Broward College Students Share Why They Are Thankful for This Thanksgiving
It’s not all about the big, tasty turkey on top of the table surrounded by mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, and pumpkin pie. It sure sounds delicious, but Thanksgiving is about expressing gratitude for the past year and often reuniting with family you don’t get to see often.
Our Seahawks are excited to take a few days off from the classroom as they give thanks for their blessings.
Recounting our Blessings
A few days before Thanksgiving, we found students sharing reasons they are thankful. “I am thankful for being healthy and alive. The majority of the time, we take it for granted, and we don’t appreciate how lucky we are to be healthy. We need to be well both physically and mentally to succeed in anything we want to accomplish,” says Karen, a dual-enrollment student on the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus.
Galeira agrees. “I am thankful for being able to pursue post-secondary education at Broward College because it’s giving me the tools I need to pursue any professional path I end up choosing.”
Erica, a Criminal Justice major, is excited to celebrate with her family as they reunite this Thursday. “I love Thanksgiving because it’s the perfect opportunity to see my uncles and cousins, and we all come together as a family. I am thankful for all my family, especially my mom, who is my support, my number one fan.”
Giving Back to Our Community
For a lot of people, being thankful goes beyond words. During Thanksgiving, some people use the opportunity to give back to those who need it the most. If you would like to support one of these initiatives, several community volunteer events take on the mission to show some love and care to members to members of the community that are facing challenges.
In Broward County, HandsOn Broward will be hosting the 2019 Community Thanksgiving Meal, where neighbors and friends who are unable to celebrate with their families come together for a free holiday meal supported by the Florida Community Support Organization. Volunteers are needed to help serve food and support the event. Additional events taking place over the holiday weekend are the Turkey Trot in Tamarac and Fort Lauderdale and United Way’s Happy Harvest Thanksgiving Dinner at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood.
Learn more about volunteering opportunities and community service activities throughout the year. Volunteer with Broward College.
Broward College Professor Identifies New Toad and Gives It Its Namesake
It isn’t the first time that Dr. Michael Harvey has had his name associated with a newly discovered species. He received the honor a few times before, as he’s been doing research work for almost 20 years in South America and Asia.
“Having a specie name after you is usually done to recognize and honor your work in the field,” explains Dr. Harvey, a professor of Biology at the Broward College A. Hugh Adams Central Campus in Davie. “For this latest species, the puppet toad S. harveyi, the authors of the publication where the toad is described, decided to give it my name because I was one of the authors on the paper where we first introduced the species.”
Dr. Harvey was essential to the research taking place as he received the grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation to fund the expedition. Over four years, Harvey and a team of ten American and Indonesian scientists and students, including a Broward College student, spent two months at a time exploring the mountaintops and volcanos in the Sumatran jungle searching for new species.
Nature Lover from a Young Age
As a Texas native who grew up in the country and spent most of his childhood hunting, it’s only logical that Dr. Harvey would be interested in nature and animals. “I was the type of boy who would go around catching reptiles and amphibians,” he admits. “I could have ten different species of snake in my house at any given time!”
As he got older, he knew that pursuing a career in science was the right path for him. He received a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Systematics from the University of Texas in Arlington (UTA). Afterward, he received his Doctorate in Quantitative Biology from UTA, as well.
The Life of a Researcher
The selling point for Dr. Harvey to become a researcher, besides his love for nature and scientific curiosity, was the opportunity to travel the world. “Being able to travel and explore this beautiful planet while doing something that I’m so passionate about is a blessing,” he says.
During the first decade or so of his professional journey, he was focused on exploring South America, mostly Bolivia. It wasn’t until a few years ago that he decided to focus his research in Indonesia. “I always had a curiosity to go Indonesia because it has a reputation of being poorly explored, and I know that there is so much to discover, and I guess I just wanted to be a part of that,” he says. The island of Sumatra, where their expedition took place, is estimated to be home to over a hundred new species of reptiles and amphibians.
Elevating Broward College Students
As a professor, the experience Dr. Harvey gains while out in the field is priceless. He can elevate the classroom experience thanks to everything he learns while he’s doing research work. Most of the time he uses his work as, data example in his lectures.
