DSC Alumni Association Newsletter, Vol. 2 No. 1 - Your Journey Continues

Click here to read our latest newsletter, highlighting news from Daytona State College and upcoming DSC Alumni & Friends events.‪#‎DSCAlumniFriends‬

Alumni Association Newsletter, Vol. 1, Issue 2 - Stay Connected!

Your Alumni Association is here for you!  We want to keep you connected to classmates and career opportunities.  Please join our Alumni Association, and update us with things you are doing since graduation. We look forward to hearing from you.

Check out what's new at Daytona State College!   

DSC to celebrate 50 years as one of nation’s top photography schools

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 24, 2014) - Daytona State College will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its School of Photography and the 35th anniversary of its acclaimed Southeast Museum of Photography (SMP) with an alumni reunion, as well as a series of lectures and exhibitions scheduled on Oct. 20 and 21 that are free and open to the public.

The SMP is already offering a prelude to the celebration with “The Growth of a Collection: 1981-2001,” an exhibition highlighting the first 20 years of the museum’s collection. The free exhibition runs through Dec. 14.

A reception for photography program alumni, as well as current photo students and community members who have supported the program and museum, is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Mori Hosseini Center located on the college’s Daytona Beach Campus, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd.

Other programs and exhibitions are scheduled throughout the day on Oct. 21 beginning at 9 a.m.

Among the highlights are:

• A reception honoring the late Bruce Moyer and David Martin, both DSC alumni, will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 4 to 5 p.m., with the photographers’ families, friends and former teachers in attendance. The free exhibition, “A Photographic Tribute to Bruce Moyer and David Martin,” will be on display in Gallery 202 of the Photography Building through Oct. 30.

Moyer was the deputy director of photography at the Tampa Bay Times and was named National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) “Picture Editor of the Year” four times throughout his career. He also won numerous awards in the annual Pictures of the Year International Competition, NPPA Best of Photojournalism and Society of News Design contests.  

Martin, a longtime Associated Press photographer, is said to have covered nearly every major news event in the southern United States over the past 30 years. He also traveled the world for the AP, covering sporting events, political conventions and military conflicts.

• Two other distinguished DSC alumni who have earned worldwide acclaim also will share their insights on Tuesday, Oct. 21, during the L. Gale Lemerand Entrepreneurial Speaker Series presented by the college’s Small Business Development Center; free, all welcome.

Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Stephen Crowley and Lawrence Cumbo, producer, writer and owner of the iconic Opera House LIVE in Shepherdstown, W.Va., together will present two sessions – first at 10 a.m. at Daytona State’s News-Journal Center located at 221 N. Beach St. in downtown Daytona Beach and again at 6 p.m. in the Mori Hosseini Center on the college’s main campus at 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. Both presentations are free and open to all.

Since its inception, Daytona State’s photography program has attracted an accomplished faculty and students from throughout the world. Its alumni have distinguished themselves in virtually every field of photography, earning the college a national reputation as a leader in photographic education.

In 2007, Daytona State’s School of Photography, the University of Central Florida-Daytona Photography Program and SMP formed a partnership under the umbrella of the Southeast Center for Photographic Studies. In 2007, the museum moved to its present location in the Hosseini Center, expanding its exhibit space 10-fold. Today, it is Florida's most comprehensive museum of photography, the largest in the southeastern U.S. and one of only six museums in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to photography.

For more information, contact Dan Biferie, photography program chair, at (386) 506-3581 or BiferD@DaytonaState.edu.

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DSC alum appointed to new position at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center

Congratulations to Daytona State alum, Marlene Thomas, who has been appointed to serve as the director of operations at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center's New Smyrna Beach facility. The community is invited to attend the grand opening on Sunday, Sept. 7, from noon to 4 p.m. 

The Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center New Smyrna Health Park is located on the southeast corner of I-95 and State Road 44. For information, call (386) 231-2229.

Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line, DSC baseball alum

Florida Music Letter: Brian Kelley of Florida Georgia Line: Brian Kelley comes from the small town of Ormond Beach, Florida.  As a child, Brian always loved music but when Garth Brooks’ double liv...

Rock star retail manager at Dominique Ansel Bakery got her start at Daytona State

Marcella Perego got her start at Daytona State College; a culinary grad since summer 2013 she went to New York to pursue her dream. One of Zagat's 30 Under 30, Perego is a rock star retail manager at Dominique Ansel Bakery, and the one person charged with managing the pastry fiends who flock to the SoHo bakery every morning.

DSC Alumni Felipe Resck provides World Cup insights from Brazil via Skype

During a recent Skype interview with DSC Alumni Felipe Resck in Brazil, he talks about his career and the World Cup frenzy currently going on in Brazil.

