The digital magazine for faculty, staff, students and friends of Pensacola State College
January 19, 2021
You’ve seen the border fence surrounding the empty field across from the still-new Baars Technology Building on the Pensacola State College Pensacola campus.

That means construction on Phase II of PSC’s ambitious plan to replace the Mary Ellison Baars building is just around the corner.

PSC President Ed Meadows said groundbreaking would come sometime this spring, once the steel that has been ordered for the project arrives.

The new construction is Phase II of a construction project that replaces the 60-year-old Mary Ellison Baars Building, which was demolished in January 2019. Phase I was the construction of the $15 million Baars Technology Building, which opened in April, 2021. That 23,839-square-foot building is home to PSC STEM programs such as cybersecurity, computer science, math and other high-tech fields of study. 

The Phase II building will be 45,000 square feet. It will be also be home to cybersecurity classes, math, advanced technology and other STEM programs. Construction also will include a third-floor connector linking both Phase I and Phase II buildings. Depending on cost, a rooftop terrace is also planned on top of the Phase II building. The terrace then could be used as an event space.

Both Phase I and Phase II buildings were designed by Florida Architects and the Morette Company, a Pensacola-based construction firm, is the general contractor for the Phase II building. 

Meadows said the Baars Technology Building will not have to be closed during the Phase II construction, but the parking lot north of the building is closed and will remain closed through construction. 

“We owe a debt of gratitude to our local legislative delegation, and especially Sen. Doug Broxson (District 1, Republican),’’ Meadows said. “He really worked hard to help us secure these funds.”

Meadows said a name for the new building has not been announced, though a name will be presented to the PSC Board of Trustees meeting in February. 

A completion date for the building project has not been announced, however a timeline of 18 to 20 months is expected, Meadows said.

— Troy Moon
Two artists, two exhibitions, two receptions, one wonderful night
Artist Paula Work is joined at the reception for her new exhibition by PSC President Ed Meadows.
Meadows also attended the reception for the exhibition of artist Lauren Redding.
At opening celebrations, art lovers enjoy creations by artists Lauren Redding and Pensacola State College’s own Paula Work
Dozens and dozens of guests and visitors were mesmerized by two compelling, yet very different, art exhibitions at the Pensacola State College Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts on Jan. 14.

PSC hosted a reception for the artist of each exhibition – South Florida artist Lauren Redding and her “Interstellar Insulation” installation and PSC art instructor Paula Work and her “Anna Lamar Switzer Endowed Teaching Chair Exhibition.”

Redding’s work features a hybrid of classic and Old Master influence with modern spacecraft and astronaut portrayals. Her work is produced in silverpoint – a technique that was popular during the Renaissance. Silverpoint is a drawing media in which the artist uses silver wire in a stylus to produce images.

Work’s pieces are more pastoral and reflective and include reverent and elegant portrayals of animals in nature. Work was awarded the Anna Lamar Switzer Endowed Chair position three years ago, and the exhibition is the culmination of that position. 

While both exhibits opened on Jan. 6, the receptions were held a week later.

“If you’re having a hard time finding something you like in these two exhibitions, you might want to ask yourself some questions,’’ said PSC Gallery Coordinator Jason Pinckard. “There’s a lot to like here.” 

Work’s exhibition is on display in the Charles W. Lamar Studio Gallery through April 29. Redding’s exhibition will run through March 11 in the Switzer Gallery. 

Both artists mingled and talked with guests about subjects ranging from technique to artistic themes.
PSC art student Jay Reed-Wilson and a few friends spent a long time in the Switzer Gallery looking piece-by-piece at Redding’s intricate works, then were able to talk to the artist afterward.

“It’s so unique,’’ Reed-Wilson said. “I’m heavily interested in the historical aspects but I’m also really into space as well. It’s really interesting to see how she is able to use both themes together.” 

Redding said the use of the classic and the modern was meant to speak to the vast experience of human existence. 

“The technology comes and goes but we’re all kind of the same basic animal inside,’’ she said. “Hopefully this work speaks to that theme.” 

Work teaches drawing, painting and printmaking at PSC. She is also a College alumna.

Many of her students were among those who attended the reception. 

“Oh, my goodness, her work is amazing,’’ said PSC student Rachel Ordoqui who has taken two of Work’s classes. “I’m just blown away. We see her talent in class, but to see a whole collection of her work is just overwhelming. Wow! There’s no other words.” 

Work said her work is “extremely based on introspection,’’ especially in times of COVID-19 and pandemic.

“I’m trying to capture something – a reverence and peace,’’ she said. “The animals – they live in the moment. Hopefully, this captures that. There’s something about that resonates with me.” 

The Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts is open to the public 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday. 

There is no admission fee.

Details: 850-484-2550. 
Hassani Gravett, center right, with PSC basketball coach Pete Pena. Gravett, who now plays for the Lakeland Magic, played for PSC during the 2015-2016 season and was named the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year.
Former Pensacola State basketball star Hassani Gravett finishes attention-gaining stint with NBA’s Orlando Magic
When the Orlando Magic’s roster was devastated by COVID-19 in December, the NBA team called on former Pensacola State College basketball star Hassani Gravett to help. 

