Daytona State Alumni Association honors past leaders at convocation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 10, 2014) – For their outstanding service to the institution, two former senior executives were honored by Daytona State College’s Alumni Association on April 9 during the college’s annual awards convocation, which also recognized more than 175 students for academic achievement. CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENTIRE RELEASE

Local health-care administrator earns Daytona State’s Crumley Award for science achievement

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 10, 2014) – Daytona State College alumnus George Kastroulis has been awarded the institution’s prestigious 2014 Margaret Crumley Award for Distinguished Achievement in Science. CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENTIRE RELEASE

Daytona State College honors students at awards convocation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 10, 2014) – More than 175 students were honored during Daytona State College’s annual outstanding student awards convocation held April 9 on the Daytona Beach Campus. The convocation is the preceding event to the college’s commencement exercises that take place in May. CLICK TO VIEW ENTIRE RELEASE

Dental Science professors, students volunteer their expertise

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 10, 2014) – Teams of Daytona State College dental science instructors and students took service to heart this spring, putting their training to use as volunteers benefitting underserved populations.

Pam Ridilla, chair of the School of Dental Sciences, this semester took part with groups of students in a number of volunteer service activities. During one activity, Ridilla completed nearly 70 oral hygiene screenings and referrals as part of her volunteer work with the Flomich Avenue Baptist Church’s Dental Bus.

In the same activity, students in Daytona State’s Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting programs participated, gaining valuable experience assisting volunteer dentists in performing various procedures, provided free to patients. They included Marliz Figueroa, Kylee McDaniel, Nicole Woehr, Rebecca Echevarria and Shannon Young.

In March, Ridilla and Dental Sciences Assistant Chair Leslie Fehl took a group of students to participate in Mission of Mercy, a two-day event held at the state fairgrounds in Tampa, which was sponsored by the Florida Dental Association. Dental hygiene students who participated in the event were Echevarria, Jennifer Balduf and Thao Tran. Dental assisting students included Ashley Johnson, Stephanie Hall and Mary Rymarczyk. Collectively, event volunteers performed free dental procedures valued at more than $1.1 million, treating more than 1,600 low-income patients.

In other service work, dental assisting and dental hygiene students volunteered, along with community dental personnel, for “Give Kids A Smile” and “Early Head Start Dental Hygiene Clinic” to provide preventive and restorative dental services.

The students also provide ongoing oral health education to residents in two assisted living centers and a retirement community in DeLand. 

The college’s School of Dental Sciences offers a certificate program in dental assisting and an associate of science degree in dental hygiene.

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This week at DSC: an Afternoon with da Vinci Robotic Surgery; Convocation - student awards ceremony; Improv Night and Spring Open House (DeLand Campus)

During Tuesdays' WISE Lecture "Afternoon with da Vinci Robotic Surgery," learn from Dr. Kelly Molpus about the sophisticated robotic platform designed to expand the surgeon's capabilities and offer a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive option for major surgery.
 
Anyone interested in exploring a college education, advancing their career or re-tooling for a new job should make plans to attend a Spring Open House at Daytona State College.
 
Find out what's happening this week at DSC.

Daytona State honors students, employees for life-saving action

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 3, 2014) – Twelve Daytona State College employees and students were honored on April 3 for their life-saving response to emergency incidents as part of the Campus Safety Department’s annual Wall of Fame program.

The recognition highlighted Campus Safety Awareness Day, an annual event promoting a safe and secure collegial environment.

During the event, Chief Operating Officer and Provost Tom LoBasso noted that college-wide safety awareness efforts have resulted in decreased incidents on campus and contributed to the college’s safe environment.

Guest speaker Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood lauded the college’s Campus Safety team and encouraged attendees to remain vigilant. “You are the eyes and ears of policing,” he said. “If you see something, say something. Trust your life experience and trust your gut. If you see something that doesn’t belong, chances are it doesn’t.”

The Wall of Fame program recognizes students and college employees who have demonstrated exemplary behavior during a campus safety-related matter.

