Honors News and Updates: November 30, 2023
Find out what's HoT!
What’s New this Week?
In this issue of “What’s HoT” (Honors on Thursdays), we’ve got a whole new load of academic, cultural, service, and pre-professional opportunities. Plus, learn about new unofficial home online.
Table of Contents
Pre-professional Opportunities
Business
This Week in Honors:
Here, in the last week of the semester, it is a perfect time to work on wrapping up the term and getting prepped for the spring. We’re almost there and I’m excited that you’re about to cross the finish line on Fall!
Register Now for Honors Sections
If you haven’t already, now is the time to request that an honors class (or more) be added to your spring 2024 schedule. We still have open sections, and you can register for these courses by completing an Honors Registration Request Form.
For a list of available courses for spring 2020 spring, check out our schedule of upcoming courses at https://sfhonors.com/schedule.
No Room for a Class? You’ve got options.
In the Honors Canvas shell, we give you lots of options for earning Honors Points beyond your courses. All of the opportunities in the weekly newsletter are worth points, but you can also take charge of your own academic and enrichment opportunities through honors contracts, independent study projects, student organizations, and research opportunities.
Get Ready for Graduation
If you’re planning to finish up at Santa Fe this term, be sure to log into eSantaFe and apply for graduation. Also, look for an announcement here tomorrow about submitting your Honors Portfolio for review so that you can graduate with Honors, High Honors, or Highest Honors.
Need some help planning your Spring 2024 schedule? There are options!
Right now, many students are excited to plan out the spring semester and make sure they’re on track. There’s just one problem—Honors advising availability fills up fast and it can be tough to get an appointment in a timely manner. Luckily, we’ve got options if you need to get a question answered quickly.
Make an appointment. You can easily set up an appointment to meet using our Advising Calendar. Often, there are a few open spots during the week that haven’t been taken or there’s been a cancelation, so it’s always worth checking here first.
Meet with an advisor in the Academic Advisement Center (R-201). We aim to provide excellent academic advising college-wide at Santa Fe and often, questions about degree requirements, transfer prerequisites, and registration can be answered by an advisor in another office. If you’re looking to set up or change your schedule for spring, consider meeting with an advisor in the AAC and then submitting a registration request with us to get in your classes early. The Academic Advisement Center schedules appointments and has drop-in hours.
Drop in during the hours below. In the event that there is a cancellation or a meeting wraps up quickly, I might be able to fit you in between existing appointments. You can come in person to the Honors Office (A-215) on Mondays and Fridays or hang out in the Zoom waiting room (https://sfcollege.zoom.us/my/honors) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the hours below and I’ll see you as soon as I’m able to. You might have to wait a while, but I’ll do my best to work you in.
Santa Fe News and Events
Florida Heritage Foods “Crops and Colors” Festival December 2
5 Honors Points for Attending Event
Join us for a celebration of Florida’s heritage crops, art, and culture. Learn how to grow and cook nutritionally dense, locally-grown crops. Discover new recipes and cooking techniques. Buy crops grown by local farmers. Join UF IFAS extension agents to learn tips on how to grow these crops in your own backyard or farm. Discover the rich culture and history of Florida heritage crops.
Holiday at Santa Fe Performance Event
5 Honors Points for attending event
Santa Fe College Performing Arts students, children in the SF Little School, staff of the SF Teaching Zoo and the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium collaborate this weekend to bring a fun performance for children and adults. Collaborations like this are exciting opportunities to support the efforts of students, faculty, and staff from across the College—and I’m not just saying that because my preschooler is going to be in the production!
Performances are at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall at Santa Fe College’s (SF) Northwest Campus, 3000 NW 83 Street, Gainesville. Tickets are $15 for adults; $9 for seniors, students, and military service members; and free to children 12 and under and to SF students, faculty and staff with SFID cards. Free tickets to the SF Teaching Zoo and Kika Silva Pla Planetarium will be included in the performance programs. Tickets are available from the Fine Arts Hall box office at 352-395-4181 or online from Showpass at: https://www.showpass.com/holiday-at-santa-fe-2/
Academic Opportunities
Explore the Path to Scientific Excellence with the SF2UF Bridge Program
Are you ready to broaden your academic horizons in the biomedical or behavioral sciences? The SF2UF Bridge to the Baccalaureate program invites applications for its 2024 cohort. This unique initiative not only fosters your educational growth but also offers hands-on research opportunities at the University of Florida – all while you continue your studies at Santa Fe.
Dedicated to supporting students from underrepresented groups, the program provides an enriching environment for both professional and personal development in the scientific community. To see if you meet the eligibility criteria and to apply, visit our program page here. Don’t miss this chance to be part of a journey that shapes future scientists and innovators.
The Exchange: Shaping the Future by Examining the Past
5 Honors Points for attending event
Join us for an evening of conversation at the Cotton Club Museum as we explore aspects of Gainesville’s history and UF’s relationship with the community. Doors open 4:30pm, program 5:00-7:00pm. This event is part of Elevate: Community Engagement Summit.
