VOLUME 9 | ISSUE 1
WWW. READMYBEACON.COM
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012
the
PBA club, The Boarder Patrol, looks to expand ministry and unite those with a similar commonality. P. 4
EYE WITNESS RECOUNTS TRAGEDY OF 9/11 P. 3
NEW YEAR NEW LOOK
MARIELA QUESADA: THE LONE SENIOR P. 6
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LOCAL NEWS
Obama urges crowd ‘forward’
ALL PHOTOS BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
Hot on the campaign trail: President Obama greets the fans behind him at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. West Palm was the final stop on his two day bus tour in Florida, where he talked about the two fundamentally different views.
By Chris Hernandez Managing Editor The 90 degree temperature and Florida humidity did not stop roughly 6,000 people from standing in line to see President Barack Obama at the Palm Beach County Convention Center Sunday, Sept. 9. West Palm Beach was the last stop for Obama on his two-day Florida bus tour. The speech was a grassroots event that opened to the public three days prior. The tickets were free and lines stretched across several blocks outside the Palm Beach distribution center on Dixie Highway. Outside the convention center that Sunday, Obama and Romey supporters took their stands on opposite sides of Okeechobee. On one side, a man held up a sign that read “Obama is the biggest liar” and, on the other, a man sported a shirt that read “Barack Obama, I got your back.” During the wait to get inside, patrons weren’t allowed to enter until 2:30 p.m., one of the signs from a Romney supporter blew off into the wind, causing the Obama side to cheer in yells of “four more years, four more years.” Once inside, the mood was just as electric. Though the ceremony wouldn’t start for another hour and a half, people dressed in tie-dye Bama girl shirts, American flag ensembles and classy shirts cheered and danced to songs by Gwen Stefani and Bruce Springsteen. The crowd burst into song when Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” blared through the speakers, reminding Obama supporters of the time he sang the song during a charity event in New York in January. Before the president took the stage, West Palm Beach Mayor Jerry
Muoio, Fla. Senator Bill Nelson and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, congresswoman and chair of the Democratic National Convention, attempted to fire up the crowd with praises for the president. “We win Florida,” said Schultz, “we win this election. No one will work harder than us.” After Schultz exited the stage, a calm spirit took the crowd as a man dressed in a blue button-down and sunglasses came unto the stage. Back turned to the audience, he placed the presidential seal onto the podium. When the seal was revealed, the crowd began to shout out “Obama.” Appearing for behind a curtain backstage, Obama appeared, sleeves rolled up, sweat along his brow and his signature grin locked. The president’s speech focused on the choice facing Floridians this upcoming election: a choice between two fundamentally different plans for the nation. “Which direction do we go?” asked Obama. Along with the crowd, the president said, “Forward.” After some discussion about how the Republican Party doesn’t seem to like him, a comedic moment ensued. As the words about his rival party came out, the crowd began to boo. Obama silenced the crowd. “Oh no, don’t boo,” he said. “Vote.” Throughout the afternoon, the president consistently brought the conversation back to the people, seemingly tapping into the grassroots nature of the audience. “So far the other side has talked a lot about me,” the president said, “but not about you.” In closing, Obama connected back to his first campaign and asked for the people to follow him, even alluding to Abraham Lincoln. “Four years ago, you believed,” he said. “We got a long way to go and on a journey we get tired. We can’t buy into cynicism. If you don’t believe it won’t happen.”
Showing support: Local voters voice their opinion in favor of Republican nominee Mitt Romney as supporters of President Barack Obama filter into the convention center.
