Pensacola State College: Nurturing Excellence and Recognizing Student Achievement

Pensacola State College (PSC) plays a vital role in Escambia County, Florida, providing educational opportunities and shaping the future of its students. Beyond academics, PSC fosters a supportive environment that encourages leadership, community involvement, and personal growth. Recognizing outstanding students is a key aspect of PSC's commitment to excellence.

Pensacola State College: A Pillar of the Community

Pensacola State College is more than just an educational institution; it is an integral part of the Escambia County community. For many years, PSC has been providing accessible and high-quality education to students from all walks of life. The college's commitment to student success extends beyond the classroom, with numerous programs and initiatives designed to support students' academic, personal, and professional development.

Enrollment Services and School Choice in Escambia County

The Office of Enrollment Services for Escambia County Public Schools, now known as the "Parent Resource Center," plays a crucial role in assisting families with enrolling their children in the district's 57 public schools. This office provides support to new students, transfer students, students with disabilities, and homeschoolers. They also oversee School Choice, Family Empowerment Scholarships, and other programs.

Parents can register their children in their residentially zoned public school or select a school during Controlled Open Enrollment or School Choice. The Office of Workforce Education oversees middle and high school Career Academies, offering program opportunities that encourage families to complete the School Choice application process early.

The School Choice Expo is an opportunity for families to explore different middle and high schools and their Career Academy, Academic Academy, and CTE programs. With numerous career pathways available, families can learn about their options. Many programs have seamless transitions between middle and high schools.

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The School Choice application process is entirely online, allowing parents and guardians to choose three schools from a list, provided they are not at capacity. The list of eligible schools changes quarterly based on enrollment. Controlled Open Enrollment at Magnet Schools, such as Cook Elementary, Brown Barge Middle School, and West Florida High School, is only available during specific application periods for Escambia County residents. Selection to these schools depends on eligibility criteria and a lottery process.

The spring application window for elementary schools (K-5 and K-6) runs from the last week of January through the first week of March. N. B. Cook is included in this period and does not accept applications after the deadline. Parents are encouraged to add their children to the waiting list for residentially zoned schools not included in the application.

The summer application window for all pre-K and K-12 school enrollment, including School Choice and preference enrollments for employees, siblings, and military personnel, begins on the last Friday in March and continues through June 30. This application must be completed in person at the Enrollment Services office with proof of address and other required documents.

Approximately 37% of students in Escambia County participate in School Choice. Families must set up a FOCUS Parent Portal account to enroll their child and participate in School Choice. The Office of Enrollment Services is located at 30 E. Texar Drive and offers resources, including a list of frequently asked questions about School Choice, to guide families.

Recognizing Alumni Achievements

Pensacola State College takes pride in the accomplishments of its alumni, who often go on to make significant contributions in various fields. The college regularly highlights alumni success stories, showcasing the impact of a PSC education.

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Alumni Spotlights

Natasha (Suggs) Johnson: Her journey to becoming a nurse started with a dream and a bus ticket. She enrolled at Pensacola State College in 2014 without a car.
Roxanne Rachel Lavelle: She serves as the College’s Associate Director of Marketing/Web, bringing imagination, strategy, and heart to her work.
Dr. Latiya Robinson: Her life changed in 2023 due to health issues.
Shannon Hoffman: An alumna, she is a fire and rescue department photographer and received a Service Recognition Medal at the Escambia County Fire Rescue Awards Ceremony.
Michaela Rosales: She earned an associate degree in August and re-enrolled in the College’s Electrocardiograph Technician Program.
Carolyn Lungaro: A culinary management grad, she showcased her gumbo cooking skills at the Pensacola Gumbo Cookoff.
Zack Potts: He informs PSC students and prospective students about financial aid opportunities.
Kenneth Phillips: A former member of the College’s first guitar ensemble, he is now the head of the Pensacola State College Performing Arts Department.
Ryan Vann: His business is in the fast-growing sport of disc golf, and his business education began at Pensacola State College.
Mary Mabins: She has always been interested in a career in science.
Gary A. DeLapp: Recipient of the Pensacola State College Distinguished Alumni Life Achievement Award, he established a scholarship to honor his mentor, Michael V. Harrell.
Alessandro Bailetti: He co-authored a research paper titled “Enhancer of Polycomb/Tip60 represses hematological tumor initiation by negatively regulating JAK/STAT pathway activity.”
Tracy Carpenter: A recent graduate with an associate degree in photography, she showcased her work at Gallery Night in downtown Pensacola.

Alumni Association Events

The Pensacola State College Alumni Association actively engages with alumni through various events and initiatives.

The Alumni Association Fishing Excursion raised funds for the Delta Kappa Alpha Fraternity Alumni Scholarship.
The Alumni Association Board celebrated PSC’s culinary programs with a full-service dinner prepared by culinary and hospitality students.

Honoring Supporters

Pensacola State College recognizes and honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the college and its mission. Mary Hoxeng was bestowed an honorary Bachelor of Arts in Humane Letters degree from the College.

