FPC student wins art festival poster contest

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Flagler Palm Coast High School advanced graphic design student Monika Austiskaite won the 2014 Flagler Fine Arts Festival poster contest, sponsored by Flagler Auditorium.

The eye-catching commemorative 2014 spring session poster was adapted from her winning design and is -displayed around town.

Bunnell Problem Solvers named grand champion
Three of the four Future Problem Solving projects taken to state competition from Bunnell Elementary School were awarded grand champion and invited to compete at International Competition.

The other project was awarded a second place.

“We are so very proud and overwhelmed at having three invitations,” said Jerri Berry, one of the FPS coaches.

In order to get to the international competition, the team must raise funds. Visit their fundme.com page at fundme.com/en/projects/3092-Bunnell-Elementary---Global-Leaders-of-Tomorrow--International-Competitors.

Princess Place Legacy students to give Earth Day tours
To commemorate Earth Day in Palm Coast, students at Princess Place Legacy Program at Matanzas High school are inviting parents, teachers, legislators, and other members of the community to take part in an Earth Day Celebration 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27, and gain an understanding of service-learning and the positive impact the students are having on their surrounding environment.

Funded by State Farm, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and the Flagler Education Foundation, students are implementing projects to help people recognize and value the part our environment plays in healthy communities, as well as teaching others what they have in their own back yard.

Students in the program are currently conducting a biodiversity inventory of the Princess Place Preserve. This project will provide important data of the variety and variability of living organisms.

During the Earth Day events, the students will join guests in giving several tours of the Preserve and well as many displays from organizations like GTM Research Reserve, The Whitney Laboratory, and more.

Daytona State board approves $10,000 bachelor’s degree in education
Earning a bachelor’s degree in education at Daytona State College will soon be more affordable than ever.

Beginning July 1, first-time-in-college students interested in pursuing one of Daytona State’s seven baccalaureate degree tracks in education will be able to do so at a cost of $10,000, a savings of about $3,000 and less than half what it would cost at a state university.

The move is part of a challenge by the governor and Legislature for Florida’s 28 state colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees at a reduced cost.

“We’re very excited to be able to offer this affordable pathway to first-time-in-college students who have a passion to pursue teaching careers,” said Daytona State President Carol W. Eaton. “It’s a great value and opportunity, enhanced by our strong partnerships with Volusia and Flagler County schools.”

Last month, Daytona State’s District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a plan to offer the 2+2-style program leading to the education baccalaureates. The plan uses fee waivers authorized by state statute to reduce the cost of upper-division courses for in-state residents attending college for the first time. The waivers will be applied while students complete their final 30 credit hours in the program, virtually making the senior year of the program tuition free.

In addition to being their first time in college, students must have earned a minimum of nine credits through advance placement, international baccalaureate or dual enrollment courses while in high school. They must earn their associate of arts degree within 66 attempted credit hours and carry a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average. Students must formally apply to the Bachelor of Science in Education program and, once admitted, earn a “C” or better in all program courses.

Daytona State offers the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSED) in seven areas: Elementary Education (K-6), Exceptional Student Education (K-12), Secondary Mathematics Education (6-12), Secondary Biology Education (6-12), Secondary Earth/Space Science Education (6-12), Secondary Chemistry Education (6-12), and Secondary Physics Education (6-12). Each is approved by the state of Florida and fulfills the education courses, professional education competencies and practical experience required to obtain a five-year Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate.

According to Florida Education Training Placement Information Program data, 95 of 102 Daytona State education degree graduates who earned their degrees between 2010 and 2012 were working in their fields, an overall placement rate of 93.5 percent. DSC launched the BSED program in 2009.

Volusia County anticipates hiring 300 to 400 teachers during the coming school year and will host a job fair at Daytona State College’s Daytona Beach Campus 1-4 p.m. April 16.

Rutledge places at FBLA state conference
Four students, who are members of the Future Business Leaders of America Club, at Flagler Palm Coast High School, attended the State Leadership Conference, in Orlando March 21-23.

The students competed in various business events and attended workshops. Tyler Rutledge took fifth place in Business Communication. Over 3,400 students from across the state attended the conference and competed in 75 events.