Big changes to CityPlace By Tyann Mullen Staff Writer CityPlace, which opened in 2000 and has more than 100 shops and dining options, is receiving a major facelift this year with the grand opening of three new restaurants and an upscale bowling alley. The 72-acre entertainment hotspot has spent the last few months tearing down and relocating shops and restaurants to make room for its biggest venture yet, Revolutions, a 20-lane bowling alley complete with a bar and grille. It will be located on the corner of Rosemary Avenue and Fern Street across from the Publix Super Market. The move directly affected eight stores, some of which are relocating to nearby centers. Those that are relocating are Taco Vida, Belis, Run and Roll, Bikini Style Ocean Drive, Primo Comfort, and Puppies in Paradise. EG Squared and Lane Bryant closed their locations completely, although Lane Bryant stores are still open throughout the country. The main goal for the new entertainment venue is to bring more options for family entertainment to CityPlace. The indoor facility will also
include a sports theater and video arcade, and it will offer daytime leagues to sign up for. Frank Entertainment Companies, based in Jupiter, is in control of the new addition as well as over 30 entertainment venues along the East Coast. Director of marketing Michelle Guillery explained that the focus of the group is to provide family entertainment in a safe setting. “We are aware of the ongoing concerns about safety in CityPlace and will be sure to enforce rules and regulations that must be abided by in our complex,” she said. Prices for the bowling alley have not yet been set. There will not be a curfew at night for patrons under the age of 21. Plans to introduce promotions for college students and other incentives are still uncertain. Surrounding CityPlace, retailers are excited for the new business, but are still curious about the crowd it might bring to their shops. Puppies in Paradise owner Laurie Verme is looking forward to more business coming through from the bowling alley, but will remain extra cautious. “It would be great to have more customers as long as they safe and
behave around the animals,” she said. The store showcases puppies for sale but shoppers are not allowed to touch them. Puppies in Paradise’s original location was given to the bowling alley as Puppies in Paradise moved across the street. CityPlace is also introducing several other restaurants before the end of the year. Mellow Mushroom, a Georgia-based pizza company known for its different menu selections such as the Maui Wowie and Thai Dye pizza pie, plans to fire up its ovens in early December in the spot previously occupied by Kona Grill. The nearest Mellow Mushroom was in Delray Beach, a 30 minute drive away. The close proximity of the restaurant presents an easy walk for Palm Beach Atlantic University students. Two other new restaurants will also be making their debut this year. Mojito Latin Cuisine & Bar will fill Carlos and Charlie’s old spot and Pampas Grille will occupy former McCormick and Schmick’s location. With new restaurants brings the possibility of employment for PBA students.
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Rebuilding, remembering PBA student Elexenia Moya helped in the building process of the memorial dedicated to her former office building after the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01. By Cash W. Lambert Local News Editor “Do you think I want to see the airplane when it comes through the building?” asked Elexenia Moya, when her supervisor questioned why she had moved her desk away from the massive glass window of the 72nd floor of Tower One in the World Trade Center. At first, it was just a thought. Years later, that thought turned into divine intervention on Sept. 10, 2001 for Moya, now pursuing a nursing degree at Palm Beach Atlantic University. “I just didn’t feel right about going into work the next day,” she said. “The feeling gnawed at me.” Moya worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey alongside her sister, Mercedes Gomez, who worked on the same floor. On the eve of the death of more than 3,000 people in the largest terrorist attack on American soil since the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Moya called Gomez and adamantly told her not go into work the following day. “My sister would never pick up her phone after 9 p.m.,” said Moya. “She would usually turn it off, but that night she picked up and I told her to not go into work.”
