Creating partnerships that change lives                                                    September 2014
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In This Issue
Fall 2014 Starting Off On The Right Note
McCloud To Lead Foundation Board
Florida College System Foundation Awards $47,312
1st United Bank Expands Scholarship Support
Scholarship Honors President Law
Alumni Association Celebrates President Brown
Bay News 9 Features SPC Alum
Vet-Tech Earns AAHA Accreditation
SPC Welcomes New Provosts
Palladium: Founders Gala
Create a Legacy
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SPC Foundation
Board of Directors
Willie H. "Bill" McCloud
Chairman

Joseph G. Blanton
John Brown
Kenneth P. Cherven
Stephen O. Cole
Paul Demirdjian
John W. Dosher  
Robert J. Fine, Jr.
Theresa K. Furnas
Jenn Greacen
Robert L. Hilton
Beth A. Horner
William D. Law*
Frances Neu*
Walter L. "Skip" Schafer Jr.
Steven Shepard
Shan Shikarpuri
Richard B. Winning
David Zillig

Directors Emeriti
Dan Carlisle
Leon R. Hammock
Helen K. Leslie
Alfred T. May
Thelma Rothman
Henry B. Sayler

Honorary Director
Wendell R. Ware

*Ex officio members
Fall 2014 Starting Off On The Right Note  

SPC campuses were buzzing with new and returning students when the new academic year began on August 18.   Over 32,350 students will be attending classes this term. The College saw impressive gains in enrollment - a 2.2 percent increase over last fall - including an 8.8 percent increase in First-Time-In-College students.    
 
 
Bachelor's degree programs grew by 6.7 percent and now accounts for 12.7 percent of overall enrollment at SPC. The top bachelor's degree programs at SPC by enrollment and student hours are nursing, business administration and education. 
McCloud To Lead Foundation Board  
 

Bill McCloud
The SPC Foundation Board of Directors elected Bill McCloud Chairman of the Board at its 35th Annual Meeting on August 13. McCloud joined the Foundation Board in 2011. He was instrumental in establishing the Gibbs Junior College Alumni Association also established the Bill McCloud/Veolia Transportation scholarship at SPC Foundation for students interested in STEM education.  In 2012, McCloud received the Benefactor Award from the National Council for Resource Development in recognition of his longtime service in the non-profit sector.   "Bill has truly distinguished himself as an outstanding leader in our community.  We are very fortunate to have his leadership and support," said Frances Neu, Foundation Executive Director.
  
Florida College System Foundation Awards
$47,312 to SPC Foundation   


Florida College System Foundation Chairman Tom Furlong, SPC President Bill Law and FCSF Board member Joseph Lang 
Dr. Tom Furlong, Chairman of the Florida College System Foundation, and Joe Lang, FCSF board member, presented the St. Petersburg College Foundation, with checks totaling $47,312, at the College Board of Trustees meeting on Aug. 19.  The contribution represents $30,090 from Helios Education Foundation for first-generation scholarships, $12,895 from Florida Blue for nursing and allied health scholarships, and $4,327 from Bank of America for first-generation scholarships.
 
The Florida College System Foundation was established in 1994 to help support the 28 state colleges in Florida. Since its inception, FCSF has provided more than $283,000 to support student success at SPC.

1st United Bank Expands Scholarship Support

Charlie Allcott, Executive Vice President of 1st United Bank presented Foundation Development Officer Shelly Clark and Foundation Executive Director Frances Neu with a donation of $2,500. The 1st United Bank scholarship supports students pursuing a degree in Nursing, Education, Banking or Finance programs.
Scholarship Honors President Law 
  

Dr. Bill Law, president SPC
Faculty accomplishments, awards and involvement were center stage at this year's Fall Faculty event. For a brief moment, however, the attention turned to Dr. Bill Law and his leadership over the past four years.

Frances Neu, VP Institutional Advancement and Foundation Executive Director, took a moment from the program's Q&A period to announce that college faculty and staff, as well as friends outside the college, joined together to establish and fund a scholarship in honor of Dr. Law. She said the scholarship praises Law for underscoring the role each employee plays in helping students finish what they start, adding that "the college team has done an outstanding job, and they also recognize that through it all, there's one person at the helm."

Neu said the scholarship aligns with Dr. Law's vision by putting students a step closer to earning a college credential which will change their lives. 
SPC Alumni Association Celebrates President Brown's Leadership

During the SPC Alumni Association's Aug 7 board meeting, John Brown was celebrated by his peers for his remarkable leadership over the past three years as the organization's president. Brown graduated from St. Petersburg College in 1997 with an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. He will continue to serve on the Alumni Association committee. 
(L-R: Back Row) Ken Burke, Jane Helms, Chrissy Risberg, Janet Conrad, Bill McCloud (Front Row) Gary Megaloudis, John Brown and Psalms Mack 

  

Bay News 9 Features SPC Alum
  

Joseph H. Lang, Esq. (Photo courtesy of BayNews 9)
In conjunction with the college's 125th commencement ceremonies, Bay News 9 featured well-known area alum Joseph H. Lang, Sr.  Lang, who graduated in 1959 from the then St. Petersburg Junior College looked back fondly on his years at college and the institution's achievements over the years. Since its founding in 1927, SPC has grown from having one campus as the state's first 2-year institution of higher learning to offering bachelor's degrees and boasting 10 campuses throughout Pinellas County. Lang, a partner of Baynard McLeod and Lang PA law firm in St. Petersburg feels that the education he received from SPJC properly prepared him for Duke University and his 50+ year career in law.  Lang continues to support SPC by contributing to the First Generation Scholarship and as the lead Trustee of the Robert S. and Mildred M. Baynard scholarship at SPC Foundation which has provided over $335,000 of financial support to students since it was established in 1997.  

