WDSC TV to restructure program lineup beginning July 1

(DAYTONA BEACH, FL) June 27 - Daytona State College’s public television station, WDSC-TV 15, is restructuring its programming schedule due to federal and state budget cuts that have forced it to end its longtime relationship and membership with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). But while the programming changes will begin on July 1, station officials say WDSC will remain committed to its mission of providing quality public television that is educating, enriching and entertaining.

WDSC will replace roughly 25 percent of its program lineup typically purchased from PBS with alternative, yet high-quality programming from the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA), American Public Television (APT), locally produced programs and other sources.

“While we are making these changes, we remain committed to providing high-quality public broadcasting,” said Bob Williams, senior vice president and general manager of the station, which is operated by Daytona State College. “We encourage our members to continue to support the station, and we welcome new members who are interested in supporting the mission of public television.”

The station will continue to broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week on digital channels 15.1, 15.2 and 15.3, which are carried by Bright House Networks, Comcast, Direct TV, Dish Networks and AT&T U-verse.

The reorganization of the programming slate comes in the wake of a decision by Daytona State’s District Board of Trustees last week – already weathering its own state budget cuts - not to cover the cost of the station’s PBS membership and its programming lineup. The $225,000 appropriation had been part of nearly $5 million earmarked for Florida public TV stations that was vetoed earlier this month by Gov. Rick Scott. 

Williams said it is important to note that 75 percent of WDSC’s programming will not change. “We have been carrying programming from NETA and APT for the past 20-plus years,” he said. “Many of our viewer favorites, such as British comedies and dramas, BBC news, our craft, sewing and how-to programs, etc., will remain intact.”

The station also will no longer publish and distribute its monthly program guide to its membership. Viewers may still view a comprehensive list of programs on the station’s website at www.wdsctv.org or in the TV schedules published by area newspapers. A list of frequently asked questions regarding the programming changes also is available on the station website.

Williams, who notified station members of the changes in a letter sent this week, said the funding cuts brought on by the recent state austerity measures emphasize the critical role WDSC’s station membership and program underwriters play.  “We need them now more than ever,” he said, “and we encourage their continued support.”

Station membership levels begin with an annual donation of as little as $40.

For more information, please call or email (386) 506-4415, wdsc@daytonastate.edu.

Daytona State’s Fresh Start program polishes Diamond in the rough

It’s never too late to follow your passions.

Toni Diamond

So says 64-year-old Toni Diamond, and she should know. For years, Diamond lacked the self-confidence necessary to go to college and learn a skill. Coming from a life of domestic abuse, divorce and broken relationships, she suffered years of turmoil, depression and anxiety.

“I’ve had to deal with a lot, but a lot of it was my own doing,” she said. “I didn’t realize I had been sabotaging my own success because I didn’t feel good about myself over things that happened a long time ago, things that really shouldn’t matter today.”

Diamond’s epiphany came from her participation in Daytona State College’s Fresh Start program, which was recommended to her by a neighbor who also went through the free program. That first step, she said, has made a tremendous difference in her life. “It’s given me focus,” she said. “It’s helped me to stop getting in my own way. It’s helped me discover my purpose in life.”

Fresh Start is designed for women 35 and older who are in transition due to divorce, separation, death of a spouse, or caring for a disabled spouse. The class provides a supportive environment that helps students overcome obstacles to going back to work, including low self-esteem and fears about working outside the home.

While most women Diamond’s age are looking forward to retirement, she realizes she is among a growing number of men and women nationwide who must continue to work  at least part-time well into their retirement years. She had worked most of her adult life at low-skill, low-paying jobs, that is, until she was laid off in the spring of 2010 and quickly realized that she was essentially unemployable.

Through Fresh Start, Diamond learned how to prepare for a new beginning. The program teaches confidence building and stress management, personal awareness and coping skills, how to establish goals, explore career interests and investigate educational opportunities. Participants also learn how to write successful resumes, learn job search tools and improve their interview skills. 

After completing the program, Diamond enrolled in Daytona State’s Associate of Science in Human Services program and became a volunteer with the Domestic Abuse Council, where she serves as a victim’s advocate. She’s paying tuition with Pell grants and scholarships available to eligible Fresh Start participants and expects to earn her degree in May next year.

“Like many of our clients, Fresh Start helped Toni to honestly evaluate her situation and take steps to move forward,” said Nancy DeStefano, the program’s coordinator on the Daytona Beach Campus. “Today, Toni is an inspiration to others who may feel that they have waited too long to go back to school and get their education.”

Diamond herself is inspired by the way her life seems to have fallen into place since her Fresh Start experience.

“My goal is to work with other women,” she said. “It’s important to understand that you can recover and go on to live a happy life. Having had the experiences, I think that sharing my perspective can help others.”

The next Fresh Start program begins Tuesday, July 5. Classes are held at the Daytona Beach Campus and Deltona Campus. Classes meet Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or to reserve your seat, call the Daytona Beach Campus at (386) 506-4377, or Deltona Campus at (386) 789-7320.

Daytona State also offers a Fresh Start for Men program, designed to help men preparing to transition into career and technical training, associate of science, or certificate programs at Daytona State. The free four-week program provides an atmosphere of support and encouragement, while offering practical tools for setting goals to be successful in life. Classes are held Monday through Thursday and meet from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the Daytona Beach Campus. The next four-week program starts Tuesday, July 5. Eligible male students will complete a Personal Development Plan, which will provide a road map to explore career options, examine educational opportunities, and establish personal and career goals. They will also learn interview and job-readiness skills and how to create a resume for successful entrance into the workforce. Participants must have a high school diploma or GED, or be referred by a representative from the College’s School of Adult Education. To register, or for additional information about the Men’s Fresh Start program, call (386) 506-3068.