Daytona State hosts alumna art exhibition, May 27-Aug. 29

Works by Margaret Schnebly Hodge; opening reception, May 23
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 7, 2014) – Daytona State College alumna Margaret Schnebly Hodge presents Breaking Free: Dark Energy, Dark Matter, an exhibition with over 30 works of art, including oil paintings and other media, shown in the North Lobby/Art Gallery at the college’s News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach Street, Daytona Beach.

The free public exhibition features an opening reception on Friday, May 23, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Gallery hours run Monday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (May 27-July 24), and Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (July 28-Aug. 29).

Before age one, Hodge moved with her family to Daytona Beach and has lived in the area ever since. Graduating from Mainland High School (1971), she continued her studies at Daytona Beach Community College (now Daytona State College), followed by earning her B.A. from the College of Fine Arts, University of Florida.

Long appreciated as an abstract figurative and landscape painter using a dark, rich palette and with a philosophical preoccupation with concepts of physical and emotional restraint, many works in this exhibit show Hodge’s aesthetic expansion beyond the sense of earth-bound considerations. For more about the artist, visit www.margarethodgeart.com

Studio arts are an essential corner stone in developing well-rounded and innovative individuals for both art and non-art majors alike. Students learn the specifics of studio art mediums in a hands-on program designed to develop their creative skills while fostering a theoretical and historical understanding.

Studio arts include the disciplines of painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, airbrush and design. The fundamental building blocks of all studio art courses instill skills in: divergent thinking, problem solving, critical thinking and creativity.

For more information about exhibition times, call the News-Journal Center Box Office, (386) 226-1927, or visit DaytonaState.edu/TheArts.

Find out more about the studio arts programs at DSC’s Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment and Art, or call (386) 506-3276.

Photo: Margaret Schnebly Hodge, Paintings: L-R, Stellar Drift, My Space, Native Passage
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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.

“George Kastroulis is an exemplary example of a graduate utilizing the tools he obtained at Daytona State to touch the lives of so many people,” said Dr. Tom Swain, who chaired a committee of Daytona State science faculty who selected Kastroulis for the award.

The annual award, first presented in 2001, honors outstanding alumni who achieved an associate degree from the College of Science at Daytona State, have used their scientific knowledge to improve their community and have distinguished themselves while working in their field. Mrs. Crumley established the award to honor her son, John, and husband, Thomas.

Kastroulis, 37, earned his Associate of Science in Radiography degree from Daytona State in 1998 and began a successful career in health care that accelerated when he earned his Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management degree in 2012. He is general manager of Nurse On Call, a home health-care provider that covers four Northeast Florida counties.

But perhaps even more noteworthy is his volunteer spirit. He has served as board chairman for the American Cancer Society, East Central Coastal Unit; board member to the Central Florida affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization; and has held several advisory board positions with cancer survivor groups in Volusia and Flagler counties. 

A few years ago, Kastroulis identified a need for cancer patients to have local access to available resources, education about medical treatment and a survivor awareness program. Working with the Daytona Cubs organization, he established Breast Cancer Survivor Night to promote awareness of the disease. 

Along with fellow radiologist Charles Burkett, they spearheaded the Daytona Breast Cancer Symposium. The event was originally created in partnership with Daytona State College, with sponsorships by the Susan G. Komen Center, the American and the Florida Breast Cancer societies and, presently, also with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Kastroulis also has formed a coalition with Bethune-Cookman University to bring accessible health care to the underserved in Volusia County through a free clinic.

Past recipients of the Crumley Award include Dr. Steven Miles, radiologist; Dr. Ralph Scorza, biologist; Dr. Ron Jenkins, biochemist; Dr. Sam Davis, radiologist; Dr. James Greene, assoc. vice president, College of Health Careers, Daytona State College; Dr. Linda Miles, chair, School of Nursing at Daytona State College; Mr. David Marsh, retired TV weatherman; Mrs. Willa Fuller, executive director of the Florida Nurses Association; Dr. David Riban Jr., pharmacist; and Dana Johnson, biologist.

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Re-energized Alumni Association seeks to grow membership and serve college

(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.) March 4, 2014 - The Daytona State College Alumni Association celebrated its reorganization on Tuesday, March 4, by introducing its new Board of Directors to more than 60 college employees who were once DSC students.

During a continental breakfast held in the Hosseini Center, President Carol W. Eaton noted the different pathways that brought many in attendance to enroll in classes: some who started right out of high school, others who started classes after becoming employees, and still others who took advantage of Daytona State baccalaureate degree offerings.

