Daytona State AVP named president of South Piedmont Community College

Dr. Stanley Sidor

Stanley Sidor, Daytona State College’s associate vice president of Engineering Technology and Occupational Programs, and provost of its Advanced Technology College, has been appointed president of South Piedmont Community College in North Carolina, effective July 1.

Sidor was selected among six finalists for the job at the April meeting of the South Piedmont District Board of Trustees.

“I am greatly looking forward to this new opportunity with South Piedmont Community College,” Sidor said. “Still, I made a lot of good friends here in Daytona Beach and I’m going to miss them all. Daytona State College is a great institution with a very bright future.”

North Carolina’s newest comprehensive community college, South Piedmont was founded in 1999 with the merging of Anson Community College and Union Technical Education Center, serving the south-central portion of the state. Today, more than 15,000 college credit and non-college credit students attend the institution, pursuing learning opportunities that range from adult basic and continuing education to associate of science and university transfer degrees.

Sidor joined Daytona State in 2001. Prior to that, he served as the director of Industry and Workforce Training and regional director of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center at Northwestern Michigan College from 1989-2001. He received bachelor’s degrees in environmental science-sociology and business administration from Aquinas College, a master’s degree in manufacturing administration from Western Michigan University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Central Florida.

School of Engineering Technology Chair Ron Eaglin has been appointed associate vice president of technologies and will assume Sidor’s duties at Daytona State.

Lady Falcons retain JUCO championship

Mitsuki Katahira 

Daytona State won its second straight National Junior College Women's Golf Championship this week at LPGA International's Legends Course. The Lady Falcons' Mitsuki Katahira also won her second consecutive individual championship, securing her place as one of the top ranked amateur golfers in the world.

The Falcons finished 23 shots ahead of runner-up Redlands Community College of Oklahoma.

In total, the Lady Falcons placed six competitors in the top 20 during the four-round tournament:

1. Mitsuki Katahira 74-73-72-71--290

2. Ericka Schneider 72-76-72-73--293

5. Amy West 68-74-80-77--299

10. Cassie Cleary 82-79-78-76--315

15. Kelly Miller  81-84-79-78--322

20. Kaylee Random  75-84-80-87--326

Team Scores:

1. Daytona State 1195

2. Redlands 1218

3. McLennan 1288

4. Seminole, Fla. 1305

5. Rend Lake 1356

6. Coastal Georgia 1376

7. Texarkana 1382

8. Tyler 1409

9. Mesa 1427

10. John A. Logan 1467

T11. North Idaho 1514

T11. Columbus State 1514

13. Iowa Western 1528

14. South Mountain 1550

15. Seminole, Okla. 1593

16. Scottsdale 1603

17. Barton County 1667

18. Bismarck State 1697

Congratulations to all our Lady Falcons and their coach, Laura Brown!

Area educators provide students advice during roundtable workshop

Alyssa Foster appreciates good advice.

The Daytona State College graduate, who this week earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, was among nearly 40 School of Education students who received valuable career guidance from area public school administrators during an education roundtable workshop held May 11 in the Mori Hosseini Center.

The workshop was among a number of sessions scheduled each year by the School of Education that goes above and beyond the curriculum, providing a means for students to enhance their professional skills and giving them an edge in an increasingly competitive job market.

“This workshop was a great opportunity to get to know the principals and their views,” Foster said. “It gave me a better understanding of how to approach my job search when I graduate.”

Foster currently is a leading candidate for a teaching job at an area charter school, according to Dr. Les Potter, chair of the School of Education.

The panelists included principals, certification specialists and human resources representatives who spoke on a variety of topics, including what characteristics they seek in a teaching candidate, how to prepare for the interview and what they look for on a resume. Students also were able to meet with each principal and submit their resumes.

This past academic year saw the first graduates of the college’s five BS in Education degree programs, which were launched with authorization from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in late 2009. Eleven students graduated last December and an additional 35 graduated in May.