“I know how important it is for students to start gaining experience in their field of interest as early as possible. I have been able to include students in research papers, scientific meetings, and even have taken them on these trips” he says. “And by doing so, we are placing our students ahead of other undergrads because it’s very rare to see students having their name on a scientific publication.”
Having such milestones in their resume is often key to being granted tenure, receive funding, or grants for research and other benefits.
Broward College offers programs such as Biology and Environmental Science. Explore the career opportunities in STEM here.
Wheels up! Seahawk Flying Team Soars at Regional Competition
After almost a decade of lying dormant, the Seahawk Flying Team was revived in January 2019 by an eager group of aviation students headed by the club’s president Julien Pinon. Julien had previously attended a university with a Flying Team and knew the endless opportunities and benefits of creating, or in this case, revamping, a chapter at Broward College. He and his friend Jonathan Strod, vice president of the club, took to the task of recruiting members and soon found themselves scheduling meetings to gear up for the 2019 National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Region IX SAFECON competition.
“It has been very exciting to see this group of enthusiastic students take on the job of bringing the club alive once again,” says Russell McCaffery, dean of the Transportation programs. “I’m proud of all the work the team has put in this year and especially proud of how well they performed at SAFECON, considering this is their first competition.”
2019 NIFA Region IX Safecon
SAFECON is an intercollegiate competition where students are tested in ground and flight activities and real-life situations that relate to aviation safety and regulations. Schools from Florida, Georgia, and Alabama participate in the competition.
Julien and Jonathan, along with five team members headed to Lakeland, Fla., on November 3 through November 7, to represent Broward College. Although the team competed with scarce resources and no airplane, they were recognized for their outstanding performance and received the SETP Foundation Challenge Trophy, awarded to the school that showcases the best spirit, safety, and other aspects of a complete aviation program.
Four team members earned places among the top ten competitors for the individual categories of Preflight Inspection, Aircraft Recognition, Ground Trainer, Computer Accuracy, and Message Drop. The Message Drop category was a flight event in which the College was able to participate using a borrowed airplane from the Florida Institute of Technology and Polk University.
Soaring to New Heights
For aviation students, joining the team isn’t just about competing. “When Jon and I decided to open up the club, we knew that it would help us to reinforce what we learn in the classroom,” says Julien. “And I knew the College had an excellent reputation for its aviation program and that we have extremely talented students that could showcase the greatness of the program.”
As McCaffery explains, the club is a great way for the students to get to know one another and keep themselves motivated throughout their program.
“We do many different activities in our meetings,” says Jonathan. “While we were preparing for the competition, we are simultaneously having fun and doing something we are passionate about. We are also planning on scheduling activities with other clubs such as Aviation Maintenance and Alpha Eta Rho – Eta Pi Chapter.”
The club will host a kickball game against the Aviation Maintenance club in December.
Pursue a career that will keep you above the clouds. Learn about the aviation programs offered at Broward College.
Helping Student Parents Achieve Their Goals – Grant Will Help Subsidize Childcare Costs
Jessenia Ginel is a single mother-of-two working towards completing her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at Broward College. Balancing school, work, and raising a family is a challenge, but to Jessenia it’s been a lot easier to manage her time since enrolling her youngest son, 2-year-old Josiah, at the Early Childhood Laboratory (ECL) located at the North Campus on Coconut Creek.
“Since he started here, it’s been very helpful to just drop him off at a place where I know they are taking great care of him, it’s affordable, and he’s also receiving a great education while I get to my class or work,” she happily explains.
For many parents, pursuing a college education is often a challenge because of the costs associated with childcare. Knowing that affordable childcare can sometimes be a challenge for student-parents, the College applied for and has received a U.S. Department of Education grant to help student-parents.
$1.5 Million Grant to Increase Help
Over the next four years, the $1.5 million grant will support the College’s Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program. The grant will help relieve the recurring waiting list of the ECL by allowing for funds to hire more personnel to serve children aged one to five. Additionally, the College will contract childcare providers in low-income and Broward UP communities around its three main campuses in Davie, Coconut Creek, and Pembroke Pines. Student-parents, some of whom currently get support for childcare through Financial Aid, will now benefit from the Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program.
“Our students come to us with various obstacles, and they are doing everything they can to fulfill their dream of completing their college education. For many, childcare is often a major stumbling block for our student parents due to the price tag,” says Mildred Coyne, senior vice president of Workforce Education and Innovation. “Having a grant that will help subsidize that is an enormous step towards guaranteeing our students complete what they started.”
