From time-to-time I am asked to explain the role of a college board of trustees. Just the other day, someone on campus asked this of me again so I thought it might be helpful to provide a brief tutorial for the campus community. American colleges have been under the governance of lay boards since the founding of Harvard in 1636. This governance structure is unique in the world. While some other countries have adopted lay governance, many operate with a ministry of higher education, which provides oversight of collegiate activities and programs. Despite all of the criticism of education in the United States, our institutions of higher learning are still the envy of the world, and we continue to draw students from

A Presidential Note: The Role of the Trustees

I N S I D E

T H I S I S S U E :

Message from the Board

2

Graduate Success Story

3

Graduation 2012

4-5

Meet Jennifer Johnson

6

Shimmer Gala 8-9

Beacon Students Shine

11

First Student Job Fair

12

New Beacon College Logo

14

The Beacon NAVIGATOR

M A Y 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 V O L U M E I I , I S S U E 4

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

• New Majors

• Fall Student Scholarships

• Peer Mentoring Program for Fall

• Life Coaching Arrives at Beacon

other countries in significant numbers. I believe part of the strength of American higher education is its reliance on lay governing boards. When I say governance, I mean that the board provides the broad mission and policy oversight for the institution. This, of course, is different than management, which is the purview of the president and senior officers. Perhaps an example will illustrate the distinction between governance and management. A board might decide that the college should expand its curricular offerings. This is a governance decision and very much within the purview of the board. However, it falls to the campus administration to determine precisely

which majors should be offered, how they are to be structured, how they are to be funded, and who will be responsible for their oversight. These are management decisions. Of course, the board has the right to review what the college administration has developed with respect to curricular expansion and pass judgment on its acceptability. As another example, the board might establish a financial policy whereby the institution is to achieve a 5% surplus at year end. Precisely how that surplus is to be achieved, however, rests

Know Your World and Its Struggles. Chart Your Course and Succeed.

Gain. Learn. Grow.

Continued on page 11

P A G E 2

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

As the Academic Year of 2011-2012 comes to a close, the Board of Trustees wishes to extend to each of you our heartfelt appreciation for your diligent and extraordinary efforts to see Beacon College through a major period of transition. Whether you served at the administrative level, performed as a faculty member, provided library services, secretarial or administrative support, counseling, coaching, mentoring, support services of all types, culinary, custodial or volunteer services, you made this concluding year one to be applauded. Much was hoped for and expected when you were asked to remain committed to the mission of Beacon College; this during a transitional period in the leadership of the College. The Board, together with Interim President John Hutchinson, hoped for your support and continued dedication. You stepped up and now 16 months later, you are to be credited with the positive changes now being witnessed. Beacon College is on the cusp of major advancement. Plans for facilities expansion are underway. A much enlarged student body is anticipated over the next few years. Several of you became active, participatory members of Board Committees. A major revamping of the Admissions Department has been undertaken. Three new majors and a minor have been approved by the Board since September 2011. A Board policy on Emeritus Awards is under development. The list could go on, but at the heart of these advances are you and your colleagues, without whom none of these advances would have been possible. The Board of Trustees planned the changes, but it was you who made them an actuality. On behalf of the full Board of Trustees, I thank you for your service and wish you a restful and refreshing summer. 2012-2013 promises to be another exciting year in the transition of Beacon College. We believe that the best is yet to come.

Eileen Marinakis Chair, Board of Trustees

Eileen Marinakis Board Chair

Board Engages in Successful Spring Meeting The Beacon College Board of Trustees held its spring meeting on May 4, 2012. Two significant motions were passed including approval of an Art major as well as authorization of the institutional budget for the upcoming academic year. The Board also continues to revise and fine-tune the long-range planning strategy for the College in anticipation of solidifying a final version

for implementation beginning the fall semester. Ms. Marinakis, Board Chair, announced the names of those who will serve on the Presidential Search Committee as the Co l lege beg ins to anticipate the change in leadership for summer 2013. The Board approved the selection of Myers McRae as the search firm in this effort.

President Hutchinson reviewed his successful progress in meeting the Expectations of the Interim President, which are guidelines established by the Board during his transitional term. Many discussions also centered on ideas for improving and expanding campus facilities. All in all, it proved to be a very productive meeting!

New Major is Approved!

