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SCF Scholarship Helps Put Prine Elementary Student on Path to Higher Education

Isabella Chacon Ovalles brought home her first college scholarship last week when she was named the outstanding fifth-grader at Prine Elementary School. The scholarship to State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) was set up by Prine’s first principal, Bill O’Brien, who wanted to help impress upon the students the importance of education.

O’Brien set up the scholarship to recognize students who are at the top of their class in both grades and citizenship. Ovalles, the 14th recipient, will get the scholarship to attend SCF once she graduates from a Manatee County high school. The scholarship is designed to help keep students motivated as they continue their education through high school. It can be renewed for the sophomore year at SCF if the student continues to qualify.

Chloe Thomas is attending SCF in the fall and is an example of a student who stayed motivated. She received the scholarship as a fifth-grade student at Prine and still has the original certificate O’Brien awarded her nearly eight years ago.

A World War II veteran, O’Brien served as the supervisor of physical education for the Manatee School District for 17 years. He also served as principal of three elementary schools – Parrish, Palm View and Prine. An avid runner, O’Brien was president of the Manasota Track Club from 1975 to 1981 and has remained devoted to physical activity. Over the past 32 years, O’Brien has given out 64 awards to the outstanding high school male and female cross-country runners in Manatee County.  He enjoys seeing students and athletes succeed and personally presents his annual award at their high school ceremonies.

“I have always had a special interest in the youth of our community. Their interest and dedication in their endeavors provides a good foundation for their future,” O’Brien said.

Every year, SCF receives about 3,000 scholarship applications. The SCF Foundation is able to award about 900 scholarships thanks to its generous donors. For information or to start a scholarship, contact Allison Nash at NashA@SCF.edu or 941-752-5390.

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Plantation Community Foundation of Venice Awards Grant to SCF Nursing

The Plantation Community Foundation of Venice, Florida has awarded State College of Florida Foundation a $2,600 grant to purchase suction regulators for the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota nursing program.

The grant will allow the nursing program to upgrade training and to offer additional student practice at SCF Venice. Nurses use suction regulators to ensure patient comfort and health by controlling the removal of secretions from wounds. As nursing students log clinical hours using their SCF training to practice patient care in local health care facilities, the quality of their health care training will affect thousands of patients annually.

Nursing students gain in-demand skills using the suction regulators, which are incorporated into training scenarios to replicate a wide range of real-life health care situations in medical facilities. The regulators can be used to teach nursing students to develop consistent habits of responsible practice. The more SCF can provide real-life experiences in a safe and controlled simulated clinical environment, the better prepared SCF nursing graduates will be.

The Plantation Community Foundation of Venice is composed of residents of Venice’s Plantation community and surrounding neighborhoods, and members and employees of the Plantation Golf and Country Club, whose mission is to improve the quality of life in south Sarasota County.

Medical equipment for the nursing program are among the most expensive items the college must purchase for teaching. SCF offers nursing classes at its three campuses and online. To donate to the program or for more information, contact Barbara Bourgoin, development director of the State College of Florida Foundation, at BourgoB@SCF.edu.

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Tervis Donates $10,000 for Gator Den at SCF

Tervis has donated $10,000 to the State College of Florida Foundation (SCFF) to update technology at the Gator Den at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) Venice. In addition, the Tervis Scholarship, a $25,000 endowed scholarship, has been set up to assist girls who graduate from Booker High School and are accepted into Gator Engineering at SCF. The scholarship is designed to encourage more young women to study engineering.

The $10,000 grant was used to provide technology that makes connections easier between Gator Engineering classrooms and the University of Florida (UF) Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. SCF has been chosen by UF as one of only two extension sites in Florida for Gator Engineering. Gator Engineering at SCF includes live-learn-work experiences, including co-ops, internships and job shadowing with local companies. The collaboration creates an innovative and technologically-ready engineering workforce available to employers in Manatee and Sarasota counties. By starting their education and internships locally, UF graduates are expected to return to embark on their careers.

Tervis, a privately owned company headquartered in North Venice, Florida has been operating for more than 70 years. It employs about 600 people, including engineers. The company recently hosted a tour with Gator Engineering students to offer them insights into the manufacturing industry. Two lead engineers at Tervis talked to the students about their careers.

For information about Gator Engineering at SCF, contact Heather Shehorn at ShehorH@SCF.edu or 941-408-1416. For information on setting up grants and scholarships for one of SCF’s programs or capital campaigns, contact Barbara Bourgoin at BourgoB@SCF.edu or 941-752-5398.

