleep, because I get so excited." Vidal uses his innate quality to better people’s lives as the founder of the International Medical Outreach Program, the first international service-learning experience for pre-med students at FSU.
     Florida Leader magazine, SunTrust Education Loans, Publix Super Markets, and a statewide panel of judges are proud to recognize Richard Vidal, a senior in biology, calculus, and pre-medicine at Florida State University, as the 2000 Florida College Student of the Year.
     For the outreach program, Vidal organizes missions in which medical students provide health care through temporary clinics in countries lacking advanced technology. In the past year, he expanded the program to include two more weeklong missions to Haiti for the 12 student members. Volunteers performed triage duties, ran lab tests, and assisted in minor surgeries.
     "As students with training, we’re allowed to do a lot we couldn’t do in the US," he says. For the group’s January trip to Haiti, Vidal collected more than 1,000 pounds of medications and supplies donated by pharmaceutical companies, physicians, and local businesses, and as a result, the missionaries treated more than 700 patients.
     Vidal also is founding President of the American Medical Student Association, the first organization for pre-med students at FSU committed to service, the interests of the patients, and diversity. For AMSA, Vidal coordinates weekly meetings, speaker visits, and biweekly hands-on service projects such as providing health care for underserved communities.
     As the Student Government Association’s director of health, Vidal designs programs to create a more student-friendly environment at FSU’s Thagard Health Center. Vidal’s position on the Student Advisory Committee, in which he reviews the health center’s operations to improve student access, allows him to create projects such as "Health and Fitness Awareness Week." His dedication to medical service has led him to be named the Student Advocate for the American College Health Association. Vidal also is a board member of the Florida Office of Collegiate Volunteerism, a member of Burning Spear—a group dedicated to upholding FSU traditions—and an Interfraternity Council Judicial Board justice who serves on the standards council for FSU’s Greeks. "The vice president of IFC chooses respected individuals from Greek chap-ters to review backgrounds and cases of any fraternity that gets in trouble," he says. "We act like lawyers—it’s a whole formal process."
     Though he’s preparing to apply to medical schools such as Johns Hopkins and Columbia while staying involved, Vidal says he doesn’t feel overwhelmed. "My parents came from Cuba alone at the age of 12. My dad worked hard, became successful, became a doctor, and provided so much for us—I want to be able to do the same one day," says Vidal, 22. "To put it simply, accomplishing my goals just makes me happy.
     "One of my weaknesses is that I get really passionate about my work, and at times, it can have a derogatory effect on my relationships," he says. To use his time wisely, Vidal balances academics, finances, friendships, and philanthropies by grouping them all together. Currently, he partially funds his education through training to become a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist at his job at a tissue bank while fulfilling his enthusiasm to help others.
     The Sigma Phi Epsilon "Brother of the Year," who led the Florida Epsilon chapter to win the Interfraternity Council Service Award, also merges his love for travel and camaraderie with service. This summer, Vidal will serve as a medical assistant in Africa and in several cities in Europe. "I love to travel. You learn so much from it," he says. "I take so many things from people from different cultures such as their philosophy on life. We view wealth as happiness, and they view health as happiness.
     "I want to continue to be a balanced individual in academics, service, leadership, and research, and stay happy," Vidal says. "There’s so much I want to do and so many dreams I want to accomplish. It’s a challenge to do so much without giving up something else." While he holds numerous leadership positions, Vidal knows that being a one-man-show isn’t the best way to achieve his goals. "I love to lead and delegate and watch and learn from people," he says. "During meetings, I present 10 leadership commandments, and one of them is ‘Delegate, delegate, delegate.’"
     While Vidal, the first runner-up for FSU’s 1999-2000 Homecoming Chief, says that his family members are born leaders, he still tries to develop his natural ability. "I take pieces from a lot of people, like something a person says to me over the phone or comments from a total stranger. I’ve had a lot of people in my past influence the way my life is going," Vidal says. "I like very much to sit back and be a third-person observer, being able to watch people working and look at the big picture."
     Vidal says his friends probably would describe him as a good listener who always has a smile on his face and is very rarely tense. "I don’t do anything that stresses me out," Vidal says. "If that means squeezing something in to see the smile on people’s faces, or not committing to something because I can’t give it my all."

