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Honoring Lloyd Freckleton 

Dr. LoBasso and the trustees recognize Lloyd Freckleton.

Lloyd Freckleton was recognized by the College and fellow District Board of Trustee members for his 14 years of service.  

Freckleton, first appointed to the board in 2011, served as vice chair from 2013 to 2014 and as chair from 2014 to 2015. During his tenure, the College completed several major projects, including construction of the L. Gale Lemerand Student Center, the Student Residence Hall, the Soccer Stadium, new classroom buildings at the Flagler/Palm Coast and Deltona campuses, and new facilities for the Law Enforcement Academy in DeLand. 

He also supported the expansion of academic programs, including bachelor’s degrees in Engineering Technology, Nursing, Information Technology, Accounting and Cardiopulmonary Science. Freckleton was an advocate for keeping tuition affordable and supporting Florida’s 2+2 system, which helps students easily move from a two-year degree to a four-year program.

Away from the boardroom, Freckleton was a familiar face at Falcon athletic events, where he often cheered from the stands.

The Board of Trustees honored his contributions with a Resolution of Appreciation during its Aug. 21 meeting.

 

Expanding the On-Campus Living Experience

DSC's second residence hall renderingOur capital campaign to build a second student residence hall on the Daytona Beach Campus is underway and you are invited to help our students!

 

The new facility, which is expected to house approximately 256 students, could open as early as Fall 2026.

Our first residence hall has been a resounding success. It opened to full capacity in Fall 2022. It is already at full capacity for the upcoming academic year. And we have received more than 1,000 student housing applications in less than one year. 

When we began studying the possibility of building housing on campus in 2018, a study we commissioned showed the college could support more than 500 students. Initial plans for the second residence hall call for approximately 52,000 square feet of space and approximately 256 beds.

We know that students who live on campus are more engaged with their instructors, utilize academic support systems more frequently, and participate more in on-campus activities.

With the DSC Foundation, we’re launching a $16 million capital campaign. Donations from the community will ensure our residence hall will be an affordable and accessible option for students. We need your support. Make your gift here, or contact the Daytona State College Foundation at Foundation@DaytonaState.edu or by calling (386) 506-3195.

You can learn more at the new residence hall web page and keep tabs on the campaign’s progress. 

Fundraising campaign thermometer

Outstanding Employee Samantha Stern

Honoring Employee Samantha Stern

It is with great pleasure that we share news of Samantha Stern receiving a Service Excellence Award this week at our Senior Executive Staff meeting.

Samantha joined us in 2012 and serves as professor, Director of Theatre and Assistant Chair of the School of Humanities. Her performing arts experience extends back to Curtis High School in Staten Island, continued through her time at Cornell where she majored in Communication and minored in Japanese and then earned a Master of Fine Arts at UCF on a scholarship in their conservatory program.

Samantha values connection and encourages students to embrace uncertainty – to live in the moment, like improv – and reminds them of the power of genuine, human interaction in a world dominated by social media. Her classroom is a place where students connect with each other, with themselves and with the work. She extended that same spirit to faculty and staff earlier this year through the community-building production of Our Town.

Samantha takes great pleasure in selecting new productions, exploring different styles and watching students surprise themselves with what they can achieve. She creates a welcoming environment in every way – even rearranging her office so students have space to gather, not just to discuss class but to share their lives.

Samantha is a mentor, guide and champion for the arts and for our students. Her dedication, leadership and commitment to theater education, student success and community engagement have left an indelible mark on Daytona State College.

Please join us in congratulating Samantha for her outstanding service and commitment to our mission.



Outstanding Employee Rabecka Collin

Honoring Employee Rabecka Collins

It is with great pleasure that we share news of Rabecka Collins receiving a Service Excellence Award this week at our Senior Executive Staff meeting.

Rabecka joined us as a work-study student in 2005 when we were still Daytona Beach Community College. Balancing full-time work and parenting, she earned her Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies and her Masters in Career and Technical Education from the University of Central Florida.

Rabecka served as a Transitional Specialist for TRiO SSS from 2011 to 2016, then as CCAMPIS Childcare Grant Project Director through 2022. That same year, she became Director of the Falcon HOPE Center where she continues to lead with compassion, innovation and a deep commitment to student well-being.

In her current role, Rabecka oversees programs and initiatives focused on meeting students’ basic needs, including the food pantry, clothing closet, childcare assistance, transportation assistance, textbook lending library and much more.

Her recent accomplishments include establishing the family-friendly Falcon’s Nest study space that welcomes nearly 100 student-parents annually and securing a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank to support pantry operations while reducing costs. In 2024 alone, the Falcon HOPE Center delivered over 15,000 services, directly helping students stay on track toward graduation. Under Rabecka’s leadership, the Center has grown in impact and reach – engaging more students and meeting more needs than ever before.

She co-authored the College’s Quality Enhancement Plan COMPASS, which through the Mentorship Program and our partnership with SLS 1122 classes, has provided mentorship to nearly 400 students and logged over 16,000 hours of mentorship.

Rabecka has also received well-deserved recognition beyond campus, including the 2023 Volusia/Flagler Top 40 Under 40 Award and the 2023 NISOD Excellence Award. She has dedicated her career to enhancing student support and is a proud champion of the Daytona State College mission.

Please join us in congratulating Rebecca for her outstanding service and commitment to our mission.

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