A Vital Program for Student-Parents
Currently, Jessenia is one of the 48 Broward College students benefiting from the ECL. With the help of CCAMPIS, ECL Director Jennifer Amador hopes to double the number of beneficiaries. “We understand it’s important to provide quality and affordable childcare to college students who are working hard towards a degree that will help them provide for their family,” says Amador. “Reducing our waiting list is one of our top missions, and this grant will help us do that.”
Jessenia is hopeful and excited to see fellow parents at Broward College benefiting from the grant, having herself benefitted from other financial childcare support over the past year. “It ‘s very important to have programs like this available to students like me because I know for most of us is very difficult to find someone reliable to take of our children while we work on our own education to provide for our families,” she says.
The Early Childhood Laboratory provides high-quality and affordable childcare to children aged one to five. College students can receive support for childcare costs through Financial Aid and can now additionally benefit from CCAMPIS.
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Learn more about Broward UP and how it helps our local residents achieve their true potential.
Discover South Campus – Tips to Navigate Campus Like A Pro
Hey there, Seahawk! Welcome to the last virtual tour of the semester. In previous editions, we provided you with a guide to navigate our A. Hugh Adams Central and North Campuses. This time, we want you to explore the Judson A. Samuels South Campus located in Pembroke Pines.
Vibrant Student Life
If you have been taking classes at the Judson A. South Campus, you know that Student Life frequently hosts events in the Breezeway by building 68. Inside the building, opposite the cafeteria, you will find the Student ID office and the Student Activity Center, which often serves as the venue for many activities, including workshops and discussions. At any other time, you can play some pool, videogames, or table tennis.
If you enjoy cultural and other entertainment activities, the Performing Cultural Arts Theater (PCAT) is located nearby, at the northern end of building 68. The venue seats over 300 people and is often used for concerts, lectures, and other art shows that can be free or low-cost to students.
Popular Programs and Student Activities
Judson A. South Campus is home to The Emil Buehler Aviation Institute, given its vicinity to the North Perry Airport. It is located on the southern end of the campus, right on the border of the airport. In 2017, the College expanded by building an Aviation annex, located inside the airport near Pembroke Road.
The student newspaper, The Observer, has its newsroom on the second floor of building 68, where they often hold journalism workshops. On the west side of campus, you can find the Basketball, Baseball, and Soccer fields.
Spots to Study
There are several quiet places on campus, both indoors and outdoors, for study time. If you want to enjoy the sunny Florida weather and don’t mind humidity, you can tackle your assignments on one of the tables located near the art gallery open space behind building 71. If you prefer cooler temperatures, then you can head over to the library (building 81), the second floor of building 68, or the Academic Success Center in building 72.
There you have it, all the hot spots in the Judson A. Samuels South Campus.
Broward College serves more than 63,000 students annually and currently has 11 locations across Broward county. Don’t miss out on having a full college .
Supporting Veterans Transitioning into Civilian Life
Broward College is the higher education institution of choice for more than a thousand veterans, and as we celebrate Veterans Day, we are proud to honor them. Throughout November, the College is engaging its student veterans through several events.
Veterans Day Celebration Events
In addition to luncheons held on the three main campuses, this year, veterans get their game on with the opportunity to participate in a local basketball or football game.
On November 12, the Miami Heat will host a Military Appreciation game, and Broward College student veterans are invited to attend. The fun continues on November 17, when the College hosts student veterans at the Dolphins’ Military Appreciation game. They will be joined by President Haile and other senior leaders at the College.
And then, it's on to the pomp and pageantry with a special ceremony to recognize graduates who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. This year, for the first time, the College will host a medal ceremony on November 26 at Bailey Hall, to bestow the official graduation medal to those who have met the requirements to graduate this fall. “The medal ceremony is an important gesture to show our veterans that we honor and value their service to our country, and we want them to succeed in their future endeavors,” explains Carlos Parra, district director of Student Affairs. “We used to just give them the medal during the commencement ceremony, but this year, we wanted to find a special way for them to be recognized by fellow students, staff, and faculty and celebrate the significance of the medal.”