First Runner-Up
Johnathan Hosman
University of West Florida
     As a leader, Johnathan Hosman says he’s the one who usually gets the pat on the back for positive achievements, but he can’t take all the credit. "People can make decisions just as well as I can," he says. "I listen to everyone’s opinion and use the best option—it helps everybody reach their goals."
     Florida Leader magazine, SunTrust Education Loans, and Publix Super Markets proudly recognize Johnathan Hosman, a senior in marketing at the University of West Florida, as the first runner-up for the 2000 Florida College Student of the Year Award.
     A perfect example of the two-term Student Government Association president’s ability to make one person’s dream a reality is the Big Argos/Little Argos program. During a Florida Student Association meeting, a leader from another institution suggested a mentor program bringing high-risk elementary school children to universities. Hosman, the current president of FSA, the umbrella group for the 10 Student Governments in the State University System, immediately started the program at UWF in November 1999. Through Big Argos/Little Argos, fifth-graders can build lifelong friendships through campus visits, letters, and outings every semester with college leaders and athletes, so they have someone to look up to for motivation and guidance. "Just because an idea is someone else’s vision, doesn’t mean it won’t work on our campus after it’s been modified a little," he says. Big Argos/Little Argos became the program Hosman is most proud of for many reasons such as the way the plan is now being implemented at other schools statewide.
     Hosman, 21, also revived UWF’s Aware-ness-Grievance Day, during which students discuss how they can better UWF and their college experiences by working together. "It was also a time when students could voice their opinions on the changes they would like to see take place on our campus," he says. "The only difference between me and others that have been in the same positions previously, is that I have taken advantage of the opportunities."
     His participation in the Residence Hall Association as a resident advisor since 1997 is another of Hosman’s daily responsibilities. "I try to establish a mutual respect with the residents and myself—we’re there for the same reasons, so we all work together to make it a nice living environment," he says. Hosman, who avoids TV and enjoys socializing with friends in his spare time, balances his position as a confidante and as a rule-regulator by treating the residents as his equal. "We’re all adults. I try to emphasize common-sense things such as not playing music loud to show respect for others," he says. This role, combined with his job as a Student Activities events crewmember and a scholarship, mainly fund his education.
     Hosman says time conflicts, such as instances when he can’t mount educational posters in the dorm because he’s out of town for a conference, make his job as a leader difficult. "You’re involved in a lot of things, and you can’t put one thing more important than another," he says. "One of the most challenging things is trying to find an equal balance, so you don’t lack in one area."
     When his life gets hectic, Hosman thinks about the rewards his involvement offers him. "The feeling that I’ve helped out others improves my self-worth, and if someone’s in a bad mood, I like to watch them get into a good mood," he says. "I play kickball with elementary school kids in my free time, and they can’t wait for you to come back—I’m someone they think cares about them."
     Hosman says periodic downtime keeps his energy level high. "One week I’m really productive, and the next week I will relax, which motivates me for the next week," says Hosman, who organized Martin Luther King Jr. "Day On," an event in which students do service projects on King’s birthday, which is usually an "off" day. "I never get stressed out—you can get it all done sooner or later. I take one day at a time. I’m always in a positive mood.
     "Not one individual can accomplish everything themselves. They’re only as good as the people they surround themselves with," he says. "I have been fortunate to have quality people around me." Hosman says the "quality people" surrounding him include his older brother James, who influences him to become really involved, and his parents, who instilled his work ethic, values, and morals. Hosman credits the lessons from his family for helping him manage all his duties and roles such as his Greek positions. In addition to being Interfraternity Council vice president, he also serves as fund-raising chair and community service chair for his fraternity Kappa Alpha, leading the Epsilon Sigma chapter to accumulate 1,040 volunteer hours. Currently, Hosman is the organization’s ritualist and changed the group’s image of being "a bunch of rednecks." "Many people have the impression that we’re racist, because our founders were Southerners," he explains. At a Diversity Council conference, Hosman spoke out against this stereotype and says he knew he made a difference when a former member thanked him for having the courage to speak.
     While Hosman achieves many of his goals such as getting SGA involved at the state level with FSA, some of his dreams are just a little out of reach for now. "I’d like to go to heaven—think of all the people you would get to meet," he says. In the meantime, he’ll work toward another vision. "I’d like to be remembered as someone who made a difference in SG and the community—someone who cared about others and helped people feel good."

