IRSC FOUNDATION AWARDS THREE ENDOWED TEACHING CHAIRS

Outstanding professors to implement institutes benefiting students and the community

APRIL 19, 2011 – Three exceptional Indian River State College (IRSC) professors were surprised with Endowed Teaching Chairs from the Indian River State College Foundation in recognition of outstanding teaching and to implement training institutes benefiting students and the community.

The recipients are Veronica I. Tempone, Associate Professor, English, Modern Languages and Communication Department, Susan H. Johnson Endowed Teaching Chair; Dr. Herbert P. Ricardo, Assistant Professor, Business Administration and Marketing Management Department, Marilyn C. Link Endowed Teaching Chair in Financial Management; and Gay Oyco Divinagracia, Associate Professor, Nursing Department, Basil L. King Endowed Teaching Chair in Health Science.

"Innovative thinking and instructional development are key elements to IRSC’s success.” said Dr. Edwin R. Massey, IRSC President.  "It’s important to recognize these outstanding faculty members and reward them with the resources to implement projects that will benefit both students and the community.”

Dr. Massey and more than 30 IRSC administrators, faculty and staff filed into each recipient’s classroom carrying balloons, flowers, and a miniature wooden "chair” for the surprise presentation. The recipients will be rewarded with an annual stipend of $6,000 a year for three consecutive years; $4,000 to implement training institutes and improve instruction in their field of expertise and $2,000 in recognition of excellence in teaching.   The Endowed Teaching Chair program is made possible by contributions to the IRSC Foundation.

Veronica I. Tempone, a St. Lucie County resident, will develop a Center for Service Learning.  Service Learning integrates academics into meaningful real life experiences.  It seeks to engage students outside the physical realm of the classroom.  Its emphasis’ on structured reflection allows students to realize their civic responsibility and therefore, become fully engaged citizens while reaping the reward of academic credit.  In conducting a yearly symposium for service learning, the goal will be to develop and integrate relevant service learning components into key academic and vocational courses.  This project will engage students, faculty and staff in civic minded projects on a local, state, national and international level.

Tempone joined IRSC in 2001 having received her Bachelor’s Degree from Auburn University and her Master’s Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Dr. Herbert P. Ricardo is working to create the River Venture Business Plan Competition.  As we move through the current global economic transition, new business venture creation has reached record lows.  In an effort to support the entrepreneurial spirit and trans-disciplinary collaboration, this project will encourage entrepreneurial collaboration in conjunction with the Brown Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.  The proposal for this formal business plan competition, which will be open to current IRSC students and alumni, will allow students the option to work with a team, along with provisions of resources and connections necessary to create an innovative business plan.  Prize money will be awarded for first, second, and third place, which will help launch the business venture.

A Martin County resident, Ricardo joined IRSC in 1999. He received his Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree from Barry University, his Master’s Degree from Nova Southeastern University and his Doctorate from Capella University.

Gay Oyco Divinagracia of the IRSC Nursing Department will develop and offer geriatric courses that can benefit the health care disciplines in the community and assist faculty in the health professions to educate students in essential geriatric content and practice.  This project is innovative in that it will build collaboration among health disciplines and agencies in the community in the pursuit of geriatric education and training.  Through partnerships with health care agencies and learning institutions, this project aims to disseminate the most comprehensive and up-to-date information regarding geriatric nursing and geriatric nursing education. Creating a direct reflection of the commitment of professional nurses as they adapt to an ever-changing healthcare system.

Vero Beach resident, Givinagracia, joined IRSC in 1989 and received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of the Philippines (Manila). 

To date, the IRSC Foundation has honored 33 faculty members with Endowed Teaching Chairs.  Other Endowed Teaching Chair awards include the Banack Family Partnership Endowed Teaching Chair in Agriculture, BankAtlantic Foundation Endowed Teaching Chair in any discipline, Community Endowed Teaching Chair in Fine Arts, J. Douglas Stephens Endowed Teaching Chair in Technology, J. Douglas Stephens Endowed Teaching Chair in any discipline, Gladys Williams Wolf Endowed Teaching Chair in Communications and the Richardson Endowed Teaching Chair in Business and Entrepreneurship.

For more information about supporting an Endowed Teaching Chair with a tax-deductible contribution, please call the IRSC Foundation at 772-462-4786.