“If you think about those three pathways, they remind me of the paths that many of our students choose,” Eaton said.  “I like to say you’ve come full circle, helping that next generation of students who are coming to class. So not only are you representing (our graduates), you’re representing all of our students whose lives you touch every day.”

She encouraged attendees to stay involved with the association and other college initiatives, and to take advantage of professional development opportunities.

Alumni Board President Suzette Cameron, a 1988 graduate of the college’s law enforcement program who is now director of campus services at the Deltona Campus, introduced fellow board members and noted their first quarterly meeting will be on Thursday, April 17, to begin planning association activities and strategies for growing membership.
Board members include:

• Vice President - Miguel Rivera (Director of Student Disabilities and Counseling Services)  
• Secretary/Treasurer - Brenda Merritt-Smith (Emergency Prep. Tech., Campus Safety)
• Social Media/PR Specialist - Alison Ryan (Marketing Office Manager)
• Technology Specialist - David Tatum (Coordinator IT Resources)
• Jennifer Kranz (Associate Director of the Writing Center)
• Debra Manning (Career Services Advisor)
• Kathleen Mathen (Financial Aid Specialist, Flagler/Palm Coast Campus)
• Joshua Poniatowski (Academic Advisor)
• Dr. Andrea Reese (Chair of Online Studies & Associate Professor, School of Mathematics)
• Lisa Severson (Financial Aid Specialist, NSB)
• Jacqui Van Kirk (Coordinator for Interactive Media)
• Membership in the Alumni Association (also known as Alumni & Friends) is open to anyone who has graduated from the college with a degree or certificate, as well as non-graduates who have taken at least one course, transfer students and non-credit and continuing education students.

For information or to become a member, visit the Alumni Association website or call (386) 506-4506.

 

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Two new members join Daytona State District Board of Trustees

Gov. Scott’s appointments fill vacancies, complete the board roster

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 28, 2014) - Daytona State College has a full board once again, following Gov. Rick Scott’s appointment of two new trustees on Feb. 27, subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

The college and its District Board of Trustees welcome Stanley “Stan” Escudero and Garry Lubi of Daytona Beach and Palm Coast, respectively. The new trustees are expected to attend the next board meeting on Thursday, March 27, at 2 p.m. on the Daytona Beach Campus.

“We’re delighted to welcome our newest trustees and look forward to working with them to continue advancing our region’s success through high quality education and workforce training,” said Carol W. Eaton, president of Daytona State.

According to the governor’s announcement, Escudero, 71, is a former ambassador for the United States Department of State and has served as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan. A 1962 alumnus of Daytona State, Escudero served as Student Government president during his time at the college. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning Feb. 27 and ending May 31, 2015.

Lubi, 56, of Palm Coast, is the senior vice president of Ameris Bank. He has served as chair of the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce and on the board of the Flagler County Education Foundation. He has a bachelor’s degree from Canisius College. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term beginning Feb. 27 and ending May 31, 2014.

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DSC photo alum wins military exchange’s grand prize in contest

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2014) - A video created as a class project by Lola Gomez, a graduate of Daytona State’s School of Photography, has been awarded the $10,000 grand prize in the Army and Air Force Exchange Service’s Homeward Bound photo and video contest.

Gomez gave the video, titled “My Heart Back Home,” to her sister, Laura Jimenez, as a gift, who in turn entered it into the contest as one of 672 submissions. Her winning entry will be used as part of the Exchange’s yearlong advertising campaign.

“Lola is a talented and highly motivated photographer who is taking advantage of both the aesthetic and technical skills she learned while enrolled in our program at Daytona State,” said School of Photography Chair Dan Biferie. “We are proud of all she has accomplished and are confident she will join a growing list of our program graduates who have gone on to receive critical acclaim and success in their careers.”

Using a series of black-and-white photos and videos, the multimedia piece captures a life that is typical of so many military families, focusing on Jimenez and her son, Leonardo, born less than a month before his father, Sgt. 1st class Jesus Jimenez, deployed for a yearlong tour in Afghanistan. Images of the couple’s wedding day, their life together, and mother and son’s daily life with father overseas culminate with an emotional welcome home upon his return.

“My Heart Back Home” also earned a silver award in the Domestic Picture Story category in last year’s 68th College Photographer of the Year competition, sponsored by the University of Missouri and Nikon, where more than 600 student photographers representing 130 colleges and universities throughout the world participated.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Gomez, 37, earned her Associate of Science in Photographic Technology from Daytona State in May 2013. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Universidad Santa Maria in Caracas. Her work has been exhibited in the college’s Southeast Museum of Photography, and she is a freelance photographer for several Central Florida newspapers, including the Orlando Sentinel.

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