2008 – PRESENT, PRESIDENT C. EDWARD MEADOWS
Under Dr. Meadows’ tenure, 7,814 donors have given $41,137,805.01 to the College. The average gift from these donors was $5,264.63. The top 15 donors to this point in Dr. Meadows’ tenure have made 204 gifts to support the College. The total of their giving equates to $11,418,991.75 for an average gift value of $761,266.12.
Following a national search, C. Edward “Ed” Meadows was selected as Pensacola Junior College’s sixth president and began leading the College in June 2008. Meadows had previously served as president of Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Alabama.
NASA astronaut and PJC alumnus Alan Poindexter took a specially minted, gold PJC medallion with him on a 5.3 million mile Atlantis space shuttle mission in February 2008. In June, he presented the medallion to President Meadows and College officials.
In 2008, the Foundation hosts the inaugural Holiday Grand Gala celebrating 60 years of learning. The gala would transition to the Holiday Experience to showcase the PSC student experience in 2015.
In 2009, the PSC Foundation hosted the inaugural Garde Manger as an opportunity for Culinary students to share their skills with President Circle donors who attend this event as a Thank You for their support.
In August 2009, the Edward M. Chadbourne Library was dedicated after a $9 million renovation and expansion. The spacious facility was named in honor of Ed Chadbourne, a PJC alumnus, who through the Chadbourne Foundation gifted more than $700,000 for student scholarships that were matched by the State of Florida to create the largest endowed scholarship held at the College Foundation.
In 2009, the Foundation hosted the inaugural Day of Clays fundraiser with Ferd Saloman as the honorary Day of Clays chair.
In December 2009, the Hobbs Center for Teaching Excellence was dedicated on the Pensacola Campus. During the ceremony, Pensacola Junior College President Ed Meadows and University of West Florida President Judy Bense signed a partnership allowing UWF students to join PJC students in benefiting from the state-of-the-art facility. The Hobbs Center, created through a $1 million gift, benefits adult education students as well as students enrolled in college-credit classes in order to become teachers.
In 2012 PSCF hosted its first guided quail hunt at Dennis Lake. This friend raiser was presented by Chair Gerry Goldstein to the Board to cultivate current and new prospects.
PSC welcomed the opening of a stunning 13,500-square-foot facility to house the PACE Center for Girls in fall 2013 – the only PACE Center in Florida located on a college campus.
In 2014, the Friends of Performing Arts “FOPA” membership group was founded.
The Lamar, Reilly, and Switzer families presented a $1 million gift for construction of the Charles W. Lamar Studio at PSC’s Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts.
In June 2015, the Molly McGuire Culinary Arts Dining Room and endowed scholarship was dedicated in memory of Molly McGuire, a beloved restaurateur known for her unmatched hospitality.
In 2016, dental hygiene faculty member Donna Mathias was awarded the Margaret Moore Nickelsen Endowed Teaching Chair.
In 2016, Dr. Marjan Mazza donates $250,000 to help support students pursuing baccalaureate degrees in business at Pensacola State College. Her donation endows a scholarship in Dr. Mazza’s name. Dr. Mazza serves as a mentor by interviewing candidates for the scholarship that students pursue while enrolled in the various majors in the Dr. Marjan Mazza Baccalaureate in Business and Management.
In 2016, dental hygiene faculty member Barbara Tarwater was awarded the Mary Ekdahl Smart Endowed Teaching Chair.
In February 2018, the Charles W. Lamar Studio at the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts opened with a grand celebration to thank the Lamar, Reilly, and Switzer families for their continued support of Pensacola State. Their generous donations allowed Pensacola State’s Visual Arts center to become the preeminent art gallery and institutional facility in Northwest Florida.
In 2018, the Friends of Culinary Arts “FOCA” membership group was founded.
In August 2018, the late Carl Duke, former head of Pensacola State’s Visual Arts department, bequeathed a sizable portion of his art collection to the College. More than 400 pieces were donated to Pensacola State with the stipulation the artwork be used to help visual arts students further their education. Pieces from the collection were available during the Bill Clover Memorial Auction held in October in the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts.
In August 2018, Pensacola State College Foundation launched the second comprehensive campaign in the College’s history to raise funds for Workforce, Scholarships, Fund for Excellence and a Conference Center.
The lead donor to the campaign in 2018 was Gulf Power Foundation that pledged $150,000 to help found the PSC Nonprofit Center for Excellence and Philanthropy.
In August 2018, Pensacola State College received nearly $40,000 to help students pay for the cost of higher education. A majority of the scholarship dollars ─ $27,220 ─ were donated by Florida Blue, the Helios Education First Generation Scholars program, and Bank of America’s Dream Makers First Generation Scholars program.
In November 2018, ground was broken for the $15 million east wing of the Baars Technology Building which houses the College’s cybersecurity program and the mathematics lab. Both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties donated to help provide the local match required to meet State eligibility guidelines for funding.
In December 2018, the Gulf Power Foundation pledged $150,000 to Pensacola State College to help establish training for nonprofit organizations’ professional staffs and boards. The first $30,000 donation will be used to develop Certified Fund Raising Executive courses on funding diversification, board development, grant writing, comprehensive campaigns, and donor-centered proposals and presentations.