A chaotic and dusty morning
As Gomez walked into Tower One the next morning, Moya drove the sister’s children to school. She returned home to find the same image on all television stations – smoke pouring out of her office with her sister inside of it. While the nation watched in horror as a second plane flew into the second tower, Moya scrambled to contact her sister, not knowing if she was alive. “I called her desk, cell phone, nothing,” said Moya. “I had to gather my bearings and realize what was actually happening.” She quickly met with family as sirens echoed and screamed through the streets of Manhattan. “We finally got a phone call from her, and all she said was ‘I’m ok, I’m ok’ and the phone went dead.” That night, around 6 p.m., Gomez called and asked to be picked up at Long Island Railroad in Jamaica station. Moya’s brother-in-law and nephew met Gomez and brought her back to her house, filled with family. Although covered in dust, she immediately embraced her family and wept. Gomez told Moya, “I needed you there today,” to which Moya responded “God kept us apart. If I would have been there, we both would have died.” After speaking with Gomez, the family learned that she had been at her desk when the first plane hit about 10 to 15 stories above her floor. “The building was made to sway since it was so tall, but that day I felt it move hard,” recalled Gomez. “My chair tilted and I almost fell out of my seat. That’s when I looked out the window and saw pieces of the building falling.” Her supervisors had told her to stay seated and that in the event of an emergency they would evacuate. But Gomez quickly decided to leave, a split-second decision that saved her life. “The fear of not knowing what was happening and seeing debris scared me and pushed me to escape faster,” she said. “I didn’t want to stay there and wait; I needed to get out. I made some co-workers come with me but others wanted to stay behind.” Gomez raced down the staircase of Tower One, watching firemen race up the stairs. “It was sad seeing firemen, young and old, going up and I wondered if they would make it down alive,” she said. Making it safely out of Tower One, she called her family just as the
ALL PHOTOS BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON Remembering 9/11: Top left, Elexenia Moya holds the photo of her family in front of the World Trade Centers. Bottom left, Moya unrolls a poster detailing the American flag and the debris from the fallen towers. Right, Moya holds her required saftey hat she wore during the construction of the 9/11 memorial.
tower collapsed, barely getting out a sentence. To Gomez, it sounded “big and indescribable, like the earth was opening from underneath us.” Gomez described the cloud of dust from the fallen towers that swept through downtown Manhattan, consuming everything in its path, as “it’s almost like we were blind, not knowing what is happening around you but hearing loud explosions.”
Picking up the pieces
“The smell of burning flesh lingered for days, even months,” said Moya. “There was a feeling of death throughout the city.” For Moya, Gomez, and other survivors, the gaping hole in the middle of Manhattan became a grave site for friends, family, and acquaintances. “I saw missing pictures on the streets for the woman who brought us mail in the office, for the security guard I saw every morning, and for our supervisors,” said Moya. “They all died.” Grief continued for Moya as debris was cleared at Ground Zero and the rebuilding process began. On a bitterly cold day in November, she returned to survey the site of her old office building, working as a document control manager. “I stopped, and looked up at where the buildings used to be and thought, Oh my God, where did all these people go? Is the dust on my jacket part of them?”
A $10,000 idea
PHOTO BY NICOLE SAUNDERS
Creating a future: Jared Reuter holding his check that kick started Toodol.
PBA alum Jared Reuter is turning his business plan into a reality, launching Toodol from the PBA campus into the community. By Nicole Saunders Staff Writer While walking to one of his marketing classes in the Rinker School of Business at Palm Beach Atlantic University, senior marketing major Jared
Reuter noticed a flyer advertising the first J.J.’s Entrepreneurship contest. The flyer immediately caught Reuter’s eyes for two reasons: Firstly, people used to call him “J.J.” Secondly, the cash prize of the $10,000 start-up fund for the first place winner was highly attractive. Throughout the next month, Reuter spent over 50 hours perfecting a business plan for Toodol, a website for users to freely find, post, and share events by using social media. Reuter described Toodol as a site that “allows for its users to access the site, find events going on in their area, invite their friends, and experience events that people would usually not be aware of.” After squeezing through the first round business plan, Reuter advanced to the presentation portion of the contest. “I had so much confidence in my presentation and my product that I