Wobbling into Adulthood: Trio of alums influences St. Augustine’s music scene

As members of St. Augustine band the Wobbly Toms, Andy Calvert, Zach Lively and Richard Steinmeyer have been entertaining locals for years with their unique blend of folk, punk and rock.

The three men, all Flagler alums, and all English majors, have been firm friends since their post-grad days. In fact, they spent much of their free time at Flagler at WFCF and playing in bands–a preview of things to come.

Recent grad makes big difference with disadvantaged youth

He’s only 24, but alumnus Justin Black has already spent four years transforming St. Augustine’s Boys & Girls Club.

“We’ve done a 180,” he said. “When I first got here there was a fight almost every day … I’ve had people threaten to shoot me. I’ve had kids take a swing at me.”

Fights are rare now. The 2007 Flagler graduate said the club currently has the highest rate of teen participation in the area, and the kids often see him as “one of their own.” Those changes might not have been possible, Black said, if he wasn’t good at basketball.

Dare Not Walk Alone

Alumnus’ documentary receives major nomination at NAACP Image Awards

Four years ago, when Jeremy Dean finished his documentary “Dare Not Walk Alone,” the 2002 Flagler alumnus had incurred $30,000 in debt. He spent countless hours securing interviews with reluctant subjects. And he wasn’t sure whether the film — which examines both St. Augustine’s role in the 1960s Civil Rights struggle and the Oldest City’s more modern inequalities — would ever find a receptive audience.

Running down a dream

The next step for 2009 graduate and standout cross-country runner Ryan MacManus may be a career as an FBI profiler

For spring 2009 graduate Ryan MacManus, the past four years has had its lows – like being diagnosed with the debilitating Crohn’s disease that nearly ended his cross country running career.

Nothing But Love for You

Alumna Diana Briggs working with author on book about love

Shared interests and a chance contact with award-winning author John Bowe have led Diana Briggs, ‘07, down a promising editorial career path with a job working on his upcoming book.

“If someone had told me two months ago that I’d be in Hayes, Kan., I would not have believed them,” she said.

Music + Math = Funky ‘Musiplication’

Alumna’s funk- and soul-influenced album teaches kids math and gets wide airplay on Sirius XM Satellite Radio

It began simply enough: a collection of songs about math meant to help school kids learn their multiplication tables. But 2000 alumna Kat Vellos never expected the funky little album — with its hip-hop beats put to math-infused tunes and her own soulful voice — would end up in regular rotation on Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

Called “Musiplication,” the independent album released in 2008 weaves stories about canoeing pandas and superheroes with everyday multiplication.

Alumni Weekend 2009

From awards and cocktails to surfing and Athletic Hall of Fame inductions, Flagler’s Alumni Weekend had it all again this year

Photo Galleries: Alumni Weekend

Alumni Awards
The Flagler College Alumni Office handed out its 2009 Alumni Awards at
Alumni Weekend this past May.

Buena Onda

‘04 Alumnus helps organization deliver soccer balls, jerseys and equipment to Central America

Caleb Cooper, a 2004 alumnus and former soccer player, has been working with an organization called Peace Passers that donates sports equipment to needy nations. Cooper wrote this piece about his trip last year to Central America to deliver soccer equipment.

Lessons from Ama Ghar

Alumna McKenzie Lamborne volunteers in a Nepalese orphanage

McKenzie Lamborne, ’02, quickly found that life at a Nepalese orphanage requires some adjustments. She ate with her hands, stomped on her clothes to simulate the spin cycle of a washing machine and wore a surgical mask in the street to reduce the smell of garbage and sewage. She rode an elephant, watched demonstrations by Tibetan monks and waited through a transportation strike.

The Journey, Not the Destination

Alumnus Nicholas Serenati went from Hollywood hopeful to award-winning visual artist

Flagler alumnus Nicholas Serenati (’03) launched his career hoping to be a Hollywood director, but he’s found his niche in a variety of visual arts.