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SCF Foundation Receives Hurricane Relief Grant

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has awarded the State College of Florida Foundation a $2,000 grant to help replace biotechnology material lost in a power outage during Hurricane Irma.

ASBMB is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization with over 12,000 members. Its mission is to advance the science of biochemistry and molecular biology and to promote the understanding of the molecular nature of life processes. Founded in 1906, the Society is based in Rockville, Maryland and publishes the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Molecular & Cellular Proteomics and the Journal of Lipid Research.

Matt Thomas, director of the biotechnology program, applied for the grant after State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) lost power for three days in the aftermath of the hurricane. While there was no major structural damage or lost equipment, the power outage caused freezer stocks to be damaged or lost as temperatures in SCF’s sole minus 80 C freezer rose to room temperature. The grant will be used to help replace cells lines and other materials used in the cell culture class. The class gives students the hands-on opportunity to learn the basics of cell culture techniques, and to become proficient in them.

For information on setting up grants and scholarships for one of SCF’s programs, contact Barbara Bourgoin at bourgob@SCF.edu or 941-752-5398.

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Swift Family Foundation Gives $7,500 for Gator Engineering Den at SCF

The Swift Family Foundation has awarded State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) a $7,500 grant for its Gator Engineering Den at SCF Venice. The Swift Family Foundation provides grants for educational endeavors in medicine and technology areas. After a successful practice in Iowa, Dr. Frederick Swift moved to Gainesville in 1970.

SCF has been chosen by University of Florida (UF) to become one of only two extension sites in Florida for Gator Engineering.  Gator Engineering at SCF includes live-learn-work experiences, including co-ops, internships and job shadowing with local companies. The collaboration will create an innovative and technologically-ready engineering workforce available to employers in Manatee and Sarasota counties. By starting their education and internships locally, UF graduates are expected to return to embark on their careers.

UF lacks the capacity to admit all the qualified students who apply to its engineering program each year.  UF selected SCF as an extension of its program, offering a Bachelor of Science in engineering degree that allows local students to begin their coursework and then move on to the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. The Swift Family Foundation grant will support Gator Engineering and the Gator Engineering Den with technology and capital needs.

Gator Engineering and the Gator Engineering Den were established to eliminate the barrier for many Florida students, many first generation, who may not have funds or the transportation to enroll at UF as a freshman.  By creating a hub at SCF Venice, students will have an opportunity to develop plans to move to Gainesville with guidance from the onsite Gator Engineering advisor.

For information about Gator Engineering at SCF, contact Heather Shehorn at shehorh@SCF.edu or 941-408-1416. For information on setting up grants and scholarships for one of SCF’s programs and capital campaigns, contact Barbara Bourgoin at bourgob@SCF.edu or 941-752-5398.

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SCF, Manatee-Sarasota Receives Donation for Veteran Scholarships

For the third consecutive year Venice American Legion NO-VEL Post 159 is donating the proceeds from its annual Veterans Golf Open to State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF). The money will be used to provide SCF Venice student veterans with individual $1,000 scholarships. Two scholarships are offered at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters.

The proceeds from the golf tournament were $6,500. Combined with previous donations from the Venice American Legion, the proceeds will sustain the veterans’ scholarships for more than six years. SCF Venice serves more than 100 veteran and veteran-dependent students. All together SCF serves about 300 student veterans and their dependents.

The NO-VEL Scholarship is limited strictly to veterans at SCF Venice. Anyone interested may donate to the SCF Foundation Veteran Scholarship, which is awarded to two veterans each year.

For more information, contact Allison Nash, scholarship coordinator, SCF Foundation at 941-752-5653, nasha@SCF.edu.

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Kiwanis Club of Bradenton Donates $10,000 to SCF’s New Library & Learning Center

The Bradenton Kiwanis Foundation has donated $10,000 to State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) to create a Young Adult and Children’s Reading Room in SCF’s new Library & Learning Center. The grant will be used to purchase young adult and children’s books, portable glass writing boards, activity explorer stations and displays.

The Library & Learning Center, which will be used by both SCF and SCF Collegiate School (SCFCS) students in grades 6-12, has also been designed for community use. The Bradenton Kiwanis gift will add to the SCF library’s current collection of young adult and children’s literature, which is accessible to anyone with a Manatee or Sarasota County library card. “This gift will help enhance the Library & Learning Center’s role in educating students at SCFCS and throughout SCF’s service area,” said SCF Foundation Executive Director Cassandra Holmes.

SCF’s Library & Learning Center is scheduled to open in February. It will feature an indoor amphitheater, media production rooms, a Teaching and Visualization Theater for high-impact presentations and an SCF Fab Lab where individuals can create smart devices tailored to local or personal needs. The state has funded construction of this important community resource and the SCF Foundation has raised more than $1 million to bring the building and technology to life.