Finalist
Anna Berger
University of Central Florida
     I want people to remember me for the positive differences I have made," says Anna Berger, 20. "I begin every day by seeking opportunities in which I can reach out to people. I encourage others to think about this question: ‘Will you be remembered for making a difference?’ My answer is yes."
     During her freshman year, Berger helped organize the Leaders Involved For Tomorrow (LIFT) Summit—a three-day leadership conference for 100 Florida high school juniors and seniors. "It’s amazing to see a group of individuals come together to accomplish a common goal," says Berger, who served as LIFT’s 1999 executive director. "When you see the end product and how much you actually can accomplish if you combine your talents and ideas, the rewards greatly outweigh the work and effort—and it’s the best feeling to know that in some way you helped that happen."
     In the Delta Delta Delta sorority, Berger serves as the Beta Lambda chapter’s academic development officer, counseling members who have academic problems. "In this position, I’m also part of a select few ladies who serve as a board that is responsible for the overall functioning of the chapter," Berger says. She also served as a rush counselor in 1999 to improve pledge retention and to guide prospective members through Rush. As an assistant Panhellenic officer, Berger coordinated all chapters’ philanthropic participation.
     For the Student Alumni Association and the Student Alumni Ambassador Council, Berger plans socials, service projects, and fund-raising events. She also belongs to the President’s Leadership Council, a select group chosen to host special university events.
     "Someone once said that it’s not necessarily how bright your candle can shine at one time, it’s more the longevity and how you choose to shine," she says. "I have to remind myself that I can’t be everything to everyone." Although she encourages others to know their limits, Berger does promote doing as much as they can handle. "The more you get involved, the more people you meet, and the more memorable your college experience will be."
     Berger has combined her leadership roles with her jobs, which together with scholarships, support her education. As an intern at Florida 2012—the group preparing Orlando’s bid to host the Olympics—she coordinates receptions and sporting events. As a student assistant for SGA, Berger assists the director of administrative services. "I’m there to answer any questions that people may have about Student Government," she says. Berger also is a teacher’s assistant for the LEAD Scholars Leadership Class, a segment of the selective leadership, academic, and service program for freshmen and sophomores.
     To recharge, Berger takes power naps and reaffirms her commitment to her cause. "Reminders of my goal, my purpose for whatever I’m doing at the moment, is what drives me," Berger says. "I would hope people would remember me for getting involved in diverse activities and helping out wherever I was needed."

Finalist
Donna Creamer
Lake City Community College
     In the college version of "Duck, Duck, Goose," Donna Creamer is definitely the goose. "I got the whole concept of being a goose when I watched the movie The Mighty Ducks," says Creamer, 42. "It was so interesting how they couldn’t work unless they pulled together as a team."
     Creamer says teamwork is the basis of her everyday life, and that it helped her go back to school 25 years after she dropped out. "I married at 15 and left high school," she says. "When I went back to school, I was excited to learn, but a little terrified of whether I would match the standards of other students and if I was doing the right thing." But with Jesus, her family, and teacher Dr. Sheri Carder as her team, Creamer says she overcame her fears and delved into an education full of leadership activities. "My husband and children support me and understand when I can’t be home," she says.
     As president of Students In Free Enterprise, Creamer conducts all the meetings, prepares the agenda, recruits members, and coordinates projects. Plus, to encourage teamwork, she asked campus clubs for help with SIFE’s coat drive last November. As a result, the clubs collected 200 coats over the goal and distributed 1,200 to the needy.
     As director of the Pathfinder/Adventure Club for children, Creamer started the "Adopt-a-Grandparent Program" at The High Springs Care Center. "Sometimes, these elderly people rarely get a family member or visitor to see them," she says. "We made 17 baskets of personal hygiene products to give them. It was heartwarming to see the children open up."
     Creamer also devotes time to Phi Theta Kappa and Vacation Bible School at High Springs Seventh Day Adventist Church. With Phi Theta Kappa, she collects dues as treasurer and assists during the induction ceremony. In her role as director of Vacation Bible School, Creamer increased enrollment from 20 to 75 kids and taught a class of her own. "After doing the whole week program, I had a little girl come up and hug me," she says. "All my work was worth it to have her come up and thank me like that."
