Magazine tagged as 'Alumni'

Flagler’s charter class looks back on 50 years

Flagler Alumni who are making a difference in Florida, across the U.S., and beyond

Jessica Rowan was able to act as the voice for many children and young adults in Costa Rica – one of whom is named Daniela, 26, who has had diabetes since she was 2.

Three students walking across the Flagler College fall graduation ceremony had slightly different regalia than everyone else representing a major milestone: they were the first students to graduate from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Master’s Program.

When April Wallace, ‘08, teaches her visually-impaired students about the nature of ducks, she has them feel how water wicks off their feathers to stay dry. To convey the properties of atoms, she has the students themselves represent molecules. To guide students in measuring angles, she creates 90-degree angles by making an “L” on their hand with their thumb and index finger.

Flagler College alumni will soon have a place to call home on campus as the new Alumni House at Anderson Cottage prepares to open. Located on Sevilla Street between the Proctor Library and the Ringhaver Student Center, it will be transformed into a central meeting hub for local and visiting alumni.

Jennifer Saviano, ‘12, doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. In fact, despite being a self-proclaimed introvert, she’s learned to embrace it.

Many scientists dream of working for an organization like NASA. For one Flagler College Tallahassee graduate, that dream has become a reality. Eighth-grade science teacher Katrina Roddenberry, ‘08, became a member of the inaugural Space Exploration Educator Crew this year, sponsored by Space Center Houston. She was one of 36 teachers from across the country chosen for the elite group, which is an extension of the Space Exploration Educator Conference.

Rob McCarty was five years old when he picked up a surfboard in his hometown of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Thanks to his passion, and a degree from Flagler College, he’s yet to put one down.

In the seventh grade, Flagler College alumna Terri Samson, ‘05, watched a film that shaped the trajectory of her life. “Mr. Holland’s Opus” is a movie about a music teacher obsessed with leaving behind a musical legacy. Only, it wasn’t the main storyline that grabbed her, but rather a subplot about the lead character’s difficult relationship with his deaf son.

On Oct. 9, 2004, Grayden Moore, ‘03, was skateboarding down a long, steep road on the Gold Coast in Australia when his board wobbled and gave way beneath him. He bounced on his head three times and was knocked unconscious, leaving him without a heartbeat and blood flowing from his ears and mouth. He was not wearing a helmet.

Flagler grad Patrick Perkins, ‘02, is heading up Microsoft’s marketing efforts in the company’s Education division, and his rise in the Fortune 500 company is in no small part due to two core principles he’s practiced since college: work hard and trust your instincts.

Four Flagler College alumni were recognized during the 18th Annual Flagler College Alumni Awards on May 6 for their outstanding contributions to the areas of service and professional achievement.

In 2011, when alumna Starr Sink Ratto, ‘99, husband Sam Ratto and partner Chris Heavener opened Videri Chocolate Factory in downtown Raleigh, N.C., they were one of about 30 businesses nationwide that specialized in a particular variety of chocolate-making, known as bean-to-bar. Now, that number has swelled to 180.

Every animal that ends up on a euthanized “kill list” comes with a story of how they got there.  Sam, a Labrador mix, belonged to a family that fell on hard times and could no longer support him. Jasmine, a hound mix, was brought in as a stray and overstayed her welcome at the shelter. Families move, babies are born, veterinary bills mount and all the other events in life that make it difficult to care for pets result in the animals being dropped off at a shelter, where with each passing day without adoption, they face death.

In 2014, Luis Gonzalez had a moment when he realized his dreams might not materialize into the better life he had imagined. His job at a design studio in New York City was unfulfilling, he couldn’t find a new one and the city failed to deliver on its unspoken promise of opportunity.

The Flagler College Athletics Hall of Fame inducted its 13th class during May’s Alumni Weekend. The Flagler College Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 2004, and since then, 56 people and one team have been inducted, including this year’s class.

For Julianne Black, ‘98, writing and illustrating children’s books began with the simple experiences and inspirations of raising a 3-year-old daughter. Now, thanks to 3-D experiences like augmented reality books, Black’s passion for children’s storytelling is helping kids across the country.

As an eighth grader, Gareth Paul Cox, ‘07, would peer into his school library every morning on his way to homeroom and watch the other kids recording the CCTV school news. The experience would convince him to take a class in TV production, and the cinematographer hasn’t put a camera down since.

In environmental activism, you don’t win a lot. But defeat has never stopped St. Augustine activist Hunter Miller, who understands that the fights you do win count big.