Teens compete in DSC’s annual Physics Olympics, April 1

From Lazer Zap to a Rube Goldberg machine

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 29, 2016) - Over 200 high school students from Volusia and Flagler counties will gather at Daytona State College on Friday, April 1, to compete in the college’s

annual Physics Olympics. The DSC tradition gives students the opportunity to apply the principles of physics they’ve learned in the classroom in fun and inventive ways.

The teenagers will compete in multiple activities testing their knowledge of physics, engineering and mathematics, including bridge building, egg drop, constructing a coat-hook cannon, directing a laser beam around an obstacle (Lazer Zap), a paper airplane pentathlon and building a Rube Goldberg machine, to name just a few.

“We put on our olympics each year to show kids the fun and excitement of science and to raise awareness of physics,” said DSC professor Dr. Gajendra (G.T.) Tulsian, the event organizer. “The event ranks high among local science teachers, who look forward to bringing their classes. We anticipate a full day of fun and spirited competition.”

Activities will run from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. in the L. Gale Lemerand Center on DSC’s Daytona Beach Campus, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.

With few exceptions, the Physics Olympics at Daytona State has been an annual event for over 20 years, challenging students’ physics knowledge and engineering skills. For more information, visit http://www.drtulsian.com/physicsOlympics.php.

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DSC Phi Theta Kappa chapter again earns prestigious five-star designation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 28, 2016) – For the second straight year, the Mu Rho chapter of

the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society at Daytona State College has been named a Five-Star chapter by the Missouri-based national honor society, founded in 1918 to recognize and encourage scholarship and service among two-year college students.

Earning the five-star designation is the most exclusive status a chapter can achieve.

“This is fantastic news for our college and our students,” said DSC President Tom LoBasso. “Earning the prestigious five-star designation two years in a row reflects on the character and quality of our PTK students, as well as their individual commitment to excellence, leadership and service. It also acknowledges the efforts of our faculty and club advisors who dedicate themselves to fostering academic excellence and integrity in our students inside and outside the classroom.”

The five-star designation recognizes PTK chapters for student engagement, both on campus and in the community. As part of its five-star efforts this year, Mu Rho hosted bowling and movie nights benefitting the Conklin Center for the Blind, participated in fundraisers for the American Heart Association and Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, and helped sponsor blood drives on campus. The chapter also packaged 10,000 meals as part of the national Stop Hunger Now initiative, and launched an academic research project called Honors in Action focusing on frontiers in astrobiology.

Chapter advisor Steven Pruitt said the Mu Rho chapter is always seeking new members. To be eligible for PTK membership, DSC students must have at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale and must have completed 12 semester hours. Members are eligible for over $87 million in scholarship opportunities from the national PTK organization, as well as from partnering four-year colleges, universities and foundations.

This year’s Mu Rho chapter officers are Jacob Swaggerty, president; Danjha Leon, vice president; Kelcie Knapp, vice president of membership;  Adedoyin Adepegba, secretary; Christopher Gow, treasurer; Ryan Kirby, parliamentarian; and Dave Masaitis, vice president of communication.

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This week at Daytona State; STEMinar, Women's History Month Luncheon, WISE, baseball and softball, and Multicultural Show

Daytona State College's Center for Women and Men Advisory Board will celebrate the work and

achievements of women and their families during their annual luncheon recognizing National Women's History Month - Tuesday, March 29. Our honoree is Judge Judith Davidson who is currently the community service chair in her service organization, sits on the board of a non-profit organization that helps women recover from drug and alcohol addiction, and mentors underprivileged students.

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

Come explore DSC during open house events this April

Future students can enter a $500 scholarship drawing 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 24, 2016) - Anyone interested in exploring a college education, advancing their career or re-tooling for a new job should check out a Spring Open House at Daytona

State College this April. Held at the college’s instruction sites, each session features a chance to win a $500 scholarship from the Daytona State Foundation.

Visitors can speak with college representatives about a full range of DSC programs including dual enrollment for high schoolers, associate of arts, associate of science, Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management, Bachelor of Science in Education, Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and certificate programs. Financial Aid experts will also be on hand.

