The Allstate Campus is eager to announce that on Monday, January 25^th from 6-8pm, we will be hosting former CIA, former FBI, CNN Analyst Philip Mudd for an evening of information about his job, relating international crises to life here in the United States, and career tips helpful to any student, specifically those with an interest in Public Safety. Those interested in attending may register online before the event. The Allstate Campus is home to St. Petersburg College’s College of Public Safety assisting students in obtaining degrees ranging from Certificates to Bachelor of Science degrees in many industries, including

• Law enforcement
• Fire services
• Corrections
• Emergency medical services
• Emergency administration management
• Industrial security enterprises

Philip Mudd, as previously noted, is a CNN analyst formerly served in many capacities with both the CIA and FBI since 1985. He ended his time in government service as the FBI’s Senior Intelligence Adviser in 2010. Mr. Mudd has been featured by ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, Fox, BBC, MSNBC, al-Jazeera, NPR, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. He has also written for Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, the Washington Post, The Daily Beast, and the Sentinel, the journal of the US Military Academy’s Combatting Terrorism Center.

This educational forum will be open to students, staff, faculty, partnering agencies and community members. There is no cost for this event. He will be here to present on Monday, January 25^th from 6-8pm to share stories of his experience, answer questions, and give advice to students entering the field of criminal justice and members of public safety agencies hoping to expand their knowledge of the field.

To learn more about Philip Mudd, please click here.

For more information about SPC’s College of Public Safety, click here.

To reserve your seat for this exciting event, please click here.

With inspirational words about “family, tradition, and faith,” Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue Chaplin, Tim Stevens, opened the 45^th St. Petersburg College Fire Academy Graduation.  The Ceremony was held in the Florida Room at the Allstate Campus, yesterday, January 7th, with the presence of 21 graduates.

Program Director, James S. Angle, introduced the distinguished guests and the graduates.

Class President, Michael R. Powell, talked about the sacrifices as well as the mental and physical challenges faced by each of the graduates; he emphasized that they were able to finish the program because they worked together as a group, not as individuals.  Powell also thanked instructors, graduates, and squad leaders; and concluded his speech quoting American Author Napoleon Hill: “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.”

Guest Speaker, Fire Academy instructor Louis Sclafani, reminded graduates about the importance of the Fire Fighter profession, stressing that it is, above all, a noble profession. And he finished his speech advising graduates “to be the best professionals they can be every single time they respond to an emergency.”

Program Director Angle presented the Class Awards, with highlights to class graduate Cecilia C. Trejo, recognized for her outstanding academic achievements.  The Presentation of Certificates was conducted by Program Coordinator Gabrielle Bain.

In his final remarks, Director James Angle pointed out that the graduates “came in as individuals and came out as one team: Class 45;” and closed the Graduation Ceremony emphasizing the importance of constant training and studying in the Fire Fighter Profession.

Please view our Allstate Facebook Page to view other photos from the graduation and more information on other events happening on campus.

The next Fire Fighter Academy starts January 11th, 2016. Information about this exciting program and future sessions can be found at the St. Petersburg College website.

Congratulations Graduates!

Looking for ways to get involved at the Allstate Campus? I’m excited to tell you about two of our clubs, both excellent opportunities to increase your academic success and become an integral part of our campus community.

 Book ‘Em: The Allstate Library Club

What is it?

A chance to host cool events in the Allstate Library and hang out with fun people.

Sometimes you need a break from the pressure of homework and exams. That’s where we come in. Many of our events are geared towards helping students feel refreshed and ready to tackle their next project. For example:

• Visits with dogs from Therapy Dogs International
• Presentations on stress-relief from The National University of Health Sciences

  

• Tips from psychologists on how to manage anxiety during tests.

Other events are a chance to have fun in-between classes, like game nights or pizza parties. One of my favorite events took place in November, when we hosted our first-ever poetry night with James E. Tokley, the poet laureate of Tampa and Hillsborough County. What should our next event be? Join the club and help us decide!

