You are Invited! to the PEL Writers in Paradise Pre-Event Party on January 14

Join us for an evening celebrating writing!

When: January 14, 2017 from 5:30 - 7 p.m.


Where: Cobb Gallery (at the end of the loop drive just past Franklin Templeton building)


Who: YOU! All PEL people are invited

What: Celebrating PEL Authors at a Writers in Paradise Pre-Party / Recognizing Writing Instructors and Tutors

PEL people are invited to a Writers in Paradise Pre-Conference PEL Reception  from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Cobb Gallery. This year's theme is Celebrating PEL Authors, and many of our PEL alumni and current students will be displaying fiction and non-fiction books, newspaper and magazine articles, poems, plays, and other material they have published. We also will be recognizing PEL writing instructors and tutors through the years for their part in shaping PEL students as writers . . . and thereby shaping the larger world.

Attend the FREE Writers in Paradise opening keynote lecture after the Pre-Party

Poet Richard Blanco

January 14, 2017 is the opening day of the Writers in Paradise week-long workshop. All evening readings are FREE and open to the public. Readings begin at 8 p.m. in Miller Auditorium; refreshments are available beginning at 7:30 p.m. and book signings follow each speaking event.

We will wind down the PEL Pre-Party around 7 and will mosey on over to Miller Auditorium to get seats for the lecture.
Scheduled to speak are:

• Saturday, January 14: Keynote Speaker is poet Richard Blanco
• Sunday, January 15: David Yoo and Laura Lippman
• Monday, January 16: Fabienne Josaphat and Andre Dubus III
• Tuesday, January 17: Denise Duhamel, Stewart O'Nan and Helen Wallace
• Wednesday, January, 18: (free day, no reading scheduled)
• Thursday, January 19: Les Standiford and Ann Hood
• Friday, January 20: Sterling Watson, Major Jackson and Peter Meinke
• Saturday, January 21: Closing speaker, Lan Samantha Chang

PEL authors invited to display/read work -- reservation form here

PEL authors of any and all genre are invited to display their work and to be considered for a short reading during the event. For more information and a display reservation form, click here.
Please note that the deadline to reserve space is January 5, 2017.

Spring Scholarship Applications Due January 4

If you would like to be considered for a PEL scholarship, the deadline to submit your application for Spring 2017 is Wednesday, January 4, 2017.

Only two things are required for the application:

• You must have a 2016-2017 FAFSA on file with the Eckerd College code (001487) in order to be considered.
• You must complete the application, which includes an essay portion, and return it to PEL Executive Director Amanda Hagood at hagoodca@eckerd.edu by January 4th. You may also fax (Attn: Amanda Hagood, 727-864-8422) or hand deliver your application. You may access the application and essay prompt here.

The PEL Scholarship Committee will notify via email students receiving awards before the first week of classes (the week of January 9th).

Be aware, too, that there are many opportunities for external scholarships funded by for-profit, non-profit, and state or national organizations. Check out PEL's Financial Aid page for links and information.

What criteria are considered in awarding PEL scholarships?

PEL scholarships are derived from a number of different funds (see more about this below), and each fund has different criteria to consider. In awarding scholarships, the committee works to make the best possible match between each applicant and available funds. Some scholarships, for instance, are intended to help adults who have been out of school for several years reenroll. Others are awarded to support students within a specific major (or majors) or students from a particular geographic area (such as Sarasota). Some are designated for single parents, and some can be awarded to any applicant. In every case, the committee considers both the academic performance and the financial need of the applicant.

Where do PEL scholarship funds come from?

PEL scholarships come from a wide variety of different sources. The Bernard Osher Foundation, which provides post-secondary scholarship funding to students, endowed a Reentry Scholarship for PEL students meant to assist those who are beginning or continuing their studies after a cumulative gap of five years or more spent outside of college study. (The Osher Foundation also supports Eckerd's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute--one of over one hundred located across the nation--which offers non-credit courses and field trips for students age 50 years and older.)

Other scholarships were endowed by members of the College community. The PEL Pruitt Endowed Scholarship for Creative Arts was given by a beloved local philanthropist, Dr. Crayton Pruitt, to support students in creative writing, visual arts, or humanities. (Dr. Pruitt is also the father of PEL Creative Writing professor Helen Pruitt Wallace.) The Tom West Memorial Endowed Scholarship honors Professor J. Thomas West, who played a pivotal role in founding both the College and the Program for Experienced Learners. The Daniel P. and Mary E. Miller scholarship was given by distinguished PEL alumna and Eckerd Trustee Emerita Mary E. Miller to support promising students in the field of Human Development.

Beyond endowed scholarships, many alumni have supported the program by contributing to the PEL Annual Scholarship fund, which may be awarded to any PEL student with a strong academic record and financial need.

Will scholarships be available this summer?

Scholarship funds will be available for students taking classes in Summer 2017, and a limited number of scholarships will also be available to support students who need to take directed and independent studies in Fall 2017.

