Tallahassee Community College

Eight Tallahassee Community College students have been named to the All-Florida Academic Team for their outstanding scholarship, leadership and contributions to the community. The 2021 All-Florida Academic Team consists of 137 students from the 28-member Florida College System that includes Eastern Florida. The students were nominated by their colleges and selected based on high achievement in the classroom, leadership on campus and community service. TCC's 2021 All-Florida Academic Team includes: Timothy Collins Guilandia Aristilde Amber Collinsworth Letricia Hodge Romell Stone Terelle Thomas Zakaila Tillman Chelsea Wyatte The Florida College System honored students on April 23 during a Virtual 2021 All-Florida Academic Team Awards Ceremony. The Florida awards are part of the All-USA Academic Team competition sponsored by the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. All-Florida Academic Team students are eligible for additional scholarship opportunities at Florida universities and are considered for scholarships sponsored by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, ranging in value from $1,000 - $5,000, which can be used to continue their education anywhere in the nation.

Last weekend, 13 members of the TCC Speech and Debate Team captured Overall Team Sweepstakes Award at the Florida Intercollegiate Forensic Association 2021 State Championship. In doing so, they bested all of the major university programs in the state including: the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of South Florida, and the University of West Florida. TCC last won the title in 2017.

Several students with the TCC Forensics Team were recognized by the Florida College System Activites Association (FCSAA) for their debate performances at the FCSAA Forensics State Tournament. The College received first place in the categories of debate overall results; individual event overall results and overall championship results.

TCC's literary and art magazine, the Eyrie, earned a Silver Medalist Critique from Columbia Scholastic Press Association, along with eight awards in the Florida College System Publications Association annual competition. Winning first-place in three categories: the Eyrie's cover, designed by Michael Hagan; Stevie Maxwell's nonfiction piece (published under Autumn Maxwell), "Uncle Tom"; the poems of students Jaazy Ali, Brenna Smith, and Peter Hagood for Poetry. The work of Sarah Forner and Regine Joseph earned second-place for Staff Page, and the Eyrie also took home three third-place awards: Jaazy Ali's poem, "Insomnia"; Sean Cain's artwork, "Rescue"; Sarah Forner for Editing.

Tallahassee Community College's Model United Nations (TCC MUN) team recently participated in the National Model United Nations virtual conference in Washington, DC. This was the second virtual conference the TCC MUN team has completed this semester, and their growing experience in this virtual form of academic collaboration showed once again. Nine TCC students worked with over 400 delegates from 40 different colleges and universities across the world. Those nine TCC students won a Distinguished Delegation award in recognition of their work at the conference. The TCC MUN team is led this year by President Jeanie Morrison, and Vice President Sean Rutten. They were joined at the conference by TCC students Camille Beauchamp, Joseph Davis, Alaina Eyler, Jackelyn Feliciano, Jamey Harvey, McKenzie Kidd, and Kaitlyn Stroud.

TCC Model UN recently sworn in new leaders. Dixie Johnston - President Jeannie Morrison - Vice President Sean Rutten - Secretary TCC Model UN's purpose of this student lead organization to facilitate a better understanding of international decision-making. Through participation in regional and international conferences, where they debate issues from the perspective of their chosen country, such as human rights, military conflicts, and international economics, students benefit from a greater awareness of international issues. This heightened awareness, along with a better understanding of the perspective of other nations in the world, also facilitates greater academic capabilities because of the necessary preparation.

The 2019 issue of TCC's award-winning literary and art magazine, the Eyrie, received several awards recently. The Community College Humanities Association's (CCHA) 2019 Literary Magazine Competition awarded the publication two second place awards, honoring Matty Lane for Best Artwork in the Southern Region for her artwork "Expression," and Eric Gutowski for Best Photography in the Southern Region, for the photograph titled "Daydream." The Eyrie also received a Gold Medalist Certificate from The Columbia Scholastic Press Association, out of Columbia University's annual magazine critique.