Daytona State Board of Trustees authorizes negotiations for presidential selection



Dr. Carol Eaton



(DAYTONA BEACH, FL) June 22, 2011 - The District Board of Trustees of Daytona State College has selected Carol Eaton to be its first choice to lead the institution as its next president. The board today authorized college staff to offer the job to Eaton, who is currently president of Frederick Community College in Maryland, and begin salary negotiations. If Dr. Eaton accepts the position, she will be the first woman to hold the presidency in Daytona State College’s 50-plus year history.

In the event Eaton does not accept the position, the board also authorized college staff to offer the presidency to Drew Bennett, currently chancellor of Missouri State University-West Plains (West Plains, Mo.).

Dr. Eaton has extensive leadership experience in higher education and has served as a college president in two states. In addition to Frederick Community College, she also has served as president of Clinton Community College in Plattsburgh, NY, and has been chancellor of community colleges at the State Universities of New York (SUNY).

Eaton was the board’s top choice among 44 who initially applied for the position. That list was narrowed to four candidates, who this week visited the area to meet with college constituent groups and community leaders before being individually interviewed by the board today.



In addition to Eaton and Bennett, the other finalists were Roslyn Artis, executive vice president of Mountain State University (Beckley, W.Va.); and Irby "Skip" Sullivan, president, West Georgia Technical College (Waco, Ga.).

Drs. Eaton and Bennett were clearly held as the strongest two candidates following polling of individual board members, surveys of the college community at large, and a straw poll taken by senior administrators and college constituent groups, which included faculty representatives. Still, the board struggled with coming to a final consensus between selecting Bennett or Eaton as the top choice.

“This is a difficult decision for you because all four candidates would make excellent presidents,” said Interim President Frank Lombardo, who appealed to board members to come together and select the candidate they feel will exhibit the most heart, leadership and transparency.

Board members pointed to the unique qualities of each finalist: Artis’ strong communication skills and diverse experience working within institutional divisions; Sullivan’s experience working with business and industry; Bennett’s leadership skills and his ability to navigate state and local political waters to secure funding sources.
But in the end, the board chose Eaton based on her experience leading two community colleges. “She is the real deal,” said board Vice Chairman Christina Frederick-Recascino. “She is a national-level leader for a nationally ranked college. She has the depth and breadth of background to not just be a leader, but a visionary for this institution.”

The college was assisted in the presidential search by Academic Search, a national firm that specializes in helping colleges and universities recruit senior administrators.

Engineering Technology faculty mark accomplishments

Two Engineering Technology faculty recently marked accomplishments in entrepreneurship and scholarly works.


Dr. Ronald Eaglin



Pyramath, the brainchild of Ronald Eaglin, associate vice president of Daytona State’s College of Technology, recently was named among 2011’s best educational products for mathematics by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine’s Homeschool Crew, a magazine and blog dedicated to home school education. Pyramath was among 80 vendor products reviewed by the Homeschool Crew and rated tops among 11 vendors nominated in the Best Math Product category.

“Children have fun when they play Pyramath, and when kids have fun, it has a great influence on the learning process,” Eaglin said. “The game offers a comprehensive arithmetic lesson that gives children unlimited practice at their individual level. “

The one- or two-player card game - which sells for $6.95 and also features an online version - is designed to help children learn math basics along with language skills as they work to complete a pyramid with their cards by solving simple equations. Each of the game’s 56 cards displays four basic mathematical symbols on the back, and the number along with English, Spanish, Chinese, Roman, French and Arabic translations and symbols on the front. Players identify the numbers on their cards and add, subtract, multiply and divide to finish their pyramid.

Eaglin invented the game several years ago and started I See Cards, Inc. to sell and market the product. Since then, more than 10,000 units have been sold.

More from the School of Engineering Technology and Occupational Programs

Dr. Eduardo Divo

Associate Professor and Assistant Chair Eduardo Divo co-organized and co-chaired three international conferences recently hosted at the University of Central Florida. These were the 7^th International Conference on Inverse Problems in Engineering held May 4-6; the 6^th International Conference on Fluid Structure Interaction held May 9-11; and the 2^nd International Conference on Disaster Management and Human Health Risk held May 11-13. He also co-edited the three corresponding books of proceedings of these conferences and published them under the name of Daytona State College. 

Surfers earn scholarships

Even before they finish competing in the National Scholastic Surfing Association’s National Interscholastic Championships being held this week in Dana Point, Calif., two members of the Daytona State College Surf Club are already bringing home top honors in the form of academic scholarships.

Team Captain Gerald Onesky and member Matt Turner were each named 2011 NSSA Surfer Scholars in recognition of their academic performance.  Onesky is maintaining a 4.0 GPA, while Turner holds a 3.5 GPA.

“One of the primary goals of the NSSA is to emphasize and encourage the academic achievement of its membership,” according to a statement posted to the organization’s website. “The Surfer Scholar list serves to recognize NSSA student surfers who have a passion for learning and have excelled scholastically. We are proud to honor these outstanding student athletes!”

Matt Turner

The surfing competition, which gets under way today and runs through Saturday, will be aired on June 25 at 2 p.m. and June 26 at 3 p.m. as part of a new CBS show called "The Alt Games College Action Sports Championships."

In total, 16 teams will be competing for the championship, 11 from California. The Daytona State Surf Club is among five teams competing from Florida. The club finished the regular season this year ranked number four overall in the southeast region. In addition to Onesky and Turner, competing club members are Robert Burns, Patrick Gingras, Eric Lomax, Priscilla Turzyn, Eric Wilson and Sarah Rodriguez.

Bruce Cook, assistant dean of co-curricular activities, is the surf club’s advisor. For more information, please call him at (386) 506-4417, or email cookb@DaytonaState.edu.