Community Manatee Spotlight December 9, 2012

Manatee Technical Institute Students in the Community

Fourteen Manatee Technical Institute students served as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, as they helped a Citrus Meadows homeowner paint their home last week. The Brush for Kindness project helps homeowners with exterior repairs and maintenance when they need help for financial and often health related reasons.

MTI Drafting students Brooke Gore and Daniel Mitchell coordinated the student volunteer effort with Ogden Clark, the volunteer coordinator for Manatee County’s Habitat for Humanity. Homeowner Angel Butler called their work a “blessing.”  The students belong to the career and technical student organization SkillsUSA, which encourages service to community. Each plans to volunteer 25 hours toward this and other projects throughout the school year.

USF Sarasota-Manatee Holds 58th Commencement Ceremony

Five students and one professor to receive special recognition

The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee’s fall commencement exercises will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 16, 2012, at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center.

The ceremony will recognize 30 master’s degree candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education. Two hundred thirty undergraduate students will receive their degrees from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, and Hospitality and Technology Leadership. Of these 260 graduates, approximately 180 are expected to attend the ceremony.

Regional Chancellor Arthur M. Guilford will represent USF Sarasota-Manatee, and USF System President Judy Genshaft will preside. Dr. Stephen Graves, Professor of Elementary Education, will be the ceremony announcer; Dr. Jody McBrien will bear the University mace; and Sarah Coit, student in the USF College of the Arts, will perform the National Anthem and USF Alma Mater.

Five students and one professor will be recognized at the ceremony.

Alexander Klotz is this year’s recipient of the Webecke Award, an honor given to the most outstanding student in the Master of Business Administration program. Alexander is graduating summa cum laude with a GPA of 3.93. He successfully balanced academic rigors with the social environment of higher education, serving as a leader among MBA students. Alexander is currently working as an Iberiabank asset manager and envisions moving overseas to pursue a career in business management.

Olivia Santiago, a senior graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, is this year’s recipient of the Golden Bull Service and Outstanding Leadership Award presented by USF Sarasota-Manatee’s Student Government Association. Olivia is among the most involved students on campus, having served as part of Student Government, Phi Beta Lambda and Circle K International. She plans to incorporate both her academic and leadership skills into a career with a small accounting firm.

Marina Cosgrove, a senior graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, is this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Award presented by the USF Sarasota-Manatee Chapter of the USF Alumni Association. Marina moved to the United States in 2000 from war-destroyed Yugoslavia and overcame a language barrier to become heavily involved with university life and philanthropic activities. While studying at USF Sarasota-Manatee, Marina served as a Phi Beta Lambda officer and member of the Accounting Society, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Theta Kappa. She aspires to earn her master’s degree in accounting and launch a career with a CPA firm.

Cathleen Cornish, Diane Florez and Jessica Saunders will receive the USF Alumni Association King O’Neal Scholars award for achieving perfect 4.0 GPAs throughout their undergraduate degrees.

Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Carlson, Accounting Instructor in the College of Business, has been selected by the students as the Fall 2012 Outstanding Professor. Liz grew up in Sarasota and has extensive experience in the field of forensic accounting. In addition to holding a master’s degree in accounting and certification in Financial Forensics, she is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner™ and Certified Valuation Analyst. Not only is Liz strongly dedicated to her profession, but she also serves as a member of the American and Florida Institute of CPAs and commits herself to being active in the community.

Manatee Habitat  Welcome New Board Member

Manatee County Habitat for Humanity’s is pleased to announce the addition of Mr. Steve Hall to the Board of Directors.   Steve is the President of Gulf Coast Marketing for Altrust Insurance in Sarasota with 19 years of sales experience in business to business and retail industries.  Steve is active in the community serving also on the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Board and Manatee County Health Care Alliance.  He and his family reside in Bradenton.

Bradenton Christian says Good-bye to Volleyball Coach

Bradenton Christian School appreciates the many years of dedicated service from Coach Geraldson. During his 20 years of coaching, our volleyball teams have made several trips to the State Final Four and hold numerous Regional and Conference Championship titles. We thank him for his leadership and wish him well!

We will begin an immediate search for a Head Volleyball Coach that will oversee the 5 volleyball teams that Bradenton Christian School sponsors at the middle and high school levels. This is a key position as athletics is an integral part of the overall development of our students and one of the many manifestations of our mission to prepare the hearts and minds of God’s children. The competitive nature of athletics serves as a platform to implement many lessons through a positive environment of structure, trust, and personal development.

S.W.A.T. Networking's "Woman of the Year" Named

Konstanza Beverly from C1 Bank, was selected as the S.W.A.T. Networking's "Woman of the Year". This successful woman was selected by Dr. Robyn Spirtas, Founder and Director of S.W.A.T. Networking.  The award was given to Beverly  for her enthusiasm,  work ethic, and commitment to SWAT.  Konstanza has been very involved in SWAT as she hosted two evening "SWAT Socials" and has taken on two officer positions. She was presented the award at the S.W.A.T. annual dinner at the Sarabay Country Club. More information can be found on S.W.A.T. - Successful Women Aligning Together by going to www.swatnetworking.com.

On A Shoestring Donates Shoes

 On A Shoestring, Inc Bradenton's Running & Walking Specialty Store today donated 47 pairs of new shoes to the Bill Galvano One Stop Center -  Community Coalition on Homeless.