Who do you contact?

If you’re a currently enrolled student interested in joining, please contact us at 727-341-4486 or email at Young.Emily@spcollege.edu.

When does it meet?

Book ‘Em will meet approximately once a month (time and place to be determined) to discuss event ideas and plan the next party. We’d love your help in making the library an even more welcoming and fun place for our students!

What is MAX?

MAX is short for Men Achieving eXcellence. According to the club’s page, it helps men:

• Graduate from college
• Find jobs in their field
• Enjoy positive experiences
• Develop friendships with students and mentors

“MAX is a viable club because often young men find themselves facing challenges and they are left to feel as if they are alone, in a vacuum,” explains Instructor Michael Hughes. “MAX provides a setting for young male students to meet and discuss these issues with peers that may be experiencing the same issues. Often, valid resources and resolutions are identified that can be of assistance to club participants. Lastly, it can provide members with an outlet to be of service to others. Sometimes helping someone else gives us a better appreciation of our circumstances.”

As an example of service to the community, Hughes added that “the Allstate Campus MAX Club has . . . participated in Community Events for the MLK Day of Service Event in past years.”

Who do you contact?

The Allstate Center’s faculty coordinator for MAX is Michael Hughes. You can contact him at:

• Hughes.Michael@spcollege.edu
• 727-341-4146

When does it meet?

Meetings will start in January, place and time to be determined. Both recruits and academic students are welcome to attend.

Hello, everyone! If you’ve been to the Allstate Library, we’ve probably already met. But since I’m going to be one of the contributors for this blog (along with our amazing new Student Life and Leadership Coordinator, Rebecca Sarver), I wanted to tell you a little more about myself. (And if we haven’t met yet, drop by the library and we can chat in person.) My name is Emily Young, and I’ve been working as a library paraprofessional at Allstate for a little over a year now. I love it here, and I am so excited for the changes taking place on campus. Just in the past year, the library has been transformed: we have an updated collection of books, beautiful new flooring, cozy chairs, a Chill Zone (stocked with board games and art therapy supplies), and even our own Library Club, ‘Book Em.

You’ve probably already guessed this . . . but I love books. I graduated from USF St. Petersburg in 2012 with degrees in journalism and English. (I still love journalism, and write a column for The Tampa Bay Times on how to throw parties based on pop culture.) Currently, I am pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and will graduate in July 2016. My favorite thing about the Allstate Library is working with this fascinating collection of books– I’m already learning so much about criminal justice and public safety—and the students. I am constantly inspired by how hard the Allstate students work to achieve their goals, and I am thrilled that I can help them along that journey.

Fast facts:

• I’ve lived in Florida my whole life, and never saw snow until last year. (It was a lot wetter than I expected.)
• I grew up owning basenjis (a barkless hunting dog from Africa); now I have a cat who likes to play practical jokes on me. (She’s basically Hobbes.)
• My favorite holiday is Halloween (Another reason I love Allstate: we turn the place into a Haunted House every October. Check it out next year!)
• Once I nearly got eaten by a badger.
• The coolest place I’ve visited is Bath, England. There are these amazing Roman bathhouses, sweetshops straight out of a Harry Potter novel . . . and forests filled with badgers (see above).
• My favorite authors are Maggie Stiefvater, Ernest Hemingway, C.S. Lewis, Suzanne Collins . . . okay I’ll stop now. But if you have a recommendation, I would love to hear it.

If you need any help finding a book, using the library databases, or writing a paper, please don’t hesitate to ask! The best part of my day is when I can help someone from the SPC community find what they need. Drop by the Allstate Library, email me at Young.Emily@spcollege.edu, or call at 727-341-4486. I look forward to hearing from you!

St. Petersburg College Allstate Campus hosted its’ 198th graduation for their Police Academy. On the evening of December 9th, 2015 at 6pm in the Florida Room, 21 cadets graduated. For the first time since PRC #175, the number of graduates was the same as the number who began the course. It takes a lot of diligence, dedication, and teamwork to graduate 100% of your class – and PRC#198 had it!

