DSC to offer Advanced Technical Certificate in Project Management

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 29, 2016) - Beginning fall semester, Daytona State College will offer a new Advanced Technical Certificate in Project Management, a credential that is highly prized

by employers seeking skilled managers in a wide range of industries.

The 25-credit-hour program can be taken as part of Daytona State’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management (BAS) degree or as a stand-alone certificate for anyone who has already earned a two-year associate degree.

“This is a highly sought-after credential,” said Daytona State President Tom LoBasso, who noted that an advisory committee of area business leaders working with the college’s School of Management has affirmed that employees with project management skills are in high demand locally. “The creation of this advanced technical certificate program is a direct result of Daytona State working with our local business partners to help our area economy grow and diversify.”

The program consists of two existing courses offered within the BAS degree program, plus six new program-specific courses that cover such topics as scheduling and logistics, quality management, business process analysis, project risk management and more. Students can sit for eight different industry certifications as they move through the certificate program. Financial aid is available.

Project managers generally plan, coordinate, implement and finalize complex projects according to specific standards, deadlines and budgets. They may be responsible for launching new products, managing construction projects or manufacturing processes, implementing new technical systems or standardizing procedures to ensure quality control throughout a product lifecycle.

The average salary range for experienced project managers in the Orlando Metro area is $100,246 to $153,479, based on the published Robert Half’s Technology Salary Guide.

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This week at Daytona State; Job Fair, softball and baseball, Smokey Joe's Café at the News-Journal Center

A musical revue featuring 40 of the greatest songs ever recorded, Smokey Joe's Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, takes to the stage in the Gillespy Theater in Daytona State College's News-Journal Center, March 4-5, at 7:30 p.m.

Admission is free to Daytona State and Volusia and Flagler county students; all others are $8 per person or $15 for two.

Find out what's happening this week at DSC...

Daytona State OTA students to help mature drivers find ‘perfect fit’

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2016) – Students in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Daytona State College will put their training into practice by participating in the March 23 CarFit®  event – a unique program that offers older adults the opportunity to check how their personal cars “fit” them.

Created in 2005 by the American Society on Aging and developed in collaboration with AAA (American Automobile Association), AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association, the CarFit® check takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and is designed to help older drivers find out how well they currently fit their personal vehicle. The program identifies actions drivers can take to improve their fit, and to promote conversations about driver safety and community mobility.

WHAT: CarFit®
WHEN: Wednesday, March 23, from 8.30 to 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Florida Lutheran Retirement Center-Good Samaritan Society, 450 N. McDonald Ave., DeLand FL 32724

"Students will lead older drivers through a 12-point checklist with their vehicle,” said OTA Academic Clinical Coordinator Shirish Lala. “It’s a great opportunity for our students to work in the community, and each assessment concludes with recommendations for car adjustments and adaptations that could make the individual’s cars “fit” better or enhance their safety.”

According to the CarFit® website – www.car-fit.org – older drivers are often the safest drivers in that they are more likely to wear their seatbelts and less likely to speed or drink and drive. However, older drivers are more likely to be killed or seriously injured when a crash occurs due to the greater fragility of their aging bodies. Driver safety programs improve adult driver safety by addressing cognitive abilities and skills; however, older drivers can also improve their safety by ensuring their cars are properly adjusted for them. A proper fit in one's car can greatly increase not only the driver's safety but also the safety of others.

To register for the March 23 CarFit® event visit www.car-fit.org/carfit/ViewEvent/5139/ or for additional information, call (386) 506-3850.

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This week at Daytona State; WW2 panel discussion, Smokey Joe's Café at the News-Journal Center

A musical revue featuring 40 of the greatest songs ever recorded, Smokey Joe's Café: The Songs of

Leiber and Stoller, takes to the stage in the Gillespy Theater in Daytona State College's News-Journal Center, Feb. 26-27 and March 4-5, at 7:30 p.m., and for a matinee performance, Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.

Admission is free to Daytona State and Volusia and Flagler county students; all others are $8 per person or $15 for two.

Find out what's happening this week at DSC... 

Inaugural Falcon Con - gaming and anime convention - Feb. 20 & 21, 12-8 p.m.