Beacon College was notified on Friday, May 25 that our f o u r t h m a j o r , Psychology, has been approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Dr. Rick Perrone will chair the new Human S e r v i c e s & P s y c h o l o g y Department in the fall. Watch for our new psychology classes, “Introduction to Research Design” a nd “C ogn i t i v e Neuroscience,” that will be offered in the fall.

The End of an Historic Year of Transition

P A G E 3 V O L U M E I I , I S S U E 4

William Oppenheimer is a December 2011 Beacon Computer Information Systems’ graduate, and a pre- and post-graduate intern for Beacon College’s IT Department. In the fall of 2011, we met to discuss his career goals and to formulate a plan to help him overcome any barriers in line with attaining those goals. I was very impressed with William from the moment I met with him, as it was clear that he was willing to do whatever it took to create a professional image and to obtain the training necessary to become a successful competitor in today’s employment market. I watched in awe as William transformed

himself from a simple college student with a dream, to a career-driven professional, soaking up every learning opportunity placed before him. He has worked alongside Scott C. Hughes, Beacon’s Director of Information Technology, throughout the fall 2011 term, and was offered the opportunity to continue into the 2012 spring and summer terms. William has served Beacon students, faculty and staff by providing quality computer installation and preventative maintenance and ongoing IT support. He also programmed and deployed CISCO 3750 IDF switches to accommodate Beacon’s growth, and he even

Color, 3-D Fundamentals, Survey of Art History I and II, Ceramics II & III, Painting II & III, Drawing II & III, and Sculpture II & III. The major can be completed with a concentration in Business Management to prepare students for careers as entrepreneurs or free-

lance artists or with a concentration in Web & Digital Media. Russ Bellamy and Van Galyon did a great job on the creation of the major, and we all look forward to the growth of the Studio Art major.

A new Studio Art major was approved by the Board of Trustees on May 4. The major will place a high level of importance on studio work and creative research. Some of the new classes that will be developed, as soon as SACS-COC approval is obtained, include Fundamentals of 2-D and

Studio Art Major

Contributed by Kelly Rogers, Transition Coach

Contributed by Shelly Chandler, VP for Academic Affairs

Since beginning his Beacon internship,

William has grown immensely in knowledge, skill

and ability and shows great

promise for a successful career

in Computer Technology.

taught basic computer skills to Leesburg Public Library patrons. William is now a candidate for an internship with the City of Leesburg’s IT Department. We are extremely proud of him and are eager to see where his next opportunity will take him.

Graduate Success Story: William Oppenheimer

P A G E 4

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Next, he introduced Dr. Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary for Special E d u c a t i o n a n d Rehabilitative Services at the U.S. Department of Education. In this position, Dr. Posny plays a pivotal role in policy and m a n a ge m e n t i s s u e s affecting special education and rehabilitative services. She directs, coordinates and recommends policy for programs designed to assist state and local education agencies with improving the achievement of students with disabilities ages birth through 21, as well as adults transitioning from secondary school to h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , employment or both. She also serves as the principal adviser to the U.S. secretary of education on all matters related to special education for individuals in pre-K, elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools. Dr. Posny was recognized in behalf of the Board by Ms. Eileen Marinakis, Chair, as the second recipient of an honorary doctorate as symbolized by receipt of the diploma and the h o o d i n g c e r e m o n y . Dur i n g t he

May 5, 2012 was a day of celebration for 25 students who attended t h e i r g r a d u a t i o n c e r e m o n y . ( A n additional eight degrees were awarded to Beacon students who were not present at the event.) President Huchinson remarked in his address that it was “a day filled

with pride (and r e l i e f ) f o r parents and families whose l o v e a n d support have sustained these s t u d e n t s through the course of their

s t u d i e s . ” A f t e r recognizing the students’ parents along with the College’s administration, faculty, and staff for helping these students reach their important educational goals, he drew attention to the 11 seated members of the Board of Trustees on stage.

p r e s e n t a t i o n o f Departmental Honors for the highest GPAs, Dr. J a m i e F l e m i n g acknowledged Marissa Squillante, Valedictorian, with a 3.94 GPA in Computer Information Systems; Dr. Shelly Chandler congratulated Braden Walter for his 3.79 GPA in Human Services; and Dr. William Nesbitt announced Dustin Opper, Salutatorian, with a 3.81 GPA in Liberal Studies. The audience applauded and cheered loudly during the presentation of the class and upon conferral of their degrees. Dr. W a l t e r Z i e l i n s k i welcomed the class to the Alumni Association. Many happy faces were seen m a r c h i n g i n t h e recessional toward an enjoyable reception with live music by Chris Hall.

