TORCH
The
FSU Panama City
4750 Collegiate Drive
Panama City, FL 32405
Toll-free 866-MyFSUPC
(850) 872-4750
www.pc.fsu.edu
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Panama City, FL
Permit No. 79
An Official Publication of Florida State University Panama City
In the March 2008 Issue…
• UCSI given innovation award in Tallahassee:
Text written by instructors wins, Page 4
• Fall Convocation celebrated in December:
142 students completed degrees, Page 5
• Exhibits add to Mesa Verde Commissioning:
Education students make contribution, Page 10
• Faculty get a first look at Academic Center:
New building nearing completion, Page 11
Local alumni flying high, page 8
FSU Circus by the Sea:
Coming this summer to Panama City Beach
GENTRY BAUMLINE
SPECIAL TO THE TORCH
Panama City Beach will soon welcome its
newest seasonal attraction – Circus by the
Sea, featuring the Florida State University
Flying High Circus. Designed to entertain
the young and the young at heart, Circus
by the Sea is bringing endearing family
entertainment to a destination known
primarily as a Spring Break getaway. A
long-time favorite beach town for college
students, Panama City Beach is excited
to add a true summer family amusement
option for the 4.5 million visitors who
flock to the area every year.
According to Circus Presenter Donald
Hamrick, the Circus by the Sea project has
been in the works since February of 2007.
An FSU alumnus with both a bachelor’s
and master’s degree in music, Hamrick’s
career history includes experience as both
performer and producer for a number of
touring shows. He approached the FSU
Flying High Circus about establishing
a Florida summer home. In a happy
coincidence, FSU was already considering
adding a Florida site, expanding beyond
Georgia’s Callaway Gardens, which has
hosted the performers for nearly half a
century.
“We were finally in a position to grow
into two summer homes, and we knew our
next location would have to be in Florida,”
said Mark Striffler, ass