Hosted by the Daytona State College Tabletop Gaming Club, this event features tournament game demos with popular games such as Magic The Gathering, Munchkin, DC Superheroes, Deck Building Game, Marvel Legendary Deck Building Game, Warhammer 20k, Jenga, Dungeons and Dragons and Pathfinder. In addition, tables for open gaming for other classic boardgames will be available for games such as Risk, Monopoly, Sorry, etc. 

This week at Daytona State; STEM lecture, WISE, The Millennial Show, Falcon Con, Falcon Athletic home games

It will be all fun and games at Daytona State College's News-Journal Center, Feb. 20-21, when the college's Tabletop Gaming Club hosts Falcon Con, its first-ever gaming, anime and role-playing convention.

Public of all ages invited to join the games

Find out what's happening this week at DSC...

DSC spring arts season amps up with musical revue

Smokey Joe's Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2016) – A musical revue featuring 40 of the greatest songs ever recorded, Smokey Joe's Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, takes to the stage in the Gillespy Theater in Daytona State College's News-Journal Center, Feb. 26-27 and March 4-5, at 7:30 p.m., and for a matinee performance, Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.

Daytona State's Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment and Art production celebrates the golden age of rock n' roll, boasting the longest running musical revue in Broadway history. With some of the biggest hits from the 1950s and '60s, including Fools Fall in Love, Poison Ivy, On Broadway, Yakety Yak, I'm a Woman, Stand by Me and Love Potion #9, this electrifying music lit up Manhattan's Great White Way for five years.

Admission is free to Daytona State and Volusia and Flagler county students; all others are $8 per person or $15 for two; online ticketing is available atDaytonaState.edu/TheArts or in person at the News-Journal Center Box Office, 221 N. Beach Street, Daytona Beach. Box Office Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Group rates are available when purchasing 10 or more tickets. For additional information, contact the Box Office, (386) 226-1927 orBoxOffice@DaytonaState.edu.

The performing arts programs at Daytona State prepare students for futures in music, drama and dance, while also providing entertainment opportunities for the community through a variety of events produced each semester. Proceeds from tickets are used to support the Performing Arts Scholarship program at Daytona State. 

For additional information visit DaytonaState.edu/TheArts.

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Students launch Millennial Show on WDSC TV-15

Television Studio Production class produces live 30-minute show

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2016) – Students in Daytona State College’s Television Studio Production course have developed a live interactive program featuring local millennials passionately

pursuing their aspirations and showcasing their talents.

The first show in the series airs on WDSC TV-15, Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m., repeating Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. The series continues weekly on Thursday nights throughout the semester.

“The concept is to feature millennials who have achieved success in some way,” explains Associate Professor Anita Bevins. In addition to appearing on a show, live, each guest will be highlighted in segments throughout the production, practicing their craft, business and talent.

The topic for the inaugural show is The Spoken Word, featuring guests Alethia Dupree, Allen Minor and Shayna “Simba” Castano.

• Dupree is a member of the 2016 Mainstreet Art & Culture Slam of DeLand; one of only four certified slams in Florida, and less than 100 worldwide, which will represent the region in national and international events.
• Minor is a novelist, an Army veteran, a competition-winning spoken-word poet and member of the performance poetry group called The Combat Hippies. He has just published a book, The Borderline Between Life and Poetry: A Complete Book of Poetry. 
• Castano, also known as Simba, lives in Orlando. She is a young spoken-word artist who works with the homeless teaching them how to write poetry. 

Eight students in their third semester are producing the live show, taking responsibility for securing talent and staffing key positions on the production crew. Five students in the first-semester class will run cameras and assist in other duties.

The Television Studio Production program is a college-credit certificate featuring hands-on TV production. Students learn video production skills in the college’s public television station, WDSC TV-15, during a succession of three courses. Each of these courses includes a lab component, bringing the college credit hours to four for each course. The certificate courses also satisfy 12 of the 18-hour occupational/technical track required for DSC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management program. Students pursing an associate of arts degree also can earn this certificate and fulfill 12 credit hours of general education elective credits.

Viewers can tune-in to WDSC TV-15 via: digital TV sets and antennas - 15-1WDSC HD; Bright House Digital - 15WDSC and 1050WDSC HD; Dish Network and Direct TV - 15WDSC; Comcast - 439WDSC HD; and U-verse - 15WDSC.

A public station, WDSC TV-15 strives to be the community’s source for extraordinary programming. Anyone who would like to support WDSC can donate to help keep favorites on the air. Call 1.800.638.9238 or visit DaytonaState.edu/WDSC to donate.