Alumni and friends of PEL can have a direct positive impact on students working to complete their degrees by contributing to the PEL Annual Fund. To make a contribution, visit eckerd.edu/giving. Once there, use the box marked "Other" to specify that you would like your contribution to go to the PEL Annual Fund. You can also contact Arielle Purcell, Director of Annual Giving, at purcelam@eckerd.edu or (727)-864-7711.

Questions?

Contact Amanda Hagood (727)-864-8366 with any questions regarding scholarship applications.

PEL-connected artists represented in Cobb Gallery Christmas Show

Above: l-r Watercolors by Linda Swindall, photography by Cal Brown '16, mixed-media monotypes by Emily Ayers Rideout, and weavings by Stella N. Anderson filled one wall and part of two others at the recent Nearly Annual Christmas Show and Sale in Cobb Gallery.

 Article and images by Anne W. Anderson

Artists with PEL connections contributed a good portion of the work displayed in the 2016 Nearly Annual Christmas Show and Sale in Cobb Gallery. The show ran Monday-Friday from December 5, through December 13, and a portion of the proceeds benefited the John Eckert Memorial Fund, which provides scholarships for visual art students.

Gallery manager Kirsten Ruginski said the works by PEL-connected artists ranged from watercolors to weavings and included work from a recent graduate and from current and former Eckerd College employees and instructors.

Below: The display included several watercolors by Linda Swindall, who worked at one time as the coordinator of special projects in PEL. 

Below: PEL graduate Betsy Orbe Lester '94, who became a PEL instructor and now is an adjunct with Eckerd College, provided these mixed-media works. 

 Below: Work by Stella N. Anderson, former assistant registrar for PEL, included ink paintings, handmade journals, and weavings.

 Below left: These mixed-media monotypes are the work of Emily Ayers Rideout, whose father was a PEL graduate (Daniel, '94) and whose mother was a long-time administrative assistant at PEL's Tampa Center.

Below right: The pottery creations are the work of Lin Jorgensen, who was PEL's enrollment manager for many years.


 

Below: The photographs below are the work of Cal Brown, '16, who graduated from PEL this past May. The porch scenes are from his senior project, Porch-traits.

 Anne W. Anderson is PEL's director of blended and online learning 

and is co-editor of The PEL Connector.

O, PEL Book Tree, O PEL Book Tree . . . how lovely are your covers!

Left: l-r Anne Anderson, Patti Cooksey, and Amanda Hagood gather 'round the PEL Book Tree.



From a Pinterest posting seen by Patti . . .




. . . layer by layer, the PEL Book Tree grew.

 Watch the slideshow here to see the tree grow as we added books from LLV, from many courses and disciplines, books from Quest, and topped it with a few films. The star? That was created from one of the PEL view books by PEL Executive Director Amanda Hagood. The snowflakes are hers, too! Who says we can't have a bit of creative fun in PEL?

The tree will be up through January 6 to celebrate all twelve days of Christmas.

Happy holidays to all, and to all a restful break. See you in January 2017!

DSST offers $17 discount in Dec & Jan; Book NOW!

by Anne W. Anderson
Images by Anne W. Anderson 

PEL students planning to take DSST exams in December or January can save $17 as part of DSST's $17 for '17 promotion, according to an email sent December 1.

Students pay for and register for DSST exams at the testing site just before taking the exam. Students enter a promotional code, which is available at the front desk, on the day of the exam.

The $17 promotional discount reduces the cost to DSST from the regular $80 fee to $63, during December 2016 and January 2017 only. Students also pay a $20 administrative fee to Eckerd College.

CLEP exams still cost $80, plus the $20 administrative fee. Students pay for CLEP exams online before coming to the test site to take the exam.

Only one testing station -- book NOW!

Eckerd College only has one approved CLEP/DSST testing station, which is located in the PEL office. Because it serves both PEL and residential students, students should call ahead and make an appointment to take exams. Exam appointments begin at 9:15 a.m. Monday-Friday and the last appointment made is at 4 p.m.

NOTE: Beginning January 3, testing appointments will be extended to a final start time of 6 p.m. on TUESDAYS ONLY. Test-takers must arrive before 6 p.m. to pay the $20 administration fee or must pay the fee in advance during regular business hours.

Timed-writing sessions for the Writing Exhibit also are scheduled through the PEL office.

To reserve a testing time in the PEL office, please call Anne Anderson or Sandra Hollander at 727-864-8226 or email pel@eckerd.edu.

To learn more about CLEP exams, which are created by the same company that administers the SAT and ACT tests, go to https://clep.collegeboard.org/exam. The site contains sample questions and offers a practice test. Libraries often have CLEP preparation materials, too.

To learn more about DSST exams, go to http://getcollegecredit.com/ and click on the Test Takers tab.

Need test credit to graduate in May? Take tests early in the term  

Students needing test credit to graduate in May should plan to take their CLEP and/or DSST exams by March 17.

Sharon Clawson, Assistant Registrar for PEL

"Official CLEP results can take up to four weeks and official DSST results can take up to six weeks to arrive in the PEL registrar's office" said Sharon Clawson '02, assistant registrar for PEL.

