Coming up on Pensacola State today, a new partnership immediately produces an American Magic success story and a new center brings a difference making impact for military veterans.

Plus happy faces and tears of joy.

Highlight two graduations.

A reenactment brings history to life on campus, and the college's top technology expert shares tips on cyber security.

Hello and welcome to Pensacola State today.

I'm Rebecca Vincent Leary, along with my co-host Steve Nissim.

In this episode, we highlight the student making the most of his new magic partnership and will experience the joys of graduation.

Plus valuable insight from the college's premier technology experts and a lot more.

But first, we start on the PSC campus with a huge boost for military veterans and their families.

The unveiling of a brand new facility where all their needs can be met.

There are so many good vibes at the grand opening of the Veterans and Military Families Service Center.

Many years in the making, this facility provides a central hub for resources and support earmarked for vets, active duty personnel and their families.

It's a population that has exploded at PSC, with over 1100 registered during the last two semesters alone.

The college has notably been recognized as being veteran friendly, but this dedicated space takes it to a whole new level.

The previous process for veterans and their family members was their getting bounced from office to office to office to get help with different aspects of what the center allows us to do is to take care of all of that in the same suite of rooms, but this space will be a hub for connection, mentorship, healing, and growth.

Whether it's a young student veteran finding their footing, or a military spouse navigating new challenges.

This center says you belong.

Through all the hard work and sacrifice of PSC students, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Graduation day.

The smiling faces proud families and nervous excitement were all on display at the spring commencement ceremony.

A special day for over 600 students receiving degrees.

Doctor Troy Tippett delivered an inspiring keynote address, and several retiring faculty and staff were honored.

But as always, it's all about walking across the stage to Doctor Meadows for that significant piece of paper and the fulfilled dreams it represents.

This evening, before I got dressed, I literally cried and was like praising God because it was a heart.

It heart shaped.

You know, things happen.

But to be able to get to this point and to graduate, it means everything to me.

The last four years have been rough.

You know, just pushing through school and everything in life in general.

But I feel like the outcome is going to be really good.

I mean, I'm here now.

I'm standing, I'm breathing.

I'm, I'm I'm excited.

That wasn't the only PSC graduation this spring.

The Charter Academy also celebrated the incredible achievements of its seniors.

The remarkable dual enrollment program for high school students held a spirited commencement ceremony inside.

Sri's Jean Paul Amos Performance Studio is the third class to graduate since the Charter Academy opened its doors in 2022.

The free program allows students to earn college credits simultaneously while working towards their high school diplomas.

Many of these scholars have already completed associate degrees as graduating 12th graders.

Over 40 of these impressive young people walk the stage filled with excitement and a spirit of accomplishment.

Very thankful for Charter Academy for blessing me with all the classes and the experience of being a student of Charter Academy that I wouldn't have if I went to regular high school.

I put a lot of hard work into this, a lot of studying, a lot of the stressful nights, staying up for finals and tests.

So it all paid off.

It means a lot and I'm really excited to see for my parents to see me walk the stage.

I know they're really proud of me.

I'm looking to do civil engineering and that's a bachelor's degree and I'm already two years into it.

So I'm really ahead of the game and an opportunity that only is provided here at Charter Academy.

American Magic is the nation's premier yacht racing team.

They're in the process of making Pensacola their permanent home in a new partnership with PSC is part of the plan.

It's already produced an inspiring success story.

American Magic's world class racing boats are training on Pensacola Bay, and their new headquarters is near completion.

Adding local employees is a priority, and the internationally respected organization turned to Pensacola State College.

President Ed Meadows talked to Meadows.

Is exactly what I say.

Pensacola is.

When we walk into a room and we present a problem, they always give us an answer.

And he was arms wide open.

The next step was working out the details of an internship program.

It became pretty apparent that we didn't have to reinvent something in order to satisfy their needs.

We already had programs at the college that existed that could support training the workers that they needed.

American magic is on the cutting edge of new technology, new material, and that's going to be phenomenal experience for our students, creating a pathway that students can be excited to come from Pensacola State out to American Magic.

Learn about what we're doing out here, what we're creating, you know, in the community, and then being able to see, okay, wow, there is another industry that I can be involved in in Pensacola, American Magic committed to bringing in two interns a month and held a career night at PSC to tell students about the opportunity.

And when they came and gave the talk and kind of saw it was all about, I was like, wow, this is this is really awesome.