Special Resources to Support Our Veteran Community
Veterans Day activities are only one of the ways Broward College recognizes its student veterans. Broward College works hard year-round to offer services to help those who have chosen to pursue their educational goals with us. Among those efforts, this year the College redesigned the Student ID, making a special edition for student veterans, who can use it when visiting any administrative office in the College to receive priority status.
Veterans are eligible for several benefits as it pertains to Financial Aid and other financial resources. There are also employment opportunities available to veterans enrolled in at least nine credit hours per semester, either on or off-campus. During the spring semester, the College hosts resume-builder workshops tailored for Veterans only.
Many veterans find it challenging to transition and apply their knowledge and experience into civilian life, and the Seahawk Outreach Services (S.O.S) is another way the College supports student veterans who are experiencing challenges outside the classroom that jeopardize their ability to succeed in their college journey.
Each main campus has a chapter of the Student Veterans of Americans (SVA) club. By joining, you can build a network with your peers to address any need or concern you may have.
District Student Services provides opportunities to engage beyond the classroom for both personal growth and social interactions. Have an idea for an event or program? Call
Are you a veteran who wishes to work on your educational goals after serving your country? Broward College is here to help you achieve your best self and has a vast pool of resources and opportunities just for you. Learn more here.
Dream Big or Go Home – Erica Noel Has Big Plans and the Determination to See Them Through
With a big smile on her face, 19-year-old Erica Noel wakes up every morning with a strong determination to reach her goals. A full-time student, part-time worker, and president of the Student Government Association (SGA) on the A. Hugh Adams Central Campus, in Davie, Erica is used to managing such a heavy workload since her days in high school. Despite having her plate full, her easygoing and happy soul may be the reason she has such a bright and hopeful vision of the future.
Born in the Bahamas, Erica arrived in the United States when she was four years old. Her mother’s Haitian origins are strongly cultivated in Erica, who speaks fluent Creole and loves her mother’s cooking. But she feels as American as anyone born here. “I grew up in this country, and I love it as my own,” she says.
Erica attended University of Central Florida for a semester before arriving to Broward College in August 2018. “I just had a feeling that UCF wasn’t the best fit for me and that feeling proved right when I enrolled at Broward College. I felt at home here and I just love how nice everyone is and how the College really cares to provide high-quality, affordable education to the student body,” Erica explained.
She is currently majoring in Biology but has found a passion for Biomedical Engineering, which may result in changing her major next semester. Erica is an exceptional student with a long, rewarding path ahead.
The Dreams I Have
“I have always enjoyed science, I’m an avid reader, and I really enjoy working with my hands,” she says. “Which is why I know that the medical field is something that won’t feel like a job to me.” And if you ask her where she sees herself ten years from now, she will excitedly tell you that she will be a Harvard or Yale alumna working a residency somewhere in California or Las Vegas. “Ever since the fifth grade, when I discovered my love for science, I’ve been working very hard and focused on getting the grades I need to go to one of the top schools in the medical field. I’ll admit I may stretch myself too thin sometimes between school, extracurricular activities, and work, but I know what I want,” she says, with eyes that show she means business.
And to top the cake, she even plans on one day running for governor. “Even though I will pursue a career in medicine, I want to, later, immerse myself in politics. It’s something that I’m very interested in and that I find extremely important.”
For the Benefit of the Student Body
When she was called to partake in the October Board of Trustees meeting as the Student Trustee, a role that is rotating among the SGA presidents of each main campus, Erica knew this was a fantastic opportunity.
“Even though I was involved with student government in high school and went to Tallahassee several times to participate in government mockups, I was excited to see the behind the scenes of the decision-making process at the college level,” Erica recalls.
Although she didn’t take part in the voting process, she was a representative voice of the students of the College, giving her thoughts on topics such as the plans to revamp building 19, where Student Life and other administrative offices are located, into a full Student Hub.
For the spring semester, Erica will focus her energy and time left as student body president on developing ideas that will engage more students in activities and opportunities on campus. “I definitely want to see more students eager to participate on campus because we have many opportunities that are being underused,” explains Erica. “I believe we can offer more initiatives like the Seven Circles, which is a Student Life project that shows students what they need to be happy and healthy and provide them with the tools necessary to not only succeed at school but also in life. After all, if you’re not happy, it’s very difficult to achieve your goals and dreams.”
Learn more about student leadership and other resume-builder opportunities available at Broward College here.