Former trustee, Dona Usry and her husband Milton Usry donated $100,000 to establish an endowed scholarship to support accounting students. The College dedicated the Dona and Milton Usry Board Room in building 7 in their honor.
In January 2019, painting and drawing faculty member Paula Work was awarded the Anna Lamar Switzer Endowed Teaching Chair.
In 2019, former Escambia County Commission Gene Valentino and his wife Maureen gift a property and cash valued at $270,000 to help launch an entrepreneurship program at the College. The College dedicated the Gene and Maureen Valentino Lecture Hall in their honor in 2020.
In 2019, Ron and Jan Miller name the College as the beneficiary of a $2.4M Charitable Remainder Unitrust and become the Lead Gift for the College’s Comprehensive Campaign.
In 2019, PSC Foundation receives $50,000 from the Martin Family, McGuires Management Corporation and Irish Politicians Club members. The endowed scholarship named for Molly McGuire Culinary Arts students becomes a $300,000 endowment. Founder of the Irish Politician’s Club, James R. Reeves and members of the Martin family commit to raise the Molly McGuire Culinary Arts Scholarship to $500,000 by 2023.
In the face of a pandemic, PSC students struggle to continue their education and program of study, so the Foundation launches a student relief fund and receives $79,000 in gifts to help students pay for essentials like food, utilities and rent.
Challenges tied to virtual fundraising result in the implementation of rewarding virtual meet and greets between student scholarship recipients and the donors providing support.
In December 2020, the inaugural Change Maker Program encouraged more than $175,000 in donations made toward scholarships for Pensacola State College students. The fundraising program was the brainchild of the Prices who are major supporters of the College’s annual Holiday Experience that was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. To help bolster scholarships for students who had lost jobs and incomes due to the pandemic they founded the Change Maker program with a $100,000 gift. The goal of $50,000 in additional donations was exceeded as local philanthropists and business partners stepped up to provide another $75,000 in gifts.
The Foundation received its last gift of 2020 from Donald McMahon III, a governor emeritus. Mr. McMahon continued his commitment and leadership by giving $127,500 toward his $250,000 pledge to support students pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity and closely related fields.
On Feb. 26, 2021, 11 Pensacola State College students received African-American Memorial Endowment or Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins “Live Your Dream” scholarships. The 2021 African-American Memorial Endowment Scholarship recipients were Lecia Bradley, Ashley Buskey, Paris Guy, Nkyquashia Mitchell and Keyaundra Mobley. The 2021 Dr. Garrett T. Wiggins “Live Your Dream” Scholarship recipients were Nevaeh Anderson-Polk, Daniel Haile, Lakisha Jones, Nicole Lyons, Caleb Manassa and Xavier Sapp.
On April 28, 2021, the Cantonment Rotary Club awarded scholarships to 18 PSC students.
Music students – Amanda Duffey, Carlos Lopez, Lauren Mills and Lacie Scholz were awarded $1,000 Ike and Carolyn Hicks Terry Music Endowed Scholarships.
Recipients of the $1,500 Ted Ciano Vocational Endowed Scholarship were Leon Dobbins II and Devon Luallen, both engineering technology-advanced manufacturing majors; Dominic Watson, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning student; and Dalton Alewine, a welding technology major.
Layton Davis, an architectural design and construction technology major; Briana Esterberg, a nursing student; Alexis Faller, a graphic design major; and Casey Taylor, a radiology student; were awarded $600 Vocational I Endowed Scholarships.
Recipients of the $500 Vocational II Endowed Scholarships were Carolyn Lungaro, business major Keshia Dunklin, health services management major Coby Myers and graphic technology student Autumn Notley.
Paralegal Studies students Sarah Dawson and Alyssa Vasquez each received $500 Legal Assistant Endowed Scholarships.
On May 4, 2021, Pensacola State College unveiled the state-of-the-art Donald McMahon III Center for Cybersecurity, which is housed in the Baars Technology Building.
The Center for Cybersecurity was named for McMahon, a Pensacola businessman and philanthropist, in appreciation and recognition of his $250,000 donation to PSC to support students enrolled in the cybersecurity program or closely-related fields of study.
On May 7, 2021, the 15th Annual Big Break Golf Classic raised more than $27,500 to support the College’s greatest needs. The event was held at Marcus Pointe Golf Club.
On May 18, 2021, the College announced plans to open a dual-enrollment charter school at the Warrington campus for military dependents and at-risk students.
The proposed opening date for the Pensacola State College Charter School is August 2022. The Gulf Power Foundation presented the College with a $100,000 leadership gift that will fund a state-of-the-art Technology Innovation Center at the school, which will be open to 10th– through 12th-grade students.
In Summer 2021, the Margie and Alan Moore Endowed Scholarship was established as part of the College’s Your Community, Your Legacy campaign. Throughout their lives, the Moores have worked with and supported organizations that help open the doors of education for young people, including Margie Moore’s work as past president of the Pensacola State College Foundation Board of Governors and current chair of the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees. The couple also has worked closely with Pace Center for Girls for many years and will first offer this scholarship to eligible Pace Center for Girls graduates.
