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Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: News

Initiative targets at-risk students

DBC President Dr. Kent Sharples is launching a task force designed to address a serious retention issue among African-American and Hispanic male students.

Since beginning to meet in October, the panel has been reviewing local and national data and is ready to roll with a new project titled The Men of Color Initiative. The group will address five major barriers impacting the retention and success of African-American and Hispanic men.

An overview of the program will be presented by Dr. Sharples to all male employees of color, approximately 100, during a lunch meeting April 2. Employees are being invited to become mentors for these at-risk students and contribute to a scholarship fund established with the DBC Foundation. The initiative is designed to decrease the high attrition rate - 56 percent drop out after the first semester - of these men. The initiative will provide mentors, leadership, life and career skills instruction and development, as well as scholarships and hands-on learning opportunities.

Anyone interested in learning more about the project can contact Michael Elam, in Student Development, at (386) 506-4426.

Flagler Campus dedicates building

It opened in May 1984 to the sounds of the "Palm Coast Festival Park March," but now, finally, the Amphitheater, known as Building One, will be renamed The Alan Smolen Center.

Dedication ceremonies will be at 7 p.m. Friday, April 11.

In September, a resolution was passed by DBC's District Board of Trustees to name the first building of the Flagler/Palm Coast Campus as The Alan Smolen Center in recognition of his vision to bring higher education and cultural enrichment to what was then a new and diverse community.

Smolen was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1993. Thanks to his advocacy and vision as President of ITT Community Development Corporation, the land and funding was graciously donated by ITT to establish the DBC Flagler/Palm Coast Campus.

The dedication ceremony is open to the public and will be followed by a center stage performance featuring the Expresso Jazz Quintet, presented in partnership with the City of Palm Coast Recreation & Parks Department. For information call (386) 246-4802.

DBC Toastmasters take home gold

The DBC "Eduspeakers" Toastmasters Club spoke their way to the top of the seven Toastmaster clubs in Area 38's Table Topics and International Speech Contests.

Lynne Muffoletto earned second in the Table Topics contest with her speech on "My Greatest Fear," sharing her experience that heartfelt gesture from a loving child meaning "I Love You" endures circumstances and lasts a lifetime. Tom Sanders took the audience out to the ballpark to experience the glory of baseball from an umpires' perspective. He hit a home run and caught first place in the Area 38 International Speech Contest with his "A Day in the Life of a Minor League Umpire." He represented Area 38 at the Division Contest in Jacksonville on March 28.

Eduspeakers meets every first and third Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Bldg. 150, Rm. 405. Attendees learns how to develop impromptu talks and interesting speeches to leave their fear of public speaking behind and to make new friends.

Golf Tourny to aid area charities

A scramble format with a shotgun start will kick off a Saturday, May 3, DeBary-Deltona Rotary Benefit Golf Tournament that will aid local charities.

Among the benefactors of the event will be the Boy Scouts of America, YMCA, DeBary Art League and American Cancer Society. Entry fee is $65 per player, which includes cart, driving range, green fees and lunch. Play is open to men and women and there will be a $10,000 prize for a hole-in-one on number 17.

For information, contact Dennis Micare at ext. 2001 or Dennis Stark, First Commercial Bank of Florida, at (386) 860-5560

'Barefoot' auditions April 14-15

An open audition call will be held this month for actors to perform in the upcoming Daytona Beach College production of Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park."

Auditions will be 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, April 14-15 in the Acting Studio (rm. 116) of the J.M.Goddard Center, Bldg. 230, on the Daytona Beach Campus.

Actors should prepare a one-minute contemporary comedic monologue and also be prepared to read from the script. All roles are open, including Velasco, age 50, Mrs. Banks, in her 4's, and Corie and Paul, mid 20's.

"The roles of Victor Velasco and Mrs. Banks have particular appeal to the more experienced actor, and this is a great opportunity for DBC students and the community at large to participate in the award winning comedy by Neil Simon," said Paul Carbonell, who will direct the play.

For information, call (386) 416-8388 or send an e-mail to paulcarbon@hotmail.com

Rehearsals will begin Wednesday, April 23, with performances scheduled for May 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31.

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