Newsletter-Summer-2011

Summer
Winter2011
2010
City College of Ft. Lauderdale students
and staff assisted the City of LauderdaleBy-The-Sea on May 9th with a rare
underwater reef cleaning adjacent to
Anglin Pier. Volunteers gathered nearly
a half ton of monofilament lines and
netting, fish hooks, lead sinkers, and
assorted debris harmful to marine life. Divers also released a crippled shark
hooked to a piling beneath the pier. s
Ft. Lauderdale and Staff Assist in
Underwater Reef Clean-up
Fort Lauderdale Campus News • page 1
Community
Outreach
Students and Staff
Assist with Urgent
Whale Recovery
Project in Key Largo
S
Second term City College business student Brian Gagas bagging the debris he collected from the reef
ince May, students and staff
have been assisting with an
urgent whale recovery project in
Key Largo.
Spending up to four hours per shift in
the water, City College volunteers cradle
the whales, monitor their vital signs, and
assist biologists and veterinarians in
caring for the whales as they recover.
The activity is ongoing at the Marine
Mammal Conservancy site in Key Largo.
Fort Lauderdale nursing student Javier
Torres was interviewed by the SunSentinel newspaper as he cared for a
12-foot, 1,300 pound patient. “Even if
these animals can’t be returned to the
wild, we are saving a life. It’s a good
feeling to help a mammal in distress.”
Two whales were successfully
released and have been tracked as far
north as Bermuda. The remaining whales
may recover enough to travel to a marine
park or similar facility.
Thanks to all who are now helping and
have volunteered their time. City College
cares.
Find this newsletter online at citycollege.edu
Fort Lauderdale Campus News • page 2
Winter 2011 Broadcasting Awards
E
ach term Broadcasting students compete intensely to emerge as winners of the
various departmental awards.
Samantha Cooper was selected for
the Excellent Character award and the
Attendance Achievement awards were
presented to Erika Cabarcas and
Benitta Josey.
City College EMS
Department Hosts
Paramedics
Competition
On Friday May 27th, the EMS department
hosted an ALS (Advanced Life Support)
competition at the Hard Rock Hotel and
Casino. Sixteen teams throughout Florida
participated in the competition. Teams
gathered early in the morning to allow for
preparation of the judges and actors.
Each team was given a twelve minute
scenario that had the theme of an
underground casino party. In order
to mimic the difficulties of an actual
response call, multiple distractions
were simulated by actors during the
exercise. Each team had to treat six
patients with varying degrees of illnesses,
from drug overdoses to cardiac arrest.
The teams were scored based on
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These awards have served to inspire
students to excel in academics,
extra curricula activities as well
as to demonstrate qualities and
characteristics that highlight their
general deportment and professional
approach to the tasks they are
assigned.
At the start of the spring term, several
awards were distributed to outstanding
students. Dawn Kirk and Ariana
Almonte were judged Students of the
Quarter for day and night respectively.
Marcel Ledeoux was best radio
presenter and Marlon Solano best radio
producer. The awards for television
were given to Cristina Front (Best
Presenter) and Nelson Batista (Best
Producer).
These awards have
served to inspire
students to
excel in
academics...
the appropriateness of the care and
management of each patient. A majority
of the actors in the scenarios were City
College EMS students. Judges were predominately educators
from City College and area EMS Chiefs.
After nine hours of scenarios and judging,
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was deemed
the winner for the second year in a row.
Margate Fire Rescue placed second, and
Boca Raton Fire Rescue placed third.
This competition has now completed
its second year. The award was named
in memory of James Malcolm, a City
College and EMS Academy instructor that
passed away early last year. The winning
team received a traveling trophy that they
will maintain for one year. If Miami-Dade
wins in 2012, they will retire that trophy
and will be allowed to keep it as any
three-time champion should.
Congratulations to all that competed
and assisted!
Miami Campus News • page 3
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Miami Campus Hosts First Annual Wellness Fair
ity College Miami welcomed the community to the 1st
Annual “The Key to a Healthy South Florida” wellness fair,
a day-long event on April 21st. Hundreds of participants
attended the fair to take advantage of free blood pressure
screenings, diet analysis, massages and facial skin care, plus
giveaways from the Florida Marlins baseball club. Special
guests included radio host “Froggy” from “Elvis Duran and the
Morning Zoo” radio program, heard in South Florida on Y100,
who played music for the crowd.
“The Key to a Healthy South Florida” was created to
introduce the surrounding area to City College Miami, and
let visitors see the incredible new nursing facilities built
on-campus, which are among the most advanced of any public
or private college in South Florida.
