Flagler gets a little greener

The Flagler College campus has seen a variety of environment-friendly changes recently, from a low-impact renovation of Kenan Hall to a student-run recycling program.

The recycling effort has been spearheaded by the Flagler Outdoors Club, which was founded by students two years ago. Melissa Kafel, a sociology major and president of the club, said recycling on a large scale can get surprisingly expensive.

Flagler joins Peach Belt Conference

It’s been three years in the making, but Flagler College finally has a conference for its athletic teams to call home. In December, the Peach Belt Conference announced that Flagler and the University of Montevallo had been accepted for membership in the league, which now totals 13 colleges and universities.

“I am thrilled that our college has been accepted for membership in the Peach Belt Conference, a well-established athletic conference with a solid record of competitive athletic programs at its member institutions,” said Flagler President Dr. William T. Abare Jr. “We are eager to compete against some of the top NCAA Division II programs in the nation.”

Adventures in the Andes

Spanish students learn through service in Peru

The trip is over and the bags are unpacked, but nine Flagler College students just can’t stop talking about Peru. This past summer, Assistant Professor of Spanish Aggie Johnson and her students travelled to Cusco, Peru – the former center of the Inca civilization – to learn, volunteer and see the sights. The group stayed with local families and attended classes at a center known for its research on the highland people.

Slideshow: Images from Peru

Worth a thousand words

Journalism student chronicles hidden cemetery in photo essay

In a secluded graveyard, simple labels like “mother” and “grandmother” peek out from slabs of cement, colored brightly with shades of pink and blue. Love is apparent there, as is the lack of money loved ones have to spend on deceased relatives.

But right next to the makeshift plots, separated only by a transparent fence, sits the pristine and modern Evergreen Cemetery. Visitors would have to move branches and step through weeds and overgrowth to get back to this “other” area, where the dates on the markers are as recent as 1990.

Audio Slideshow: Photo Essay by Haley Walker

Homework pays off for public administration students

A grant writing class helped them bring almost $1 million to St. Johns County
Flagler College public administration students recently brought nearly $1 million in funding to St. Augustine public safety initiatives – just by doing their homework.

When St. Johns County Sheriff Deputy Ricky Domingo and 911 Emergency Systems Engineer Michael Banks submitted proposals for a grant writing class, they got what they asked for. Banks received $850,000 in grant money from the State of Florida for a new 911 emergency communication system for St. Johns County. Domingo landed a $1,000 grant from Wal-Mart to purchase seven tracking bracelets for the Sheriff’s Department.

Flagler launches ‘Ignite’ freshmen learning communities

Flagler is making some big changes to its freshmen experience. This fall, the college held its first classes for a new initiative to enhance student engagement. The program, called “Ignite,” creates first-year learning communities by placing students in the same classes and giving them a variety of unique experiences together.

Amaro’s Army

Students team up with First Coast News’ Ken Amaro to fight for consumer rights

As more Americans struggle with the current recession, Flagler College students have started working with a Jacksonville TV station’s consumer advocate to share money-saving solutions with viewers.

Gargoyle awarded

The Gargoyle, Flagler’s student newspaper, won three awards from the Florida College Press Association’s (FCPA) 2007 Better Newspaper Contest. The Gargoyle took first place for “Best Front Page Design,” second for “Best Feature Writing” and third for “Best College Newspaper.”

Phyllis Gibbs reflects on 40 years at Flagler

The books shelves have little room for more photographs; the walls are filled with posters, frames and more pictures. Phyllis Gibbs’ office is overflowing with memories of the friendships and accomplishments she’s found during her 40 years teaching at Flagler College.

Flagler opened in 1968, and just 170 female students were enrolled during that first year. When Gibbs first started working at Flagler in 1969, she and some other professors lived on campus.

Communication Week draws CNN’s Candy Crowley, as well as Pulitzer winner

As the presidential primaries were heating up between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, one of CNN’s chief election correspondents took a quick break from the campaign trail to give Flagler students an insider’s perspective.