SARASOTA, Fla. — The inaugural New College Athletics Gala will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024, 5:30 p.m. at College Hall, 351 College Drive, Sarasota. New College added intercollegiate sports in 2023 and is preparing to enter the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the prestigious Sun Conference this fall. Funds raised at the Gala will support scholarships to allow New College to recruit top scholar-athletes from across America and internationally. Tickets cost $100 and are available online by visiting GoMightyBanyans.com.
“The addition of intercollegiate athletics has impacted New College in numerous ways, increasing enrollment, improving the vibrancy of student life, and emerging as a shared source of pride for students, faculty and staff,” said New College President Richard Corcoran. “Athletics will continue to play a vital role in fulfilling our vision to be the best liberal arts college in America.”
The evening’s setting is on the New College Bayfront, featuring majestic views of Sarasota Bay. Wear cocktail attire and prepare to enjoy a relaxed evening featuring casino-style games. Tickets include play money to be used at gaming tables throughout the night. Hors d’oeuvres will be served, and a cash bar will be available. Sponsorship opportunities for the event are still being offered.
New College began its athletics program with six teams in 2023-2024, including baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s soccer. Next year the Mighty Banyans will compete in a dozen sports, with ambitious expansion plans for the next several years.
“The New College Athletics Gala is an important event for creating scholar-athlete scholarships that will allow our athletics program to continue its rapid growth,” said Mariano Jimenez, Jr., Vice President, Athletics and Recruitment.
For more information, email [email protected], call 941-487-4105, or visit GoMightyBanyans.com.
SARASOTA, Fla. — New College of Florida will host tours of the Ellen and Ralph Caples Estate, 351 Caples Drive, Sarasota, from February 5 — March 2, 2024, to kick off a Historic Preservation Campaign. The primary purpose of the campaign, which will be coordinated by Joyce and Jeff Hart in conjunction with the New College Foundation, is preservation, awareness and enhancement of all historic sites and building on the New College campus.
“The history surrounding New College’s most iconic buildings is a defining part of its identity and contributes to the bond between the College and the Sarasota community,” said New College President Richard Corcoran. “The Hart’s vigor for historic preservation and sharing their knowledge and love for these landmark structures is commendable, and these tours will be important for our ongoing efforts to preserve the significant pieces of history entrusted to us.”
The Mediterranean Revival style mansion was constructed in the 1920s and is part of the Caples-Ringling Estates Historic District in Sarasota. It still features many original construction and design elements, which were preserved during recent interior renovations. Ellen Caples gifted the mansion to New College in 1971. Ralph Caples was a friend and business associate of the Ringling Bros. and played a leading role in Sarasota’s development, including bringing the railroad to the area.
The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation named the Caples Mansion on its Six to Save Program list of historic buildings in 2021 and continues to advocate for its preservation. Other historically significant structures on the campus include the Charles Ringling Mansion, Cook Hall, the Pei Dorms, Four Winds Café, and Robertson Hall.
Jeff and Joyce Hart own J. Hart Interior Design. Joyce currently sits on the City of Sarasota’s Historic Preservation Board and is a past board member of the Alliance for Historic Preservation.
“After more than a decade of requests, we are grateful to President Corcoran for granting us permission to open the mansion to the public,” Joyce and Jeff said. “As graduates of Ringling College of Art and Design, and along with 12 other local designers, we get to combine our passion for restoring and showcasing historic homes and bring the rooms of the historic mansion to life again.”
A Ribbon Cutting will take place on Sunday, February 4 from 3-5 p.m. Daily tours are available February 5th to March 2nd 10 a.m.-4 p.m., closed on Sundays. The admission fee is $25 with all proceeds of the tours benefitting the New College Historic Preservation Fund. Event sponsorships are also available. For more information, visit ncf.edu/alumni/caplestour, call 941-487-4800 or email [email protected].
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SARASOTA, Fla. — Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis was joined by Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) Director Taylor Hatch and New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran to recognize October as Disability Employment Awareness Month and highlight new job opportunities available through Hope Florida – A Pathway to Possibilities. Through this initiative, New College of Florida is providing employment opportunities for individuals with unique abilities, including positions at libraries and food-service locations on campus. As the first educational institution to partner with Hope Florida, New College announced scholarships specifically for Floridians served by Hope Florida, including Floridians with unique abilities.
“Two months ago, we announced that Hope Florida will now serve individuals with unique abilities,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “In that time, Hope Navigators have already begun serving more than 100 Floridians with unique abilities. Each family’s needs vary– from building paths towards economic self-sufficiency to creating deeper community connections. Ultimately, our success is helping these individuals meet their goals and God-given potential, and we are now able to offer not only employment but scholarship opportunities to Hope Florida participants.”
New College’s new Hope Florida scholarships include two full-tuition, room and board scholarships which will be awarded annually to two Hope Florida participants, as well as additional assistance opportunities, such as book stipends. Following the event, Chancellor of the State University System Ray Rodrigues and Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. sent a letter to all Florida colleges and universities asking them to join these efforts. Click here to view the letter.
