Santa Fe College Announces the 2018 Women of Distinction and Women of Promise
Every March, Santa Fe College celebrates Women’s History Month by holding an annual ceremony lauding the achievements of women in our community.
“Women of Distinction” are women who have enriched the community through their contributions to the arts, business, education, social services, government, wellness or other philanthropic ventures in Alachua or Bradford County. These extraordinary women are examples for all women, balancing careers, families and community service, and making our community a better place for all.
SF also applauds the efforts of “Women of Promise”, young women in our community who are following in the footsteps of women before them, being involved in community activities while working toward a college degree in order to advance their professional aspirations.
The 2018 honorees are (from left) Grace Johns (Woman of Promise), Patricia “Patsy” Blount (Woman of Distinction), Carol “Brandi” Noegle (Women of Distinction), Victoria Maggard (Woman of Promise), Stacy Scott (Woman of Distinction) and Beverly Hardy (Woman of Distinction).
About the 2018 Women of Distinction and Women of Promise
Patricia “Patsy” Blount is animated when she describes her hands-on volunteer work with Kibble Cart, a Haile’s Angels Pet Rescue program that provides pet food to people in the Meals on Wheels program. The Kibble Cart is a new example of how Blount uses her skills as a community leader to help others. The Junior League of Gainesville, Haven Hospice Attic, American Heart Association, Girl Scouts, PACE Center for Girls and Santa Fe College (SF) are just a few of the organizations that have benefited from her volunteer work.
With her late husband, Charley—for whom SF’s downtown Gainesville center is named—Patsy has been involved with Santa Fe College for many years.
Blount mentions SF’s expansion from a two-year to a four-year school as one of the biggest changes she has noticed. “What hasn’t changed is Santa Fe College’s impact as the community’s college.”
In 2019, Beverly Hardy will become the president of Altrusa International, Inc. The service club, which grew out of the women’s suffrage movement in 1917, focuses on developing the leadership skills of its members and improving the lives of people in the U.S. and around the world.
In Starke, the relatively young club of Altrusa has created over $100,000 of endowed scholarships to Santa Fe College that enable nontraditional students to attend classes at the Andrews Center. “These scholarships and Santa Fe College change people’s lives,” Hardy said, “because they enable people who couldn’t attend college otherwise to get an education. Maybe they’re single moms or maybe they’re married with kids in school, but they’re people who couldn’t commute to attend college farther away.”
In addition to running Noegel’s Auto Sales in Starke, Carol “Brandi” Noegel is heavily involved in fundraising and community service. In 2008, she honored her late husband, Larry Noegel - who had served on the board of the Santa Fe College (SF) Foundation - by establishing a scholarship in his name at SF. With the Altrusa Club of Starke and the Rotary Club of Starke, she has raised funds for additional scholarships. She serves on the boards of Supporters of Sheltered Animals of Starke and the Santa Fe College Foundation.
Brandi was instrumental in bringing Teen Court, a program designed for youth who are first-time misdemeanor offenders, to Bradford County. “It took a lot of effort to get Teen Court established but when you know you are doing the right thing, you will fight for it. Two judges helped by encouraging us and we were eventually successful.”
Stacy Scott earned her undergraduate degree in anthropology and a law degree, both from the University of Florida. She currently serves as Public Defender for Florida’s Eighth Judicial Circuit, an area that spans six counties. She is the first woman to be elected to that position.
Scott’s compassion is evident in her community service work that includes mentoring a high school student, coaching the UF Law School’s trial practice team, helping homeless people and veterans find answers to their legal questions. A member of Gainesville Rotary, she exemplifies the Rotarians’ commitment to “service above self.” She serves on the board of directors of PACE Center For Girls and is a member of United Church of Gainesville.
“The glass ceiling is glass and can be shattered by anyone, maybe one of these young women who are students at Santa Fe College now.”
2018 Women of Promise
Grace Johns has built an impressive list of awards, leadership and volunteer activities. She has been class president in her sophomore, junior and senior years at Bradford High School; a member of Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) for four years; member of Girls With Pearls, a community service organization; Educational Talent Search and National Honor Society.
Johns has taken classes since her freshman year at the Andrews Center in Starke through Santa Fe College’s dual enrollment program.
“We try to send a message that using tobacco isn’t good for you,” Johns said while describing her involvement with SWAT. “We also talk about the dangers of e-cigarettes.” In 2017, Johns was chosen to address the Bradford County Legislative Delegation about the work of SWAT and the dangers of tobacco use.
After graduating from SF, Johns wants to major in political science at the University of Florida and attend law school.
The challenges that Victoria Maggard has faced in her young life have made her strong and determined to meet her goals which include getting a college education, preparing for a career in radiology, and gaining custody of her brothers and sisters who are now in foster care.
Maggard grew up in foster homes throughout Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and West Virginia. “My primary motivation is to help my brothers and sisters, to be a role model to show that whatever happens to you, you can be a bigger person,”
She wants to earn a degree in radiography from SF and her long-term goal is to attend the University of Florida to become a radiologist.
Maggard advises young women who may be facing tough challenges to “volunteer, get involved. Don’t be selfish; you have to care about other people too.”