Alumnus Greg Teisan, ’88, returns from military duty in Kabul

In the civilian world, Greg Teisan works as a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company. But in Afghanistan, he held responsibilities that ranged from organizing a bazaar for local merchants to coordinating polio and tuberculosis vaccinations for thousands of people.

During his year as a major in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, the ’88 Flagler alumnus spent most of his time arranging training, supplies and other logistics for medical missions and emergency health care. Teisan had been a member of the National Guard for nearly 20 years, living in South Carolina with his wife and two children, when he was asked to deploy to Afghanistan.

Audio Slideshow: Alumnus Greg Teisan Narrates His Year in Afghanistan

It’s been only four years since Flagler College first launched the Flagler Athletic Boosters Club, but in that time, the group has already raised almost $490,000 to help benefit Flagler’s sports teams that are now competing in NCAA Division II.

The boosters club was created in 2004 while Flagler athletic teams were still qualifying for NAIA Tournaments and the NCAA was but a murmur going around the administration.

‘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.

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.

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.

’89 grad flies Coast Guard choppers to head off drug traffickers

Eighty-five miles off the Colombian coast, in the eastern Pacific Ocean, a small boat speeds through international waters headed north. Loaded with illegal narcotics like marijuana and cocaine, the boat is more than likely headed for U.S. soil, where the “runners” on board will sell the drugs for a higher premium to a buyer on the mainland.

The runners may make $10,000 each on this one mission — a typical day in the international drug trade. Unless they encounter HITRON and Flagler graduate Matt Rother.

Hirko wins $15,000 with ‘pterodactyl’ dance on ‘Regis and Kelly’

Armed only with a “pterodactyl” dance and a stuffed dinosaur strapped to his head, alumnus Andy Hirko, ’02, competed on national television for $50,000.

“My wife (Kristy, ’02) and I were praying for creative ways to pay off debt,” said Hirko, who was one of five finalists in a dance contest on “Live with Regis and Kelly.”

Video: Andy Hirko on ‘Regis and Kelly’

When speaking about Clemson University’s new head tennis coach Chuck McCuen, Peter Scott talks like a proud father. His body perks up, his voice raises an octave, and the 2004 Flagler Athletic Hall of Fame inductee is almost at a loss for words.

“Chuck was such a hard worker, and God, he hated to lose,” recalls Scott, who was Flagler’s first head tennis coach from 1974-1989. “What do I recall about Chuck? You know what the biggest thing is? There are guys on every team that are natural-born leaders. Chuck was pretty much always that guy.”

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.

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.