Agreement enables Brevard grads to transfer into Daytona State BS in Engineering Technology programs

An articulation agreement authorized on Thursday by the Daytona State College District Board of Trustees will provide opportunity for Brevard Community College students graduating with selected associate of science degrees to enter Daytona State’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology programs.

 “This agreement is intended to increase the options available to AS degree graduates of Brevard Community College who are seeking further educational opportunities,” said Daytona State College President Frank Lombardo.  “It also serves as an overarching statement of cooperation between the two institutions and promotes an efficient and effective use of both our resources.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Daytona State will recognize Brevard’s AS degrees in Aerospace Technology, Chemical Technology, Computer Information Technology, Computer Programming and Analysis, Engineering Technology and Networking Services Technology as “2+2” transfer degrees. Graduates of these programs who have completed a minimum 18 hours of general education courses will be able to choose among Daytona State’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology degree or the more targeted bachelor’s concentrations in Electrical Engineering Technology and Information Systems Technology.

Dr. Ron Eaglin, program chair, said he expects that as many as 50 Brevard graduates may enroll in the program each year as a result of the articulation agreement. “It will be particularly attractive to these students because the programs can be completed online,” he said.

Daytona State began offering the engineering bachelor’s degrees during fall 2010 after the programs were authorized earlier that year by the State Board of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Currently, 162 students are enrolled in the programs, with the first group of students expected to graduate in May.

Students who earn associate of arts degrees also are eligible to enroll in the engineering technology programs.

Unlike traditional AA to BS transfer programs, AS to BS articulation agreements are relatively rare in Florida higher education. Currently, only nine such agreements exist among the state’s colleges and universities.

View a video below, produced by WDSC-TV, about these and other programs offered at Daytona State's Advanced Technology College.

For more information, visit Daytona State’s School of Engineering Technology online.

Presidential search update

The firm assisting Daytona State College with its search for a new president has released a profile that will serve as a springboard for its recruitment efforts.

The document was developed by Dr. Robert E. Parilla of Academic Search, Inc., after the firm’s senior consultant met with a host of college and community constituent groups in January.  It contains general information regarding Daytona State and the communities it serves, as well as the leadership qualities being sought in a new president.

There are two versions of the Presidential Profile available for review on the Academic Search website.  One is a glossy brochure and the other is a printer-efficient plain text version.

Daytona State also has set up a presidential search page on its website, which includes a listing of Presidential Search Committee members.

Academic Search currently is assisting 13 colleges and universities across the country with presidential searches. Daytona State officials expect to have a new president onboard by summer 2011.

High school students compete at Daytona State for culinary honors

High school students from around Volusia County competed recently for honors in the ProStart career building program.

The competition was held on Jan. 14 in the kitchens of Daytona State’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Management. 

ProStart is a national organization serving students, parents, teachers, and the restaurant and food service industries. According to the ProStart website, it has a membership of approximately 80,000 students in more than 1,650 schools throughout the United States. Students gain skills for success in hospitality and food service management through classroom study and mentored work experiences, as well as through local and national competitions.

View a video, produced by Daytona State’s PBS station WDSC-TV, about the local  ProStart competition below.

Board of Trustees honors Joe Petrock

The Daytona State College District Board of Trustees on Thursday honored outgoing member Joe Petrock for his years of service to the institution.

Mr. Joe Petrock



In a resolution of appreciation, trustees cited Mr. Petrock’s service as chair from 2003 to 2008 and noted the enrollment growth and facilities expansion the college has experienced during his tenure. Mr. Petrock resigned from the board in January, citing health and other reasons.

He is a 1973 graduate of the college, having attended on a baseball scholarship.  Mr. Petrock is arguably among the area’s most service-oriented individuals, having volunteered thousands of hours to a host of organizations and philanthropic causes over the years, including a variety of fundraising efforts on behalf of the Daytona State College Foundation, where he also served as a Foundation Board member and past president.

Read more about Mr. Petrock’s distinguished career and service to our communities on the Daytona State College Foundation website.

Mary Karl inducted into Florida Women’s Hall of Fame

Mary Brennan Karl, a pioneer of education in Volusia County and a driving force in the founding of what today is Daytona State College, has been inducted into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.

Mary Brennan Karl

“Mary Karl was a true leader and advocate for education in Volusia County,” said Daytona State College President Frank Lombardo. “Her dedication and persistence ultimately helped pave the way for our selection as Florida’s first comprehensive community college. We all are indebted to her for planting the seeds of higher education in our community and for the opportunities her efforts have created for so many thousands of people throughout the years.”

Mrs. Karl’s family, including her grandson, Volusia County Director of Aviation and Economic Resources Rick Karl, has been invited to attend a formal induction ceremony and private reception at the governor’s mansion on March 22.

“This is very meaningful for my family and for our entire community,” Mr. Karl said of his grandmother’s recognition. “Although she did not live to see the college become the wonderful institution it is today, her life is a testament to what one woman can do to make a difference.”

Mrs. Karl was a commercial teacher for the Daytona Beach School System when she was named director of the Opportunity School in 1937. During her tenure, she broadened the training programs offered by the school into areas such as automobile mechanics and body repair, aircraft mechanics, beauty culture, horticulture, welding and boat building. In order to secure more property for her growing school, Mrs. Karl in 1948 was able to persuade the War Assets Administration to donate to the school system federally owned land, on what today is International Speedway Boulevard, known then as the Welch Center and used as an army convalescent home and rehabilitation center. The Opportunity School eventually evolved in to the Mary Karl Vocational School, which later became the technical division of Daytona Beach Junior College.

The Florida Women’s Hall of Fame was created by statute to honor women who, through their lives and efforts have made significant contributions to the improvement of life for all citizens of Florida. The Florida Commission on the Status of Women maintains and facilitates the permanent Florida Women’s Hall of Fame display in the state Capitol.