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Ribbon cutting ceremony for the Flagler/Palm Coast Amphitheater, plus a check presentation for scholarships.Daytona State College Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Flagler/Palm Coast Campus Amphitheater

Daytona State College hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the renovated Allen Smolen Amphitheater at the Flagler/Palm Coast Campus on Wednesday, April 30. The event coincided with the kickoff of the 2025 Songwriters Festival and took place as part of a special charity show.

The Palm Coast Songwriters Festival also provided the DSC Foundation a $6,000 donation to support scholarships for students attending Daytona State College.

Renovations to the Allen Smolen Amphitheater included several major upgrades:

  • The roof over the audience seating area was expanded to provide additional reserved seating, with larger, more comfortable seats.
  • The roof over the stage was extended to cover the rear of the stage, creating a sheltered backstage area for performers and staff.
  • A new service drive was added, allowing performers to unload equipment directly behind the stage.
  • A restroom was installed in the Green Room for artists.
  • The stage received updated audio wiring, new audiovisual capabilities, upgraded LED performance lighting and modernized house lighting and controls.
  • The internal one-way campus road was expanded to two lanes to help ease event traffic on Palm Coast Parkway.
  • A new lighted sidewalk was added for pedestrian safety, and the area outside the amphitheater was expanded to accommodate food trucks and outdoor dining.

The total cost of the renovations was $3,310,026. Speakers at the ribbon cutting included DSC President Dr. Tom LoBasso, Dr. Randy Howard, chair of the DSC District Board of Trustees, and Garry Lubi, District Board of Trustees member.

 

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 Gregory Campbell

Honoring Employee Gregory Campbell

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

Gregory first joined the College part-time and became a full-time team member in February 2012 in Assessment. In November 2013, he brought his talents to the Admissions Office where he has been a constant source of support ever since. Whether he’s staying late to help a student in need or assisting a colleague with a complex situation, Gregory is always ready to lend a hand.

As the International Student Admissions Coordinator, his dedication to our international students is nothing short of remarkable. His warm and caring nature has made a lasting impression on students from around the globe—so much that many have gifted him meaningful tokens of appreciation from their home countries, which are proudly displayed in his office.

He earned his Associate of Arts at DSC in 2004 and a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Social Science in 2006 from Florida State University. Known for his kindness, reliability, and deep commitment to student success, Gregory is a valued and cherished member of the Admissions team. 

Please join us in congratulating Gregory for his outstanding service and commitment to our mission.

Outstanding Employee Rabecka Collins

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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