knew I would be tough to beat,” said Reuter. Such a sense of calmness, coupled with dedication and faith, paid off for Reuter as he was later announced first prize winner of the J.J.’s Entrepreneurs Competition, enabling him to turn Toodol into a profitable reality. Reuter’s childhood friend, Adam Frye, drove down that night from Orlando to see the presentation. “Adam has always helped to stir the creative juices between the two of us with any business project we are working on,” said Reuter. Having a positive relationship with a professor can be just as beneficial as a friendship. Reuter cited Assistant Professor of Business and Entrepreneurship Dr. Jeff Kennedy as one, and although Dr. Kennedy did not help with the Toodol project, the two would openly discuss conceptual endeavors all the time. “Dr. Kennedy has some great ideas for products he wants to deliver to the market, some of which he allowed me to help be at the start of,” said Reuter. “This friendship we formed and the experience he shared helped me go from concept to completion.” The founder of Toodol has also shown a keen interest in entrepreneurship from a young age, explaining that he’s been meticulously watching and learning from Dallas Mavericks owner and television show host of
She returned the next day, telling herself that she and the rest of New York City must overcome the constant fear and anxiety that Ground Zero generates. “Instead of a feeling of mourning, I started feeling like I was making it better, working with the project managers of the 9/11 Memorial,” she said. “I felt I was doing something for the city.” Eleven years later, Moya and Gomez both have eerie artifacts from the towers that make it seem like just yesterday they were working in the 110-story buildings. With tears in her eyes, Moya reached into her bag and pulled out a hard hat she had worn during the rebuilding efforts, along with small marble plaques that surround the 9/11 Memorial, her ID badge for Tower One, and her office keys that have “World Trade Center” engraved. Gomez saved and stored her clothes from Sept. 11, which remain dusty from the collapse of the Towers. “I have a portrait of my family when I was about 4 or 5, and we’re all standing in front of the Towers smiling,” said Moya. “Never in my mind did I dream I would work there or even that the Towers would come down. But my path and your path is guided for a specific reason. It’s almost as if you’re following the pattern set out for you, and who knows where it may lead.”
“Shark Tank” judge Mark Cuban because “Shark Tank” “shows all of the business endeavors Cuban is a part of by allowing people to pitch business ideas to him, much like what I went through with the JJ Entrepreneurship Contest,” said Reuter. Entrepreneurs are known to take risks and strive to perfect a product or service they believe can successfully fill a market gap. In a make-or-break work environment, it’s the successful business people who take constructive criticism and learn from their mistakes. During Reuter’s sophomore year at PBA, he attempted to start “Reuter’s Relaxation Station,” a business spa “where business people could come and nap and reenergize during their lunch breaks,” according to Reuter. Although “Reuter’s Relaxation Station” did not expand, “the experience of starting a business from nothing to something prepared me for the process I went through with Toodol,” he explained. “When an idea falls through, we should reflect on what mistakes were made, what should be done differently to mitigate future risks, and we should use the lessons to achieve our aspirations,” he said. Reuter’s biggest risk immediately followed winning the contest and the big cash prize. He was offered a sales/customer relations job with the Chicago Bulls, but turned it down to make Toodol his number-one priority, something he thinks was the right decision.
EVENTS Yoga: Sept. 18 - WPB Library - 5:45 p.m. Learn to paint: Sept. 17 WPB Library - 6 p.m.
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CAMPUS NEWS Fellowship of the board The Boarder Patrol, a club at PBA focused on board sports, received roughly 150 at club rush this year. The club hopes to expand its ministry. By Chris Hernandez Managing Editor When junior Jonny Vignola stands on top of a hill with his board, the experience is almost like getting on a rollercoaster. There is a buildup of anticipation until a surge of adrenaline begins to course through his veins, as the board begins to reach high speeds. “Once you hit the peak you let go,” Vignola says. “You just have to go for it.” Forming The Boarder Patrol Vignola is one of seven officers for a club at Palm Beach Atlantic University called “The Boarder Patrol.” The Boarder Patrol is a club that taps into the ever growing popularity of longboarding, surfing, skateboarding and, according to Vignola, more recently, some scootering. This year, longboards, like cars and bikes on campus, can be decaled. At the previous two club rushes, one during Welcome Week and the other on Sept. 10 for Connection Week, about 