Brayden soul had been working as a bartender and enrolled at Pensacola State seven years after graduating high school.

Wanting a better career path, he was intrigued by his mechanical design and fabrication program.

I always was really interested in like designing, making things.

I like to be challenged.

I wanted to see if I could learn more about that and really see where it would take me.

He's the type of student that comes to class, open minded, pays attention to details, and just makes it happen.

Braden's personality is something I can't teach his go get it attitude, and he had that naturally.

I was constantly harassing them about like, how do I do this?

Can I do that?

And, you know, they're always working with me and helping me to push push myself a little further.

In March, Braden was chosen to be American Magic's first PSC intern.

Bright and straight away, he clicked.

Obviously smart on their work side of it, but socially, he's also really good.

And I always say we can teach the talents here, but the personality and, you know, really the want to do something in the can do attitude comes from within and right has been fantastic.

Everyone kind of open their arms, took me in and made me feel like I was part of the team, which is really awesome.

You know, it's a sports team.

It's it's kind of awesome to be a part of that.

Braden learned advanced manufacturing, working with carbon fiber to craft parts for ships and aerospace composites.

After the six week internship was over, he was offered a full time job.

It's kind of dumbstruck.

I didn't really settle in right away.

I was just like, yeah, and I wasn't even really thinking about it.

I got in my car to go home and I called my fiance and I was like, hey, I got the job.

And then she was like, oh my gosh.

And I was like, then it started to fully settle and I was like, wow, actually, I'm going to be a part of this team.

It's been challenging, but in the best way possible.

I think I've learned a lot.

Taking the leap to Pensacola State had set him up to succeed in the program at PSC.

Really prepares you to, go into any like, machining environment and kind of be ready to roll.

We wanted to make sure that we were doing it right, and that is a definite success story that will help grow, recruit, and really encourage others to just take the opportunity.

If we can get into a position that by the end of next year, we had ten full time staff members that have all come through training at Pensacola State.

I would say that's a success.

I see the Pensacola State Partnership is a very vital point in American magic growing in Pensacola, even towards the end of the program.

Before they announced this internship, I didn't even think of this as a possibility.

So it's crazy where something can take you and you really put in your best effort and and a little bit of luck to.

History is coming to life on the Pensacola campus thanks to the creativity of the Humanities and Social Sciences department.

Students in Doctor Bryan Rucker's European history class experienced a dose of reality from the French Revolution.

That's because learning about the beheading of Marie Antoinette was taken to a whole new level with the reenactment of her execution via guillotine.

Students, volunteers and a brave mannequin staged a famous slice of history right in front of building 14.

Doctor Rucker added historical elements as a big crowd gathered to witness the spectacle.

The class also staged a reenactment in the fall, throwing mannequins out of the window to demonstrate the deep ministration of Prague.

Doctor Rucker says it's a creative way to spark interest in European history, which takes it out of a book or a dull documentary and makes it like, oh wow, this happened.

You got other people interested.

Instead of somebody saying, what's your name?

I'll take your class next semester so you get interested in so people remember that.

I honestly thought it was really cool.

I love historical reenactment.

It's very engaging.

I think it makes the experience far more memorable.

It's time for the president's Perspective with actor Ed Meadows.

Thanks again so much for spending some time with us.

Stephen, I appreciate the opportunity.

All right, so you recently opened the, Veterans and Military Family Service Center.

I know a lot went into that.

So how much of a priority was that and how were you able to accomplish getting that done?

Well, you know, the, the fact that for a very large number of years, we've been designated by two different agencies as military friendly, and this year just designated not only is military friendly, but military spouse friendly.

And I have to give Abe Clarke, our director of, Veterans Affairs, credit.

This was his vision that, to create a one not a one stop center, for, not only veterans, but their dependents so that, they could get a comprehensive, view in one place of where you start and where you finish.

All right, so you just had, spring graduation, over 600 students getting their diplomas.

You know, you've been through so many of these, you know, big day in their lives.

But for the president, what does it mean to you when they're coming to you to get their diploma?

Well, the fact that we, had, you know, over 1100, degrees and certificates conferred, I personally shook the hand of 900 of 596 students.

And, it's, it's the highlight of my year.

To be able to, look at happy faces.

And even if they're crying, it's happy tears.

It's a boost in everyone's morale to be able to see how students be successful and, to come like that with, a diploma or certificate.

And you also use that time to recognize other things at the school.