The Marlins tent was a popular stop for visitors to “The Key To A Healthy
South Florida,” thanks to great giveaways
Students celebrate as some lucky winners take home great prizes during
a raffle
Visit the City College student web portal at myportal.citycollege.edu
New Surgical Labs
Double as TV Studio
Did filming for “Grey’s Anatomy” move
to Miami? The new surgical labs at City
College Miami are so advanced, they
could be used for actual surgery—and
now they are doubling as TV studios! Lights, cameras, and action were in full
force for the filming of new City College
commercials, which display the new
labs for the nursing, anesthesia tech
and surgical tech programs at the Miami
campus. Students had a lot of fun playing
extras during the shoot!
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Lights, camera, and action were in full
force for the filming of
new City College commercials.
Miami Campus News • page 4
Did You Know? Career Services Rocks!
Left to right- Kendall Mirville, Monica Goodlett, Gerald Zagaisky, Sodia-Rose Stephens, Lora D. James
likely to make money nor find much fun in
life.”-Charles Schwab
City College programs rank as some
of the fastest growing fields for the
next decade. Your education starts the
process and then you are off to work! Did
you know the average person works 45
years, and approximately 2,080 hours per
year? Wow. That is nearly 100,000 hours
you will be working in your career.
At City College, because you are welleducated, trained, and well-prepared for
your lifelong adventure, you will be happy
to be at work all those hours! We have
Career Services departments to assist you!
Who are these Career Services
Directors anyway? One of our most
seasoned Directors is in Gainesville.
Find this newsletter online at citycollege.edu
At City College, because
you are well-educated,
trained, and wellprepared for your lifelong
adventure, you will be
happy to be at work...
s
H
ave you ever noticed your
Career Services Director? Someone who is always smiling,
upbeat, positive, knowledgeable,
professional and caring? Of course you
have…..each City College location has
ONE and they all have the same great
traits! They are the cornerstone of City
College (hence they ROCK!)
Our Career Services Directors are here
for students, graduates and employers!
They are responsible for advising
graduates on professional development,
career satisfaction and success. We
want our graduates to be happy in the
career they have chosen!
“The man who does not work for the
love of work, but only for money is not
They call him “Zag”, but his name is
Gerald Zagaisky. Zag is extremely
involved in the community, Chamber
of Commerce and work force. He even
hosts a live weekly radio show on
“employment”. Kendall Mirville is in
the Casselberry City College. She is a
graduate of City College and has been in
job placement for 5 years. (She loved us
so much she didn’t want to leave!) Monica
Goodlett is in the Miami location and is
also a graduate from City College with
a B.S. degree, and then continued on to
complete her M.B.A. Our Main Campus in
Ft. Lauderdale has Sodia-Rose Stephens
as the Director, and Rhonda Frazer as her
associate. Both of them have extensive
experience in human resources and job
placement.
The team is strong! Zag, Monica, Rhonda
and Sodia all have M.B.A. degrees to go
along with their experience!
What does our Our Career Services
team do? We coach! This happens by
successfully assisting students with
online applications, resumes,
professionalism and teaching lifelong
employment skills. They know the job
market, the community, employers,
plus the Career Services Directors are
up to date on the newest and greatest
happenings in the “job” world.
Employers love City College graduates
for that exact reason: our students are
prepared for the work environment
and have learned the qualities to be a
solid and stable employee. Hundreds of
companies employ City College Graduates
because every department at City College
is committed to giving students and
graduates that extraordinary, educational,
experience….and beyond!
My advice to you is get to know
your Career Services Director, have
impeccable grades, attendance and
attitude. When you become a successful
graduate, you will be happy with your
new career for all of those one hundred
thousand hours!
Gainesville Campus News • page 5
Student Ambassadors’ Busy Spring
Newberry Watermelon Fest parade crew from Left to right- Career Services
Director Zag, Student Ambassador Alumnus Doug Carl, Student Ambassador
Camie Cummings, Student Ambassador Ivonne Black and son
I
t is spring time and the Student Ambassador team at City
College in Gainesville has sprung into action.
Apparently missing the parade scene, the ambassador’s
could not resist the Newberry Watermelon Fest parade on
Saturday, May 21, 2011.
Camie Cummings donated her truck and flatbed to shuttle the
student ambassador’s through the maniacal melon event. It was
a fun time for the participants, their family and friends.
The EMS students attending the event were prepared to
provide medical assistance in case any stray seeds found their
mark. Seed spitting safety tips were provided by the Career
Service Director, Mr. Zag.
Fortunately no one was injured by melon seed projectiles.
April 26 – 28 marked Student Appreciation Week and a special
guest appearance. A large furry creature was found roaming
the hallways handing out chocolate and posing for snapshots
with staff and students.
Student Ambassador Kim
Finnegan donated the costume
or the event and even wore it
around for a spin or two.
Ambassador Garritt Forstner,
also had a turn in the suit.