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Free SAT math prep at Daytona State for area students

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 8, 2016) – For Volusia and Flagler county school students preparing

to sit for the SAT exam, Daytona State College’s Mathematics Department has scheduled six free math-prep sessions to help students feel more confident taking the test. The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test accepted by four-year colleges and universities in the U.S.

The free SAT math-prep classes will be held on Saturdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m., March 26 through April 30, on the Daytona Beach Campus, room 209, McKinnon Hall (building 600), 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. Registration is recommended, as the class is expected to fill up.

During each class, led by DSC mathematics faculty members, the students will receive a packet of problems pertaining to a specific topic. The students will work on the problems, which instructors will review and discuss, as well as answer questions.

In addition, each session will feature a drawing for a TI Graphing Calculator, free to a lucky student.

Class dates, topics and instructors are:

March 26 – Arithmetic (Gabi Booth)
April 2 – Algebra (Linda Waymire)
April 9 – Geometry (Dr. Jay Stryker)
April 16 – Statistics (Brianna Kurtz)
April 23 – Word Problems (Dr. Rodney Taylor)
April 30 – Practice Test (Robert Dwarika)

For questions, contact Prof. Erika Blanken, (386) 506-3919 or Erika.Blanken@DaytonaState.edu.

MORE: Daytona State’s Mathematics Department has excelled across the state college system for its math programs and student success. This year, faculty members voluntarily completed a free elementary algebra textbook, saving students upwards of $100 in book costs. The textbook is available to print on-demand or to use online.

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This week at Daytona State; STEM lecture, WISE, Faculty Art Show, The Millennial Show, Falcon Athletic home games

Making its debut on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m, The Millennial Show, is a live interactive

program featuring local millennials passionately pursuing their aspirations and showcasing their talents.

Find out what's happening this week at DSC... 

Local author to present tips on writing, publishing - and roping

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 3, 2016) - Local author, publisher, humorist and rope artist William A. Cummins will spin tall tales and offer tips on writing and how to publish one’s work during an

appearance at Daytona State College on Wednesday, Feb. 17.

Cummins will appear with his spinning rope and pepper his presentation, “We Never Told You This,” with a good amount of Will Rogers-influenced humor beginning at 11 a.m. in the Landing on the Daytona Beach Campus, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.

The event is free and open to the public, while his presentation specifically targets DSC writing and literature students.

A former engineer, Cummins launched his Port Orange-based CAI Publishing company after he retired. He is an award-winning author of four books, including The Forgotten, which features foxhole stories by Korean War veterans, a highly acclaimed marriage handbook, Life is Sexually Transmitted, and King and the Cowboy, which chronicles his early life as a singing cowboy and trick roper.

In recent years, he has returned to his roots as a performing cowboy, traveling the country to share tales of his experiences and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

For more information, contact Dr. Lynn Hawkins, (386) 506-3905.

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Show Your Falcon Pride; support women's and men's home games

Falcons Baseball was scheduled to play their Feb. 3, 3 p.m., home game at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark; this has been relocated to the DSC Baseball Facility off Willis Avenue.

Previously advertised for a 4 p.m. tip-off, the Falcons Basketball go head-to-head against T.A.A.G. at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 3 in the Lemerand Center. Watch the game in person or via the live stream.

#GoFalcons, #DSCAthletics

VIEW FEBRUARY SCHEDULE

Daytona State’s “mini-mester” makes for accelerated program completion

2nd chance at spring classes – Get there faster!
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2016) - Daytona State College's seven-week mid-semester courses

are designed for students who want to earn their degrees as quickly as possible, as well as for any who want a second chance at  getting spring classes under their belts.

These courses are the same full-credit courses offered during the college's traditional 15-week semesters, only they're condensed into seven weeks. The next "mini-mester" starts March 21, with a number of online options. Online is a huge success at DSC – Daytona State boasts four-years running among the Top 10 Best Online Bachelor's Programs in the nation, and in 2015 and 2016 the college also ranked in the Top 10 for Best Online Bachelor's for Veterans in the country.