“New College of Florida is proud to partner with First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida initiative through employment and educational opportunities,” said President of New College Richard Corcoran. “During Disability Employment Awareness Month, we are thrilled that this initiative connects us with Floridians served by Hope Florida including those with unique abilities who are looking for job opportunities and scholarship assistance.”
Ensuring there are employment opportunities for participants is a key component of Hope Florida. New College of Florida is partnering with the initiative to specifically provide jobs and educational scholarships for people with unique abilities and other Floridians served by Hope Florida. October is a key month for the developmental disability community and holds significant importance in raising awareness and promoting the employment and empowerment of individuals with these unique abilities.
“We are incredibly grateful to First Lady Casey DeSantis for her leadership and continued commitment to Floridians of all abilities, and for convening today’s event to celebrate and highlight the achievements of Floridians with unique abilities,” said Taylor Hatch, Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. “Through the launch of First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida – A Pathway to Possibilities, individuals with unique abilities and their caregivers are now bringing their talents and passion to their local community through volunteerism and greater community involvement.”
Hope Florida – A Pathway to Possibilities, led by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, utilizes Hope Navigators to serve as a connector for individuals with unique abilities to local-community-based providers including nonprofits, faith-based organizations, peer supports and private sector business partners.
As a part of the event, First Lady DeSantis also recognized Aladdin Equipment Company, Inc. as an Exceptional Employer for their continued commitment to employing this population.
“On behalf of myself and Aladdin, we are beyond grateful to receive this award,” said Carrie Collins, the Owner and Vice President of Aladdin Equipment Company. “Hiring people with unique abilities has been a special part of Aladdin for decades because the pursuit to maintain manufacturing in the United States is our goal. Recently, working with The Haven Academy students has set the standard for Aladdin and we hope other businesses in our area. Providing opportunities for employment to these amazing individuals is important to us because they bring unique perspectives, talents and strengths to our business. We hope that in receiving this award other businesses will recognize the value in hiring such incredible individuals and will follow suit.”
“Florida recognizes that each and every one of us is a gift, and we work to ensure that every Floridian can thrive in the Sunshine State,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo. “Thankfully, under the leadership of Governor and First Lady DeSantis, Florida continues to promote awareness and honor the lives of individuals with special needs and disabilities.”
Hope Florida, created by First Lady Casey DeSantis and implemented by a number of state agencies, was first launched in 2021. Since its inception, the initiative has served more than 74,000 people, helping over 8,500 Hope Florida participants to reduce or eliminate reliance on public assistance to meet food or cash needs. Over a 10-year period, participant reduction of public assistance will save taxpayers almost $190 million.
SARASOTA, Fla. — New College of Florida (NCF) will celebrate its 44th annual Clambake fundraising event Soiree on the Bay, hosted by the New College of Florida Foundation on Thursday, November 2, at 6 p.m. Local philanthropists Elizabeth Moore and Don Patterson are co-chairing the event. Held on NCF’s scenic bayfront campus in Sarasota, the Clambake will raise money to support three new master’s degree programs slated to launch in 2024.
Moore has been a civic activist notably in environmental initiatives such as Mote Marine Aquarium and Research, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, Lemur Conservation Foundation, Tree Foundation, Southface Institute, Climate Adaptation Center, Gulf Shellfish Institute and, recently, Roger Williams College President’s Taskforce on the Blue Economy. She owns Triangle Ranch in Myakka, Florida, and is also a member of the Manatee County Cattlemen’s Association. In addition to hosting many community events at her ranch, she also runs an Airbnb to showcase her “Florida Cracker” cottages and land conservation initiative. In 2021, Elizabeth was featured as “The Woman Who Wants to Save Florida” in Sarasota Magazine. An avid tennis fan, Moore is the title sponsor of the Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open.
Patterson spent 40 years in the communications industry, culminating in his role as co-founder and CEO of Ascend Wireless Networks, taking the business from startup to acquisition by a private equity firm in less than 10 years. Passionate about helping the underserved, Don has held numerous high-level roles with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast. He led the creation of “Stay Safe” in partnership with the Salvation Army, an initiative that serves as an emergency alternative for women victims of abuse as a result of being homeless. He was invited to attend the first conference by the Department of Justice to address the emerging Human Trafficking crisis, and “Stay Safe” continues to work in Sarasota to this day. As a community leader, he funded the creation of the “Thursday Night Market” in the Rosemary District, reviving traffic flow to businesses in the area post-pandemic. He is also an accomplished Marathoner and Ironman.
“Don and Elizabeth are pillars of the community and wonderful friends of New College and our Foundation, and I know we can expect to celebrate our most successful Clambake yet,” said Richard Corcoran, interim president of New College.
NCF recently revealed plans to add three new master’s degree programs, including the nation’s first Master’s of Marine Mammal Science. This new research-intensive program will be complemented by the establishment of the Florida Institute of Marine Mammal Science (FIMMS). Additionally, NCF will establish programs to offer a Master’s of Environmental Economics and a Master’s of Educational Leadership. Funds raised will support the necessary financial aid for student recruitment, faculty hiring, and facility improvements that will launch these programs successfully.
Event sponsorships are now available. For more information, visit ncf.edu/clambake, call 941-487-4800 or email [email protected].