The Daytona State spring open houses will be held as follows:

•        Thursday, April 7, 5-7 p.m.
New Smyrna Beach-Edgewater Campus
Academic Hall, Rm. 109
940 10th Street, New Smyrna Beach

•        Tuesday, April 12, 5-7 p.m.
Deltona Campus
Fathi Hall
2351 Providence Blvd., Deltona

•        Thursday, April 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
DSC’s News-Journal Center (NJC)
221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach

FREE Jazz Concert at 7:30 p.m.

•        Tuesday, April 19, 5-7 p.m.
Daytona Beach Campus
Hosseini Center
1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach

•        Thursday, April 21, 5-7 p.m.
DeLand Campus
Bert Fish Hall
1155 County Rd. 4139, DeLand
           
•        Tuesday, April 26, 5-7 p.m.
Flagler/Palm Coast Campus
Academic Hall (Bldg. 2), Rm. 106
3000 Palm Coast Parkway S.E., Palm Coast

•       Wednesday, April 27, 5-7 p.m.
Advanced Technology College (ATC)
1770 Technology Blvd., Daytona Beach

Refreshments will be provided and each Open House offers new applicants a chance to win a $500 Daytona State scholarship presented by the Daytona State College Foundation (two scholarship drawings per Open House, drawings will be at 5:45 p.m. and entrants must be present to win except for ATC and NJC events).

For more information, call (386) 506-4471 or email Admissions@DaytonaState.edu.

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Daytona State College to honor students, employees, alumni at awards convocation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 23, 2016) – Daytona State College will honor nearly 200 students along with four employees, an accomplished graduate and a young alumnus during its annual

outstanding student awards convocation on Wednesday, April 13, in the L. Gale Lemerand Center (Bldg. 310) on the Daytona Beach Campus, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. The awards convocation is the preceding event to the college’s 56th commencement exercises on Monday, May 16, at the Ocean Center.

All classes at the Daytona Beach Campus will be dismissed from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. for the event. Classes at other campus locations will be dismissed from 1 until 3:45 p.m. to allow for travel time to attend the convocation.

Students will be recognized for their academic, community service and athletic achievements, including this year’s inductees into the Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges and Daytona State’s own Hall of Fame – the highest honor faculty can bestow upon a student.

In addition, four employees will be recognized for outstanding service to the college, including a faculty member selected to receive the college’s prestigious Presidential Teaching Excellence Award. Presentations also include an Alumni of the Year award and a Young Alumni Excellence award.

Also to be announced, the Margaret Crumley Award for Distinguished Achievement in Science will go to an outstanding alumnus who earned an associate degree from the College of Science at Daytona State. Mrs. Crumley, who passed away last year, established this award 15 years ago to honor her son, John, and husband, Thomas. The annual award recipient is selected by a committee of faculty from DSC’s College of Science.

The Daytona State Concert Band, conducted by Dustin Burgess, will perform for the processional and the recessional.

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DSC multicultural event showcases language skills, March 31

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 9, 2016) – Students enrolled in Daytona State College’s School of World Languages and Speech will showcase their skills in American Sign Language, French, German, Italian and Spanish during the sixth Annual Multicultural Show on Thursday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m. 

“Students will sing, dance, recite poetry, perform in skits and play various instruments,” said Senior Professor Suzanne Stewart. “It’s a chance for students to put their language skills into practice, as well as showcase their talents.”

This year’s performance includes students who are learning English as a second language. ESOL classes at Daytona State teach beginning to advanced English language skills, helping students to learn or improve English, develop the skills needed to find a job or get a promotion, or prepare for college-level academic courses at Daytona State.

The show will be performed in the Davidson Theater at DSC’s News-Journal Center located at 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach. Light refreshments will be served following the 90-minute show.

The performance is free and open to the public. 

For more information, call Stewart, (386) 506-3540.

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SBDC at Daytona State seeks new director

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 2, 2016) - The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Daytona State College invites qualified business leaders to apply for its lead role, as DSC bids farewell to Director Ned Harper, who has led the center for 10 years. Harper is retiring to start

his eighth business, Hemingway Sailaway, a sailing charter company.

“We look forward to finding the right person with strong business experience and connections to local industry leaders and resource providers in Volusia County,” said Van Canada, manager of the SBDC at DSC.