Many seven-week courses apply to the general education core that satisfy the requirements of the associate of arts degree, including:

• State and Local Government –- an introduction to the principles and institutions of state and local government with emphasis on Florida. Explores the structures and functions of state governments, including federal-state and state-local relations.
• World Geography - a study of the Earth in spatial terms, place names of major countries and world regions, maps, globes and physical-human phenomena of environments and places.
• General Psychology – a scientific study of human behavior in relation to our development, motivation, emotion, perception learning and thinking.  
• Managing Your Success - designed to assist students in becoming engaged learners while transitioning to Daytona State College. Emphasis is on orienting students to college resources, academic expectations and career planning, time/money management, technology, student services/organizations and academic integrity. 
• Mathematics I (Pre-Algebra) - a review of the basic arithmetic operations of whole numbers, mixed numbers, fractions, decimals and percents, ratio and proportion, basic operations of real numbers, simplifying algebra expressions and solving basic linear equations.
• Human Biology - an introduction to scientific inquiry in relationship to the human body, its systems and basic functions with emphasis on homeostasis mechanisms. Not intended for science majors.
• Music Appreciation -  designed to establish a broad understanding of Western and Non-western musical styles. An emphasis will be placed upon critical listening skills, the recognition of fundamental musical elements and the roles of music in society from ancient to modern times. 

Daytona State AA students have a special path to transfer upon graduation to the University of Central Florida through the nationally recognized DirectConnect to UCF program. Through DirectConnect, DSC and UCF guide students from their freshman year at DSC through senior year at UCF to ensure success.

Students pursuing certificate and/or business programs can also take advantage of some expedited courses, such as:

• Advertising - an in-depth review of advertising, including consumer behavior, relationship marketing, advertising planning, media selection, public relations and integrating marketing communications.
• Excel for the Office – this course provides the opportunity for the student to learn the fundamentals of a spreadsheet application and to gain an in-depth understanding of a spreadsheet program that allows the student to organize data, complete calculations, make decisions, graph data and develop professional looking spreadsheets.

The college's Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management is specifically designed for individuals with busy lifestyles wanting to take their career to the next level; mid-semester courses include:

• Selected Topics in Management - current topics, issues, and trends pertinent to supervisors and managers are discussed. Topical selections rotate each term; view course search information for details on topics offered each term. 
• Leadership Challenges and Supervision - discussion and application of leadership theories include skill formation to develop leadership abilities, emphasizing team-building skills to enhance leadership effectiveness. Students learn the importance of visioning in their organizations.

The college's Bachelor of Science in Education is design to prepare students to design, develop and implement effective classroom management techniques and instructional strategies; mid-semester courses include:

• Introduction to the Teaching Profession - introduces pre-service teachers to the education profession. Pre-service teachers will understand the historical, sociological and philosophical foundations of the profession as well as the challenges educators face in the 21st century. This course requires 15 hours of field experience in the public schools. .
• Children's Literature -  presenting new and outstanding titles in literature for elementary children. Topics include authors and illustrators, surveys the genres of children's literature, principles of selection, evaluation, and integration of literature, fiction and nonfiction in a variety of formats to enrich classroom activities and recreational and lifelong reading.

To search for these and other seven-week courses, visit DaytonaState.edu, click on Course Search, select college credit and then subsession Spring B.

For additional information, call (386) 506-3059.

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DSC, Embry-Riddle Partner in U.S. Dept. of Energy's Solar Decathlon 2017

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2016) - A group of Daytona State College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students is among just 16 collegiate teams worldwide selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy's prestigious Solar Decathlon 2017 competition. The contest challenges students to design and build solar-powered houses that are affordable, innovative and highly energy-efficient.

"This is a great opportunity for our students from both schools to showcase their talents and pool the knowledge they've gained in their studies to do well in this competition," said DSC President Dr. Tom LoBasso. "It's a testament to the great things that can happen when our institutions work in partnership to create a collaborative learning experience for students."

"The Solar Decathlon puts students' classroom skills to the test in a real-life project that exemplifies teamwork across the disciplines of science, engineering, green technology and mathematics," said Embry-Riddle Interim President Dr. John R. Watret. "Our partnership with Daytona State College combines our unique strengths and provides our students hands-on experience that will help prepare them to be future leaders in the nation's clean-energy workforce."

The students and faculty advisors who compose Team Daytona Beach, as it has been dubbed, met for the first time last week at DSC’s Advanced Technology College to review preliminary drawings of several house-design options. The floor plans were created by DSC students majoring in architectural and building technology, and interior design, based on collaboration with the Embry-Riddle group of mechanical and civil engineering students.

