A respected community icon, a beloved educator turned public servant, a longtime law enforcement officer and a gifted graphic artist were among eight Pensacola State College alumni honored at the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Awards Gala. “Building on Tradition – Investing in the Future” was the theme of the inaugural event, where alumni were recognized in five categories: Spirit of Pensacola, Rising Star, Life Achievement, Hometown Hero and Against the Odds. Denis McKinnon Sr., the recipient of t

For a sweet shop that's only been open a few months, there's a lot of history built into Henny Penny's Patisserie. "I'm only here because Myrtle Grove supported me," says Caress Hudson, owner of Henny Penny's Patisserie. Penny's is named after Hudson's grandmother, Henry Mae, whose German chocolate cake was Hudson's favorite. The nickname, Henny Penny, came from "Chicken Little" — an old nursery rhyme — which was Henny's favorite story. The bakery is an eclectic mix of vintage and shabby chic

When you teach at Pensacola State College for 25 years, you’re considered a legend. Bill Clover did it for 52, passing away May 7, 2018. “Bill Clover built the PSC ceramics department from the ground up,” Ben Twingley, PSC adjunct professor and a former student of Clover’s, said. “There were no kilns to fire student work, so he drove their pottery north of Pensacola near a brick manufacturer where the student work could be completed. Many times, that required him to stay overnight in his VW va

Hurricane Review, Pensacola State College’s national, annual literary arts journal, made it s dazzling debut No v. 30th, in the Anna Lamar Switzer building. Jamey Jones, Northwest Florida Poet Laureate and Literature professor, along with the rest of the Hurricane staff, decided to go the minimalist route, with a George Schneeman cover, a recurring theme of the empty hanger threaded throughout. The journal included poets such as Ron Padgett, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet, Anne Waldman (who he

Being a Health Information Technology student, I seem an unlikely poet.  I’m not all broody in a not-so-little-black dress, hanging out in non-corporate coffee shops, and my lipstick more resembles the color of blood than death. My writing took off when I ended up placing in a college writing contest, with a piece on chimerism (when one person has two sets of DNA).  That led me to taking Jamey Jones’ poetry class. I have found that people who are going to school for healthcare tend to just wan

In 2017, I started a “Why I Write Poetry” series of guest posts. I’ve already received so many, and I hope they keep coming in (details on how to contribute below). Today’s “Why I Write Poetry” post comes from Sarah Richards who writes, “It is everything life is about: Understanding ourselves, others, and the world around us.”

Newspaper columnist talks shop with journalism students

First times and second chances Most of us go to college to get a degree so that we can have a career that will pay for that education.  However, if your sole objective is to get your degree and get the hell out, you’re missing out on everything else the college experience has to offer. Taking advantage of opportunities to make connections and do new things is one of the keys to getting the most out of school. Your student card will grant you free access to cultural events, such as shows at th

They were in the National Park, where they found a tree covered with them. She grabbed a couple of handfuls and they were “very leafy and fresh-tasting.” They were also alive. Being a Robinson Scholar isn’t just an honor, but an experience for Angelina Simmons, general studies major. Simmons had a near death experience underwater in Costa Rica, while on a service-learning trip that was made affordable through the Robinson program. Though one must have a 3.5 GPA to be inducted as a Robinson’s