From the Director…

I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing holiday break and come back to school in the new year refreshed and motivated! 

Upcoming Honors Happenings & Deadlines:

• December 5 – PTK & Honors Program present Chapmyn Spoken Word – The Road  to Darfur – East Campus PAC @ 7:00 pm
• December 10 – 16 – Finals Week
• December 20 – January 1 – College closed

• Final Payment – January 3 - If payment is not made by this date, you will be purged from the class!

• January 4 – Late registration begins
• January 7 – Spring 2008 classes begin
• January 23 – Honors Transfer Workshop – Dr. Alvin Wang – UCF Honors Director - East Campus 5-112, 2:30 – 4:30 pm.
• January 28 – Poet Brian Turner – Osceola

 Spring 2008 Registration

Hot, Hot, Hot Honors Classes

Many of you took advantage of Priority Registration, but we still have several classes that have space available. Remember: All students who are currently receiving the President’s Academic Scholarship are required to register for at least ONE Honors class each term.

Check out a few of the great classes still available for Spring 2008:

• Business Major? – Economics on East (CRN 20348) and WEST (CRN 25292)
• Need Comp II + Natural Science? – IDH-Interdisciplinary Honors 1111 (CRN 21784)
• Need Online + Gordon Rule Humanities? – American Lit (CRN 24874)

You can find all Spring Term Honors’ courses through the Valencia website: Current Students – Credit Class Schedule – Spring Term – Show only Honors Classes – search

Honors Conference Sign-up

The Florida Collegiate Honors Council (FCHC) is scheduled to be held in Tampa from February 22 – 24, 2008. I would like to invite students who are interested in attending this exciting conference by sending B an e-mail at bclyburn@valenciacc.edu or call her 407-582-1729 by December 16th. Students will not be required to fill out an “Interest to Travel” form for this trip as I will be able to take up to 20 students. It will be a great time. I hope you will consider coming with us.

Spring 2008 Honors Workshop Series: (More details in December Brain Storm)

• How Do I Transfer? Application & Honors Program (January 23 – East Campus)
• Scholarships and Financial Aid (February 20 – West Campus)
• Success After the Transfer (March – Location and date TBD)

Student Spotlight

“This is a parody inspired by the controversy on public Christmas displays in recent years.  Admittedly, this parody is not politically

correct, but it could be an example of the feelings of a minority at Valencia who feel that "Christmas" is being squelched in public.” L.C. Kelly

The parody is sung to the tune of the Christmas carol: "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing". Melody composed by Felix Mendelssohn

A CHRISTMAS PARODY    by L. C. Kelly

Hark!  The ACLU will bring,

A lawsuit against our manger scene.

A P.C. earth and mercy wild.

At a Christmas tree, the lawyers get riled.

Say “Merry Christmas” and watch the rise,

You’ll get out of their liberal guys.

With their smugness they proclaim,

“‘Christ is born’ offends my friend”

Hark!  The ACLU will bring,

A lawsuit against our manger scene.

Hark!  The ACLU will bring,

A lawsuit against our Christmas theme,

The virgin birth could scar a child.

Ramadan is much more mild.

Snowflakes they must be our theme,

A Christmas wreath should not be seen,

In a Post office so lame.

Or in a school, it’s just the same.

Hark!  The ACLU will bring,

A lawsuit against our Christmas theme.

Hark!  Americans United will bring,

A suit against public Christmas things.

A dollar’s worth, on a lamppost styled,

Is a dollar of public funds defiled.

“Merry Christmas” is a sin.

‘cause it offends Barry Lynn.

Especially as an utterance sent,

By a Senator or President.

Hark!  Americans United will bring,

A suit against public Christmas things.

A Christmas Parody

By L. C. Kelly

The Road to Darfur

A powerful theatrical experience!

On December 5th at 7pm.......The Chapmyn Spoken Word performers will present “The Road to Darfur.” This powerful performance is a theatrical soul searching experience that raises awareness about the genocide in Darfur. It causes each person to look introspectively at these very personal questions: What have I done? What can I do? How do I respond? This one-hour show is followed by a facilitated discussion that ends with a moving call to action that is sure to get you thinking. This event will take place on Wednesday December 5th, 2007 at 7pm in the Performing Arts Center of the East Campus of Valencia Community College, located at 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, Florida 32825.

The Chapmyn Spoken Word is a nonprofit 5013c theatre company focusing on the plight of Africans and the current tragedies existing in many African countries.  Admission is free. This event is sponsored by Valencia’s Phi Theta Kappa chapters & Honors Program.

Make a DIFFERENCE!

Start NOW:

Provide rice to feed the hungry http://freerice.com/

Join Valencia Honors Program FACEBOOK!

Go to "groups" in Facebook and search for 'Valencia Honors Program"...Join our group and get the latest updates and inside scoop on Facebook!

HONORS SCHOLARSHIPS

407) 582-1729. Scholarships cover 31 credit hours per academic year of in-state tuition and fees. Requirements are as follows:

•Student must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher in college level work.

•Student must be working towards an Honors Degree (24 credit hours of honors coursework).

•Student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25.

•Student must register for a minimum of nine (9) credit hours per semester.

•Student must register for a minimum of nine (9) credit hours of honors coursework per academic year.

•Student must complete 100% of coursework attempted. Withdrawals are not permitted.

•Failure to maintain eligibility requirements may result in the student being required to repay the semester's tuition in full prior to the end of the session.

•Student cannot be on any other Valencia (institutional) scholarship (e.g., Presidential, Academic, Music, etc.)

TRANSFER PREPARARTION

Last month I sent a Student Intent Form with the November Brainstorm.  If you haven’t sent your completed form as of yet, please do so immediately. The information will be used to connect you with the necessary information you need to graduate from Valencia and transition successfully into your next program.

The first Honors Workshop has been scheduled for January 23rd on East Campus. The topic of this session will be, “How Do I Transfer.” UCF Honors Director, Dr. Alvin Wang and Direct/Connect advisor, Rebecca Morales will conduct a presentation and question/answer session that will help ALL Honors students, not only those who want to transfer to UCF. Mark your calendars and look for details in upcoming newsletters and e-mail.

Admissions Graduation Application Deadlines for 2006-2007

The Honors Graduation Application is now online at http://valenciacc.edu/honors/gradapp.cfm

The Valencia Chess Club wants you!

Even though we have a great team, after our defeat against UCF we are looking forward to meet new members that can help us build a stronger team for the next tournament. The club is growing stronger but the more we get the better. So "come check us out" if you are interested in playing and/or learning chess. The meetings are held every Friday on Building 7-230A. For more information contact Alejandro Trimarchi at atrimarc@atlas.valenciacc.edu

Faculty Spotlight

Jack Rogers, a Science and Honors professor on East Campus, has quite an eye for capturing nature in all its glory with his camera. Here are a few of my favorite shots:

Garden of the Gods, Denver, CO

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!