Dr. Alexa Posny delivers her Commencement speech

Board Chair Eileen Marinakis and Dr. Alexa Posny

Hooding Ceremony for Dr. Posny’s Honorary Doctorate

A Day to Remember: Commencement 2012

P A G E 5

2012 Graduates Associate of Arts in Computer Information Systems

Carly Brenda Eisenstein Yael Simone Klein

Associate of Arts in Human Services Erika Aral William Nichols Baldwin Kathleen E. Champ Alexandra J. Jones Stephanie Louise Porzel

Cum Laude Magna Cum Laude

Summa Cum Laude Summa Cum Laude

Associate of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies Daniel R. Huffman

Bachelor of Arts in Computer Information Systems Wyndham Tyler Bidwell Ben L. Brotherton Andrew Phillip Mould* William S. Oppenheimer*

Cum Laude Magna Cum Laude

Bachelor of Arts in Human Services

Laykin Nicole Braddock David A. Cassel Ashley Diana Ceccarelli Allyson Lynn Diamond William Terrance Hallums Jr. Jennifer Rose Johnson Jeff Nash Blair Elizabeth Albers Perlman

Cum Laude

Cum Laude

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies Shawn E. Bramley Ashley Ann Fogg* Dustin Samuel Opper* Jamison Josiah Plakon Christopher Paul Stieler

Magna Cum Laude Summa Cum Laude

*Beacon College Academic Honor Society, Psi Tau Omega

Marissa Squillante

Dustin Opper

Braden Walter

P A G E 6

Board of Trustees Attend Commencement

Before marching in the ceremonial processional, the Board posed for this group photograph. Pictured left to right: John Dittmer, Bruce Vincent, Vincent Ziccolella, Daniel Averbeck, David Knowles, Richard Williams, John C. Weiss III, and William Somerset (standing); Nancy Judge, John Hutchinson, Eileen Marinakis (seated).

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Jennifer Johnson graduated on May 5 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services. Since Jennifer enrolled at Beacon College in the fall of 2008, she knew she wanted a job working with people. She worked extremely hard in her Human Services and Psychology classes and also held a job at The May Flower as a server/bus person working up to 25 hours in her last semesters, and working 12 hours per week in the Beacon College library in our work study program. In the fall, Jennifer will begin her graduate studies at Rollins College in Winter Park. She has been accepted in the Master of Arts program in Human Resources. We are proud of Jennifer and know she will be a successful Human Resource manager some day.

Jonathan Cherry, unable to attend Commencement d u e t o a scheduling conflict is pictured above.

Contributed by Shelly Chandler, VP for Academic Affairs

Meet Jennifer Johnson

P A G E 7 V O L U M E I I , I S S U E 4

Each year Beacon sends the graduating senior students to the theme park of their choice, giving them the chance to enjoy one last trip together. This year, the choice was unan imous l y Bu s ch Gardens. The day started off well with cool weather and a relatively empty park. Students were given year-long passes, all-day meal vouchers, and complimentary “Quick Queues” (tickets that allow you to skip to the front of lines). Despite some rather unnerv ing techn ica l d i f f i c u l t i e s , B u s c h Garden’s newest coaster,

C h e e t a h Run, was the favorite ride of the day. Students also enjoyed the park’s new Animal Care C e n t e r , where they w e r e allowed to watch an e g r e t u n d e r g o s u r g e r y . A m o n g those in attendance were Matt Pagano, Eric Woods, Sean Bramley, Elizabeth Moore, Rachel Yellon, William Hallums, Dave Cassel,

Deloitte Scholarship ($1,000), the Linda Siefried Eubank Scholarship ($1,000), the Renee Keller Scholarship ($6,000), and the Beacon Alumna Scholarship ($1,000). Ms. Renee Keller, a retired nurse from The Villages, also donated $50,000 toward Beacon College’s first endowed scholarship fund! Ms.

Keller’s donation will enable Beacon College to award scholarships to Beacon students for years to come. Please be sure to check the Financial Aid link on the Beacon College website to learn more about specific requirements and how to apply for the above listed scholarships.

