SPC’s 2017 Presidential Scholars honored

This year, 37 of the best and the brightest students from across Pinellas County were selected as the St. Petersburg College 2017 Presidential Scholars. They will receive a total of more than $248,000 in tuition scholarship awards.

The event was held July 18 at the Clearwater Campus Auditorium.

Presidential Scholars were congratulated by:

• SPC President Tonjua Williams
• Senior VP of Instruction and Academic Programs Anne Cooper
• VP of Institutional Advancement and Foundation Executive Director Frances Neu
• Clearwater Campus Provost Stan Vittetoe
• St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus Provost Jamelle Conner
• Honors Program Director Earl Fratus
• SPC alumna Alexis Deveaux
• Pinellas County Schools Deputy Superintendent Dr. William Corbett

The Scholars and their family members were also treated to a speech from Deveaux, who graduated in May from SPC summa cum laude with a dual bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies and Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing Technology.

Alexis said, “The mission of St. Petersburg College to ‘promote student success and enrich our communities through education, career development, and self-discovery’ has become a moniker and guiding principle in my life.”

This year’s Scholars had an average weighted GPA of 4.38, an average SAT score for Reading and Math of 1235 and an average ACT score of 26.

Moments from last night's Presidential Scholarship Award Ceremony on #spcollege Clearwater Campus. pic.twitter.com/yZOgqlo2po

— StPetersburgCollege (@spcnews) July 19, 2017

SPC’s prestigious Presidential Scholarship recognizes outstanding achievement among Pinellas County high school students. Graduating seniors from public, private, parochial, and home school environments, who have a minimum weighted GPA of 3.5 are eligible to apply.

The scholarship provides full tuition for 60 credit hours of study at SPC. As Presidential Scholars, these students are automatically accepted into the SPC Honors Program, which is committed to ensuring the optimal educational experience for dedicated and talented students.

Presidential Scholarship recipients are selected annually based on merit and test scores.

See more photos from the event on the college’s Facebook page.

 

Read Full Post »

Summer Kickoff Promotes Women2STEM

The St. Petersburg College Clearwater Campus hosted its second annual Women2STEM Summer Kickoff to a full house on Monday, July 10. The event encouraged women to work toward careers in science, technology, engineering, and math with a series of Saturday workshops. Workshops begin on Saturday, July 15, and conclude on Saturday, August 5.

Inspiring Women to Excel

The kickoff event was a phenomenal opportunity for guests to network with industry experts and educators. Women already established in successful STEM careers met with prospective students. Coming from employers like Morphogenesis, Tech Data, Florida Wildlife, and MedXChange, they worked alongside guests in a team-building exercise.

The goal of the exercise was to build the tallest tower out of sticks and marshmallows in the shortest amount of time. The challenge highlighted the importance of creativity, problem-solving skills, and collaboration. The Saturday workshops will feature creative exercises like a biology murder mystery.

After the exercise, a panel discussion provided information on getting started in STEM. The panel was moderated by Student Success Manager Kay Morgan and Dr. Natavia Middleton, Dean of Natural Science and Engineering. Panelists talked about the importance of people skills, mentors, and what they like about working in the field. 

STEM at St. Petersburg College

The free summer workshops at Women2STEM will prepare prospective students to engage in a successful return to school.

From the new Biotechnology Engineering program to computer programming, these skills are in demand. Keep up with the latest on the Women2STEM workshops and other upcoming Women2STEM events on Facebook.

Interested in STEM? Learn more about St. Petersburg College’s Science and Mathematics, Technology, and Engineering, Manufacturing, and Building Arts programs on the college website.

Read Full Post »

Women 2 STEM free summer workshop series

A Women 2 STEM career exploration kickoff event, aimed at women interested or currently pursuing a college degree that leads to a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math is scheduled for:

Monday, July 10, 5:30-7 p.m.
St. Petersburg College Clearwater Campus, ES-104

As women continue to be under-represented in STEM fields, SPC and local STEM professionals are reaching out this summer to inspire, educate, and help women prepare for high-wage, high-demand careers. During this kickoff event, prospective and current SPC students will:

• Meet and network with SPC STEM faculty, local employers, and mentors
• Get all the details about this summer’s FREE Women 2 STEM Summer Workshop Series

Take the next step to begin your STEM career and register online today. Get updates via Facebook.