160 people signed up to be a part of the club. “It’s popular because it’s a really good release,” says Rob Guinta, a sophomore at PBA and the club’s founder. Guinta, who likes defining physics, believes that certain principles can be attributed to boarding. “Board sports are all about finding balance,” says Guinta. “It’s not about fighting the world; it’s about finding how it works.” Guinta began longboarding his first few weeks at PBA last year. Beforehand, he had had prior experience in freestyle skiing but was relatively green when it came to other board sports. Guinta recalls a moment last year when Vignola and Jordan DeGraff, another officer in the club, told him to grab his skateboard and head out with them to the top of Oceanview garage. For Guinta, the steep inclines were tough, since he had not boarded before, but he welcomed the challenge. “I liked the fact I was longboarding with people better than me,” he says. “That’s how you grow.” As Guinta began to grow to appreciate boarding and sense a commonality between him and a lot of other admirers on campus, Guinta
ALL PHOTOS BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
felt a need to bring the boarders together. “I started The Boarder Patrol primarily to unite PBAU through longboarding, skim boarding, surfing,” he says, “to get the freshmen, commuters and seniors united under one common interest.” After learning there wasn’t already a club like that on campus, Guinta went through the process of starting a club, and The Boarder Patrol was born. Iron Sharpens Iron Since beginning last year, the club has gone through a metamorphosis, departing from an original intent of hanging out to focusing more on their ministry. “Last year this was just for fun,” says Vignola. “Now, we want to pour into others.” The push toward ministry occurred because of some things the officers would notice during sign-ups. According to Guinta, people would sign up for the club and “bail.” He believes this was due to the fear of vulnerability. Guinta says that when people first start out boarding, they are going to fall in front of people. Most of the officers of The Boarder Patrol would agree that falling is not always the safest place to be in the world of board sports. “Boarding can be a selfish sport,” says De Graaf. “Skate parks are full of swearing, tearing people down—it’s all about who’s the best.” For Guinta, The Boarder Patrol is about promoting an atmosphere of encouragement since most of the people who sign up are beginners. “No one should be left behind,” says Guinta. “We will teach you until you have it.” At the beginning of the school year, the officers of the club met to discuss a club verse. This year, they chose Proverbs 27:17 from the New Living Translation of the Bible. The Scripture reads, “as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” During sign-ups this year, the group added a new section for skill level on the signup in order to better know the people in their club and what kind of attention they will need. Another place that the group would like to grow in is their service to the greater community of downtown West Palm Beach. Last year, the club held its first annual Royal Palm Bomb that contributed proceeds to Relay for Life. This year, according to Vignola, one of the things the group wants to do is help disabled kids learn how to board. De Graaf would also like to see the club continue to witness to the city. “There are about 10 to 15 local guys who show up when we go out skim boarding,” says De Graaf. “It gives us a chance to get to know them. They see our group is different.” The Boarder Patrol ministry is not only a boys club. Emilee Belk, a sophomore at PBA, is one of two female officers for the Boarder Patrol. She sees this as an opportunity to pour into girls on campus in a unique way.
The new logo for the group, according to Vignola, will contain waves to signify surfing and skim boarding, a lugbolt to signify a board and a cross in the center. “Christ is going to be the center of our ministry,” he says.
For all the officers, boarding is a way to connect to God. “It definitely can be a spiritual experience,” says Vignola. “There’s something about cruising on a longboard, a sweet line, freeing movement, the perfect wave. Just you, yourself and nature.” “Sometimes I’ve been out surfing,” Guinta adds, “and at times the current will be too strong or there would be a huge wave. Though I know my own boundaries, I also know God has my back. God gives me the strength to persevere.” De Graaf ’s favorite time to go boarding is when the sun begins to peak up. “For me, I use it (boarding) like reflection time, personal time with God. When I’m out in the water relaxing, I enjoy his creation,” he says. “For me, a wave is the most beautiful thing. That time is time to pray and be filled up by him.” Sick bro: Jonny Vignola (center) is an officer for the PBA club The Boarder Patrol along with Paul Graves (left). When describing longboarding, Vignola says, “Once you hit the peak you let go. You just have to go for it.”