The Beacon College Admissions Team has been working hard to create a number of named scholarships along with an endowment for scholarships. During this academic year, the Team has already raised $63,000. The named scholarships include the Goebel Scholarship ($2,000), the Meli Educator Generations Scholarship ($2,000), the

Contributed by Elizabeth Day Moore, Administrative Assistant for Student Services

Contributed by Brenda Meli, Director of Admissions

Left to right: Matt Pagano, Eric

Woods, SeanBramley,

Elizabeth Moore, Rachel Yellon,

William Hallums, Dave Cassel, Christopher Stieler, Blair

Perlman, Ben Brotherton, and

Ray Ramos.

Christopher Stieler, Blair Perlman, Ben Brotherton, and Ray Ramos (pictured).

New Scholarships for Beacon College Students

Senior Day at Busch Gardens

P A G E 8

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Special thanks to all of our Sponsors. We celebrate Mr. Harper and the Harper Family C h a r i t a b l e Foundation, who kicked the gala off for the third year in a row as the $10,000 Presenting Sponsor. A big thanks to Mark Starcher, Evergreen Construction and the Jack Webster Grigsby Foundation who hold the titles as our first

P r e s i d e n t ’ s S h i m m e r S c h o l a r s h i p S p o n s o r s . Thank you to our lovely guest Crystal Hill of S h i r e Pharmaceuticals,

Thank you to all the Gala participants and volunteers who made the 4th annual Shimmer Gala, held on May 18, a huge

success . We DOUBLED the amount of money we raised in the previous year. We couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you!

2012 Shimmer Gala: Smashing Success Contributed by Bonnie LeFoley, Director of Marketing

and dashing Bob Blaise of Blaise, F i e b a c h a n d Assoc iates , who represented our generous Platinum Sponsors. We appreciate ALL of our sponsors and Friends of the College so very much. Thanks to the Volunteers! The volunteer students were amazing and stole the show. They brought the Beacon College mission to Life! Staff, parent and community volunteers did their jobs so masterfully. Truly. Your dedication is remarkable and we

Beacon President Hutchinson and his wife Jean Ann greet Mark Starcher and his wife Terri

Welcoming smiles greeted guests at the Gala’s Registration table

The silent auction encouraged bidding for friendly rivalries between the Gators, Seminoles, and Beacon

P A G E 9

appreciate every minute of time you spent sharing your talents. Everybody loved meeting Senator Alan Hayes, our Honorary Chair, who has a special place for Beacon College in his heart. Among the add i t iona l po l i t i ca l champions of Beacon attending the event were Leesburg Commissioner and Beacon College Board of Trustee David Knowles, Lake County Commissioner Leslie

Campione, and past C o n g r e s s i o n a l Representative Carey Baker. Alumni were special stars of the show including Roz Johnson, who shared her story, h i g h l i g h t i n g h e r

challenges and successes in a short video. There was not a dry eye in the house when the film ended, and the spotlight shown on Roz. Needless to say, the crowd roared, and she received a standing ovation!

continued from page 10

Enjoying dinner at Table 13 Guests mingle during the Cocktail Hour

President John Hutchinson and Honorary Chair, Senator Alan Hayes

2012 Shimmer Gala: Smashing Success

P A G E 1 0

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Inaugural Senior Luncheon The Chopping Block was the site of the inaugural senior luncheon on April 19. Twenty seniors were honored for their hard work at Beacon College, and were congratulated by President Hutchinson, and faculty and staff members.

Ashley Fogg and Braden Walter were initiated into PSI TAU OMEGA, the Beacon College Academic Honor Society, which requires a grade point average of 3.55, nomination by a faculty member, and majority vote of the faculty (pictured on the left). The Writing Center honored Dustin Opper and Braden Walter as the Center’s first peer consultants, while Student Services honored Dustin Opper, Marissa Squillante, and Braden Walter for their roles as Residential Assistants.

Chef Aud and his staff provided culinary delights that were enjoyed by all.