Women 2 STEM Summer Workshop Series

During the kickoff event, you can register to attend the FREE Women 2 STEM Summer Workshop Series where you will meet female mathematicians, scientists, engineers, and technologists and:

• Experience power-packed, project-based learning activities
• Explore high-paying, in-demand STEM careers to find your perfect fit
• Get help with time and finance management
• Meet mentors who are ready to help you complete your college degree

The Saturday workshops will be held on SPC’s Clearwater Campus, Room ES-104, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on:

• July 15 – Discover Your Strengths
• July 22 – Mapping Your Future
• July 29 – The Path Ahead
• Aug. 5   – The Start of Your Journey

All of these events are FREE.

Learn more about St. Petersburg College degrees at spcollege.edu/degrees-training.

Read Full Post »

SPC hosts College Visit Day for high school students Oct. 19

Pinellas County high school students can take a day off from classes on Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to visit St. Petersburg College’s open house events. Open to high school juniors and seniors, these events count as an official college visit day. While events will vary slightly from campus to campus, students can:

• Explore different majors – and the careers they lead to
• Take a tour of our beautiful campuses
• Learn about how to pay for college
• Attend College 101 Seminars
• Learn how to apply to SPC
• Attend motivational seminars
• Enjoy free refreshments

Ask for your official college visit letter to take back to your school as proof that you attended the event. Choose the campus nearest you:

• Clearwater Campus, ES-104
  727-791-5953; Navab.Saied@spcollege.edu
• Downtown Center, First Floor Lobby
  727-341-7966; Hall.Nicole@spcollege.edu
• Health Education Center, Lobby
  727-341-3777; hampton.michelle@spcollege.edu
• Midtown Center, Lobby
  727-791-2491; Walker.Calandra@spcollege.edu
• Seminole Campus – UPC Lobby
  727-394-6994; Reynolds.donna@spcollege.edu
• St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus, Music Center
  727 341-3533; Williams.Lucy@spcollege.edu
• Tarpon Springs Campus, Career and Advising Center Lobby
  727-712-5741;  dugas.becky@spcollege.edu

Read Full Post »

The Clearwater East Community Library is on its way

About 80 people witnessed the groundbreaking on Thursday, July 21, for the Clearwater East Community Library at St. Petersburg College’s Clearwater Campus. Dr. Stan Vittetoe gave opening remarks and welcomed faculty, students and guests.

“I’m so glad this day has come,” Senior VP Instruction and Academic Programs Dr. Anne Cooper said. “This library is a learning hub for our students and community.”

Clearwater Mayor George Cretekos talked about the impact a library has in the community. “The college and the city have worked really hard for this day,” Cretekos said. “The library has always been important to the community and vital to students.”

Student SGA Representative Courtney Kent described the new facility as “a safe place for the imagination to grow.”

The state-of-the-art, two-story building will be an open-space concept and will replace the existing facility, which was built in 1964. The $15 million library will house more than 90,000 electronic and print books.

SPC operates two other joint-use libraries in Pinellas County with the cities of St. Petersburg and Seminole. Both are thriving facilities where students and community members share access to an expanded range of resources. A joint-use library is a place where patrons can discover new ideas and enjoy cultural enrichment opportunities while students can focus on their academic pursuits.

Dr. Shannon Ulrich, a representative of the Faculty Governance Organization at SPC, gave closing remarks. “We believe a vast amount of knowledge will be cultivated at this site.”

 

 

Read Full Post »

Ride 2 Recovery opens cycling training center on Clearwater Campus

Ride 2 Recovery members and officials open their newest bicycling training facility on SPC’s Clearwater Campus Friday, Feb. 12.

On Friday, Feb. 12, officials from Ride 2 Recovery, a national physical and psychological rehabilitation and recovery program for veterans, opened an indoor bicycling training facility at the St. Petersburg College Clearwater Campus.

The center, called Project HERO (Healing, Exercise, Rehabilitation, Opportunity) Central Florida, strives to enhance the lives of area service members and veterans through adaptive cycling. According to Ride 2 Recovery, the mental and physical challenges of cycling have proven an aid in the recovery process of veterans, who train in an environment of support and camaraderie among like-minded riders.

At the center, veterans receive tailored fitness regimens and dietary and lifestyle counseling as they progress through individual cycling programs.