On Aug. 17, 2021, Pensacola builder Amir Fooladi established a scholarship to help PSC students hoping to enter the construction field. Open to students enrolled in the College’s carpentry, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, drafting design and similar programs, the scholarship also will help supply Northwest Florida with more construction trade employees.
Fooladi’s initial gift was $13,500, with $1,000 of that immediately awardable to two students who received scholarships in Spring 2021 semester. The Alumni Association matched the remainder — $12,500 — to establish the current $25,000 endowment fund.
On Sept. 27, 2021, Central Credit Union of Florida pledged $100,000 over a five-year period to the Pensacola State College Athletics Department.
The gift will benefit the College’s six athletic programs – baseball, softball, men and women’s basketball, cross-country and volleyball.
On Oct. 2, 2021, the 10th Annual Day of Clays Event presented by TRANE was the most successful shoot to date. More than $110,000 was raised with all proceeds directly supporting Pensacola State College students and programs.
On Oct. 7, 2021, Pensacola State College recognized donors who have committed more than $750,000 toward the planned PSC Conference and Training Center.
The approximately 13,000-square-foot planned conference and training center will house student activities such as job fairs and provide meeting space for seminars and workshops. Also, the facility will provide meeting space for the College’s Nonprofit Center for Excellence training program and community organizations.
On Dec. 7, 2021, the Pensacola State College Foundation announced the establishment of the Escambia High School (EHS) Alumni Scholarship in Memory of Deborah Poe Milam with a $5,000 gift from the EHS Class of 1970 and a $1,000 gift from Willie Ray Milam Jr., in loving honor of his wife.
Deborah Poe Milam was a businesswoman and leader in the banking industry for more than 40 years. She was also a community leader.
On Dec. 10, 2021, the College honored donors who helped students earn an education at the second annual Change Makers – Expanding Possibilities reception.
The event celebrated $2.8 million in new gifts and commitments to PSC that with matches and endowments, equal a $3.8 million impact. The Change Makers program was created in 2020 by Jo-Ann and Michael Price, who had hosted the College’s annual Holiday Experience.
During the inaugural Change Makers program in 2020, the Prices contributed $100,000 for scholarships and challenged others to gift the College with donations of $10,000 or more. Community members responded and the fundraiser brought in more than $175,000.
In 2021 – The Foundation publicly announces reaching the 1/2 way point in an $11M comprehensive campaign.
In 2021, PSCF celebrated the tenth anniversary of the annual Quail Hunt. Supporters who have attended Foundation Quail Hunt every year since it started include: Gulf Power Company, Dr. James Balcom and Dr. Dale Zorn.
In February 2022, PSC Board of Trustees chairman and retired neurosurgeon Dr. Troy Tippett established the Tippett Family Endowed Chair in Science, Technology and Mathematics at the College.
On April 11, 2022, the Educational Opportunity Center was renamed the Eldon L. Norman Educational Opportunity Center.
On April 27, 2022, more than 30 PSC students received a share of $40,000 in Cantonment Rotary Club scholarships.
In April 2022, the College’s “Your Community—Your Legacy” capital campaign raised $12.6 million – surpassing the $11 million goal.
On June 8, 2022, ground was broken on Phase II of Pensacola State College’s STEM facility ─ the Bear, Jones, Moore, and Reeves Center for Math and Advanced Technology. The building’s name pays tribute to four local families – the Bear Family Foundation, Jo and Bill Jones, the late Pete Moore Family and Jim Reeves ─ who collectively donated $1 million to fund STEM-related scholarships at the College.
In June 2022, Jim Reeves was named a PSC Foundation Fellow in honor of his significant support of the College.
In June 2022, Dr. Paul Szuch, Gerry Goldstein, Marie Young, Gregg Beck and Mary Hoxeng were named PSC Distinguished Alumni Association Award recipients.
On Oct. 1, 2022, the 11th Annual Day of Clays was held, raising over $125,000 in support of PSC.
In October 2022, the Molly McGuire Endowed Culinary Arts Scholarship principal reached the $500,000 mark when McGuire’s Restaurant Irish Politicians Club donated $32,000.
On Jan. 19, 2023, PSC partnered with HCA Florida West Hospital to launch a Nurse Explorer Boot Camp. HCA Florida West Hospital donated $50,000 to the College to establish the boot camp on the Warrington campus.
On Jan. 24, 2023, the Florida Power and Light Company Innovation Center in the Pensacola State College Charter Academy was dedicated on the Warrington campus. Funded by a $100,000 donation from Florida Power and Light, the Innovation Center will provide Charter Academy students with the opportunity to have cutting-edge technology at their fingertips.
On Feb. 2, 2023, the College renamed the EMT and Paramedic Classroom on the Warrington campus in honor of Dr. Marie M. Diamond who took the EMT course at Pensacola Junior College. Her son, Joe Diamond, was the instructor at the time. Dr. Diamond earned her GED at age 31, taught school for more than 30 years – retiring at age 70. She went on to earn her doctorate degree at age 77. The room rededication was spearheaded by First Responders Committee members.