Clawson explained that, even though students find out as soon as they finish the exam whether or not they have passed, she cannot post the results to a student's degree plan until she receives the official results. 

Additionally, while most students pass the CLEP and DSST exams on the first attempt, a few do not. If a student does not score high enough on the CLEP or the DSST exam to earn credit for a course, the student cannot retake the exam until at least 90 days after the attempt.

"So if a student takes an exam on January 6 but doesn't pass, he/she cannot retake that same exam until after April 6, but then the official results probably won't arrive until after May 6 -- which is very close to the May graduation date," Clawson said. "However, the student could take a different test without waiting the 90 days."

"After everything has been posted, the student's advisor and I conduct a final check of the degree plan to be sure all requirements have been met," Clawson added. "Considering we might have forty or more students graduating in May, it takes a lot of time to complete the process for all students."

Anne W. Anderson is PEL's director of blended and online learning

 and is co-editor of The PEL Connector.

Schoeniger lecture "Redefining Entrepreneurship" caps a full day

Left: (l-r) Toriano Parker, Deuces Live, Inc.; Mike Jalazo, Pinellas Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition; Kelly Sims, St. Pete Greenhouse; and Gary Schoeniger, Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative, participate in ASPEC's Panel on Entrepreneurial Initiatives in Community Development. Mr. Sims describes the Ice House Entrepreneurship training he leads through the St. Pete Greenhouse. Participants receive training, mentoring and advisory services, and start-up funds for new ventures.

by Amanda Hagood
photos by Donna Littell

On November 2nd, 2016, Gary Schoeniger, founder of the Kauffman Foundation's Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative, paid an action-packed visit to Eckerd. To a day that already included conversations with faculty, students, alumni, ASPEC members, and community leaders from around St. Petersburg, Schoeniger added a keynote address, "Redefining Entrepreneurship," and book signing attended by 120 campus and community members.

Right: Gary Schoeniger, center, chats with ASPEC Director Ken Wolfe, left, and Eckerd alumnus Fred Wells.

Schoeniger is an internationally recognized thought leader in the field of entrepreneurial mindset education, which seeks to understand not just how entrepreneurs create and sustain new ventures, but also what outlooks and habits of thought encourage entrepreneurial behavior, and how and under what conditions entrepreneurial learning occurs. Schoeniger lamented the prominence of what he calls the "Silicon Valley" narrative in our cultural perceptions about entrepreneurship.

"While elite Silicon Valley success stories may capture headlines, they do not accurately reflect the process that most entrepreneurs undertake," Schoeniger said.

Ice House Entrepreneurial Mindset Training at Eckerd OLLI

Left: Janie McGrew (left) and Chrissy Jackson '16 (right) with Gary Schoeniger, founder of the Kauffman Foundation's Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative and co-author of Who Owns the Ice House?(photo by Donna Littell)

by Amanda Hagood

"Opportunities for success are all around you. Do you see them? Do you wonder why others do? Develop an entrepreneurial mindset and change your life--others have!" 

-Chrissy Jackson '16, Ice House Instructor

Eckerd College's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), located on the St. Petersburg campus, will offer an Ice House Entrepreneurial Mindset Training program meeting once a week, January 23-March 20, 2017. The non-credit course will be taught by PEL's own Chrissy Jackson '16, herself a serial entrepreneur. Registration opens November 14th.

About the Course

 

Ice House Entrepreneurial Mindset Training focuses on the eight lessons learned by young Clifton Taulbert, whose Uncle Cleve owned an ice house in the Mississippi Delta when almost everyone else worked for wages in the cotton fields.

Taulbert's book, Who Owns the Ice House? Eight Life Lessons from an Unlikely Entrepreneur, co-authored by internationally-recognized entrepreneurial learning expert Gary Schoeniger, captures the lessons that Uncle Cleve taught, and Ice House Entrepreneurship training brings these lessons to life through case studies from over a dozen real-life entrepreneurs. Students work in small teams to test their own entrepreneurial ideas on real people and develop the mindset and planning skills that can transform these ideas into successful realities.

Upon completion of the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program, students will be able to:

• Establish and develop entrepreneurial attitudes, behaviors, and skills
• Understand and experience the entrepreneurial process
• Identify social and situational factors that encourage or inhibit entrepreneurial behavior
• Identify, evaluate, and validate opportunities in ambiguous, real-world circumstances
• Identify and interact with local entrepreneurs who provide critical guidance and ongoing support

This course meets on Mondays, January 23-March 20, from 6-9pm at Eckerd College.

Tuition is $325 and includes books and materials. Please note that this is a non-credit course.

What is entrepreneurial mindset training? Watch this video to learn more. 

 

 

About the Instructor

 

Chrissy Jackson '16 is a serial entrepreneur, currently running two for-profit and two nonprofit businesses. She is also a lifelong educator, writing textbooks and providing training for national trade organizations as well as regional meetings and specialized employer/employee programs.

Questions?
If you have questions about the course, contact Chrissy Jackson at chrissyj@earthlink.net. To register, click here call the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at (727)-864-7600.

PEL Executive Director Amanda Hagood is co-editor of The PEL Connector.