     As for leading others, Creamer believes it takes more than just developing clever ideas, and that if she’s not committed to a job, she can’t ask someone else to do it. "It’s not just telling others what to do, but getting out there and participating too," she says. "I don’t give orders unless I’m ready to go out and do the same." And when club members have a negative attitude, she says: "I don’t just shut them out. I listen to them to see their angles on a project. I want them to feel like a part of the team. That usually works for me."
     As if she didn’t already have a full schedule, Creamer works as a waitress at the Waffle House on weekends, often working double shifts to help support her education. She also participates in a student work-study job and gets financial aid.
     Creamer says she hopes to leave behind a legacy of motivation and teamwork for others. "I want people to know they can do it, that I was a high school dropout who came back to college and succeeded."

Finalist
Davien Fernandes-Jones
Miami-Dade Community College-North
     When I know I touch other people and help them find their purpose, then I know I’m living my purpose," says Davien P. Fernandes-Jones, 20. "I see a connectedness to everybody—whatever I do will affect someone else later on."
     Now near the end of his second term as SGA president, Fernandes-Jones originally ran for the top office after serving as an appointed governmental relations director. "I was a little skeptical about it," he says. "In high school, I ran and I lost by a little bit of votes." The confidence-boosting win jump-started Fernandes-Jones’ campus activism. "It’s just an abundance of happiness that would go through me, because it’s like I have the ability to make change," he says.
     Fernandes-Jones says his biggest accomplishments during his first year as president in 1998-99 were creating an on-line book-swap and opening up access to the wellness center to all students. His team also established "Lyric Lounge" for students to read poetry, sing, or rap in a low-lit room with refreshments, balloons, and incense. "Because of our diversity, everyone can relate to it," he says.
     Though Fernandes-Jones was prepared to step down at the end of his first term, his student peers urged him to run again. "I declared my candidacy on the last day," says Fernandes-Jones, who won unopposed and has focused this year on uniting student groups. "Last year, I don’t think we were able to pull everyone together as close as we did this year."
     In addition to serving as SGA president, Fernandes-Jones is one of two student reps on the District Board of Trustees, is an enhanced Phi Theta Kappan, and writes for the Falcon Times newspaper. He also visits local high schools to recruit for the college’s honors program. "A lot of people have notions that community college is the 13th grade," says Fernandes-Jones, who supports himself with an honors scholarship, a book grant, and a part-time job. "I show them the other side—how much opportunity there is." In the community, Fernandes-Jones has worked with the homeless with the Miami Rescue Mission, collected toys, clothes, and school supplies for the needy, and tutored at-risk children.
     A team-oriented leader, Fernandes-Jones values the part each member plays in the group’s success. "It’s like a puzzle, and all of us complement one another," he says. "There’s never a hierarchy in importance, but some-times there’s a hierarchy in responsibility."
     Fernandes-Jones credits his parents and siblings for teaching him to lead. "My family is everything," he says. "They’ve been coaches, motivators, people who have inspired me and taught me to inspire others." Last August, Fernandes-Jones and his sister Jenee traveled to Trinidad to meet with government leaders about incorporating service through education. Their visit got national news coverage, and the two continue to monitor their pilot program.
     When he’s grooming upcoming leaders, Fernandes-Jones helps them bring out the potential they already have. "I know that’s how I got on my road to involvement—other people saw what I couldn’t see in myself."

Finalist
Gary Slossberg
University of Florida
     Creating more social harmony isn’t too lofty a goal for Gary Slossberg. "I’m an idealist," says the 22-year-old. Calling his loss last year in the race for student body president a "blessing in disguise," Slossberg’s spent his final year at UF as an advocate for gay rights and the prevention of sexual assault against women. "This year has brought me closer to issues that affect people in a real way," he says. "I’ve become a feminist, as weird as that may sound, since I’m a guy."
     One of only four men in CARE, a group of 20 peer educators who speak to classes and student groups about sexual assault, harassment, and rape, Slossberg says he takes satisfaction in becoming part of the solution rather than the problem. "Sexual assault is a crime about power and control," he says. "When we dehumanize people the way we do, it encourages that culture. We need to make a conscious effort to speak out against that—both women and men."
     Slossberg says his experience as past president of the Jewish Student Union and the Inter-Residence Hall Association has allowed him to "lead from a membership perspective" in CARE. "It’s interesting to go back to being a member again," he says. "It’s more you lead by example in the simplest sense. You don’t have a stage from which to speak, yet you can create one through the things you do, and people notice that."