“We want to thank St. Petersburg College and the Student Veterans Association for hosting our program,” said John Wordin, President and CEO of Ride 2 Recovery. “It’s an extremely important project, and I think that over the weeks, months and year ahead, it will become a source of pride for the campus. There is no other program like this that combines the hard work and the reward of completing a goal you set for yourself that you were not sure you could accomplish.”

Clearwater Campus Provost Stan Vittetoe noted that nearly 7 percent, or 500 of the 7,300 students that call the Clearwater Campus home are veterans.

“The classroom experience is enriched and enhanced by the presence of our veterans,” Vittetoe said. “They provide a model of leadership, organization and self-discipline that you just don’t often see. The entire campus is better with them here … and they support each other. We are looking forward to having the students and community members participate in Ride 2 Recovery.”

The new facility opened the day before Ride 2 Recovery’s Honor Ride Florida at Tropicana Stadium in St Petersburg, where more than 500 cyclists supported injured veterans from across the state. Project HERO Central Florida is the fifth such center in the nation opened by Ride 2 Recovery.

See more photos on the college’s Facebook page.

Veterans talk about Project HOPE Central Florida

A veteran and his service dog attend the Project HOPE Central Florida ribbon cutting

A veteran and service dog at the Ride 2 Recovery event

Father, Robert “Bob” Swick, chairman of the Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance, addresses attendees before the ribbon cutting

Read Full Post »

SPC honors Dr. Vilma Zalupski: educator, WOW champion

This week, St. Petersburg College honored Dr. Vilma Zalupski for her dedication to the college, even into her retirement, and her continued support of Women on the Way, the college’s resource and support center for female students.

Dr. Vilma Zalupski takes part in the dedication of the Clearwater Campus Women on the Way center, which was renamed in her honor.

About 50 college administrators, faculty and students gathered Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the Clearwater Campus to take part in a reception for Zalupski. The event also served as a dedication where the campus’ WOW center was renamed in her honor.

Zalupski holds strong ties to the college. Her rise to the top began with a degree in counseling that led her on a path to become the college’s Dean of Women. Later named Clearwater Campus Provost, she is the first woman in Florida to have served as a community college provost.

Working closely with Women on the Way in its infancy, Zalupski has seen it grow into a program able to change the course of women’s lives. Even though she is now retired, she remains a WOW benefactor.

“I live in Tampa. If I lived closer… I would volunteer. But I do what I can. You know what they say, ‘Old soldiers never die’,” Zalupski said.

One thing WOW promotes is interconnectedness. That is, the ability to come together and achieve success through the help and determination of others.

“Working within WOW, and my career in general, I always made it a point to know everyone: how many kids they have, what they are going to school for, their hardships,” she said. “That general interest kept me connected to what was important.”

Words that have inspired Zalupski in her mission to help others: “It is in identifying yourself with the hopes, dreams, fears and longings of others that you may understand them and help them.” – Wilfred A. Peterson (Art of Awareness), March 2005

To Zalupski, WOW offers women a way to succeed beyond their expectations. Through scholarship initiatives, clothing programs and general support, the program offers students a shoulder to lean on.

Rebecca New, an SPC WOW member and education major, and WOW Coordinator Shirley Crumbley

“I know plenty of women who would not be able to go to school full time without the help from scholarships that WOW has given us,” said Rebecca New, an SPC WOW member and education major.

Some of the other unique opportunities WOW has given students involve textbook lending, workshops, class planning and access to resources for tutoring, housing and shelters.

And it does not stop there.

“They do this thing called Adopt-a-Family for Christmas,” New said. “The ladies in WOW literally bought my son a bike!”

SPC President Bill Law said WOW is a shining example of the college’s message to and goal for its students.

“The school promotes out-of-class support, interaction and help, as well as a genuine college experience to give students a push towards success,” Law said. “WOW is the best example of that model.”

Law reiterated that a plan is in place to put a WOW center on every campus.

WOW already has expanded to SPC Midtown, said WOW Coordinator Shirley Crumbley. The organization is scheduled to get centers at the Seminole, St. Petersburg/Gibbs and Tarpon Springs campuses by 2017.

As a leading lady behind WOW’s success, Zalupski feels it is a dream come true to see the program expand.

“Without her, WOW wouldn’t be as strong as it is today, and without her I probably would not have stayed at SPC for my bachelor’s,” New said.

Read Full Post »