[D utlook A Publication of Florida Community College 66 1992 FPRA “Award of Distinction” recipient May/June 1993 Vol. 9, No. 5 at Jacksonville Students trade grade sheets for sheep skin They may not have won him a Lotto jackpot, but Gary Elvik feels as if he has his own lucky numbers. Two years ago, Elvik was one of only 150 enlisted personnel chOSen throughout the country to participate in the United States Navy’s Enlisted Education Advancement Program. As part of the program, Elvik, 28, was given 24 months as a fullatime student to pursue his associate’s degree. “I had to check in at NAS ]ax to let them know I was still alive, but basically I was on my own,” he said. “And for someone like me who never had much academic ambition, there was an awful lot of room to mess up.” Elvik didn't come close to “messing up,” however. He completed his A.A. with a 3.88 GPA and recently ended his term as president of the Upsilon Eta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. “Pretty good for someone who finished high school with a 2.0 GPA and in the lower 50th percentile,” he laughed. His success at FCC] brought him another set of lucky numbers when he was one of only 14 sailors in the country selected to particir pate in the Navy’s Enlisted Commissioning Program. As part of the program, Elvik plans to attend the University of Oklahoma, working toward a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Upon graduation he will be commissioned as an ensign in the Navy. “Since enrolling at FCC], I have accom— Executive Director of the Urban Resource Center Stan Block, who teaches accounting, congratulates his first student to graduate. plished a lot. The education I have gained will be beneficial to me, not only in my naval career but in every area of my life,” he said. “I've seen what an education can do, and I’m glad I got mine at FCC].” Lawrence Mebane Lawrence Mebane was looking for a change in his life. He found it at FCC]. Mebane, 34, worked at the US. Postal Service as a mail handler for eight years when he decided he wanted to pursue a career “where I used my brain instead of my back.” Taking a cue from his wife, a nurse at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Mebane enrolled in FCC]’s A.S. degree in nursing program in 1990. “I also chose the program for my love of people,” he said. Despite his affinity for helping others, Mebane’s completion of the rigorous nursing program was no easy task. “It was hard work,” he said “But I had faith in myself and in God, and if you have that, you are unstoppable.” Being unstoppable is something Mebane knows all about. In addition to his full load of classes and clinical hours, he worked full time as a unit secretary at St. Vincent‘s, ministered at a prison, coached a basketball team and stayed involved with his church. In his spare time, he wrote, produced and directed a musical called “Reflections of Dr. King.” “I feel like FCC] has given me a road map for success,” he told his fellow gradu« ates. “Occasionally, I exited that road, but there was always someone there to fix my flat tire or refill my tank and get me back on that road to graduation.” Mebane hopes to find employment as a psychiatric or emergency room nurse, eventually enrolling at UNF to earn his bachelor’s degree in nursing. His ultimate goal, however, is to become a motiva— tional speaker. Some students who become deeply involved with extracurricular activities while in college find that their grades suffer. For Annie Mont— gomery, however, experiences outside the classroom have not only improved her academic standing, they changed her life. When Montgomery, 27, enrolled full time at FCC] in 1991, she was already volunteering at her church’s daycare center and several local schools. As the founding coordinator of the South Campus volunteer center, she expanded her community involvement. According to Montgomery, her volunteer service “set the stage for everything else.” “[Volunteering] enhanced my education by teaching me things I couldn’t learn in textbooks. It gave me real life experience that I can put on my resume,” she said. “And it makes me feel good to know that I am helping others.” Volunteering also helped Montgomery to realize her long—term goal — becoming an administrator in the education field. “I have so many ideas of how we can improve education. I want to make changes and make a difference,” she said. To many, Montgomery has already begun to make a difference in the ]acksonville community. The Florida Office of Campus Volunteers recently presented her with one of three 1993 Excellence in Service Awards given in the state. “Success is not just about making money or making a name for yourself. It’s about making a difference in society,” she told her fellow graduates. “So, to you I say go and do something.” Montgomery plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree in education at UNF. (above) Edith Stringer, administrative clerk in finance, was all smiles about receiving her A.A. degree. (left) A young commencement guest gets a feel for being an FCC] graduate. , OCR Text: [D utlook A Publication of Florida