Education Notes – 3/3/23
Dougherty participates in study abroad program at the University of Scranton
SCRANTON, Pa. — Conor J. Dougherty of Cape Coral was among the 124 University of Scranton students who studied abroad during the Intersession 2023 semester. Dougherty, a neuroscience major at Scranton participated in the university travel course, Irish Political Culture.
The University of Scranton is a Jesuit university located in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Visit scranton.edu.
Viles & Beckman offering scholarship
Fort Myers law firm Viles & Beckman have announced a new academic scholarship for one deserving student. The Community Growth Scholarship offers a $2,500 award to one winner who either currently attends or has been accepted to attend an accredited college, university, or graduate school.
The scholarship asks students to write a 1,000-word essay on the following topic: What does your community mean to you?
The essay should discuss the student’s commitment to his/her school and the larger community. It should include examples of ways the student has benefited from and helped enrich the communities in which they are involved. This can include helping those who are injured or in need of assistance, volunteer work, tutoring, etc.
The deadline to apply for the Community Growth Scholarship is June 15, 2023.
For more information or to schedule coverage, contact David Kastan using the details above.
Headquartered in Fort Myers, Viles & Beckman is a personal injury law firm that represents people who have been injured or harmed by the actions or negligence of others. The firm handles cases that span the gamut of personal injury claims, including car accidents, slip and fall injuries, premises liability, product liability, burns from defective products, nursing home abuse, and more. The attorneys at Viles & Beckman have over four decades of legal experience and are dedicated to advocating for their clients as if each and every client was an immediate family member.
FSW observes Dr. Talbot Spivak Holocaust Memorial Week March 6-10
Florida SouthWestern State College will observe Dr. Talbot Spivak Holocaust Memorial Week, March 6-10, with a series of events that focus on the theme “Indoctrination” at the FSW Thomas Edison Campus, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers. Events are free and open to the public.
As part of the event series, at 5 p.m., Monday, March 6, a free screening of the film “JoJo Rabbit” will be held in Building J, Room 103, at the FSW Lee Campus. At 7 p.m., following the screening, author Dr. Christine Leunens will host a Zoom discussion about her book “Caging Skies,” the novel that inspired “JoJo Rabbit.”
Dr. Leunens attended high school in Cape Coral and studied French literature in Paris after graduation. She went on to earn her master’s degree in English and American Literature from Harvard University and her doctorate from Victoria University of Wellington.
Additionally, local Holocaust survivors and children of local survivors will speak about their experiences, and FSW faculty and local historians will hold lectures on related topics.
A full event schedule and Zoom links are available at fsw.edu/holocaust.
For more information, email Sara Gottwalles at segottwalles@fsw.edu.
Kerr joins Hodges University
Hodges University president, Dr. John Meyer, this week announced that Adrian Kerr has joined as a vice president.
In his role, he will lead multiple workforce and quick training initiatives at Hodges University. The programs offered will align with the workforce needs of the Southwest Florida region. He will be working with organizations of all sizes to offer training that will provide their employees with the additional knowledge and skills needed to advance their careers. Studies have shown that one of the most effective ways to retain employees is to offer professional development.
Kerr brings more than 12 years of experience working directly with the state of Florida, local employers, and CaereerSource SWFL in the area of continuing professional education.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in management and engineering from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. Currently, he serves as a director on the Workforce Board. He has also published two books, “Ancient Egypt and the US,” and “KV 63 the New Tomb in the Valley of the Kings.”
Hodges University, a regionally accredited, private nonprofit institution founded in 1990, prepares students to leverage higher learning in their personal, professional, and civic endeavors. With over 14,000 graduates, Hodges is recognized for developing programs uniquely designed and delivered to serve a diverse adult learner population. With a campus in Fort Myers, Florida, Hodges provides flexible day, evening, and online classes taught by world-class faculty for undergraduate and graduate degrees. Hodges is also the first Hispanic-serving institution in the region and is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). More information about Hodges University is available at Hodges.edu.
13 DDWS conservation scholarships available
The application deadline is March 31 for 13 scholarships amounting to more than $20,000 from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge. Ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each, the scholarships are available to high school seniors, college students and graduate students in or from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties pursuing degrees in environmental-related studies.
This year’s named scholarships include the following: Richard Bailey Scholarship, Mike and Terry Baldwin Scholarship, Dr. Andrew and Laura Dahlem Scholarship, Dr. H. Randall Deming Scholarship for Conservation and Environmental Studies, “Ding” Darling Conservation Scholarship, Hans and Leslie Fleischner Scholarships (two scholarships), The Mary Elaine Jacobson Memorial Scholarship, Win & Marilyn Kloosterman Scholarship, Barry & Francine Litofsky Scholarship, Tarpon Bay Explorers Scholarship and Jane Werner Environmental Scholarships (two scholarships)
DDWS will award the scholarships at a special ceremony at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island in June 2023, if hurricane recovery efforts allow.
Now in its 17th year, the DDWS scholarship program presented its first awards in 2006, donated by Tarpon Bay Explorers, the refuge’s official recreation concession. To date, the program has awarded more than $233,000.
Interested students can find more information and printable application forms HERE.
To learn more about the scholarship program and establishing a permanently endowed scholarship, contact Birgie Miller at 239-292-0566 or director@dingdarlingsociety.org.