You know, that number of, long term employees, faculty that, that, that were retiring and, you know, you honor them during the ceremony and traditionally, you know, they, the grand marshal is someone that has dedicated a lot of years of service to Pensacola State.

And for that reason, we honored them, selecting them as the grand marshal and, and highlighting their career to, the audience and to the graduates and others.

That have, served the college for many years.

You know, Chef Langham, was our grand marshal, and, of course, he was retired from the military.

Came back as a student in our corner program, and then they ended up, teaching for us.

For a lot of years.

And, of course, that Tracy Peyton, our department head, who've been here over 28 years and and then, recently, Mr. Gillum, our vice president for veterans administrative services, announcing his retirement.

So it is a good opportunity to showcase, the, the service of employees who have, dedicated a lot of years, to, Pensacola State College.

All right.

It's summertime right now.

A lot of students maybe not thinking so much about education.

You know, they're taking some time off.

But what's your message to them?

The ones that will be coming back to PSC in the fall.

The ones that are becoming to start a PSC in the fall or ironically, the last three summers, our students have continued to stay enrolled.

You know, we, we are up over 40% over the last three years, and, summer is no exception.

We've got, close to 6000 students enrolled this summer.

But for those that are working this summer or taking vacation and or stopping out to take a breather, we, we hope to see them back in the fall.

Registered and pursuing their dream of, either a university transfer or a, technical program for the workforce, and, suspect that, since our retention rate is, almost 80, 87%.

That we will see, a huge number, flocking to our admissions office, in time to get registered for fall.

Of course, the president's job is never done.

But, what's what's what's your plans over the summer?

Well, we, we don't start, because of, you know, students taking a break.

We're here, the whole year.

However, if we can work on a little bit of vacation time, we certainly do that.

And, I've got, a son in Poland, in the military, and I think he's coming home, to visit as well as, some work at the farm and some, picking some call days for horseback riding.

Maybe.

Sounds like a good summer.

Sounds like it's, be, a busy time, as it usually is.

But, you know, the, the fact that it, it gets hot in the summer, is a blessing to me because I hate cold weather.

There you go.

Well, we appreciate your time, as always.

Thank you, Doctor Meadows.

Well, I appreciate the opportunity.

And, I look forward to viewing, the next episode.

All right.

That is your president's perspective.

Hello, everyone.

Have you ever received suspicious emails or other forms of unfamiliar correspondence?

These are common occurrences in our tech savvy world, and the decisions we make during these times can mean all the difference.

In Pensacola State College, we're tackling these issues with vigor.

Steve Whiting is executive director of technology operations at the college.

He's joining me now to discuss various facets of information security that can benefit everyone.

Welcome.

Thank you for the invite, Doctor Larry.

All right, so the million dollar question, what is information security and why is it such a big deal at Pensacola State College?

Information security is protecting confidential and sensitive information from unauthorized access, misuse, or damage.

The college receives a vast amount of sensitive and confidential data every day.

Virtually every department uses it.

Many departments gather it, and a lot of departments then maintain it.

Our information security program is built upon three pillars confidentiality, integrity and accessibility.

So confidentiality means that those with access as can only access the data that they need to perform the job.

Integrity means the data is trustworthy.

And then accessibility are those users are able to access the data whenever they need it, wherever they need it.

If any one of those three elements are compromised, then it keeps the college from performing our mission.

Understood.

And I know as employees here at Pensacola State College, we receive no before security tips via email.

They discuss various scams per se, and I'm really appreciative of that, Steve, because it really keeps us on guard in a good way.

It does.

So the college is a prime target.

All colleges are prime targets.

Basically, for the nature of who we are.

We have open access and we have a collaborative environment.

So those notices that we get from our part they inform us of the threats that come.

They include phishing, right.

Mainly from those emails.

And, bad actors are, trying to entice us to give our credentials away.

It can come with social engineering, where they actually call us or text us, trying to get us to do the same.

Some threats can be internal.

They can just be mistakes.

We send the email to the wrong person.

That can happen.

It can.

And so sensitive information rarely, but unfortunately it can be malicious.

And so we have to be cognizant of that as well.

And then the one that gets all the headlines is ransomware.

And so that is when a bad actor gets access internally and then blocks us from accessing our own systems.

So these threats are constantly evolving and we have to be diligent.

A great example via email that we receive was a scam regarding multi-factor authentication.

That's just one example, but can you provide us with another a scenario per se where they will send you a link?