The barbecue meal was
prepared and served by the
Ambassador team who
volunteered their time to dish up
lunch and dinner. Special thanks Student Ambassador alumnus
Doug Carl, came back to the campus
to Camie Cummings for towing
to volunteer his time and energy
her grill to the campus.
barbecuing for Student
Appreciation Day
The Ambassador’s are
becoming an awesome presence
at the new student orientations. They present question and
answer sessions with the new students and also take the group
through a quick look-and-feel session on the student web portal.
Much thanks to the Student Ambassadors for contributing to
the success and support of all the students at City College!
The world’s safest rabbit is surrounded by 4 EMS students on Student
Appreciation Day. Left to right-Kim Finnegan, Ashley Walford, Brett Hedding,
Tiffany Lofton
Student Ambassador Camie
Cummings, hanging around with
the big furry creature on Student
Appreciation Day
Student Ambassadors throwing treats to
the crowd at the Newberry Watermelon
Fest parade
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Did you know City College students
and faculty qualify for exclusive
discounts from AT&T? Go to
att.com/wireless/citycollege
[New and current users eligible]
The City College float passing by at the Newberry Watermelon Fest parade
Gainesville Campus News • page 6
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Find us on Facebook.
Visit the City College
social media link at
citycollege.edu/social
Friends and staff pose for a picture during Professional Assistance Week. Left to right- Asst. Allied
Health Program Director, Dorothy Burney, Jacquelyn Hart from the Alachua County Equal Opportunity
Division, Career Service’s Director Zag
First Professional Assistance Week a Big Success!
P
rofessional Assistance Week
events spanned three days in
May (17, 18 and 19) and involved
10 separate organizations from the
Alachua county community.
The concept for the event was
spawned by suggestions from the
student body and bubbled-up through
the Student Ambassadors. The
student’s were looking for on-campus
visits from local organizations that
provide professional and personal
support.
After several Student Ambassador
meetings the concept was fine-tuned
and a list of potential visitors were
presented to the group. The group
selected their top picks from a list of
organizations. Once selections were
made invitations went out, and most of
the organizations agreed to attend.
The list of organizations who
attended included: FloridaWorks;
Remedy Intelligent Staffing;
Wachovia; U.S. Army; Alachua
County Sustainability Program;
Alachua County Equal Opportunity
Division; Alachua County Recruitment
Coordinator; Comfort Keepers; Dragon
Rises College of Oriental Medicine;
North Central Florida WIC Program.
Students who stopped to speak with
staff at the display booths were able to
learn about professional services and
job opportunities first hand. The event
participants handed out information and
gave advice to the students in a variety
of areas.
Professional Assistance Week guest, Joe Johnson,
from FloridaWorks (www.FloridaWorksOnline.com)
in front of his booth.
Numerous students visited the displays
in the morning and evening on each of
the event days. Plans are now in place to
repeat a similar event each quarter.
A special thanks is due to all the
individuals who visited the campus!
Professional Assistance Week guest, Stephen Wycoff, from Remedy Intelligent Staffing
(www.remedystaff.com) in front of his booth
Gainesville Campus News • page 7
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Employee Spotlight
City College Alumnus Author’s New Book
C
“I really had to lean on
my faith to push through
these hard times...”
“There were times that I felt like giving
up or just not going to class and someone
would call me to make sure I was alright,
this kind gesture kept me on my toes,”
said Williams.
Williams is kicking off her book publicity
campaign and has received good press
coverage to date with more events lined up.
The book signing at City College is the first of
many publicity events to come. July 12th the
book will be available nationwide through all
the large bookstore chains and online.
“I love everything about City College and
I feel honored and blessed that they are
playing a big role in my book signing. The
staff has been supportive since day one,”
said Williams.
Inspired Writers Club Members volunteer their time at Williams’ book signing event. Left to right- Toya
Dixson and LaChelle Howard
s
ity College Alumnus Sunnie
Rai Williams, officially launched
the publication of her book “Heaven
Sent Me Kevin” at the Gainesville
campus with a book signing event on
Saturday, May 14.
The City College campus hosted the
book signing event. Williams’ family and
friends manned the displays, served
the food and provided entertainment
for guests. Food and festivities were
provided for anyone who came in to meet
the author and pick up a signed copy of
Williams’ autobiographical story.
Williams, originally from Thomasville,
Georgia moved to Gainesville on January
3rd, 1997. Her son Kevin was two months
old when she arrived in Gainesville.
Moving to Gainesville was a big step
towards her independence. She had
three more children by the year 2001.
Williams enrolled at City College in
1999 and completed the A.S. in Allied
Health in 2001. She returned to City
College in October 2009 to complete her
Bachelors in Business Administration/
Project Management.
After a divorce, Williams became a
single mom of four and it was not an easy
task balancing family, work and school
matters.
In 2001 Williams started to notice
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Author and City College alumnus Sunnie Rai
Williams, eagerly awaits her fans at the book
signing event
severe behavior problems with her son,
Kevin.