This is your chance to express, to examine how things have been, and to unpack the barriers and challenges of community engagement as we begin to look ahead. It’s the first step in forging new connections. Plus, savor delicious food as we kick start the Elevate Summit! Free and open to the public. Dinner will be provided.
Time: November 30, 4:30pm - 7:00pm EST
Location: The Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center
The Archaeology of Colonialism in Eastern Africa: Emerging Trends on the Swahili Coast
5 Honors Points for attending event
Join the Center for African Studies for a lecture in African archaeology by Adria LaViolette (University of Virginia), “The Archaeology of Colonialism in Eastern Africa: Emerging Trends on the Swahili Coast.”
Time: December 8, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Location: UF Grinter Hall, 404
Scholarships
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship Updates
10 Honors Points for a completed application
Phi Theta Kappa’s 2024 Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship application is already open and closes on Thursday, January 11, 2024.
To learn more about the JKCF Foundation Scholarship and how to apply, visit JKCF.org
SMART Scholarship-for-Service Applications Due December 1
5 Honors Points for a completed application
The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program is a combined educational and workforce development opportunity for STEM students. SMART offers scholarships for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students pursuing a STEM degree. Scholarship recipients receive full tuition, annual stipends, internships, and guaranteed employment with the Department of Defense after graduation. Applications are open annually from August 1-December 1.
Cultural, Community, and Career Opportunities
Art & Mindfulness: Seeing, Sensing, Savoring
5 Honors Points for attending event
Time: Saturday, December 9, 10:00 – 11:00 am
Location: UF Harn Museum of Art
This series of guided meditations, led by instructors from the UF Mindfulness team, is inspired by art in the Harn collections and held at the museum. Take a break from your regular schedule to slow down, experience stillness, and re-charge. Forty minutes of guided meditation is followed by an art spotlight tour. Please register through the Eventbrite link to hold a space.
Support your local community - Volunteer with Gainesville Thrives
1 Honors Point per Service Hour
Volunteers needed! Gainesville Thrives is dedicated to nurturing academic success and healthy family dynamics in our community. We offer unique opportunities to engage in tutoring and mentoring for students from kindergarten to high school. Our outreach extends to expectant parents and those with infants, toddlers, and preschool children, ensuring support at every stage of early development.
Join us in shaping a brighter future for Gainesville. Whether you're interested in volunteering as a tutor or getting involved through our UF Student Club, your contribution will have a lasting impact. Discover more and sign up at Gainesville Thrives.
Connect with SF’s Office for Civic Engagement and Service
1 Honors Point per Service Hour
Dive into the heart of our community with the Civic Engagement and Service (CES) at Student Life. CES is your go-to for linking up with community service ventures, attending on-campus recruitment events, and seeking personalized advice on civic involvement. Keep in the loop with CES email alerts for the latest in volunteer gigs, internships, and community engagement. And if you’re eager to volunteer or intern but unsure where to begin, contact CES Specialist Sarah Blanc at sarah.blanc@sfcollege.edu for a friendly steer in the right direction!
In addition to matching Honors students with service and civic-engagement opportunities that match their interests and availability, CES also tracks your service involvement, making it easier than ever to stay on top of your Honors Points and progress toward your credential.
2023 Wish Upon a Star Gift Drive for Local Foster Youth
Each year, Partnership for Strong Families (PFSF) works with community partners and donors to provide holiday “wishes” to over 1,200 local children in foster care. Wish Upon a Star offers an opportunity to add some joy to their holiday.
Student Life partners with PFSF each year to help members of the SF community sponsor 50 stars. Click here to see available stars. Each star includes information about a child in local foster care and three of their wishes for the holidays. Sponsors agree to purchase at least two of the three items (around $50 total) but are welcome to donate more. If you cannot find a specific gift listed on the star, you are welcome to substitute another age-appropriate gift. Donations should be unwrapped with a copy of the child’s star securely attached to each gift. Please drop off donations by Monday, November 27 at 4 p.m in S-245 on SF’s Northwest campus.
To sign up, e-mail sarah.blanc@sfcollege.edu with the following information:
1: The name and Wish ID number of the child you’d like to sponsor.
2: Let us know how you would like your sponsorship to be shared on this site, for example:
Sponsored by [Individual] and Family
Sponsored by [Organization/Department]
Sponsored by Anonymous
We’ll send you a confirmation message with your star attached and a couple follow-up reminders. We thank all the members of the SF community who have supported this annual tradition, and warmly welcome any new donors who are joining this effort!
Questions? E-mail sarah.blanc@sfcollege.edu.
Civic Media Center Volunteer Opportunities
1 Honors Point per volunteer hour completed
The Civic Media Center & Stetson Kennedy Library Inc., founded in October 1993, is an alternative library, reading room and info shop. The Civic Media Center is a community-based nonprofit that serves as a resource for progressive grassroots organizing, activism, and public awareness in Gainesville. The CMC’s mission is to provide community access to information and points of view that are under-reported or distorted in mainstream media.
