Vicki Westergard

Vicki Westergard, St. Peterburg College’s Executive Director of eCampus and Web and Instructional Technology, was voted Chair-Elect for 2013-2014 at the May 21 meeting of the Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) Members Council on Distance Learning and Student Services.

Westergard has been the SPC representative to the FLVC since it was created by the Florida Legislature in July 2012. Since 2005 she has served as the SPC representative to the Florida Distance Learning Consortium, one of four previously independent organizations that comprise the Florida Virtual Campus.

Each year the Member Council on Distance Learning and Student Services Chair rotates between a state college and a university representative. University of Central Florida representative Thomas Cavanagh, 2012-2013 Chair-Elect, will become the Chair in July for 2013-2014. Following the established rotation, Westergard will assume the Chair position in July 2014.

As Chair-Elect, Westergard will also serve on the Florida Virtual Campus Advisory Board until June 2015.

Six St. Petersburg police officers and a Deputy U.S. Marshal will be awarded Law Enforcement Congressional Badges of Bravery on Friday, May 31, for their actions during a confrontation with an armed fugitive on Jan. 24, 2011.

Two SPPD officers and the fugitive died in the confrontation in St. Petersburg that day. The officers showed “tremendous courage under fire,” officials reported, and were nominated for the award. The honorees are:

• Sgt. Karl Lounge Jr.
• Officer Timothy McClintick
• Officer Max McDonald
• Officer Douglas Weaver
• Deputy U.S. Marshal Scott Ley
• Sgt. Thomas Baitinger (Posthumous)
• K-9 Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz (Posthumous)

Among those who will be attending are U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, William “Bill” Berger with the U.S. Marshal’s Office, Middle District of Florida, St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster, and SPC President Bill Law.

The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. May 31 in the Florida Room of St. Petersburg College’s Allstate Center, 3200 34th St. S, St. Petersburg.

SPC has been named a charter member of the Manufacturing Institute‘s “M-List,” recognizing excellence in manufacturing education.

The M-List “distinguishes schools that are preparing workers up to industry standards in advanced manufacturing,” according to the organization.

The Manufacturing Institute is an affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers and a research, education, workforce and services group supporting U.S. manufacturers.

“To remain competitive in the global marketplace, manufacturers require a highly skilled workforce—from the production floor to the design studio to the C-suite. The select schools on the M-List have arranged their coursework around industry standards, and they make sure students earn credentials that are in the NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System,” the institute reported. “With such a trusted standard, it takes the guesswork out of hiring the welders, machinists, production workers, and other key positions that make manufacturing hum.”

SPC opened the area’s first Collaborative Center for Emerging Technologies in August 2012. It is an open manufacturing factory work environment to train tomorrow’s engineering technology and manufacturing employees. The industry partners worked closely with the college to secure funding and to provide technical expertise, materials and equipment.

See a complete list of the charter members.

From left, Devera Niemann from Wells Fargo, Lori Ketola from PwC, Eric Walls from Bloomin’ Brands and Cheri Settle from Temp Wise speak at the Ask the Experts panel and networking event.

Recruiters from Bloomin’ Brands, Bright House Networks, Jabil, PwC, Temp Wise, and Wells Fargo shared their expertise with students from the Business and Computer and Information Technology colleges in St. Petersburg College’s Collaborative Labs on Tuesday, May 21.

Students learned employer preferences regarding resumes, interviewing, and making a good impression in the workplace. Other topics including self-branding, networking and job searching were also discussed in this panel and networking event.

After two employer panels where students asked questions, there was time for networking with students, faculty, staff and employers.

Watch this video from the event where Gary Jones from Jabil answers a student question regarding cover letters and interviewing. Also seen are Jerry Pahl from Jabil and Chloe Lee from Bright House Networks.

© Francoise Gilot (French, b. 1921) My Family in Brittany, 1974 35×29 in. Color lithograph, ed. 33/50 On loan from the Patrick and Jackie Terrail Collection

Tampa Bay Times Art Critic Lennie Bennett reviewed the current exhibit of works from Pablo Picasso and Francoise Gilot, now on display at the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art.

“Francoise Gilot: A Print Retrospective” includes 34 pieces from 1962 to 1992. All are from the collection of her friends Patrick and Jackie Terrail, who once owned the legendary Ma Maison restaurant in Hollywood, according to the review. Picasso’s works are from the museum’s collection and that of collector Lothar J. Uhl.