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Wittler shows faith by design By Caroline Case Staff Writer Amongst the rich red rocks, gloriously towering pine trees, and purplepink painted skies, Chelsey Wittler is at home. Wittler, a senior at Palm Beach Atlantic University, is from Arizona, a state which she lovingly calls “the best thing ever.” It is within her home state that Wittler finds peace and inspiration. She is a self-described outdoorsy girl. According to Wittler, the outdoors perfectly wrap up what is important to her in life: God and His majestic beauty. The enchanting woods allow her to self-reflect, to contemplate her journey as a young woman; they inspire her to create what she feels she has been called to do: art. Wittler has always loved art. Her dad is very talented at art, and her family encourages her to pursue her passion within the field. When she was a little girl, Wittler used to draw a picture for her dad before he left for work. By the time he came home, the picture was colored in. On the back, he’d write a sweet note to his daughter. Such was a tradition between Wittler and her dad. Wittler never recognized her raw passion for art until high school. While taking a sip of her iced chai latte, Whittler recalls doodling on all her notebooks during class. This realization lead her to declare her major, Graphic Design. While at PBA, Wittler has had the opportunity to work with the people at the Anchor, creating the posters for their events. The posters display photographs--sometimes of nature scenes while other times of fun shapes. When she came to PBA, the job of creating the Anchor posters had never crossed her mind. In fact, she merely stumbled upon the work last year. Wittler prayed the Lord would give her a way to serve Him and make a difference at school. Gary Pellegrino, another student at PBA, got Wittler involved with The Anchor. Pellegrino used to design the posters, but he passed the torch to Wittler. Wittler is currently in the process of training someone else when she graduates this fall. Wittler respects her role in a team that she describes pays attention to details in their own individual fields in order to act as stewards for the Kingdom. This past summer, Wittler was able to use her talents during a design internship for American Bible Society (ABS) in Philadelphia, Penn. “Living in Philly made me realize even that every place has something beautifully unique to offer/appreciate and wonderful people to get to know and do life with,” she says. “Moving to a place where you know absolutely no one is a great opportunity to get alone with Jesus. And over time, you make friends.” ABS put Wittler to work right away, designing logos for an initiative called The Trauma Heling Institute, which focuses on bringing the word of God to individuals in other nations suffering from traumatic events. Besides her logo work, Wittler also had the opportunity to work on printed materials for marketing, learn the printing process and the importance of paper selection. “(Paper selection) may sound boring, but this summer I had never been so inspired by paper before,” she says. “I know, weird right?” Though she had an amazing time at ABS, working for a more secular organization in the future wouldn’t be the last thing on Wittler’s mind.
PHOTO BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
Faith by design: Chelsey Wittler (above), a senior graphic design major at Palm Beach Atlantic University, creates the posters (below) for PBA’s Thursday worship night,
“There is such a great need in the secular marketing/ design industry for creators with integrity and that follow Jesus. Graphic designers need Jesus too,” she says. “I think working for a secular design firm or organization is a great missions opportunity to reach out to coworkers and demonstrate a good work ethic. There are so many great individuals who come from various backgrounds to get to know.” With her graduation on deck for this fall, Wittler remains open about where she feels God would lead her. Her one certainty is that worship will be the cornerstone of what she does. “Everything we do is worship to God, including design. I truly believe, that as a Christian artist, my art should mirror the creator by the effort I put towards the quality and excellence of the work. “Even if a design is not depicting a Biblical scene, beauty still points to the Creator. I pray that my work, even if it is not directly correlated to a Biblical narrative will impact others- but really, that is God’s job. He would be the one speaking to their hearts, and if He does it through my art, that is awesome,” she says.