The CMC offers a public-access library, educational discussions, a meeting space, WGOT radio, workshops, music shows and much more!Check our Instagram for flyers and details.
Want to get involved? We hold volunteer meetings on the first and third Wednesday of the month. Come out and get connected!
Pre-Professional Opportunities
Business
Lunch & Learn: Strategies for Scaling Your SaaS Business
5 Honors Points for attending event
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Location: UF Innovate | The Hub, 747 SW Second Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32607
Learn new strategies for scaling your SaaS business at this Lunch and Learn with Barry Pruett, SaaS Business Lead at Amazon Web Services.
This event is open to the public. Please register by noon on December 5.
Join us at UF Innovate | The Hub, to chat about expanding your market, driving growth, and bringing in new customers by employing innovative new sales strategies and operational frameworks alongside your SaaS business. See how Amazon Web Services SaaS Factory Program can help you build new products, enhance existing ones, and more.
STEM
Embark on a NASA Adventure with NCAS
15 Honors Points per completed “Mission”
Attention aspiring explorers and innovators! NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) is calling on students to join a thrilling educational journey. Apply now and seize the opportunity to delve into STEM activities that could pave the way to a future at NASA. Whether you're STEM-focused or branching out from other majors, NCAS is your launchpad to extraordinary experiences and potential internships. Don't miss out on:
Exclusive NASA mission invites and events
Insightful webinars and hands-on projects
Valuable networking with NASA professionals
Applications are open until noon CDT, December 11, 2023. Ready to start your NASA story? Visit the NCAS website for more information and mark your calendars for the upcoming info sessions. Launch into your future with NCAS—your mission awaits!
Join an information session at one of the times below to learn more about this NCAS opportunity.
Pre-Law
Global Legal Empowerment Brigades
5 Honors Points for attending 1 meeting, 5 additional points for joining
Global Legal Empowerment Brigades is excited to host our third General Body meeting on Thursday, November 30th, at 7:00 p.m. in Matherly Hall 0251
We will focus on ways to gain experience in the legal field whether that be through attaining an internship or studying abroad. We look forward to seeing you all there!
Global Legal Empowerment Brigades is an organization for ambitious students interested in serving communities across the world through legal means. GLEB offers service opportunities both locally and abroad, mentorship, director positions, and a community of driven pre-law students.
Pre-Health
Advocate for Mental Health through Music with Upbeat GNV
1 Honors Point per hour of service
Upbeat GNV is a DIY volunteer organization dedicated to bringing mental wellness to Gainesville’s vibrant music community. Our Mental Health Outreach Team is a great opportunity for pre-health students to gain non-clinical volunteer hours through mental health first aid training, assisting musicians first-hand in finding therapy, updating our resource guide, and much more. Volunteers & interns also get free admission to local concerts, music lessons, and jam sessions!
We’re always looking for new volunteers to join, and we’re currently working on getting Upbeat GNV listed as a UF internship site.
UF First Responder Gator Registering for Spring 2024
50 Honors Points for completion of course
Are you on a pre-health track & interested in emergency medicine? Take First Responder Gator! Our 40-hour extracurricular course is a fantastic way to learn new skills and become prepared to help others in an emergency! Our class will be offered this spring from January 23rd to April 9th. Registration is open until January 30th.
First Responder Gator has both a lab and lecture component. Lectures are once a week on Wednesdays from 5:30pm - 7:30pm and are taught by Gainesville Fire Rescue firefighter and paramedic Chief David Sutton. Labs are once a week from 6:00pm - 8:00pm with the option to choose Tuesdays or Thursdays where you will learn hands-on skills like CPR, bleeding control, and more! Classes are held on the UF campus, but you do not have to be a UF student to register!
Class registration links:
Registering for a lab automatically registers you for the Wednesday lectures. If you have any questions or want to learn more about the class, reach out to us at contact@frgator.com and check out our website,
https://frgator.com/
UF Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) Applications Open
30 Honors Points for Program Completion
SHPEP, a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is a free six-week academic enrichment program for freshman and sophomore students from across the country who have an interest in pursuing a career in the health professions. In addition to academic enrichment relevant to pre-health subjects, students will also gain clinical exposure, skill labs, career development, and interprofessional education experience.
UF SHPEP 2024 will take place from May 13th – June 21st, 2024. During the first two weeks of the program, all events, workshops, and instruction will be held virtually. All programming during the remaining four weeks will take place in-person on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, FL, during which participants will be provided on-campus housing, meals, and a $1000 stipend.
The application for the 2024 cohort is currently OPEN and will close on February 5th, 2024 at 11:59pm (EST). Applications are available at the national Summer Health Professions Education Program website. Admissions decisions will be released on March 15th, 2024.
Additional information can be found on the UF SHPEP website at https://ufhealth.org/ufshpep or the national program website at http://www.shpep.org/
Have an event, opportunity, or announcement you’d like to highlight? Get in touch and let us know so that we can include it in the next Honors Newsletter.