FLORIDA OMMUNITY COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE MAY/JUNE 1988 VOL. 3 No. 9 caps graduation Graduation shows a lot of class By Bobbi de Cordova—I-Ianks A s proud families gathered from near and far to be a part of this momentous occasion, happy graduates lined up in their caps and gowns nervously awaiting the long walk down the aisle to their seats. Everyone, from the Board of Trustees and faculty, to the students themselves, looked impressive in their robes. At last, after all the hard work, the moment everyone had been waiting for was here. As Dale Blackwell and the sym— phonic band entertained the audience with excerpts from “Annie,” I looked around and really realized what the community college concept is all about. There were graduates of every size, shape, age and color all sharing part of this wonderful ex— perience...to give themselves the op— portunity of a better life through higher education, no matter what age they decided to take this challenge on, or how long it took them to finish. I was very proud at that mo— ment to be a part of this, my very first FCC] commencement. Listening to our four student com— mencement speakers, I could hear the pride in their speeches as they spoke of the people who were in! fluential in their success and the dreams they dared to follow. It really makes sense to use our own students as commencement speakers to illus— trate our number one goal, “Student Success.” I thought about another direction of the strategic plan, “Innovation for Excellence,” as I watched the six outstanding faculty members come forward and be recognized for their contributions to the College and their profession. “Valued Employees” came to mind as I watched so many working together on their Saturday “off” to help make this commencement go smoothly and be a success. When it was all over, I walked away with a little more pride in my step as I watched our graduates, some carrying tiny babies in their arms as smiling husbands watched, while in some cases, grandchildren and great— grandchildren happily hugging their graduate, pride shining in their eyes. Yes, this is what it’s all about! To dream the impossible dream and then see it tum to reality. Congratulations to all! I Foundation sailing on a high wind By Ann Freeman In a small comer office on the fourth floor at CAB, Art Ruppel tries to figure out where to put a $15,000 sailboat. It’s not the kind of problem that comes across the desks of most FCC] administrators, but it’s all in a day’s work for Ruppel, who recently com— pleted his first year as executive director for the FCC] Foundation. “In essence, we are an ad— vocate of the College -— not a hard sell or marketing arm, but a concerned friend.” —Art Ruppel Executive Director for the FCC] Foundation When $15,000 sailboats are donated to the College, financial sponsorships are needed, community recognition for participation with the College is deserved, or an employee is honored with a plaque for a job well done, Ruppel and his staff of Gayle Guthrie and Diana Robertson are the backbone of the organization behind it. “The Foundation’s main aim is to generate resources for the College. No matter whatever else we do, that is our most important role,” Ruppel said. “In essence, we are an advocate of the College —- not a hard sell or marketing arm, but a concemed friend. The Foundation itself does not establish a direction of its own. The College does this and asks for the Foundation’s help." Twoyear colleges like FCC] are taXvsupported, not tax—funded, Ruppel explained. “The difference between what we do (as a tax—supported col— lege) and what we can do is tied directly to the kind of support that the Foundation can generate,” he said. Because the Foundation is a non— profit organization, it can serve as a vehicle for people in the community to make charitable contributions. These funds allow the College to participate in activities that cannot be supported with tax dollars. In the past year, the FCC] Founda‘ tion has hosted more than a dozen formal receptions with more than 1,000 special guests from the comv munity invited to meet FCC] person— nel and see how they can become more involved with the College. Ruppel said he believes strongly in college/community relations and how the Foundation can provide a springboard for increased community involvement with FCC]. Describing the Foundation’s role as a mix of liaison, lobbyist and goodwill am— bassador, Ruppel said his staff and a 45vmember board of individuals from the community are challenged to help make things happen for FCC]. Donations to Foundation aid dental programs at North. “We dont just ask for money he said, “What we have to do is con— nect the right people and their resources with the right causes.” Such successful connections have led to numerous contributions to FCC]. Donations to the College have ranged from automobiles and com— (continued on page 3) , OCR Text: FLORIDA OMMUNITY COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE MAY/JUNE 1988 VOL. 3 No. 9 caps graduation Graduation shows a lot of class By Bobbi de Cordova—I-Ianks A s proud families gathered from near and far to be a part of this momentous occasion, happy graduates lined up in their caps and gowns nervously awaiting the long walk down the aisle to their seats. Everyone, from the Board of Trustees and faculty, to the students themselves, looked impressive in their robes. At last, after all the hard work, the moment everyone had been waiting for was here. As Dale Blackwell and the sym— phonic band entertained the audience with excerpts from “Annie,” I looked around and really realized what the community college concept is all about. There were graduates of every size, shape, age and color all sharing part of this wonderful ex— perience...to give themselves the op— portunity of a better life through higher education, no matter what age they decided to take this challenge on, or how long it took them to finish. I was very proud at that mo— ment to be a part of this, my very first FCC] commencement. Listening to our four student com— mencement speakers, I could hear the pride in their speeches as they spoke of the people who were in! fluential in their success and the dreams they dared to follow. It really makes sense to use our own students as commencement speakers to illus— trate our number one goal, “Student Success.” I thought about another direction of the strategic plan, “Innovation for Excellence,” as I watched the six outstanding faculty members come forward and be recognized for their contributions to the College and their profession. “Valued Employees” came to mind as I watched so many working together on their Saturday “off” to help make this commencement go smoothly and be a success. When it was all over, I walked away with a little more pride in my step as I watched our graduates, some carrying tiny babies in their arms as smiling husbands watched, while in some cases, grandchildren and great— grandchildren happily hugging their graduate, pride shining in their eyes. Yes, this is what it’s all about! To dream the impossible dream and then see it tum to reality. Congratulations to all! I Foundation sailing on a high wind By Ann Freeman In a small comer office on the fourth floor at CAB, Art Ruppel tries to figure out where to put a $15,000 sailboat. It’s not the kind of problem that comes across the desks of most FCC] administrators, but it’s all in a day’s work for Ruppel, who recently com— pleted his first year as executive director for the FCC] Foundation. “In essence, we are an ad— vocate of the College -— not a hard sell or marketing arm, but a concerned friend.” —Art Ruppel Executive Director for the FCC] Foundation When $15,000 sailboats are donated to the College, financial sponsorships are needed, community recognition for participation with the College is deserved, or an employee is honored with a plaque for a job well done, Ruppel and his staff of Gayle Guthrie and Diana Robertson are the backbone of the organization behind it. “The Foundation’s main aim is to generate resources for the College. No matter whatever else we do, that is our most important role,” Ruppel said. “In essence, we are an advocate of the College —- not a hard sell or marketing arm, but a concemed friend. The Foundation itself does not establish a direction of its own. The College does this and asks for the Foundation’s help." Twoyear colleges like FCC] are taXvsupported, not tax—funded, Ruppel explained. “The difference between what we do (as a tax—supported col— lege) and what we can do is tied directly to the kind of support that the Foundation can generate,” he said. Because the Foundation is a non— profit organization, it can serve as a vehicle for people in the community to make charitable contributions. These funds allow the College to participate in activities that cannot be supported with tax dollars. In the past year, the FCC] Founda‘ tion has hosted more than a dozen formal receptions with more than 1,000 special guests from the comv munity invited to meet FCC] person— nel and see how they can become more involved with the College. Ruppel said he believes strongly in college/community relations and how the Foundation can provide a springboard for increased community involvement with FCC]. Describing the Foundation’s role as a mix of liaison, lobbyist and goodwill am— bassador, Ruppel said his staff and a 45vmember board of individuals from the community are challenged to help make things happen for FCC]. Donations to Foundation aid dental programs at North. “We dont just ask for money he said, “What we have to do is con— nect the right people and their resources with the right causes.” Such successful connections have led to numerous contributions to FCC]. Donations to the College have ranged from automobiles and com— (continued on page 3) , Z ArchiveInABox,JAX,Outlook Newsletter,Outlook Newsletter 01-03,05-06 1988,P01 (2).tif, P01 (2).tif