Contributed by Shelly Chandler, VP for Academic Affairs

The City of Leesburg hosted a Chalk Art Festival and seven of our students volunteered to help by working with children attending the festival. Debi MacIntrye from the Safe Climate Coalition stated that our students, “…did a fantastic job, especially a young art student, Chuck Novak, who spent the entire day helping with kids.” Recognition also goes to Michelle Underwood, Alicia Minirth, Matt Whitlock, John Paul Jackson, Diana Haddad, and Patrick Bowler for their participation. Jenenne Valentino-Bottaro recruited and coordinated the student volunteers.

Beacon Students Helping the Leesburg Community

Blair Perlman, Alison Lau,

and Marissa Squillante.

(continued from page one)

A Presidential Note with the administration. Boards have the following general responsibilities within the realm of governance. This is not an exhaustive list:

• Establish the institutional mission. • Provide for the strategic plan. • Assure the financial health of the institution. • Hire and evaluate the president. • Approve academic offerings. • Ensure academic quality. • Hold the institution accountable to appropriate standards and best practices. • Set broad institutional policy in all areas (academic, fiscal, plant, student services, etc.) • Defend the institution from public criticism and attack. • Participate in the raising of funds.

Inspection of this list reveals that any collegiate board has an awesome responsibility. The board is, in the final analysis, the steward of the institution and bears virtually a sacred trust to assure the overall health and vitality of the college or university it serves.

P A G E 1 1

Research in Neurodegenerative Disease from the University of Florida; and Michael Freeman, Coordinator of Education and Training at UCF’s Wellness and Health Promotion Services. Among these presenters were our very own Dr. John Hutchinson, Dr. Shelly Chandler, Jenenne Valentino-Bottaro, our Human Services Career Development class, and Dr. Nikki Nance as a keynote speaker. Human Services students from the Public and Private Agencies, Introduction to Human Services, and Personal Development classes were ambassadors for the conference assisting participants and speakers. Allyson Diamond, Blair Perlman, Braden Walter, David Cassel, Laykin Braddock, T.J. Hallums, Khiry Washington, Jeff Nash,

Ashley Ceccarelli, Alex Walker and Matthew Manfredini were co-presenters on "More Than Words: Counseling Individuals with Learning Disabilities," written by Instructor Jenenne Valentino-Bottaro. Each group of students presented hands-on activities to assist the practitioner. They wowed the participants with their knowledge, presence, and openness about their own experiences. These students were given high marks in content and for making their presentation active and engaging. One participant summarized, "this was the best presentation in the whole two days!" Many of these students will be graduating and leaving the Beacon College community but entering the community at large as welcome colleagues!

The Human Services Career Development class presented at LifeStream Behavioral Center's Annual Reviving Hope conference, which was open to the public for the first time. Meeting highlights included a pre-conference session on Art and Movement in Healthcare and screening of the award-winning documentary, Crazy Art; and twenty concurrent sessions showcasing various topics and interests relating to mental health awareness, substance abuse, Trauma Informed Care, arts and movement in healthcare, evidenced-based techniques and leadership skills. Speakers were from the community including LifeStream Behavioral Center; Dr. Nikolaus McFarland, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology-Movement Disorders at the Center for Translational

Contributed by Jenenne Valentino-Bottaro, Human Services Instructor Beacon Students Impress at LifeStream Conference

P A G E 1 2

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

The first Beacon College Career Experiences job fair was held in mid-April. The Human Services Career Development class invited many agencies to attend. We were proud to have LifeStream Behavioral Center and Webster University. The Career Experiences job fair provided the students with an opportunity to meet local agencies and schools as well as a space to review resumes and practice interview skills. Students held insightful discussions about transitioning into the workforce or graduate school. Mike Fallon, Community Relations Coordinator from Webster University, had the opportunity to facilitate a dialogue with students about being authentic to self and with the interviewer along with carrying that same authenticity to the job. Many students walked away from this conversation with a more defined outlook into the next stage of their lives. Yvette French, Human Relations Coordinator from LifeStream Behavioral Center, met with students individually to discuss student positions as well as full-time positions. Yvette shared with the students what LifeStream is looking for in a potential employee. These discussions allowed students to reflect on their strengths and their opportunities. The fair, although small, was a success for the first with the hope of more ahead. The students were engaged; the representatives were informative; and many left with a clearer outlook whether it be internships for the younger students or job opportunities and graduate school options for the seniors. Student feedback included students’ perception that they did not even think graduate school was an option; but after meeting Mike Fallon, he helped them see that they could be successful.

