Posts tagged Flagler College
Flagler College names AARP Bulletin editor Jim Toedtman as new Flagler Forum director
May 13th
has been named director of the Flagler College Forums on Government and Public Policy lecture series.
Toedtman, a speaker at the program for the last 13 years, succeeds Victor Ostrowidzki, who passed away this past spring after battling cancer. Ostrowidzki, 80, was a veteran journalist and former White House reporter who covered every presidential election from 1964 to 1988. He joined the faculty at Flagler in 1997, founded the Forum series and taught classes on elections and the media.
The Forum brings nationally-recognized journalists and authorities to St. Augustine to discuss issues of local, federal and global importance. Past speakers have included Robert Novak, Mark Shields, David Broder, Joe Klein, Anne Coulter, Pat Buchanan and Chris Matthews.
“I am delighted with the opportunity of continuing and enhancing the Flagler Forums in ways that enrich the academic lives of Flagler students and benefit the St. Augustine community,” Toedtman said. “I look forward to the challenge of building on the solid foundation set by my friend Vic Ostrowidzki.”
Toedtman has had a distinguished career as reporter and editor for the New York daily newspaper, Newsday, and as an editor for Hearst Corp. newspapers in Boston and Baltimore. At Newsday, he was part of a team of reporters investigating Long Island land scandals that won the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for public service. From 1986 to 1995, he served as managing editor of New York Newsday and helped develop and direct the staff, which won numerous awards including the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. He was named Newsday’s Washington Bureau Chief in 1995.
He was named editor of the AARP Bulletin in 2005. Since his appointment, the Bulletin has been consistently recognized for excellence in covering a range of public policy and consumer issues. It is published 10 times a year and has a circulation of 22 million. He also helped develop AARP’s online news and information website.
Toedtman graduated from the College of Wooster and earned a M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University. He also studied at the University of Queensland, Australia, as a Rotary Foundation Fellow.
Flagler College President William Abare said, “I am delighted that Jim Toedtman has agreed to accept our offer to serve as the director of the Forums. Over the past 13 years, Jim has become a good friend of the College and a close personal friend.”
Abare added, “We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Jim’s experience to lead this important program. He is a well-respected journalist who has a great network of friends and colleagues from which to draw Forum speakers. He is very familiar with our campus and our community and will be a great addition to our staff.”
Source: Brian Thompson, Director, News and Information, Flagler College.
Flagler College Honors Four Alumni at Awards Dinner
May 9th
Amy Thompson, a 2006 graduate and merchandising expert with Walmart, was honored with the Young Alumni Achievement Award, which is presented to alumni who are 32 years of age or younger and have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments since graduating. The award recognizes contributions to society, to a profession or to Flagler College.
During her time with Walmart, Thompson has stayed connected to Flagler College’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), serving on the Walmart SIFE Advisory Council and serving on the Business advisory boards of Flagler, John Brown University and Northwest Arkansas Community College. She has also helped to facilitate a relationship between Walmart and Flagler College, including a senior leadership recruiting trip, internships for five students and full time positions for four students.
Pete Peaver, the Dean of Students at Bartram Trail High School in St. Johns County, was awarded the Flagler Service Award, which is presented to alumni who have rendered a high degree of service to Flagler College for more than 10 years.
Peaver, a 1981 graduate, has helped organize or served as the coordinator of the Flagler College Alumni Golf Tournament since the inception and has been instrumental in helping with an increased growth in alumni participation. He played four years of varsity baseball at Flagler and was inducted into the Flagler College Sports Hall of Fame for Baseball in 2007. He was recently named the Florida High School Golf Coach of the Year.
Dr. Beverly Carmichael, Assistant Chancellor for University Advancement at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, was honored with the Professional Achievement Award presented to alumni who have demonstrated significant accomplishments in their fields and have achieved recognition in their field.
A 1972 graduate, Carmichael’s professional background includes serving as Director of Development for Flagler for eight years, as well as 10 years in Washington, D.C. where she served as associate executive director of The American Association for Adult and Continuing Education and director of development for the American Association for Community and Junior Colleges.
Marc Williar, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Flagler College, was given the Pride of Flagler Award, which is given to alumni who have been Flagler College graduates for a minimum of 10 years and have achieved recognition in their field. In addition, these individuals must have rendered service to Flagler College or to their local communities. This is the highest award presented by the college.
Williar, a 1984 graduate, has been with the college since 1988 serving as associate director and director of admissions before taking his current position. During his 17 years as director, Flagler College enrollment grew nearly 100 percent from under 1,300 to more than 2,500. Since taking over as Vice President for Enrollment Management, Williar significantly increased out-of-state enrollment of new first-year students as well as minority student enrollment.
The Alumni Awards were initiated in 1999 to honor those who have made significant contributions to their fields, the college or their communities. Every spring, the awards are presented to deserving alumni at the Alumni Weekend banquet.
Public works projects run-down on The Break Room
May 7th
City of St. Augustine’s Public Works Department, stopped by The Break Room this week to discuss with host Paul Williamson the start of Phase II of the Riberia Rehabilitation Project, several storm water projects and much more currently under way and under the direction of the Public Works Department. The Break Room is heard on WFCF/88.5, Flagler College radio, on Wednesdays at 5:30pm and Saturdays at 8:00am.
To listen immediately to this week’s program click here and visit www.breakroom.info to listen to past programs.






