And you go to a form thinking that either, your access is going to be cut off or you need to update your banking information and so on that form.

You're providing your credentials, thinking that you're using a college resource and you're not.

We're ahead of the curve in Pensacola State College.

But I'm curious.

What steps has a college taken to protect students and employees?

So we have a multi, layered or a tiered approach to information security.

I'll kind of start internal and work external.

So internally we try to keep the bad actors out.

So we have a very robust firewall in the threat protection system there.

Our users are required to multi-factor authenticate, to a right decision, to their username and password.

Should a bad actor get in?

We have detection on our endpoints.

We have automation and response.

Related to that.

Regular security awareness training, as you mentioned before.

And I love it.

It's a primary tool that we have of informing our users of what to look out for.

And so we do that for our faculty and staff.

Our students get periodic information on that as well.

We have data encryption.

Should a device get lost or stolen?

It's encrypted in transit and at rest.

And then we have data loss protection tools for those accidental transmissions or even those that are malicious to help us alert on that.

All right.

Some might say information security is a two way street.

Let me paint a scenario for you under shared responsibility.

Let's say someone sets their password at password.

So passwords.

Strength.

How important is that?

Well, we do have some tools to prevent our users from doing that.

But everyone has a role on our information security team.

So I'll give you a a few key things individuals can do, to help us.

And one is strong password security.

We all have a tendency to use our favorite password and reuse it.

And my request at our training meetings is, please don't do that with your Pensacola State, credentials.

Be very cautious of emails, links in them and attachments and only click the link or download the attachment if you're sure that it is something intended for you and it's a valid sender.

I mentioned our MFA.

Yeah.

You need to familiarize yourself.

If you change your device of how you change or migrate your multi-factor credentials, it's just like getting a new key for your home or your car.

Your multi-factor device is your key to access to our system.

And then know how to contact us if you're ever in doubt.

Reach out to our information security, our technology support staff, and they will advise you on the legitimacy of that love.

So we must be legally compliant as a college.

Are there any specific requirements that fall underneath that umbrella?

There are this, multitudes of legislation, and federal, federal and state.

So I'll highlight just a few of those.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act for APA.

Yes.

That protects our student education records.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

So HIPAA, that would be health records.

And we receive those, from the public at our health sciences.

And some of our services that are provided as well.

And so from the public and our employees, health records are governed by that.

And then the Gramm Leach Bliley act is a financial act, and it governs our financial aid and student financial services.

But in addition to these, we undergo regular, audits.

We maintain incident response plans, and we're prepared for those for any potential breaches.

Compliance isn't just about avoiding penalties, though.

Absolutely.

It's about building trust with our students, our faculty or staff and our community partners.

What are some important takeaways about information security?

Of course, we know not only for our employees here at Pensacola State College, but for anyone watching.

Well, information security is a shared responsibility.

All of us are members of our information security team.

We have great tools at the college.

Our administration has equipped us with that.

But technology and automations can only go so far.

They're only as good as our employees are.

I have some great staff that works for me.

They are, capable, competent, committed to protecting the information here at Pensacola State College.

Our people, our end users, are our first and our best, tool, protecting our information.

And so together, we can create a safe and secure learning environment at Pensacola State.

And I tell you what, Steve, I have learned a lot.

And I know our viewing audience has as well.

Such a pleasure to have you on Pensacola State today.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

One of the big goals for most PSC athletes is the chance to keep competing in a four year program.

And so many pirates are landing those opportunity east at the end of the spring semester.

PSC celebrated 13 student athletes signing scholarships with four year schools.

And they expect more talent opportunities over the summer.

Five sports were represented and six of the athletes hooked on with Division one programs.

Three from women's basketball Jayden McDonnell to Wichita State.

Talia Kemp with Mercer and Adriana Benson to UCF.

Dimitri Clark from men's basketball is going to the University of Massachusetts.

Baseball is Mateo Porras, signed with Troy and Mason a not with Marshall.

A proud moment for the entire athletic department.

Our job is to, help these, student athletes grow and develop, mature on and off the field, in the classroom, in the community.

These student athletes that represent us today are a great example of the student athletes that we have here.

It's pretty exciting to watch the growth and the development that takes place over the the two years or sometimes the single year that they're here.

And it's equally as exciting to watch what they do when they move on and go other places.

All right, Steve, that does it for another jam packed episode.

But there are so many more stories to tell.

Look for a new episode of Pentacles day to day, every month.

Thanks for watching.

This.