The Beacon College Work-Study Program kicked off its first annual Appreciation and Award Breakfast on April 25. The breakfast honored all the hard work and patience

demonstrated by Work-Study students and their supervisors during the previous year. This past year saw several changes in the Work-Study Program which presented challenges

to both students and supervisors, but their determination and flexibility made it work! In what will become a long tradition of excellence, students who demonstrated a high degree of proficiency were recognized for their outstanding service. Students receiving awards were Ashley Fogg and Marissa Squillante for consistent superior work performance over four years; Ryan Parham and

Charles Novak in appreciation for the Woodward rehabilitation project; and Heather Reed for her assistance in the Writing Center. Brett Daly won “Rookie of the Year” for his service in the Mac Lab. Adriyan Scipio received the “Ambassador Award” for her friendly, out-going personality and work ethic. The Work-Study Program thanks everyone who made this past year a success!

Contributed by Jenenne Valentino-Bottaro, Human Services Instructor Inaugural Student Job Fair

Ryan Parham, student, and Ray Ramos, Housing

Operations

Caroline Le, Writing Coordinator, and

Heather Reed, student

Bob Bridgeman, VP of Student Services, and

Brett Daly, student

Contributed by Kendal Paget, Director, Career Development

Work-Study Awards Breakfast

P A G E 1 3

provide training. Look for flyers in the fall with more information about our talented group of peer mentors! Any questions, suggestions or feedback should be sent to Michele at mpatestides@beaconcollege.edu.

helping skills and positive attitudes. Students will receive work study, internship or volunteer hours and gain valuable e x p e r i e n c e , b u i l d l e a d e r s h i p a n d in terpersona l sk i l l s . Students will work an average of four hours per week and the Center for Student Success will

The Center for Student Success is pleased to announce a new peer mentoring program that will be launched in the fall 2012 semester. Michele Patestides will supervise, educate and train the candidates. Students have been nominated by faculty and staff members based on their GPA,

Contributed by Michele Patestides, Learning Specialist

Center for Student Success Announces Peer Mentoring Program to be Launched Fall 2012!

I was fortunate to attend the CITE Pearson learning conference in April. One of the highlights of the conference was to sit in the front row and listen to Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by Dr. Medina. Dr. Medina, who is a developmental molecular biologist, offered brilliant insights into how the human brain learns. From the physical and chemical processes of the brain, Dr. Medina offered some strategies to help make learning more effective. Dr. Medina was not only informative, but humorous using quips like, “If I was going to design the perfect environment for a person not to learn, I would design a classroom”. Another example of Dr. Medina’s one-liners was “if keeping one’s attention in a lecture was a business, there would be an eighty percent failure rate”. He explained how attention drops and that a lecture should change by telling a story or even showing a film every ten minutes. Dr. Medina addresses processing information through reading by saying, “Pictures beat text… because reading is so inefficient for us.” We have to identify certain features in letters to be able to read them. That takes time.” There should be several visuals included in the lecture because the brain will have better recognition than text alone. Dr. Medina exclaimed that the most relevant research relating to the brain happened only within the last ten years. He suggests that brain scientists and educators need to have offices by each other and do research together to create better learning strategies. Dr. Medina touched on several other points during his rapid fire, yet entertaining presentation. I would recommend his book to “learn more about learning.”

CITE Pearson Conference Contributed by Jamie Fleming, Department Chair, Computer Information Systems

P A G E 1 4

Welcome Danielle Reese

Pictured at the left is the “keystone” for Beacon College’s new marketing campaign, our new logo! This design was created first as a jumping off point for admissions promotional material and a highly antic ipated renovated College website!

U n i v e r s i t y o f Washington. Prior to arriving at Beacon, she garnered her fund-raising and event planning skills working with non-profits in Seattle and Phoenix. At Beacon, Danie is c h a r g e d w i t h researching donor

Danie Reese has joined Beacon College as Development Director for the Institutional A d v a n c e m e n t Office. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature with a Minor in Spanish and Project Manager Certification from the

p r o s p e c t s , e v e n t planning and database management. At home, she is the proud mother of a busy toddler, who also enjoys reading, movies, and creating handcrafted cards and invitations.

considering which of two major financing options would be best for the institution. Once that decision is made, we will proceed with dispatch to secure the financing and begin construction. All of the bids from subcontractors have been locked in. The construction manager is

prepared to proceed with permitting once the financing decision has been made and the loan secured. It’s coming – really it is – but it has taken longer than any of us ever imagined. No, I’ll refrain from saying when…but soon. Thanks for your patience.

