The Year So Far at Santa Fe College

July 16, 2024

July 16, 2024 – This retrospective highlights the progress and successes that have defined the past six months, showcasing the dedication and hard work of our community. Join us as we celebrate these accomplishments and look forward to the promising future ahead.

Awards and Honors

• This year's Women of Distinction and Woman of Promise were named: This year's Women of Distinction are Naima Brown, Jeannine Hogue, Teri McClellan and Chrissy Thompson. The Woman of Promise is Honesty Huston.

• SF Marketing & Communications earned five NCMPR Medallion Awards: The MarCom team would go on to win two Gold NCMPR Paragon Awards.

• Herman Ramos and Lee Starling were awarded Part-Time Faculty Excellence Awards: The honor recognizes part-time faculty who demonstrate excellence at Santa Fe College, in their profession and in the community.

• The SF Model U.S. Senate team won nearly half of the awards at the 52nd Annual Model U.S. Senate: The competition happened March 21-23.

• The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society awarded a Paragon Award to SF President Dr. Paul Broadie II: SF's PTK chapter earned an international 5-star rating for the second consecutive year.

• SF students participated in the 2024 SkillsUSA Florida State Leadership and Skills Conference, winning Gold and Silver awards: Winning the awards demonstrates Santa Fe College's excellence in vocational education, boosting its reputation and students' employability.

• The Dance Theatre of Santa Fe was selected for the Gala concert at the American College Dance Association's annual conference: Santa Fe College was one of only three state colleges to attend the conference and the only of those three selected for this highest honor.

• Justin Jackson was named the FCSAA Pitcher of the Year: Over 15 appearances and 98 and one-third innings pitched, he posted a 2.20 ERA, the second lowest in the FCSAA, and earned a FCSAA best 11 wins, which are tied for the second most in NJCAA Division I.

• Cheryl Farrell won the 2024 Career Service STAR Award Winner: This employee embodies excellence in Service, Teamwork, Attitude and Reliability (STAR).

• The SF District Board of Trustees honored the Teaching Zoo Founder: Ray Giron was honored with a resolution recognizing his vision and contributions to what would become the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo.

Events

• "Take 5" celebrated relationships and jazz: Theatre Santa Fe presented the 10-minute play festival.

• Sweethearts twirled the night away at the Valentine's Swing Dance: The semi-formal event included light appetizers and free swing dance instruction.

• The Santa Fe College Concert Band entertained with some of America's most popular tunes in the annual "Winds Go Pop!" concert: Highlights of the program include selections from "West Side Story," with music by Leonard Bernstein.

• Blount Hall hosted this year's Digital Health IT/E Summit: "AI, Cybersecurity, Leadership, OH MY!" aimed to raise awareness of programs offered at Blount Hall as well as educate the community on artificial intelligence, leadership and cybersecurity.

• "Jazz Up Spring" honored the music of Duke Ellington and Count Basie: The 15 students in the Jazz Ensemble and the eight students in the Jazz Combo alternated music by the two composers throughout the concert.

• The Santa Fe Singers were joined by the Santa Fe Guitar Ensemble and the Voices Rising Community Chorus for the "Sing into Spring" concert: The event was organized and sponsored by the Santa Fe College Fine Arts and Entertainment Technology Department.

• SF held its annual Open House on March 23: The event was filled with valuable insights and engaging activities for prospective students.

• Students in the Dance Theatre of Santa Fe took audiences on a trip through time during their annual "Elements of Style" performances: Audiences enjoyed eight dances in styles that ranged from West African tribal celebrations through 1800s ballet up through 21 century contemporary modern dance, jazz and hip-hop.

• Santa Fe Winds performed "Spring Winds and Classics" on April 4: The concert was free.

• The SF Teaching Zoo hosted Party for the Planet: This event was funded in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County.

• The Spring Arts Festival returned: The two-day festival included experiences that everyone could enjoy, including local music and art, kid zones, and food trucks.

• Santa Fe College hosted the CTE Showcase: The event featured SF's CTE programs and various services that support students in these programs.

• Theatre Santa Fe presented "Noises Off!" in April: "Noises Off!" premiered at the Lyric Theatre in London in 1982 and has since been produced worldwide, including on Broadway.

• The RUE Festival was held on April 22: Students presented 24 different posters highlighting research performed as an SF student.

• SF hosted the Mind Body Life Mental Health Symposium: Representatives from the institutions within the Florida College System were invited to attend the event.

• World Tree Kangaroo Day occurred at the SF Teaching Zoo on May 18: Zookeepers were out in full force to give keeper talks and more.

• The Dance Theatre Of Santa Fe presented "Room to Dance" in June: A question-and-answer "talkback" between the audience and the student choreographers followed each performance.

• The Health Information Technology Showcase happened on June 27: Blount Hall hosted the event.

News

• Dr. J. Nathaniel Southerland was named SF Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs: His first day was March 11.

• Santa Fe College welcomed a CCAP Delegation from South Africa: The South African delegation of the Community College Administrator Program visited the college for two weeks.

• The Bradford County School District was awarded $4 million by Gov. Ron DeSantis to support expanding SF's Associate in Science in Nursing program into Bradford County: The collaboration with Bradford County complements SF's efforts to expand nursing education.

• The college named its baseball field in Harry Tholen's honor: Tholen is a member of four halls of fame.

• SF celebrated the 40th anniversary of its Displaced Homemaker Program: A reception was held March 12 where graduates of the program shared their program experiences.

• "La Tour" was installed on the Northwest Campus Oak Grove: The sculpture is from the artist John Henry.

• SF Men's Basketball Coach Chris Mowry retired: John Ritzdorf is the new Men's Basketball Head Coach.

• SF students guaranteed admission to 17 UF programs: Officials from both institutions formalized the partnership during a signing ceremony on April 1 at the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall on Santa Fe College's Northwest Campus.

• SF launched the new Student Engagement Center: Housed on the second floor of Building S on the Northwest Campus, the space will include multiple meeting rooms of various sizes as well as common gathering space.

• Coach Savanah Webster earned her 100th win as the Head Coach of SF's Women's Softball team: Coach Webster later led the Saints into the FCSAA Region VIII tournament.

• SF's UF@SF Center marked the 1000th Associate in Arts degree graduate from its University of Florida partner programs: The milestone was reached a decade after the graduation of the first program student.

• The Project SAINT grant was renewed: Project SAINT will continue to provide a very important college experience to young adults with intellectual disabilities/unique abilities.

• Santa Fe Academy expands access to sophomores and adds college options: The school may now accept applications from 9 graders, who would enter the academy in the Fall as 10 graders.

• Construction began on the Cellon Institute: Scheduled to open in Fall 2025, the Cellon Institute will allow for expansion of key trades programs in Welding and HVAC, as well as the addition of an Engineering Technology Advanced Manufacturing degree program.

• SF students completed its 14th Habitat for Humanity house: Students in Santa Fe College's Construction and Technical programs worked with crews from Alachua Habitat for Humanity.

Stay up to date with SF news and events at sfcollege.edu/news/.

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