A total of 1,121 students earned 1,257 degrees from SPC during the Summer 2014 term.  Graduates ranged in age from 17 to 72, with 14 graduates over the age of 60. With this graduating class, the college has awarded 141,875 degrees since the college was founded in 1927. 
    
SPC Vet-Tech Earns AAHA Accreditation

SPC's School of Veterinary Technology has received full accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association, the highest status within the veterinary medical profession. Only three of the 221 vet tech programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association are also AAHA accredited.

 "It is a tremendous credit to the dedication of our faculty and staff to provide the highest quality learning experience for our students and care for our animals," said Rich Flora, Dean of the School of Veterinary Technology.

SPC's $11 million Veterinary Technology facility features 32,000 square feet of state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, surgery and x-ray suites, kennels and offices. Located next to Pinellas County Animal Services, it is easy for students to gain valuable work experience and for county services to benefit from student volunteers.  
     
SPC Welcomes New Provosts 
  
  Dr. C. Scott Fronrath  
 
Dr. Charles "Scott" Fronrath   
  
Dr. Charles "Scott" Fronrath has joined SPC as the new Allstate Center Provost. Dr. Fronrath recently served as an Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Keiser University. He has 17 years of law enforcement experience and his teaching experience includes police tactics and officer survival techniques for a variety of law enforcement agencies throughout the State of Florida. He has been involved in the community and serves on several boards, committees, and labor unions. Dr. Fronrath began his service at SPC in June.
 
  Dr. Marvin L. Bright
 
Dr. Marvin L. Bright
  
Dr. Marvin L. Bright has been named Provost of the Tarpon Springs Campus. During his 20+ years of experience in higher education, Dr. Bright has held several administrative positions in academic and student services. He comes to SPC from the Virginia Community College System where he served as the Chief Officer of Student Success Initiatives. Prior to this role, Dr. Bright served as the Chief Administrative Officer of Tidewater Community College's Norfolk campus where he provided leadership as the Provost responsible for advancing the College's mission and strategic plan. He began his duties at Tarpon Springs in June.
LRMA Hosts 12th Annual Stone Crab Fest  
 
Join the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art for a laid-back evening of food, fun and music by De Lei'ed Parrots on Saturday, October 18 at the Tarpon Yacht Club. A silent auction begins at 5:30pm and the buffet opens at 6:45pm. The cost is $60 per person or $70 the day of the event (if available). This event sells out early so reserve your tickets now!  For tickets, call (727) 712-5229.
  
The Palladium Theater is hosting a Founders Gala to celebrate those leaders who helped establish the theater including:  William and Hazel Hough; Gus, Frances and Paul Stavros; George Rahdert; Dar Webb; and Mary Wyatt Allen. Guest chef, Tyson Grant of Parkshore Grill will be providing a decadent menu and guests will be entertained by the musical stylings of Nate Najar among others. The event will be held at the Palladium Theater on Friday, October 3, beginning at 6:30pm. Tickets are $150 per person. Seating is limited. For reservations call (727) 341-3128.  
Class Notes

   

Class of 2011: David Owen, A.A., is currently working as a CNA with Grace Healthcare and a HHA with Visiting Angels.

 

Class of 2010, 2012: Lauren Weber, A.A., continued her education at St. Petersburg College, earning a bachelor's degree in Business Management  and Organizational Leadership.  She is now working as a paralegal and plans to attend Stetson University to earn her J.D.

 

Class of 1995: Jan DeGraw-Higgins, A.S., in Veterinary Technology, is actively volunteering as a puppy raiser for Southeastern Guide Dogs.  Her passion is puppy raising and she has a solid love for dogs.

 

Class of 1990: David Starr, A.A., earned his B.A. degree in Sociology/Anthropology at Florida International University.  He became a Certified Bookkeeper, A.I.P.B., in 2008.
  
Class of 1978: Leonard Phillips, A.A., went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida in 1980.

 

To share your accomplishments with your fellow alumni, send us an email to foundation@spcollege.edu.

 

Create a Legacy That Gives an Education
 
Bequests, charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities, IRAs, and gifts of property are some of the ways you can provide significant and lasting support to SPC.  To learn how your planned gift can meet your financial objectives while supporting the work of the College and the aspirations of students, call us at 727-341-3302.  Change a life today!
P.O. Box 13489 | St. Petersburg, FL 33733-3489 | (727) 341-3302
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