There is good news on this front. The College has secured a commitment from Wells Fargo Bank to provide a construction loan for the new administration and classroom building. This has come after a lengthy appraisal and cash flow analysis by the bank. The board is now

Danie with her son, Jameson, at his first

birthday party

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Student Internet Access Starting June 4, re-wiring of the student housing in the Village Apartments and Woodward Street Apartments will take place. The ultimate goal of this work is for Beacon College to directly provide Internet access to the student body instead of Comcast.

Contributed by John Hutchinson, President

Construction Update

New College Logo

P A G E 1 5 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

It may be hard to picture, but the first Leesburg Bikefest featured only four vendors, a few local bands, and a bunch of canned beer. BikeFest now attracts over 300,000 attendees from all over the country. This year was Bikefest’s 16th birthday, and it certainly brought an eclectic group to Beacon. Students took advantage of

the event in a number of ways. Pi Phi Psi and Lambda Epsilon Omega (Beacon’s sorority and fraternity) sold Bikefest T-shirts and bottled water. Their main event was a dunk tank set up in front of the Administration Building where faculty, staff, students, and bikers alike were invited to dunk Dr. John Hutchinson and his Execut i ve Ass i s t an t ,

Tamara Snyder as well as sorority sisters. Beaconers weren’t the only locals who learned to monopolize on the chaos. BikeFest is the Leesburg Partnership ’s b iggest fundraiser of the year, and various local charities and organizations also use the event to raise money, making it a win-win for everyone.

Good news on next fiscal year’s budget! The Board of Trustees approved the proposed FY 2012-13 finances at the May 4th meeting. The approved budget, for the first financial year in the history of Beacon College, will surpass the $6M mark. In total income, tuition revenues are based on 176 full-time students and nine part-time students. The FY 2012-13 financial plan also includes the addition of 11 full-time and three part-time faculty and staff to support the larger student population. Once again, Beacon College is looking forward to a great year. The Board of Trustees sends to all a special thank you for making the upcoming fiscal year another very successful one.

• Chris Hall • Kelly Rogers • Tamara Snyder • Lucretia Gabriel • Cindy Eckhart

We will be continuing our fitness programs in the Fall and hope that you will be able to join us for some

Tai Chi or self defense. As we head into the summer break, take some time to get outside and enjoy the Florida sunshine. Take a walk or swim...you will feel better for it! See you in August!

A big congratulations to everyone who completed the B i gges t Loser challenge. We had a lot of people working hard and g e t t i n g h e a l t h y . Congratulations to Chris H a l l f o r b e i n g our big winner! Here are our top five contestants:

Greetings from HR

Financial Update from the Business Office

Congratulations

Winner Chris

Hall - way to

lose 42 pounds!

Contributed by Calvin Sanson, VP of Finances

Contributed by Elizabeth Day Moore, Administrative Assistant for Student Services

Leesburg’s BikeFest 2012

Contributed by Kim Baggett, HR Director

P A G E 1 6

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

New Beacon Initiative: Life Coaching

What is life coaching? Life coaching involves partnering with a person, in this case a student, to help them reach their goals. It is a solution-oriented process. It holds an individual accountable to achieve their own ambitions. What does it involve? Life coaching will allow each student to explore possibilities. The life coach and student will create an action plan to achieve each goal, and then the life coach will hold the student accountable to that action plan. The student is then in the best position to continually evaluate the effectiveness of the action plan. What are the goals of life coaching? Life coaching is a terrific way to focus on personal empowerment, life management, and even being able to manage

self-limiting thoughts and other beliefs about self. When will this program start, and who will be involved? The plan is to implement this initiative with the beginning of the fall 2012 semester. There will be a total of three life coaches, including myself and two new employees that have already been hired to begin on campus in August. Watch for an article on each new staff member in our next issue! How will the Resident Assistants duties compare with the work of the Life Coaches? It is anticipated that Resident Assistants will play a greater role in responding to situations on campus. Life Coaches will primarily focus on proactive and preventive approaches and will still continue to remain on-call to handle any emergencies. Why is Beacon College doing it? This is just another effective way for the College to support each student’s personal growth in a way that’s measurable. The life coaching model helps to reduce conflicts, assists with time management, improves class attendance and tardiness, and will empower students to take charge of their own responsibilities and rely less on faculty and staff.

