Marcy Reffkin and Raymond Dearmon have tied for first place in the University of South Alabama Baldwin County’s ‘Spring Fling’ Photo Contest held recently.  Photo entries were placed on USA Baldwin County’s Facebook page, and the photos with the most “likes” won.  Thanks to everyone who entered!

Details about the summer photo contest will be available soon.

Photo:  (Back from left to right): Joshua Hembree, Capri Abdo, Rachel Hess, Tiffany Abastoflor, Jimmy Orum, Hannah Broich, Heidi Dunbar, Danielle Williams, Kaitlin Hadder.  (Front from left to right): Abigail Morgan Mallory, Robin Coby, Beth Onderdonk.

Baldwin County communication students raise money for Baldwin County Sheriffs’ Boys Ranch

University of South Alabama Baldwin County Campus communication students saw their public relations skills pay off by helping raise $52,000 for the Baldwin County Sheriffs’ Boys Ranch. The class used their public relations skills to garner media coverage for the Boys Ranch’s 13th Annual Pig Roast and Live Auction March 3, 2012.  The Boys Ranch holds the Pig Roast annually. Along with the fun atmosphere and great food, live and silent auctions are held to raise funds to support the ranch and the 12 children living at the ranch. The $52,000 raised will go to replacing trucks on the ranch.

Students of the Public Relations Campaign (CA 486) course, instructed by Nadia Bush, named themselves the Summit Agency after the street on which the USA Baldwin County Campus is located. The students learned how much effort is involved in developing and organizing a fund raiser, including raising donations, finding donors and putting it all together in a matter of weeks.
Jimmy Harmon, public relations director for the Baldwin County Sheriff ’s Boys Ranch and University of South Alabama graduate (BA, Communication, 2010), supervised the students’ work. “As a USA alumnus, I couldn’t have been prouder of how the students handled themselves throughout this project,” Harmon said. “Students attended all of the meetings and seemed genuinely excited to help out our organization and, more importantly, the children in our care,” he added.

“The diligence in their assignments paid tremendous dividends for the underprivileged children from our area,” Harmon said. “I know for many of them this campaign required that they step out of their comfort zones and try new things. At times even seasoned non-profit workers find themselves in the difficult situation of asking people they don’t know for help in the form of donations or sponsorships. It is a bit intimidating and humbling, however the students did a marvelous job and didn’t get discouraged when turned down,” he added.

Tiffany Abastoflor, a student in the class and a public relations and marketing intern at the Dumas Wesley Community Center, brought her knowledge of non-profits to the event. “Working at a non-profit and partnering with one through our class really gave me an insight into the great people who strive to give back to the community and provide people with better lives,” Abastoflor said. “It was amazing to see the community come together and participate in something fun while supporting a great cause,” she added.

James “Jim” Harmon, director of the Boys Ranch, was impressed by the class’s professionalism and work ethic. “I can’t begin to tell you how much they helped,” he said. “Not only did they go to people within the community and get sponsorships and items donated, but they also pitched in and helped where needed throughout the event itself, all while conducting themselves with the upmost respect for our organization and donors alike.”
The students were happy to combine their learning experience with a magnificent cause.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the wonderful cause and to see a community come together to support the ranch,” said Beth Onderdonk, a public relations student and marketing supervisor at Aaron Oil Company, Inc. in Saraland, Ala.
Onderdonk was not the only one happy with the campaign results. “The class accomplished all of the goals we put before them, and we are very proud to have been associated with the USA Baldwin County CA 486 class,” Jimmy Harmon said.

The CA 486 class in Baldwin County is part of the public relations track in the USA Department of Communication. The course is offered by the department twice a year and is a capstone experience which allows students the opportunity to research, analyze, plan and execute a comprehensive public relations campaign for an actual client. Students get a better understanding of the relevance of what they have learned in school and how it can be useful in the field of public relations.

Due to increased interest, the University of South Alabama Baldwin County is offering more elementary education classes for the fall and summer terms.  Instructor Brenda Haskew said there is a huge benefit of diversification for the students who are in the elementary education program.  She said students can graduate with the possibility of certification in elementary as well as special education, and with an additional two courses, early childhood special education certification is also available.

Any program that supports quality instruction in elementary schools is important, and this program does that very well, Haskew said.  She has been impressed by the commitment of students to their goal of becoming a teacher.  Although students have different reasons, they are dedicated to becoming professional educators, according to Haskew.

Haskew said the Baldwin County campus fits the needs of area students who may not be able to put their lives on hold and go away to school.  Haskew said she gets many calls from former students who typically say they appreciate USABC’s hours, school environment, and the support given them by the faculty and staff of the university.  They comment about the real life associated assignments, the relevance of the curriculum in general,  Haskew said.  “I always say I am teaching college courses as an advocate for the student, so they will instruct, and it makes me feel very valuable and worthwhile to still be contributing to youngsters in elementary grades,” she said.

Haskew has taught at the USA Baldwin County campus since 2009.  Haskew, has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, is an adjunct instructor for USA’s Department of Leadership and Teacher Education, and is the Department’s Field Services supervisor in the College of Education.  At USA Baldwin County, she has taught Language Arts in the Elementary Classroom, Teaching Social Studies and is currently teaching Mathematics.  Haskew received her Master’s degree from the University of South Alabama in Early Childhood Education, and received her undergraduate degree from Livingston College (Livingston University).  For more information, call (251) 928-8133 or visit www.myusabc.com for the schedule of classes for summer and fall 2012.