BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Bradford County’s Chuck Kramer was one of the recipients at Santa Fe College Foundation’s Pillars of Service Awards luncheon, a May 23 event at the Hilton University of Florida that also encouraged attendees to support foundation scholarships.
Kramer, the general manager and morning personality at WEAG 106.3-FM, which he and his family own, joined the Climb for Cancer Foundation, Katie Belanger, Carrie Lee, Héctor Puig and Kristina Ramer as recipients of the inaugural awards. Pillars of Service replaces the longtime Women of Distinction awards program.
Portia Taylor, who retired as the college’s vice president of student affairs in 2012, provided the event’s welcoming remarks, saying, “These honorees represent the very best of us, enriching our communities, uplifting others and inspiring future generations. Their strength and their perseverance ripple outward, transforming lives and building stronger, healthier and hopeful communities.”
Attendees watched a video presentation that highlighted each honoree. Kramer talked about how Bradford County and Starke, in particular, were welcoming when he and his family moved from New Jersey in the fall of 1991.
“It’s a pleasure to be a part of the community,” Kramer said. “I’m involved in various organizations here.”
Brenda Thornton, a Starke Realtor and photographer, was interviewed, saying, “He literally is involved in so much in the community.” She added, “We’re just really proud of him.”
Also interviewed was Starke City Commissioner Bob Milner, who talked about how so many in the community count on Kramer each morning for local news and weather as well as to “find out what’s going on.”
In speaking of Kramer and his family, Milner said, “They have touched so many aspects of the Bradford County community and have been so effective in investing in others so that countless others in Bradford County have benefitted.”
Kramer, Milner and Thornton all talked of the death of Kramer’s daughter Danielle, who was killed at the age of 20 in a 2007 traffic accident.
“When that event happened, it was very heartbreaking for the family and the community,” Thornton said. “So many people just rallied around the Kramers. It really showed how much our community cares about them.”
Kramer said Cheryl Canova, the former director of the Santa Fe College Andrews Center in Starke, encouraged him and his wife, Mary, to endow a Santa Fe scholarship in Danielle’s name, which they did.
“Every two years, we’re always included in the (scholarship) selection process,” Kramer said.
Thornton said the scholarship is a plus for Bradford students who struggle to find the financial means to go to college.
“This is one avenue they can really count on to go to the next level,” Thornton said.
Santa Fe College President Paul Broadie, who spoke prior to the video presentation, said Kramer and his family are helping make students’ dreams come true, while also honoring the memory of their daughter, who was a Santa Fe student.
“When tragedy stuck his life, he and his family said, ‘I’m going to touch another life.’ They established a scholarship in the name of their daughter,” Broadie said, adding, “Her legacy lives on and has a tremendous impact.”
Teamwork makes Santa Fe a success
Broadie took the time to talk about the highlights of Santa Fe College, such as student success and its transfer rate of students to the University of Florida. He also mentioned that Santa Fe earned an award for workforce development and was one of two Florida public colleges to earn a new Opportunity for Colleges and Universities designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The Carnegie designation recognizes colleges “for excellence and being models for the nation for high access, high student success and high earnings for graduates,” Broadie said.
The credit, the president said, goes to many. First, he asked the faculty and staff members present to stand, saying, “We talk about our faculty, which is incredible day in and day out, having an impact. We talk about our staff — incredible, giving of themselves to advance someone else’s educational dreams. Incredible.”
Broadie also talked of the importance of the community through donations and partnerships that are “all focused on changing a life, taking helplessness and turning it into hope, and taking a dream and turning that dream into reality.”
“It’s all of us pulling on the rope in the same direction to have a transformational impact,” Broadie said.
Broadie thanked his board of trustees, which includes Bradford County’s Mike Goldwire and Jeff Oody. Emeritus trustees include Bradford’s Arley McRae and Lisa Prevatt.
“I get to serve with the most incredible trustees,” Broadie said. “I tell my colleagues all the time, ‘My trustees are better than yours.’”
The president gave kudos to Vice President for Advancement Sherry Houston and her team for “incredible organizing and planning and incredible leadership” regarding the Pillars of Service event and upcoming plans for celebrating the college’s 60th anniversary.
“For 59 years, we have been the community’s college,” Broadie said. “We will never stop being the community’s college.”
‘Be a hero,’ invest in SFC scholarships
The mission of the Santa Fe College Foundation is to inspire, cultivate and assist private donors to enrich students and the community through scholarships, program enhancements and facilities support.
Taylor spoke specifically on scholarships, saying, “We distribute almost 600 (scholarships) a year, with the value exceeding $1.6 million.
“At Santa Fe College, it costs approximately $2,500 per year to take classes toward an associate degree and a little over $3,000 toward the baccalaureate degree. Plus, you have lab fees. You have books. Then, you have some things that sometimes are just out of the students’ control. Much like our own economy, we have things that come up.
“These scholarships help our students.”
Taylor said every student has a dream — one that can become a reality through a scholarship.
“Your investment opens the door to educational opportunities, providing students with the keys to a better life and, in turn, enriching our communities,” Taylor said.
The return on a Santa Fe College Foundation investment is seen daily, Taylor said, mentioning some of the people we interact with, such as dental hygienists, nurses, EMTs, police officers and firefighters.
“The students we have now will continue to be in our communities and serve our communities,” Taylor said. “We need you to help our students.”
Those at the Pillars of Service luncheon were provided an opportunity to make a donation online via a provided QR code or to submit a check in a provided envelope.
“I want to thank you for your support in the past and thank you in advance for the support you’re going to give our students in the future,” Taylor said.
Please visit sfcollege.edu/foundation if you’d like to donate or to learn more about the Santa Fe College Foundation.
