The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
September 8, 2021
The global pandemic knocked the wind (and the percussion, brass, strings, etc.) out of Pensacola State College’s band program, just as it did similar programs across the country.

Bands couldn’t get together to play. Performances were cancelled. Everything went quiet. 

Enter Doug Holsworth, recently hired as the new PSC Director of Bands, replacing the legendary Don Snowden, who retired in summer 2020 after 33 years at the College. Holsworth will be the instructor and conductor for the PSC Concert Band, Jazz Band and Pensacola Civic Band.

A U.S. Army veteran, Holsworth comes to PSC with stellar credentials. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Alabama, where he had the honor to serve as a drum major for Alabama’s celebrated “Million Dollar Band.” He earned his master’s degree in music education from the University of Florida. 

PSC President Ed Meadows, on the mound, prepares to launch the first pitch to PSC baseball coach and athletic director Bryan Lewallyn. Other photos: Below, Dr. Meadows poses with Wahoos mascot Kazoo; bottom, PSC attendees enjoyed food and refreshments on the Winn-Dixie Party Deck.
It was a Pirate party at Blue Wahoos Stadium as Pensacola State faithful gathered for long-overdue shindig
A tall, lanky right-handed hurler took the mound at Pensacola Blue Wahoos Stadium on Tuesday night and fired, relatively speaking, a high strike to the plate. 

Some might argue that the pitch was a tad too high, but the Pensacola State College faithful were the umpires when PSC President Ed Meadows threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the Blue Wahoos’ game against the Biloxi Shuckers. So, it was definitely a strike. 

Dozens of PSC fans, faculty, alumni, coaches and students, along with family members, took over a portion of the right field Winn-Dixie Party Deck on Tuesday for the PSC Alumni and Athletics Night event. It was the first PSC party at a Blue Wahoos game since 2013.  

Hailey Lotz, PSC Alumni Association and Booster Club director, said 83 Pirates, some with family members, were in attendance. 

“We are thrilled,” Lotz said, who attended the game with her 10-year-old daughter, Corrine. “This is great for us – it’s been a while. Everyone is ready to be out and be active.”
The Pirates took home some booty even if the Blue Wahoos couldn’t take home the win – Biloxi won, 4-2. Every PSC attendee received a specialty Blue Wahoos cap, as well as free hot dogs, burgers, pizza and soft drinks in the Winn-Dixie Party Deck. 

“It was a lot of fun,” said Debbie Douma, PSC Dean of Grants and Federal Programs. “It’s always good to gather outside the workplace and see different people from different departments. I saw faculty, staff, coaches and alumni. It was nice.” 

Meadows got the game going with his ceremonial first pitch, which was received at the plate by PSC baseball coach and athletic director Bryan Lewallyn. If Meadows was feeling pressure, he didn’t let on.

“Have you warmed up?” PSC basketball coach Pete Pena asked Meadows before he made it down to the field. Meadows just smiled. A few more folks asked him the same question as he got closer to the field.

Was he nervous?

“No,” said Meadows, who pitched and played first base in youth baseball, and who has thrown out a ceremonial first pitch at previous Blue Wahoos’ games. “I’ve done this before.” 

— Troy Moon
Mobile artist Lauren Woods discusses ‘mythic time,’ ballet and even Einstein at Pensacola State College Artist Lecture
Lauren Woods has painted places she had never seen or knew existed, only to find out later that what she had conjured in her mind exists in reality – both versions, nature’s and her own, coexisting in the quintessence of time and space.

If that sounds like heady stuff, well, it is. Woods, a Mobile artist and Auburn University assistant art professor, came to Pensacola State College on Aug. 26 for an Artist Lecture to support her exhibition, “Dream State,’’ which is on display at the Charles W. Lamar Studio at the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts. 

Woods’ talk encompassed subject matter ranging from Einstein and space-time to the influence her experience as a ballet dancer and growing up in the kaleidoscope of Mardi Gras have had on her work. 

“Dream State” is on display through Dec. 10. Admission is free.

“The concept of mythic time is contemplated visually through painting that combines fabricated and observed reality with beautiful narratives much like what happens when we are in a dream state,’’ Woods said of her work and the theme of “mythic time” which permeates her paintings. 

“Embodied expression, nature’s consciousness and the transformational properties of time are over-arching themes in my practice. The concept of mythic time is contemplated visually through paintings that combine fabricated and observed reality with beautiful narratives much like we what happens when we are in dream state.”

She broadly defined mythic time as “a perpetual presence outside the linear perception of time, and abstract awareness where everything is happening all at once.” 
That is, her work seems removed from time, therefore it takes on timeless characteristics of its own in its emergence into the haziness of dreams and like states, and the imagination of myth forged in mystical natural settings. Or, as Woods said, in that magical locale where “Once upon a time…” can become artistic reality. 

Woods’ presentation took place in a lecture room set up next to the Charles W. Lamar Studio where her stunning, colorful pieces were exhibited. A packed room of students from four PSC art classes, as well as faculty members and visitors from the community, listened to the presentation, which was augmented with slides of her paintings, along with classic artworks from which she has drawn inspiration.

“Her work is incredible, honestly,’’ said PSC graphic design student Ian O’Brien. “The way she makes colors pop out – her use of colors is incredible and seeing it in person is spectacular.”

PSC students from Anna Cavnar’s “Drawing II” class were among those in attendance. 

“It’s important for the students to see live work – to see the actually work in person,’’ Cavnar said. “It’s also good for them to hear artists talk about their work in a sophisticated way.” 

Cavnar’s own work is also on display at the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts as part of the PSC Art Faculty Exhibition. Other art faculty instructors in the exhibit are Micah Cain, Todd Duren, Mark Francis, Mark Hopkins, Julie McGrath, Jason Pinckard, Kristen Regan, Jimmy Rhea, Christopher White and PSC 
Visual Arts Department head Alaina Plowdrey.

The PSC Art Faculty Exhibit runs through Nov. 12.


— Troy Moon

PHOTOS: Artist Lauren Woods poses next to her painting, "The Breakup"; Woods delivers her lecture on her exhibit, "Dream State."
PSC honors retiring SkillsUSA adviser Jennifer Ponson
Jennifer Ponson helped Pensacola State College establish a SkillsUSA chapter in 2009. Ever since, her name has been synonymous with SkillsUSA in Northwest Florida, and throughout the state.

Ponson, a PSC alumnus, recently retired after working for the College for 33 years. In honor of her decades of service, the PSC Board of Trustees recently approved a Certificate of Commendation for her “unwavering commitment to excellence and outstanding leadership.”

Before becoming SkillsUSA adviser, Ponson began her PSC career in 1988 as an adjunct faculty member and director of the Dental Assisting program. 

In 1997, Ponson helped develop the PSC Health Career Fair for high school seniors. She also served as coordinator of PSC’s Student and Program Outreach in the early 2000s. 

But Ponson’s biggest mark has been with SkillsUSA. She brought the SkillsUSA Florida State Leadership and Skills Conference to Pensacola from 2012 to 2014 and again in 2018 through 2020.

In 2009, Ponson became SkillsUSA Florida Region 1 Coordinator – a position she held until her retirement. In 2020, Ponson was selected as Skills USA Champion of the Year for Florida’s Region 1. 

In 2014, she was named a Florida SkillsUSA Honorary Lifetime Member.  

PHOTO: Left to right, PSC President Ed Meadows; Marjorie Moore, chair, Board of Trustees; Jennifer Ponson; her husband, Randy Ponson.