An Interview with Steven McDaniels, Assistant Director of Life Coaching

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Stress Management Tips

People can learn to manage stress and lead happier, healthier lives. Here are some tips to help you keep stress under control. • Maintain a positive attitude. • Accept that there are events that you

cannot control. • Be assertive instead of aggressive.

Express your feelings, opinions or beliefs rather than becoming angry, defensive, or passive.

• Learn and practise relaxation techniques; try meditation, yoga, or tai-chi for stress management. • Exercise regularly. Your body can fight stress better when it is fit. • Eat healthy, well-balanced meals. • Learn to manage your time more effectively. • Set limits appropriately and say no to requests that might create excessive stress in your life. • Make time for hobbies and interests. • Get enough rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful events. • Don't rely on alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviour to reduce stress. • Look for social support. Spend plenty of time with people you love. • Seek treatment with a psychologist or other mental health professional trained in stress management or

biofeedback techniques to learn other healthy ways of dealing with the stress in your life.

How to Maintain High Self-Esteem and Confidence

• Smile often to yourself and to others. Greet others when you

see them and ask how they are and how their day is going. Have good posture.

• Think positively. When a negative thought enters your mind,

stop and immediately counter it with a positive thought about the same subject.

• Be nice to others, and be nice to yourself. Conversely, refrain

from degrading others and yourself. • Face your fears and forget your failures (after learning from

them). Focus on your achievements and successes. Reward yourself when you succeed.

• Quit thinking about trying to be perfect. No one is, so just

accept that as it is. Don't be too competitivek and don't compare yourself with others.

• Don't worry about what others think of you. Just be you.

Many people are self-absorbed and thinking about themselves anyway.

• Hang out with positive and optimistic people who also have

high self-esteem and self-confidence. When you are around negative people, try to direct your positive and optimistic thoughts in their direction. Don't let them pull down your level of self-confidence or self-esteem.

Health and Wellness Corner

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T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

The Men's 3.5 team representing the Marion County, playing out of the Ft. King Tennis Center in Ocala, advanced to nationals in the Men's 3.5 division. Dr. Perrone was undefeated in 14 matches during the season and won all four of his Central Florida Regional matches held in Daytona that propelled him to the national championships to be held at Indian Wells in California. While there, Rick will compete against the top players from all over the country in the men’s 3.5 division. Good luck Rick!

Florida Regional Tennis Champ, Dr. Rick Perrone, Heads to the Nationals

On May 19, a group of Beacon employees attended the Tampa Bay Rays versus the Atlanta Braves game. The group not only enjoyed the win of their beloved Rays, but most observed their first live Grand Slam! Other fun experiences included being in an indoor venue, cowbells, and an obnoxious Braves fan cheering on a pitcher that had been already removed from the game. It was a great experience, and the group hopes to do it again!

Pictured from left to right in first row: Ray Ramos, Jamie Fleming, Dave Brown, Kendall Paget with his wife Chris, Ken Sweet, William Nesbitt, and his wife Marilyn.

Contributed by Jamie Fleming, Department Chair, Computer Information Systems

Beacon Baseball Fanatics Show Support for Tampa Bay Rays

Dr. Rick Perrone, front row in a solid blue shirt, with his team

In the World of Sports

Know Your World and Its Struggles. Chart Your Course and Succeed.

G A I N. L E A R N. G ROW.

Why don't aliens eat clowns?

Because they taste funny!

“A healthy dose of humor from the Doctor”

“At Beacon College, we like to end on a positive note!”

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Bob’s Joke Corner

Golf Outing at the Plantations

On Saturday, May 26th, two foursomes headed to the Plantations for a day on the green! Hank Harvey is pictured on the left while James Harris swings on the right. Other students included in the outing were Jack Callahan, Matt Pagano, Chase Richards, and Enrique Zamora. Other duffers included Drs. Bob Bridgeman and Jamie Fleming. It was a great day of golf for all!

Current plans are to revitalize the Golf Club for the fall, so please contact Student Services if you want to get out and swing the clubs!

Contributed by Bob Bridgeman, VP of Student Services