The ceremony, lead by coordinator Paul Andrews, recognized the esteemed members from local police agencies in attendance, the junior police recruit class (PRC) who began their role as the senior class on Thursday morning, and supportive family and friends – without whom, graduation for many cadets would have been unlikely.

Pledge of Allegiance was led by Shaylin Santana, Brittany Herr, and Diana Glavnik. Invocation was given by Ashley Mehler. Justin Feliciano (pictured right), chosen by his classmates for this honor, delivered a heartwarming class address outlining some of the best times the class had, some of the worst (notably pepper spray), and the camaraderie that held them together through it all.

Many students received awards for their physical and intellectual achievements throughout the 21 week academy. Including Ashley Mehler (pictured left) for high scholarly achievement and Peter Michaelson (pictured right) who received an award from instructors for his overall success in the program and ability to encourage and uplift his classmates. Coordinator Andrews explained to the audience that each day of the academy, cadets would recite the code of ethics and invited Ashley Mehler, Brian Wells, and Peter Michaelson to the state to lead their class in the recitation, followed by a benediction by Ashley Mehler. After being guided by their Instructor for a final fall-out, the class and crowd erupted in joyful yells, hugs, and tears by some.

The Allstate campus wishes the graduates well as they prepare for their state exams and eventual careers as officers of the law. If you are interested in learning more about the Police Academy, please see our website or contact one of knowledgeable advisors.

For more information on events happening on the Allstate Campus, please see our Student Activities webpage or our Facebook page.

“There are poets in these hills,” said James E. Tokley Sr., looking out at his audience. He was surrounded by poetry-lovers from SPC and the local community, all gathered to hear him read at the Allstate Center’s first poetry night on November 18^th.

As the first official poet laureate of Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa, Tokley was an inspiring speaker who welcomed each audience member as a fellow lover of the written word. Calling them “beloved,” he beckoned them closer, constantly reminding them that they, too, had poetry inside them. “Next time I come, you’ll be sitting here,” he said, indicating his position of honor. “And I’ll be sitting there [in the audience].”

His wife, Joanna, had suggested he tell a story about each poem before reading it. Some anecdotes were witty and light-hearted, detailing his experiences as a young poet; others discussed why we must write about tragedy and suffering, even when it can feel “too painful” to explore.

“For years I was on the Board of Directors for the St. Petersburg Holocaust Museum,” Tokley said. “One poem [I wrote] frightened me because it frightened them.” Called The Survivor, it describes an encounter between a concentration camp survivor and the Nazi who tortured him. Although some told him the poem was “too painful,” Tokley said he knew that only meant he had to do it. “I finally got to read it, and people cried,” he said. The poem ultimately celebrates the triumph of the human spirit and God’s grace, despite unspeakable suffering.

For the Allstate Center, Tokley was an especially meaningful speaker because he is a police trainer as well as a poet. “I’ve trained thousands of men and women with a badge,” he said. Many of his poems feature law enforcement officers, because he says he wants to “write about the men and women I love.”

His impact on these young police officers is remarkable. At the end of the reading, one man stood up and thanked Tokley for inspiring him to become a poet. As a graduate of the Allstate Center’s police academy (Class 104), C.C. Clark said he’d met Tokley during his training years ago, which inspired him to pursue his love for poetry. After embracing, Tokley invited Clark to read one of his poems, called “Through God’s Eyes.”

Once again, Tokley reminded his audience that they, too, had poetry inside them—an encouragement that may lead some, like Clark, to become the next generation of poets.