Street Soldiers serve homeless
PHOTO BY CHRISTI LESTER. EDIT BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON
Sunday meal: Every Sunday, Phoebe attends a worship service at the Phillips Point building. The service is held by Street Soldiers Ministries, a homeless ministry founded
By Megan Human Staff Writer At a small park next to the Phillips Point building, several blocks away from the Palm Beach Atlantic University campus, volunteers and their “street family” gather and crowd around a small plastic table covered in barbeque pulled pork. A set of speakers has been placed next to the table and many members of the “street family” mouth the words to the spiritual lyrics. On this day, the Scripture verse comes from Psalm 34:1, which reads, “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.” Sept. 2 marked the one-year anniversary of Street Soldier Ministries, a student-led and developed outreach to the homeless of downtown West Palm Beach. Street Soldier Ministries was founded by PBA senior Steve Efkarpidis and his close friend Herb Dobson one year ago when Efkarpidis came across Dobson on Clematis Street. “I approached a 57-year-old Jew, at the time, who did not know Christ,” said Efkarpidis. “God came into his life. We stayed in contact throughout the whole summer, and he really wanted me to teach him how to evangelize. As soon as I got back, we started to evangelize together.” After his conversion to Christianity, Dobson began reading
the New Testament and discovered Matthew 25:33-45, which he describes as the driving force behind helping the needy. Shortly after his exposure to this scripture, he encountered hunger firsthand on the West Palm street. Herb found four men who rely on daily meal provision from local food services hungry on a Sunday afternoon, when food services in West Palm are closed. Herb knew that he had the capacity to make a difference. “I believe that if you can, you will, you should,” said Dobson, “I went back to my house and cooked a pot of food for four guys.” Dobson and Efkarpidis partnered together to begin a regular Sunday service, including a brief sermon and worship for those interested. Two of the four men Dobson originally cooked for, Phil and Aaron, are still active participants in the Sunday night service, which has grown from four to a crowd of over 30. Dobson still cooks all of the meals from scratch in his own kitchen. The outreach used to be located just outside the public library, but within the last month, the service has moved. For some members, this has made access to the service problematic. Phoebe, a regular at Street Soldier Ministries, accepts the challenge of a different locale with some difficulty. She is a part of the street family and walks with a moderate limp. During the service, Phoebe required assistance in her movement from a bench through the food line by a volunteer. “They had to move because it interfered with other people,” said Phoebe. “This is a little far to walk, nearly 16 blocks.” At the one-year anniversary Sunday service, PBA junior Chad Wagler shared his testimony with the crowd. “It was such a great experience giving my testimony in that type of environment,” said Wagler. “I feel that when you share your testimony, you do so much to encourage and empower the people around you. I felt very comfortable in front of the audience there. The homeless people there were very warm, inviting and friendly.” Erica Kaplan, the PBA sophomore who aided Phoebe throughout the service, has a very personal connection to the outreach. “My husband didn’t have a job, and I was going to school; I didn’t have a job,” said Kaplan. “My husband would try really hard to get a job. Nobody would hire him, and we just knew it wasn’t God’s will. The whole time, he would provide food every day.” Street Soldier Ministries was one of many outreaches that provided Kaplan and her husband with food during their unemployment. Dobson also provided Kaplan and her husband clothing when they could not afford it. “We’ve been praying for someone for us to love on and [Herb Dobson] can be that person,” said Kaplan. “We want to let [him] know that [he’s] not alone. God just orchestrated it for us and Herb to love each other. God ordained for us to know each other. God threw me right into [Street Soldier Ministries].” Kaplan and her husband are now regular volunteers, serving
food at the Sunday night services that at one point provided for them. Kaplan understands that the quality of the food Dobson serves is unparalleled in homeless service. “Nobody makes food like Herb,” said Kaplan. “If I am going to give them a meal, I want to give them a good meal.” After a year of service, Street Soldier Ministries has experienced much success. Two of its regular, formerly homeless, participants have apartments. The crowd continues to grow. While Dobson still cooks from his kitchen, Dobson and Efkarpidis seek new ways to serve their community. On Sept. 2, participants in the outreach did not leave with great expectations for the week to follow. They did not leave with the idea that involvement in the outreach would make it easier to find a place to sleep that night, or easy to satisfy their hunger the following day. However, they left with the understanding that next Sunday night, Efkarpidis and Dobson, and their many volunteers, would provide a night of worship and encouragement to “praise the Lord at all times, and constantly speak his praises.”
EVENTS Christival: Sept. 18 Sept. 20 President’s Inaugaration: Sept. 20 Coffeehouse: Sept. 20
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SPORTS ‘In a volley world’
PHOTO BY CHELSAE ANNE HORTON Senior Mariela Quesada is one of only three players left from the back-to-back national semi finalists Sailfish volleyball team.