The Magic signed Gravett, a player for the Magic’s G League affiliate the Lakeland Magic, to two 10-day contracts. The first was signed on Dec. 17, 2021, and the second on Dec. 27, 2021. Both contracts have expired and Gravett is back with the Lakeland Magic. Still, Gravett made an impact with the NBA squad.

The Orlando Sentinel newspaper called Gravett “an unexpected bright spot in Magic’s depleted offense.” 

PSC men’s basketball coach Pete Pena, now in his 12th season, thinks Gravett will be seen in the NBA again.

“He played very well and had a great showing,’’ said Pena, who talked to Gravett “every other day” during his time with the Orlando Magic. “He even started a few games and I know the team was impressed with him.”

Gravett played in eight games – starting three – and averaged 6.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists – each game. The team’s record this season is 7 wins and 35 losses. The Magic were 2 and 6 during Gravett’s eight games. 

Gravett played for PSC during the 2015-2016 season and was named the Panhandle Conference Player of the Year. He then signed with the University of South Carolina and was a member of the Gamecocks’ 2017 NCAA Final Four team – South Carolina’s first appearance in the Final Four. 

South Carolina lost to Gonzaga University in its semi-final game. The University of North Carolina defeated Gonzaga in the championship game.

He is the first Pena-coached PSC player to play in the NBA. 

“I’m proud of what he’s accomplished as a player,’’ Pena said, “but I’m even more proud that he was 1st-team SEC Community Service Team, which recognized his volunteer work with the Special Olympics, Epworth Children’s Home, Palmetto Children’s Hospital, Wounded Warriors and many other ventures. 

“That’s one of our kids. That’s Pensacola State College. His unselfishness and generosity are truly outstanding. I’m very proud.” 
PSC Alumni Spotlight: Mike Ensley
Mike Ensley knows more famous people than you do. It’s a fact. 

But Ensley also has helped tens of thousands of Pensacola and Northwest Florida residents meet their pop culture heroes – from actors and musicians to professional wrestlers and authors.

Ensley, a Pensacola State College alumnus, is the founder and CEO of the hugely successful Pensacon comic/pop culture convention, an annual star-studded hootenanny that draws dozens and dozens of celebrities to town each year, along with tens of thousands of paying customers. 

The 2022 Pensacon is from Feb. 18-20. Most Pensacon events take place at the Pensacola Bay Center, though some will take place at other venues throughout Pensacola. 

Among the featured celebrity guests appearing this year are George Takei, Richard Dreyfuss, Lana Wood, Dylan McDermott, Giancarlo Esposito, P.J. Soles, Tom Arnold, Denis O’Hare, Michael Rooker, Samantha Mathis, Paul Jerricho and former boy band stars Joey Fatone (*NSYNC) and Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys). 

Be sure to check out the whole lineup at www.pensacon.com. There’s so much more – including Potsie (Anson Williams) and Ralph Malph (Donny Most) from “Happy Days”!

Past Pensacon guests include William Shatner, Jonathan Frakes, Nichelle Nichols, Anthony Michael Hall, Edward James Olmos, Weird Al Yankovic, Ed Asner and hundreds of other stars. 

Ensley debuted Pensacon in 2014. A lifelong horror, comic and pop culture fan, Ensley had attended many other comic conventions across the country and wanted to do something similar in Pensacola. 

“We had some smaller events here," Ensley said. “But no one did anything on a major scale. The time seemed right and people were hungry for it.”
Pensacon has since become one of Pensacola’s most popular community events, attracting thousands of locals as well as visitors from across the region and nation. 

“We’ve done it right," Ensley said. “Our reputation precedes us, and we treat our guests very well. That’s why we’re able to get such great people to come. It’s just continued to grow.”

Ensley is also a television personality. He is one of the hosts of “Nightmare Theatre," a locally-produced PBS show that airs on PBS affiliates nationwide. Ensley portrays the “minor demon” Baron Mondo Von Doren and he and his sidekicks – the masked wrestler El Sapo de Tempesto (Chip Chism) and pet werewolf Mittens (Lemmie Crews) ─ introduce old horror films and offer humorous commentary on the movies. The show debuted in 2001 and in 2018 Ensley was inducted into the Horror Host Hall of Fame. 

Ensley grew up in Pensacola and attended PSC – then Pensacola Junior College – from 1994 to 1996, earning an Associate of Arts degree. While at PSC, Ensley was Editor of the Corsair – the PSC student newspaper – for three semesters. 

“We did really well in the (college journalism) competitions going up against bigger schools," Ensley said. “I spent a lot of time at the Corsair and I think we put out a pretty good newspaper. (PSC) was a great school with a lot of amazing teachers and instructors. I had tremendous mentors, like Thom Botsford, and it was a good experience all around.” 

After graduating from PSC, Ensley earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Science from the University of West Florida.

He worked a couple of jobs after earning his degrees, but these days his fulltime job is Pensacon.

“It’s always hectic," Ensley said of organizing and overseeing Pensacon. “But we get into the New Year, it gets a little more hectic. But it’s worth it. I enjoy it and it’s something the community enjoys, but it is a lot of work.” 

PHOTOS — Top: Pensacon CEO Mike Ensley poses with "Weird" Al Yankovic; Bottom: Ensley, center, on the set of "Nightmare Theatre" with Chip Chism, left, and Lemmie Crews.
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