Category: Scholarships

The Registered Nursing Program at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) is in the top 5 percent of the state’s 160 Associate in Science in nursing (ASN) programs after graduates achieved a 98.94 percent pass rate on the nursing licensure exam for 2017. SCF graduates ranked eighth in passing rates among the ASN programs in Florida.

SCF graduates performed well above the national average of 84 percent and the state average of 70 percent on the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The NCLEX-RN exam is used by all state boards of nursing across the country to help assess a student’s competency and is required for licensure. Many state boards use the total overall NCLEX-RN pass rates to analyze a school’s ability to provide a nursing education.

SCF’s health care programs have long been successful. Graduates from SCF’s Radiography Program earned a 100 percent pass rate on their first attempt in taking the exam for five consecutive years. Graduates of SCF’s health sciences programs – physical therapist assistant, occupational therapy assistant, dental hygiene and radiography – have an annual pass rate above 90 percent on their licensure exams.

For information on SCF’s nursing program, visit SCF.edu/Nursing.

Beverly Wright saw exactly what she was looking for in Devon Chiodo, a bright music student heading to State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF). Wright, who created a memorial music scholarship in her husband’s memory, looks for students with a positive attitude, a lifelong commitment to music and, of course, talent.

For the third time in the seven years the scholarship has been awarded, it will go to an SCF student. Chiodo, a percussionist, instrumentalist and singer who plans to devote her career to students with disabilities, won the scholarship based not only on her talent, but also on her positive attitude and her plans to continue in music once she graduates from college. Scholarship winners do not have to teach music or become performers to win, but they do have to have a commitment to stay involved in music.

 The Music Program at SCF offers a solid music foundation for a student to successfully transition to a four-year college music program. It is more affordable than other music programs and offers a full array of music credits, including music theory, music history, music therapy, music composition, vocal studies, jazz studies and ensemble.

The Andy Wright Scholarship goes to one student each year who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and intends to continue using their musical talents during college. A graduate of Juilliard and Columbia University, Andy Wright taught music at Sarasota High School for 35 years. He was inducted into the Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) Hall of Fame and was named the FMEA Teacher of the Year. He also was Sarasota County Schools’ Teacher of the Year twice. He took music students to Europe, including Switzerland and Austria, to perform. He retired from Sarasota High School in 1991.

His father wanted him to be a doctor, but after serving in Europe’s Battle of the Bulge during World War II, the last major Nazi offensive in World War II, he decided to pursue music when he came home from the war. Wright’s skills on the piano and trombone led to him touring the country for more than two years with the Shep Fields Band and landing on the same bill as Bob Hope, Marilyn Maxwell and the Ink Spots.

He met his wife of 58 years, Beverly, in Virginia Beach, Virginia during his time touring and they made plans to move to Florida where they could put roots down together. Wright started teaching in Fort Walton Beach in 1952 and four years later came to Sarasota.

In addition to his teaching career, which included a stint as an adjunct jazz professor at SCF after he retired from teaching high school, Wright was also a member of the Florida West Coast Symphony for 25 years, a member of the Sarasota Concert Band and was a charter member of the Sarasota Jazz Club. He died in 2011 at the age of 86.

“He came as close to doing what he wanted his entire life as anyone I know. He was a happy camper,” Beverly Wright said. “He woke up looking forward to going to work every day.”

Beverly and her son, Andy Wright III, created the scholarship application with an emphasis on work ethic, as well as musical talent. Other scholarship recipients from SCF are Camden McLean, who won in 2014 and Ricardo Zamarripi, who won in 2015.

“Andy believed that you can have talent, but if you don’t work it, it doesn’t go anywhere,” Beverly Wright said. “We want music to remain important to them for the rest of their lives.”

For more information on SCF’s music programs, visit SCF.edu/music.

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 14^th 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.

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.

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.