Four Crossed Logs: New recreational activities to foster student interaction

FSU PC staff determined to cultivate student connection, campus events

Sports and student activities are a huge draw for potential students at all colleges. Florida State University Panama City does not have the luxury of having nationally recognized sports teams to attract students, however, they make up for this lack of recognition with staff and faculty who are determined to make every student’s experience on this campus rewarding and fulfilling.

Like with any good community or business, it starts at the top. Dean Randy Hanna has been on a mission to make the students’ time on campus enjoyable and fulfilling from the day he came aboard.

“He is literally almost like a student at heart,” said Student Government Council Program Coordinator and Advisor, Mikey Smith. “He has been great to work with and especially right now it is a great time to be a student here with him as our dean.”

This type of leadership is encouraging to someone like Smith who sees how beneficial recreational events can be to a campus.

“It gives students an opportunity to meet outside the classroom,” Smith said. “When they leave college I want them to have met people with different majors or have gotten to know the students in their major even better. Because, when you get out in the real world it is really amazing how many people I met in college I still stay connected with, and how we help each other out in the workplace on top of just being friends and I think sports can foster that.”

Smith also recognized that this campus has a lot of potential for growth and explained that growth will yield new and exciting opportunities for students.

Smith noted that earlier in the campus’ history when it only admitted juniors and seniors it was a significantly older campus, but now with freshmen as young as 17 having an impact on campus, it creates new pathways for more recreational activities.

Some upcoming events on campus include the possible formation of a bass team and a track club. SGC will also host a paddle boarding event for students in the weeks following spring break.

For more information about upcoming campus events, email Mikey Smith at mjsmith2@fsu.edu.