Over the past 10 years, the center at DSC has progressed from one employee providing business consulting and training with a budget under $100,000 to a staff of six specializing in marketing, operations, strategic planning, research, finance and advanced certification in all key business practices.

“In the next few weeks we plan on recruiting a seasoned business leader with proven ability to navigate the Volusia business ecosystem,” said Dr. Mary Bruno, DSC associate vice president of workforce, continuing and adult education. “He or she will take our center at Daytona State to an advanced level of expertise, allowing us to assist more local companies to go from good to great.”

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Daytona State College Foundation and Kiwanis Club team up for charity golf tournament

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 3, 2016) - The Sugar Mill Golf and Country Club in New Smyrna Beach will be the setting for the 41st annual Score One For Kids golf tournament on Friday, April 22,

benefitting scholarship programs at Daytona State College and supporting community activities of the Kiwanis Club of Daytona Beach. The shotgun start begins at 8:30 a.m.

Participants will receive a continental breakfast, green fees, golf cart, range balls and refreshments. Stonewood Grill & Tavern in Port Orange also will host wine and appetizer stations, and Sunsetter’s will provide specialty drinks on the course. Lunch will be catered by the Sugar Mill Country Club.

Businesses or individuals also can support the fundraiser through sponsorships and donations, and door prizes are welcome.

In addition to generating scholarship funds for the Daytona State College Foundation, the golf tourney proceeds stay in the Daytona Beach area and help fund various education-related programs for underprivileged children from kindergarten through high school.

Foursomes and corporate sponsors can register online by clicking on the events tab at www.DaytonaState.edu/foundation or by visiting www.daytonabeachkiwanis.org.

Sugar Mill Golf and Country Club is located at 100 Clubhouse Circle in New Smyrna Beach.

For more information call or email John Koberg at (386) 258-5632, mfswear@gmail.com, or the DSC Foundation’s Suzette Cameron at (386) 506-4506, Suzette.Cameron@DaytonaState.edu.

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DSC’s Lemerand Speaker Series to feature alum Shark Tank entrepreneur, scholarships

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 1, 2016) - Chris Gilpin, a 2002 Daytona State College graduate who turned a $1 winning lottery ticket into a thriving tech startup, will be the featured speaker on Tuesday, April 12, during the L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series hosted by the Small Business Development Center at Daytona State College.

The free public event, which also features scholarships awarded to four promising students, kicks off at 9:30 a.m. in the Mori Hosseini Center on the college’s Daytona Beach Campus, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. (Scholarship applications due March 31.)

Gilpin’s company, Signal Vault, produces a card-like device that fits in a wallet and is designed to block hackers from remotely scanning the electronic chips in today’s credit cards. Known as RFID credit cards, they offer more security than older credit cards, but they can be scanned remotely by so-called crowd hackers using the right equipment, even if the card is in a wallet.

Gilpin, 34, of DeBary launched his company in 2013 after winning $8,000 on a $1 Florida Lottery ticket. Last September, he secured an investment through ABC’s Shark Tank series. His device has appeared on the QVC Network and he has sold more than 350,000 units worldwide.

He earned his Associate of Arts degree from Daytona State in 2002, then transferred to the University of Central Florida, where he majored in business.

In addition to Gilpin’s talk, four promising students will be awarded $1,000 L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series Scholarships during the event. Awards will go to a student in a Volusia or Flagler County high school who plans to attend DSC, two DSC college-credit students and a DSC Adult Education student.

Students must submit their scholarship applications on the DSC website by 5 p.m. on March 31. Scholarship recipients will be selected based on a demonstrated financial need, academic performance and an interest in entrepreneurship. L. Gale Lemerand will announce the awards during the April 12 Entrepreneurial Speaker Series event.

Mr. Lemerand is one of the nation’s leading entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Through an endowment, DSC’s Center for Entrepreneurship that bears his name has become a valuable resource available for Daytona State students seeking degrees in business and management, as well as for anyone who wants to learn what it takes to start a business from the ground up.

For additional information about the event or the L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series, call (386) 506-4723 or email SBDC@DaytonaState.edu.

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