In March, 10 members of the TCC Speech and Debate Team traveled to Berry College in Rome, Ga. to compete at the Novice National Forensics Association 2020 National Championships. The team proved once again that they are one of the strongest forensics programs in the country. The squad from TCC outpaced other universities and colleges from around the country, winning both the Open Division Title and the Division 1 Title. Other notable schools in attendance included strong programs from University of Alabama, Bowling Green State University, Belmont University and dozens of others. The win was built on a strong collective effort by all team members. "Winning this title was one of the proudest moments of my life," stated Zachary Boltz. "I can honestly say that I'll never forget this." Boltz was recognized as the top individual speaker in the country, winning Pentathlon for cumulative overall points. Boltz advanced five events to finals, capturing national titles in both Slam Poetry and Duo Interpretation with Faith MacGregor. MacGregor, who will be stepping up as team captain next year, displayed leadership in action by advancing six events to finals and placing fourth in Pentathlon. "After spending months rehearsing and memorizing our speeches it felt so amazing to stand up there and be recognized as national champions with all of my teammates and friends," said MacGregor. The team had a number of other national champs and runners-up. Zira Brown brought home the national title in After Dinner Speaking, was national runner-up in Slam Poetry and placed fifth in Pentathlon. Madison Reed was national runner-up in Program Oral Interpretation and advanced three events to finals. Patrick Sternad was also the national runner-up in Informative Speaking. Other impressive performances were turned in by the remaining team members Hannah MacGregor (five events in finals), Noah Pajenga (three events in finals), Maggie Barde (one event in finals), Isela Flores and Ian Mogollon. To cap the tournament, the team won the national title in Readers' Theatre through the collective effort from the MacGregor sisters, Sternad, Boltz, Reed and Brown. "This is one of the most remarkable teams I've ever had the good fortune of coaching," said Theatre Professor and Director of Forensics John Schultz. "All season they pushed each other and supported each other. The process allowed them to tap into the depth and breadth of their talent. We needed the contribution of every single person to capture the title. It is one of the best experiences I've had working with this program in the past 28 years."

TCC students apart of the College's award-winning literary and art magazine, the Eyrie, ventured out into the community to share short stories, poems and art featured in this year's publication at the Midtown Reader.

Sixteen students from Tallahassee Community College (TCC) recently traveled to New York City to attend the National Model United Nations (NMUN), the oldest and largest intercollegiate Model United Nations conference in the world. They joined nearly 6,000 students coming from nearly 50 countries in New York to participate in the simulation from April 14 to the 18. The students met for those five days to discuss important issues facing the international community, endeavoring to overcome the obstacles diplomats face when addressing them.

During the Word of South festival, students a part of TCC's award-winning literary and art magazine, the Eyrie, read prose and poetry and showcased art and photography. Presented pieces were: "Vermeer Study Over a Japanese Kimono Pattern," by Yasuko Miyamoto (art work) "Natural Beauty" by Sarah Schaper (photograph) "The Great Equalizer" by Natalie Etheridge (fiction) "Don't Ever Wanna" by Chinye're (poetry) "If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say" by Aubin Ellis (nonfiction)

Tallahassee Community College's Art and Literary Magazine, Eyrie, has been ranked as Excellent in the 2018 NCTE Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) Program. The mission of the REALM Program is to publicly recognize excellent literary magazines produced by students with the support of their teachers. REALM is designed to encourage all schools to develop literary magazines that celebrate the art and craft of writing. Congratulations to Faculty Advisor Nicolette Costantino and the students who put their heart and soul into this beloved publication.

Tallahassee Community College's two student media publications continued their tradition of excellence by bringing home five awards from the Florida College System Publications Association annual conference in Tampa in January. The Eyrie student art and literary magazine won one a first place award for Best Staff Page. Tierry Janvier's "Mahogany" won third place for Poem, and the design talents of Alexa Patton and William Lamont won third place for Two-Page Spread Design. The Talon student newspaper received awards in two categories. Katherine Booker won a third place award in the Feature Photo category. The staff won third place for its website. Nicolette Costantino, associate professor of English, advises the Eyrie staff. Reggie Grant, assistant professor of journalism, is adviser for the Talon.