Les Potter

More from the College of Education

The College of Education also has been very involved with the Junior Achievement Worldwide program by introducing select college classes to the Junior Achievement curriculum and its purpose. On May 13, Dr. Potter went with 14 other community members to teach 6^th graders at Creekside Middle School in Port Orange.

Junior Achievement is an innovator in empowering young people to own their future economic success in the 21^st century global marketplace. The program focuses on the impact areas of youth, education and economic development, reaching  9.8 million students a year in more than 400,000 classes worldwide.

Junior Achievement volunteers help K-12 students focus on work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire students to dream big, reach their potential, and contribute to the vitality of their local communities and the world economy.  

For more information contact Dr. Potter at (386) 506-3528, potterl@DaytonaState.edu.

Daytona State takes home gold in Volusia Literacy Council Spelling Bee

Rudbeckia. 

These blooms, also known as Black-Eyed Susans, most commonly come in shades of yellow and orange, but they brought home gold for Daytona State College in the Volusia Literacy Council’s 18^th annual Corporate Spelling Bee.

Daytona State's championship spelling team members take a pose

with their trophy. From left: Ben Graydon, Michelle Lee, Evan Rivers,

Joanne Pinkston-McDuffie, Literacy Council Board President James Jiloty,

Ellen Nielsen, Dustin Weeks, Ted Wygant, Rachel Owens

and Frank Gunshanan.



For the second year in a row, the faculty stacked, eight-member team organized by the Daytona State College Foundation out-spelled 11 other teams during the May 12 event at Daytona International Speedway’s Bill France Room, helping to raise more than $4,000 for Literacy Council programs.

“The Foundation came really intent on getting the championship again this year,” said Jae Hilgers, a  Literacy Council spokesperson. “They were well prepared and the money they helped raise for this event really makes a big difference when it comes to supporting and improving literacy in our community.”

The championship team included Evan Rivers, chair of the School of Humanities and Communication; English faculty Ben Graydon, Frank Gunshanan, Michelle Lee and Ellen Nielson; librarians Dustin Weeks and Rachel Owens; and humanities faculty Ted Wygant.

“A big thank you and huge congratulations to all of our team members, and particularly to Joanne Pinkston-McDuffie for coordinating this effort on our behalf,” said Donna Sue Sanders, vice president and senior executive director of the Foundation. “Your willingness to take time out of your busy lives to participate in this very worthy cause is greatly appreciated.”

Other organizations participating in the event were Halifax Health, Florida Health Care, Volusia County School Board, Volusia Literacy Council Tutors, United Way, Junior Achievement, The News-Journal and FPL.

College urges students to return with Come Back to Daytona State Scholarship

If you’re one of many Daytona State College students who was well on your way toward earning an associate degree, but had to put your college education on hold for whatever reason, college officials are about to make you an offer you may find hard to refuse.

The college this week sent letters to more than 5,500 non-returning students dating as far back as 2003 who took classes but did not complete their degrees, offering a one-time only “Come Back to Daytona State Scholarship” valued at 25 percent off the cost of their in-state tuition for Fall 2011 Semester.

The scholarship opportunity is being offered to students who have completed at least 45 credits of coursework within their major and who have not re-enrolled in classes for at least 12 months.

“We know that finances are one of the many obstacles our students face when it comes to completing their college degrees,” said Tom LoBasso, senior vice president of enrollment and student development. “With the help of the Daytona State College Foundation, we have been able to create this scholarship award which, when combined with financial aid, can remove this barrier and make completing their degrees more affordable.”

Students who receive the letter and are considering taking advantage of the scholarship offer also are encouraged to apply for financial aid as soon as possible by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online and accessible via the college’s website at www.daytonastate.edu/finaid. Students are urged to apply for financial aid as soon as possible, since it takes 4-6 weeks to process the application.

The Come Back to Daytona State Scholarship must be redeemed by Aug.1.

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