Fast Facts about James E. Tokley:

• He is the first official poet laureate for the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County
• His work has been showcased as part of the White House Millennium Exhibit and selected as the inaugural poems for mayors and governors
• His poems have been performed along with the Florida Symphony Orchestra
• If you go to the Hillsborough County Courthouse, you’ll see one of his poems etched in stone

For the week of November 9^th – November 13^th, the St. Petersburg College Allstate Campus came together to collect household goods needed by the BayPines VA for veterans transitioning from homelessness to permanent homes. The items requested by the BayPines VA were as follows:

* Laundry Baskets

* Bath Towels

* Kitchen Towels

* All purpose spray cleaner

* Packs of cleaning sponges

* Paper Towels

* Glass Cleaner

* Brooms

* Dust pans

* Mops

* Mop Buckets

* Floor Cleaner

* Dish Soap

* Laundry Soap

* Dryer/Fabric Softener Sheets

On Monday and Tuesday, donations began to come in primarily from our very supportive faculty and staff. On Thursday, we received a call from the coordinators at the Fire Academy, a satellite location of the Allstate Campus, saying that the two Fire Academy classes had really outdone themselves. Not being available to attend our Care Package Assembly party planner for Friday, the classes wanted to do what they could to help out. Two very full carloads later, we had all of the donations in the Student Life and Leadership office.

On Friday, students and staff gathered to celebrate the successful donation drive by packing care packages for veterans in need while enjoying pizza and camaraderie. One of our security guards, Ryan Crowder, shared his own story about assistance offered to him by the VA following his enrollment in the Military as a Marine.

In the end we collected enough good to make 43 bags – each valued at $5-$7.

Shana Sapp, advising manager (follow her on twitter @shana_sapp) and I went to the Bay Pines VA Voluntary Services center on Monday, 11/16 to meet Nathan Witt and drop off the care packages.

We know that a lot of our students are veterans themselves and want to send a huge THANK YOU to all of them, and the many others in our community who have chosen to serve our country. As a student veteran, we do want to remind you that you can visit Veterans Services online, or on the Gibbs, Clearwater, or Seminole Campuses. Also, the Baypines VA is always in need of a variety of items or in-person volunteers to help veterans in need. Please check them out online to see their greatest current need.

Some of you may have noticed some changes happening around the SPC Allstate Campus – mostly personnel right now. I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Rebecca Sarver (you can call me Becca) and I have just moved into the position of Student Life and Leadership Coordinator on the Allstate Campus. I will not only have a hand in the coordination of student government, clubs, events and activities on campus – but I will also be a major contributor to this blog and our Allstate Facebook Page. I wanted to tell you a little about myself.

I was born and raised in Bradenton, FL, where I still reside. After graduating high school, I attended Florida State University (Go Noles!) and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Criminology/Criminal Justice. After graduating in 2009, I joined the U.S. Peace Corps and spent my service in Kalale, Benin in West Africa. Coming back from Benin, I wanted a more “traditional 9-to-5” and got a job at a local bank. After working for the bank for three years, I decided on a career change and joined the SPC team. I worked with the Downtown and Midtown campuses for my first year as a Career Specialist and am so happy to join the Allstate team.

Personally, I love to be active! From November to March, you can find me training for running races and from April to October, it’s triathlon season. I prefer tri season to running (it engages my mind and makes the time pass quickly!). I like to joke that I only run to offset my eating; I have a total sweet tooth that I fight against daily.

Fast Facts:

• My favorite type of cuisine is Peruvian.
• My favorite place I’ve traveled is the Netherlands.
• My favorite place to relax is anywhere by the water!
• My favorite type of music is Oh gosh! Too many! I love Jack Johnson in the background when I’m working, Motown when I want to sing, and Pat Benatar when I’m feeling pumped up.
• My favorite sports team is Green Bay Packers!! (And of course, my Noles!)
• My favorite thing about working for SPC is that I like what I’m selling (futures where students can be successful!)

I can’t wait to work with you all to make the SPC Allstate Campus even more awesome than it already is. If you have any questions – or just want to come by and say hi – please come visit! You can find me in Student Services AC114K, email me sarver.rebecca@spcollege.edu, or call me (727)341-4480.

See you soon!
-Becca

P.S. I’m going to be doing event calendars each month to let you know what’s happening. They look like the one pictured here. Keep your eye out here and and on Facebook to know what’s happening around campus!