Community College 66 1992 FPRA “Award of Distinction” recipient May/June 1993 Vol. 9, No. 5 at Jacksonville Students trade grade sheets for sheep skin They may not have won him a Lotto jackpot, but Gary Elvik feels as if he has his own lucky numbers. Two years ago, Elvik was one of only 150 enlisted personnel chOSen throughout the country to participate in the United States Navy’s Enlisted Education Advancement Program. As part of the program, Elvik, 28, was given 24 months as a fullatime student to pursue his associate’s degree. “I had to check in at NAS ]ax to let them know I was still alive, but basically I was on my own,” he said. “And for someone like me who never had much academic ambition, there was an awful lot of room to mess up.” Elvik didn't come close to “messing up,” however. He completed his A.A. with a 3.88 GPA and recently ended his term as president of the Upsilon Eta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. “Pretty good for someone who finished high school with a 2.0 GPA and in the lower 50th percentile,” he laughed. His success at FCC] brought him another set of lucky numbers when he was one of only 14 sailors in the country selected to particir pate in the Navy’s Enlisted Commissioning Program. As part of the program, Elvik plans to attend the University of Oklahoma, working toward a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Upon graduation he will be commissioned as an ensign in the Navy. “Since enrolling at FCC], I have accom— Executive Director of the Urban Resource Center Stan Block, who teaches accounting, congratulates his first student to graduate. plished a lot. The education I have gained will be beneficial to me, not only in my naval career but in every area of my life,” he said. “I've seen what an education can do, and I’m glad I got mine at FCC].” Lawrence Mebane Lawrence Mebane was looking for a change in his life. He found it at FCC]. Mebane, 34, worked at the US. Postal Service as a mail handler for eight years when he decided he wanted to pursue a career “where I used my brain instead of my back.” Taking a cue from his wife, a nurse at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Mebane enrolled in FCC]’s A.S. degree in nursing program in 1990. “I also chose the program for my love of people,” he said. Despite his affinity for helping others, Mebane’s completion of the rigorous nursing program was no easy task. “It was hard work,” he said “But I had faith in myself and in God, and if you have that, you are unstoppable.” Being unstoppable is something Mebane knows all about. In addition to his full load of classes and clinical hours, he worked full time as a unit secretary at St. Vincent‘s, ministered at a prison, coached a basketball team and stayed involved with his church. In his spare time, he wrote, produced and directed a musical called “Reflections of Dr. King.” “I feel like FCC] has given me a road map for success,” he told his fellow gradu« ates. “Occasionally, I exited that road, but there was always someone there to fix my flat tire or refill my tank and get me back on that road to graduation.” Mebane hopes to find employment as a psychiatric or emergency room nurse, eventually enrolling at UNF to earn his bachelor’s degree in nursing. His ultimate goal, however, is to become a motiva— tional speaker. Some students who become deeply involved with extracurricular activities while in college find that their grades suffer. For Annie Mont— gomery, however, experiences outside the classroom have not only improved her academic standing, they changed her life. When Montgomery, 27, enrolled full time at FCC] in 1991, she was already volunteering at her church’s daycare center and several local schools. As the founding coordinator of the South Campus volunteer center, she expanded her community involvement. According to Montgomery, her volunteer service “set the stage for everything else.” “[Volunteering] enhanced my education by teaching me things I couldn’t learn in textbooks. It gave me real life experience that I can put on my resume,” she said. “And it makes me feel good to know that I am helping others.” Volunteering also helped Montgomery to realize her long—term goal — becoming an administrator in the education field. “I have so many ideas of how we can improve education. I want to make changes and make a difference,” she said. To many, Montgomery has already begun to make a difference in the ]acksonville community. The Florida Office of Campus Volunteers recently presented her with one of three 1993 Excellence in Service Awards given in the state. “Success is not just about making money or making a name for yourself. It’s about making a difference in society,” she told her fellow graduates. “So, to you I say go and do something.” Montgomery plans to pursue her bachelor’s degree in education at UNF. (above) Edith Stringer, administrative clerk in finance, was all smiles about receiving her A.A. degree. (left) A young commencement guest gets a feel for being an FCC] graduate. , Z ArchiveInABox,JAX,Outlook Newsletter,Outlook Newsletter 08-09,May - June 1993,P01 (2).tif, P01 (2).tif