To find out how you can support your community’s new Library & Learning Center, contact Cassandra Holmes at 941-752-5389 or holmesc@SCF.edu.

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SCF’s Dental Hygiene Program and Clinic Receive Grant to Purchase Equipment

The dental hygiene program and clinic at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) has purchased new equipment designed to teach students and to care for patients thanks to a $40,000 grant from The Lawrence E. Ruf Commitment to Excellence Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation.

The grant will pay for:

  • A Dentsply DXTTR radiographic mannequin head which is used in the classroom. The head allows students to practice panoramic x-rays and to demonstrate competency before entering the clinical setting.
  • A Miele thermal washer disinfector to ensure proper cleaning of instruments prior to sterilization.
  • Two SciCan Statims which sterilize dental instruments used to provide treatment to patients.
  • A Velscope VX oral cancer screening device to be used in the classroom and clinic. The Velscope will allow the clinic’s dentist to provide advanced oral cancer screenings to patients. Students will learn from the process of assisting the dentist and notating any abnormalities and making necessary referrals.

The dental hygiene clinic at SCF provides teeth cleanings, oral examinations, dental X-rays, fluoride and sealants to patients ages 6 and older. Clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Friday. Clinic hours during the Spring semester are available Monday through Friday. Care is provided by SCF students under the supervision of licensed dental hygiene instructors and dentists. The cost ranges from $10 per quadrant for sealants to $52 for adult complex cleanings with x-rays. No insurance is required.

 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the SCF Dental Hygiene Clinic at 941-752-5353. To support equipment purchases for SCF’s health programs, call Barbara Bourgoin, development director, at 941-752-5398 or bourgob@SCF.edu.

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SCF Scholarship Recipients Celebrate National STEAM Day

The State College of Florida Foundation showcased Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) at its annual scholarship luncheon Wednesday, a day after National STEM/STEAM day. State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) students at the luncheon were also treated to information on the STEAM programs offered at SCF and a performance by the SCF Presidential String Quartet.

 

Shay Atluru, president and CEO of DTC Engineering, announced that the Atluru Family Foundation will donate another $10,000 in scholarships, bringing the total to $35,000, for the DTC Engineering Opportunity Scholarship for students in Gator Engineering at SCF and the A.S. Engineering program. In an introduction video at the luncheon, Atluru talked about the importance of technical education and the STEM fields. He also emphasized the importance of community investment in education. His company provides scholarships and internships to local students, who he hopes will return to the community and work as engineers.

 

Ella Starr and Kyle Stone, students who both transferred from SCF to the University of Florida to pursue degrees in engineering, talked about the things they did at SCF that helped make them successful, including extracurricular activities and internships.

 

Starr said internships allow students to discover what they love to do and to cull out what they’re not as passionate about. Stone, who worked as an intern at Sun Hydraulics, said he started at SCF because of the affordability and small class sizes.

 

Donors and scholarship recipients sat together at the luncheon, an important connection said Starr, who met her scholarship donor at the 2014 luncheon, was able to offer a personal thank you. The annual scholarship luncheon allows donors to meet the students they help, showcases SCF’s academic programs and creates an opportunity to raise more money for scholarship needs.

 

For more information on scholarships contact Allison Nash at nasha@SCF.edu or 941-752-5653. To support the SCF Foundation, contact Barbara Bourgoin at bourgob@SCF.edu or 941-752-5398.

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Gulf Coast Community Foundation Awards $10,000 Grant for Gator Engineering

Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded the State College of Florida Foundation $10,000 for Gator Engineering at SCF and its Gator Den at SCF Venice. The Gator Den is a dedicated space for engineering students to study, collaborate and seek the guidance of an SCF advisor as needed.

Gator Engineering, a signature SCF Venice program, develops pathways for students to be admitted to the University of Florida’s (UF) Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering while starting their education at SCF. The students take their coursework at SCF until they complete their necessary math and science classes and then move to the UF campus to continue their engineering education. The program, with its smaller class sizes and supportive cohort of fellow students, offers advantages to ensure student success. As part of the concierge services, students receive dedicated support with an SCF advisor and access to UF departmental advisors.

The signature program wouldn’t be successful without community support. The Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s grant award allows SCF to help students excel in this rigorous coursework. The Gator Den includes real-time video conferencing space which allows for frequent access to UF resources.

To learn about additional opportunities to support SCF’s signature programs, visit SCF-Foundation.org or contact Barbara Bourgoin at bourgob@SCF.edu or 941-752-5398.