Among this year’s honorees were:

• Nursing students Jerico Balduf, Leslie Coker, Jennifer Hirsch, Dolly Miles, Michele Povilaitis and Jennifer Smith, who, on March 6 this year, risked their own safety to render aid to motorists involved in an auto accident. Working as a team, some entered a smoldering vehicle and administered emergency first aid until paramedics arrived, then continued to assist throughout the rescue operation. “These students recognized a dangerous situation and reacted as experienced professionals, and are a true credit to their career passion,” said DSC Director of Campus Safety William Tillard in presenting the awards.
• Receiving Clerk James Keeling, who, on Feb. 11 this year, helped apprehend a fleeing assailant. Keeling observed the suspect trying to leave and flagged down a campus safety officer and a Daytona Beach police officer, who quickly captured the suspect after a brief foot chase. “Without James’ quick thinking and action, the suspect would have escaped,” Tillard said.
• Former student Josh Price, who, last December, came to the aid of a student who was having a seizure north of the Daytona Beach Campus Library. “As the student passed out, Mr. Price prevented his head from hitting the concrete,” Tillard said. “Without his quick thinking and action, the student could have been seriously injured.”
• In October last year, instructor Lisa Smith was teaching a CPR class at the Advanced Technology College when she was alerted to a call about a mother who had rushed her unresponsive child to the ATC thinking the facility was a nearby hospital. Her quick actions and expertise stabilized the child until EMS units arrived to take the child to a local hospital for treatment.
• Daytona State adopted a tobacco-free campus policy last summer. Much of the effort behind this initiative can be credited to Fitness Center Coordinator Nancy Homen, who organized campaigns to help people quit smoking, conducted surveys of students and employees regarding implementation of a tobacco-free campus policy, and helped sway institutional perceptions about tobacco use on campus. “She remained dedicated and enthusiastic in her united efforts with other employees and staff who recommended her for this award,” Tillard said.
• In April last year, Tillard and student Sherry Bowers assisted a young man who had suffered a seizure outside Bailey Hall by administering life-saving CPR until paramedics arrived. The young man was not breathing and was turning blue; however, their quick thinking and actions likely saved his life.

The day also featured information by participating vendors, law enforcement displays and demonstrations. Campus Safety also offered a CPR Certification course during the event.

The day concluded with a simulated lockdown drill employed in the event of a critical incident on campus.

Safety awareness activities took place at all regional campuses as well.

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Daytona State Alumni Association seeks to grow membership

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 1, 2014) - The Daytona State College Alumni Association is looking for new members interested in reconnecting with the institution.

“Through our shared experience, the Daytona State College story can be told, benefitting future alumni, friends of Daytona State and the community at large,” said Suzette Cameron, president of the association’s Board of Directors.

The association recently kicked off its membership drive, aimed at inviting former students to join at no cost. In addition to being open to anyone who has earned a degree or certificate from the college, membership also is open to those who have taken at least one course, as well as to transfer students, non-credit and continuing education students.

By taking advantage of their free membership, alumni enjoy these benefits:
• Invitations to special “alumni and friends only” events
• Networking opportunities
• Free admission to Southeast Museum of Photography programs and a 10 percent discount on gift shop purchases
• Free use of the DSC Library
• Free use of the College Writing Center
• Free use of the DSC Career Placement Center
• Use of the Lemerand Fitness and Aquatic Centers
• Complimentary online subscription to the DSC President’s Communique
• Use of the Dental Hygiene Clinic (DeLand Campus only)
• Use of Massage Therapy (Daytona Beach Campus only)
• Use of Cosmetology services (Daytona Beach and Deltona campuses only)
• Use of Barbering services (New Smyrna Beach-Edgewater Campus only)
• Access to quality programming delivered by WDSC TV-15

*All Benefits require a valid DSC Alumni ID card which can be obtained by completing and submitting the Alumni Association Membership form at Alumni.DaytonaState.edu.

To become a member or for more information, visit the Alumni Association website or call (386) 506-4506.

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