     As hall director in the "communal" Buckman Hall, one of UF’s two cooperative living facilities, Slossberg supervises a staff of five and balances the roles of disciplinarian and confidante for his resident peers. "I need to play supervisor if rules are being violated, but I always try first to advise them, encourage them, and make suggestions," says Slossberg, who supports himself with scholarships and his employment through the Division of Housing.
     In the community, Slossberg has coached a YMCA tee-ball team, worked with the homeless and with abused boys during Alternative Service Breaks, and volunteered for Dance Marathon. He also serves as the student member on the Regional Transit System Citizens’ Advisory Board and UF’s Committee on Sexism and Homophobia.
     To keep the underdog’s issues on SG’s agenda, Slossberg continues his role in campus politics as chair of the Vision Party. "It’s interesting that we’ve been a force to be reckoned with despite the fact that we’re underfunded and we have less manpower, whereas the other parties have a guaranteed base of support from the Greek system," he says. "You don’t have to go with what’s popular to be successful. You can do what’s right and not popular, and still be successful."
A principle-centered leader, Slossberg says the biggest problem with contemporary politicians is their lack of focus on constituents’ needs. "People are too concerned with what’s going to get them the right resume line or the right recognition, when they should be concerned with the people they are elected to serve," says Slossberg, who will attend law school in the fall and eventually plans to run for public office. "I believe that leaders are people who inspire others to do greater things than they normally thought were possible."

Finalist
Jennifer Story
Florida Gulf Coast University
     No matter what you do, there’s always a way to serve others," says Jennifer Story, whose "service attitude" is the catalyst behind her many accomplishments. At FGCU, Story has been the founding president of many organizations including the American Sign Language Club. "People within the deaf community have a lot to contribute to our community, yet so many of us are unable to experience their friendships because of the language barrier," Story says.
     In 1998, Story resigned as president of ASL to give others the opportunity to lead. "I give others a chance to lead and prove themselves so that they’re prepared for the future," says Story, 20. "If we hog all the opportunities, then we will fail to train our future leaders." Story’s legacy of leadership continued on when she also became the founding president of several other campus organizations including the Outdoor Adventurers Club, the FGCU Choir, and Phi Eta Sigma honor society. "Starting organizations has been something that I love to do," Story says. "But it’s watching new leaders blossom and take over, and watching my university family and my community family merge together that I take pride in the most."
     Even though she’s established many student organizations, Story says her greatest achievement has been her involvement in Challenger Baseball—an organization that gives children with handicaps the opportunity to play. Story started going to the games when her younger brother, who has Down’s Syndrome, joined the league. "Ever since then, I have been a volunteer and worked with these children," Story says. The team’s slogan, "Challenged, not defeated," reminds Story never to give up. "When problems arise, they are a challenge and should not stop us, but motivate us to beat the obstacles." Since becoming a "Buddy" for the Challenger Baseball Team, she also has motivated a dozen other FGCU students to become involved.
     Along with volunteering for the league, Story serves as the current president of the Student Government Association, historian for The Crest student ambassador organization, and secretary for Golden Key honor society. Story says she balances her daily schedule by prioritizing. "The order that I stick to is: ‘family, God, academics, and extracurricular activities,’" she says.
     If you asked Story who her greatest influences are, she would give you three answers: "my parents, my first boss, and Jesus." "My parents taught me that there’s more to life than what you accomplish and that family comes first," Story says. "My first boss taught me that a good employee is one who works diligently without someone hanging over their shoulder, and Jesus teaches me how to treat others." Although her role models have made a tremendous impact on her life, Story has begun to shape her own legacy. "I want to be remembered as someone who treated others with respect and listened to the needs of the students," she says. "God’s gift to us is our talents, and our gift to him is what we do with them."

Honorable Mention Winners
Kristy Belton—Barry University
Dana Block—Barry University
Carrie Burns—Florida Southern College
Carmen Cardenas— Miami-Dade C.C.
Candace Churchill—University of Florida
Jenee Fernandes-Jones—Florida International University
Sarah Hard—Saint Leo University
Stephanie Harris—Saint Leo University
Mariuche Harth—Lynn University
Shannon Mullen—Florida Gulf Coast University
Jason Riddell—Hillsborough Community College
Daniel Sullivan—Lynn University
Caroline Thong—Flagler College