Pensacola State College L.I.F.E. Program

Pensacola State College offers a L.I.F.E. (Leisure, Institute For Education) program at the Milton campus.

Recognizing Volunteers and Community Partners

Escambia County School District honored those who support local schools as volunteers and business partners at a lunch at New World Landing.

ECSD recognized Sandy Sansing Foundation as its District Partner of the Year for donating $100,000 for science and computer technology training and education.
ECSD named the Children’s Home Society as the School Based Partner of the Year for establishing the first “Community School” in Escambia County on the campus of C.A. Weis Elementary.
Ransom Middle School eighth-grade student Grant Gill received the student volunteer of the year award for volunteering for a pre-K class for students with autism at L.D. McArthur Elementary.
Brandie Johnson received distinction as the adult volunteer of the year for volunteering at Beulah Elementary School.
Charlie Dickin was selected as its senior volunteer of the year for his efforts at Blue Angels Elementary School.
West Pensacola Beach Elementary received the community involvement award for their Tech P.A.S.S. Tuesdays Program, which provides parents an opportunity to learn more about how to use their student’s school-issued Chrome book at home.

ECSD presented the Golden School awards to 10 elementary schools who satisfy a list of criteria, which include volunteer training for their staff, assigning a staff volunteer coordinator and accumulating volunteer hours that equal twice the number of students enrolled at the school. The 10 recipients were: Cordova Park, Longleaf, Pine Meadow, Pleasant Grove, Beulah, Bratt, L.D. McArthur, Myrtle Grove, Sherwood and West Pensacola Elementary.

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ECSD presented the Silver School award to four secondary schools and programs whose students provide exemplary volunteer services to elementary and secondary schools, as well as volunteer throughout the community. The composite student volunteer hours must equal at least half the total number of students in the school. The four recipients were: Bailey Middle School and Pensacola, Pine Forest and Washington high schools.

Sixteen schools received recognition as Five Star School Award recipients. To apply for Five Star status, schools are required to complete portfolios about their community involvement, which include specific information about volunteers, business partners, family involvement and student community service, and have an active School Advisory Council. The 16 Five Star schools are: Allen Elementary, Beulah Elementary, Blue Angels Elementary, Brown-Barge Middle, Hellen Caro Elementary, N. B. Cook School of the Arts, Cordova Park Elementary, Global Learning Academy, Lipscomb Elementary, Longleaf Elementary, L.D. McArthur Elementary, Molino Park Elementary, Pine Meadow Elementary, Pleasant Grove Elementary, Scenic Heights Elementary and A.K. Suter Elementary.

Student Success Initiatives

Pensacola State College is committed to providing students with the resources and support they need to succeed. This includes offering workshops, scholarships, and other programs designed to enhance students' academic and professional skills.

SAT/ACT Workshop

A workshop is available to assist students in Escambia and Santa Rosa County High Schools who will be taking the SAT and ACT tests. Alice Hart conducts the classes, providing instruction over five sessions covering both tests.

Veterans Endowed Scholarship

The Switzers donated to the Pensacola State College Alumni Association to establish the Veterans Endowed Scholarship.

National Flight Academy STEM Program

Some Escambia County School District students will have the opportunity to attend a one-week program at the National Flight Academy. The Escambia Children’s Trust Board agreed to fund a three-year pilot STEM program for at-risk students from Escambia County schools. The program’s curriculum will align with state Department of Education standards and include science, technology, engineering and math disciplines along with life skills such as communications, teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking and leadership.

University of West Florida Student Leadership Awards

The University of West Florida honored students at the Student Leadership Awards Banquet. Students were recognized for completing community service hours, managing funding, and leadership roles. Marissa Frangione received the Linda O. Dye Award, and Michael Krueger received the Kenneth L. Curtis Award. Chris Thrasher received the Vice President’s Excellence Award. Daniel McBurney was recognized with the Hal Crosby Leadership Award. Kishane Patel received the Deborah L. Ford Emerging Leader Award. Brandon Robinson received the Outstanding Student Leader Award. Lori Lombardo received the Outstanding Graduate Student Leader Award. Angie Pinglo Briceno received the International Student Award. Justin Williams and Autumn Duyn received the Student-Athlete Leadership Awards. Students Davis Hagen and Sabrina Youngman were into the Intramural Hall of Fame. Erik Winfree received the Sport Club Leader of the Year Award. Connor Wagner received the William M. Healey Leadership Award. The following graduating seniors received the Fraternal Excellence Award for exceptional leadership: Fran Adams of Phi Sigma Sigma; Allyse Rolle-Polk, Alpha Kappa Alpha; Marisa Palumbo, Kappa Delta; Kali Richardson, Alpha Phi Alpha; Kelly McMahon, Alpha Gamma Delta; Hector Constanzo, Sigma Alpha Mu; and Larry Antoine, Phi Beta Sigma. The following students received Cannon Citations: Hakeem Douglas, Marisa Palumbo, Synthia Jean, Ruby Gregory, Ryan Lavoie and Cheyenne Biggerstaff. The program recognized students named among Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges and inductees of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. Student organizations and individuals were honored for their community service with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

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