“Solar Decathlon is among the largest, most complex and most prestigious collegiate competitions in the world,” said Dr. Charles Reinholtz, professor and chair of Embry-Riddle’s Mechanical Engineering Department. “Our selection to participate places us among an elite group of top-ranked universities in the United States and abroad. It also validates the quality and reputation of the partner institutions and the faculty, students and corporate sponsors supporting this effort.”

"We're so excited to work with Embry-Riddle's engineering team in creating this sustainable home," said Bethany Creamer, assistant chair of DSC's School of Building and Architectural Technology. "It's a wonderful opportunity for our students to actually implement what they learn in the classroom."

The preliminary student drawings feature open floor plans with cross ventilation throughout, strategic window placement to draw in natural light and reduce energy consumption, nano-door technology and other features designed for aging in place, sustainability and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Once final renderings are completed, the team will work together on a nearly two-year endeavor to fully design, construct and test the house before shipping and reassembling it at the Solar Decathlon 2017 site, which will be determined sometime before mid-2017.

The teams will be judged on criteria that include architecture, market appeal, engineering, affordability, and energy balance as they gain hands-on experience in clean-energy design.

For the first time since the competition's inception in 2000, Solar Decathlon 2017 teams will be competing for $2 million in prize money to be divided among the top-placed teams.

Learn more about the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2017 at www.solardecathlon.gov.

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Daytona State awarded 5th grant to benefit students of Mexican descent

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2016) – For the fifth straight year, Mexican and Mexican-American students attending Daytona State College can apply to receive help defraying their educational costs, thanks to a partnership between the college and a Mexico-based non-profit group.

Juntos Podemos (Together We Can) was created by five non-profit organizations in the U.S. and Mexico, headed by the Mexican Entrepreneurs Association in the United States (AEM-USA). Among them is Parents Alliance Inc., which last month granted the college $19,000 to continue a program originally administered through the Mexican government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ IME BECAS program.

Since 2011, Daytona State has received more than $80,000 in IME BECAS grant awards, including matching cash and in-kind services. This year’s award also will see a similar match, including in-kind and cash contributions from longtime partner Sister Cities of Volusia County.

“We are pleased that Juntos Podemos has taken the lead in ensuring that this very worthwhile program continues,” said DSC President Thomas LoBasso. “Many students would not be able to fulfill their dreams of a high school diploma, GED or college degree without the economic assistance this grant provides.”

All totaled, about 100 scholarships will be awarded this year, including 80 Adult Education scholarships and 20 college or vocational credit scholarships.

“We are currently accepting applications,” said Daytona State’s English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Coordinator Kathryn Clark. “Students can use the scholarship award for tuition and expenses such as testing fees, educational supplies and textbooks.”

Clark noted that the grant helps students keep their personal commitment to pursue their education. “Some who have taken ESOL are now in GED, and they are moving up and preparing for futures as college students,” she said, adding that many have had to put their educations on hold for years because they lacked economic resources. “Over the years, I’ve seen the dedication and determination these students have to succeed when they are given the opportunity, and it has been an honor to work with them.”

Grants are provided to educational institutions and non-profit social organizations across the U.S. to train Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans interested in continuing their education and jobs skills development. The program’s ultimate goal is to help Mexican communities living abroad to better assimilate into their extended societies by opening doors of economic opportunity through education and workforce training.

Since DSC first began receiving the grant awards in 2011, more than 265 ESOL and GED scholarships, and 42 college scholarships have been given, helping students defray the cost of their studies. Many reside in rural areas on the northwest side of Volusia County, Clark said; although, students from every campus and a variety of programs have received grant benefits.

Last year, 243 students of Mexican origin attended Daytona State, including international students from Mexico and Mexican-American citizens. The vast majority enrolled in the college’s School of Adult Education. All students of Mexican descent are eligible to apply for the IME scholarship.

For information on how to apply for a scholarship, e-mail Clark at Kathryn.Clark@DaytonaState.edu.

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This week at Daytona State; STEM lecture, WISE, Faculty Art Show, SMP reception and Falcon Athletic home games

The DSC Faculty Art Show (Feb. 2-March 18) represents the breadth and scope of the studio art

faculty at Daytona State College. Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the multifaceted art faculty and their creative endeavors.
DSC's News-Journal Center
North Lobby/ Art Gallery

Find out what's happening this week at DSC...