“Life took an unexpected turn for me,
but I remained prayerful and positive,”
said Williams.
Williams documented Kevin’s
behaviors and reported them to his
physician. She also started a journal to
monitor progress in his behavior, which
later became a basis for some of the
material in her book.
“In 2002, when Kevin turned five years
old, he was diagnosed with ADHD, and
at the age of nine he was diagnosed
with Paranoid Schizophrenia. Kevin’s
condition got worst by the minute and I
had started to not sleep well at night,”
said Williams.
Williams struggled with Kevin’s
illness, which required much of her
time and energy. Balancing all of her
responsibilities and providing for the
needs of her three other children were
a tremendous challenge.
“I really had to lean on my faith to
push through these hard times, and I
still feel that God strategically placed
individuals in my life to help me along the
way,” said Williams.
In 2009, Williams began the process of
organizing her notes and Kevin’s medical
documents in order to begin formulating a
book.
“I finished my book in six months and
had it published with Tate Publishing in
2010,” said Williams.
During her most difficult times, Williams
found additional support from the
faculty and staff at the College. Williams
is grateful for her experience at City
College and points to the faculty and staff
perseverance as a contributing factor to
her growth and success.
Find this newsletter online at
citycollege.edu
Casselberry Campus News • page 8
Hispanic Businesses (and Scholarships) are Booming in Central Florida
T
EMS students Eli Zambrana and Sheila Pafford, Business
Administration student Ronald Nelson, and Allied Health
students Nadege Anderson and Myrlene Townsend
Business Administration Lead Instructor Gary Fitzgerald and
Business Administration student Lumarie Cordeiro with
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Representatives Lizette
Valarino and Jaime Pinero
he Business Administration program welcomed two representatives,
Lizette Valarino and Jaime Pinero, from The Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce of Metro Orlando. Ms. Valarino and Mr. Pinero gave a
presentation on scholarships, grants, and other topics affecting the Hispanic
population in metro Orlando. For the last seventeen years, the Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce has been instrumental in building awareness and promoting
leadership among Hispanic businesses and budding entrepreneurs in the metro
Orlando area.
Of particular interest to the students was the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship
Fund. Since 2000, the Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund (HHSF) has awarded
over $400,000 in scholarships to 134 students in Central Florida. To be eligible for
this $5,000 scholarship, the student must meet the following requirements:
• Be of Hispanic heritage
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
• Must have applied for Federal Financial Aid using the FAFSA
• Be enrolled full or part-time in a degree-seeking program at an accredited
institution in one of the 7 Central Florida counties: Brevard County, Lake
County, Orange County, Osceola County, Polk County, Seminole County,
and Volusia County
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Must attend the annual scholarship awards gala
• This scholarship is NOT applicable for students in graduate programs
There is no age limit for the scholarship, and students can apply directly
on the website.
Chicken and rice, along with other yummy Spanish dishes, were served after
the presentation.
Visit the City College student web portal at myportal.citycollege.edu
Never Fear... City College is Here!
City College of Casselberry is now a designated
Safe Place for kids that find themselves in need of
assistance. We are proud to be the first college in
Seminole County to participate in this program.
What is a Safe Place?
Easily identifiable by the black-and-yellow Safe
Place logo, Safe Places are businesses or
community facilities where kids can go if they find
themselves in a dangerous situation. Police
stations can be very intimidating, or too far away.
By participating in this program, we are taking
Director of Education Abby
troubled kids out of harm’s way and protecting
Freeman and Safe Place
them until help arrives. What happens when a
Representative Bethany Lacey
child goes to a Safe Place?
hold City College’s new Safe Place
sign.
• The child is asked, “Are you in trouble? Did
you come in here because this is a Safe
Place?” These questions are asked because a child in trouble may not just
walk up to the first adult they see and ask for help directly.
• If the answer is yes, the child is told that they are safe, and that they will
be helped. Details are not needed, as probing questions may frighten
the child.
• The shelter is called, and a worker is sent out to the Safe Place. The worker’s
name is taken over the phone so their identity
can be verified later.
• The child is told that someone from the shelter will be coming soon.
• The child is watched closely and made comfortable without drawing too
much attention. Normal business activity should continue.
• The child is kept away from strangers and outside influences.
• When the worker arrives, the worker’s identity is verified and the child then goes with
them back to the shelter.
If the child is seriously hurt, or at any time
threatens violence or suicide, 911 is called
before the shelter.
For more information about Safe Places, go to:
• www.seminolecountyfl.gov/dps/spprgs/
safeplace.asp
• www.safeplaceservices.org
• www.nationalsafeplace.org
Teens can also text the word “safe” and their
current location to 69866. Within seconds, they
will receive a text with the closest Safe Place
location.