Redshirt Mariela Quesada looks to end senior year with national title By Joshua Reid Sports Editor Palm Beach Atlantic University redshirt senior volleyball player Mariela Quesada knows all too well what it feels like coming up just short in the national championship. “It’s bittersweet,” Quesada said. “We’ve been there but haven’t reached our goal. It’s good experience but at the same time it’s hard when we’ve
had arguably our two best seasons the last two years, yet we came up just short.” Last season was arguably the best in team history, as the Sailfish went a school record 30-5 and advanced before ultimately losing in the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association semifinals to number-one seed California Baptist University, 0-3. Despite the loss in the national semifinals, Quesada was honored with the NCCAA Player of the Year award for a second consecutive season following the NCCAA National Tournament last year. She was also named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and a NCCAA All-American first-team selection for the second year in a row as well. Despite her accomplishment, Quesada feels the game that stood out for her was the match against fellow Sunshine State member Barry University. “Last year it was our Senior Night,” Quesada said. “We had never beaten them. The gym was packed and it went to an epic five-set match and we won.” Being the lone senior on this year’s team, Quesada has instantly made her presence felt as she leads all players with 119 kills. The Sailfish are 7-2 in the early stage of the season. Despite being part of a team in which 10 of the 14 players are freshmen and sophomores, Quesada feels the young talent meshes well with the experience she brings to the court. “Everyone’s evolved a lot,” Quesada said. “We’re better and stronger now, and a lot more mature. I’ve also grown more as a leader on the court.” “The freshmen have been putting a lot of pressure on themselves,” Quesada continued, “primarily in the first week. They want to perform and do well. The first week it was hard to learn what exactly they could do due to pressure and our first match of the season hosting a tournament to nationally ranked teams.” The tournament was the Hyatt Place tournament, where the Sailfish went 3-2 during play. A big part of the team’s success came from junior Christina Alessi and sophomore Becca Acevedo, as both were named to the sevenmember Hyatt Place Sunshine Classic All-Tournament team. A third-year player for head coach Bob White, Alessi proved remarkably consistent in the four matches as she reached doublefigures in kills in all four matches. She began with a 13-kill performance in the tournament-opener against Northwest Missouri State as she produced only two hitting errors before managing a 12-kill mark in her second match of the day in the loss against number 17 Lewis University. On Sept. 1 she went back to work against Southern Illinois with a big 16-kill performance while adding in four block assists to aid the
PBA front-line. Against number seven Washburn, Alessi was once again solid despite her team’s defeat as she gave her team a lift with 12 kills and three block assists. Acevedo entered her second season handling the starting setting duties for the Sailfish. The Miami native played nearly every play of the four-match tournament as one of PBA’s most vocal leaders. She began the tournament with 37 assists against Northwest Missouri State with six digs while adding in 42 assists in the loss against Lewis, producing six digs and three service aces. On Sept. 1 it was Acevedo once again dishing out the assists for the PBA offense as she tied her career-high with 61 assists with seven digs and a service ace in the five-set win over USI. Against Washburn she would add in 35 assists and five digs. “It was definitely a challenge,” Quesada said when referring to the team’s performance. “We didn’t know what would happen, especially the freshmen feeling the pressure with two big tournaments in the first few weeks of the season. We played a sound tournament and everyone performed beyond expectations.” “I definitely feel that already prepared us for our next tournament (Pepsi Bash at the Beach) and regionals.” This is Quesada’s fourth year on the team. Last year she completed one of the best allaround seasons in PBA volleyball program history as an outside-hitter while proving to be one of the most dominant hitters in all of the NCAA Division II ranks. She played in 31 of the team’s 35 matches while drawing 27 starts and playing in a total of 102 sets on the season. She produced a teambest 490 kills while managing 4.80 kills per set, also tops on the team. She finished with a .308 hitting percentage, good for third amongst team hitters. She was ranked fifth in the NCAA Division II in points per set with 5.13 and seventh in the NCAA Division II in kills per set at 4.80. She credits her play to her home country in Costa Rica. “We’re more emotional back in Costa Rica and more aggressive,” Quesada said. “I live it. It goes beyond passion. We have more expressions when we play and it’s very emotional.” A sports management and marketing major who transferred from Arcadia University in Canada in 2009, Quesada chose PBA because she believes it to be a wonderful place, where she has met people who have changed and influenced her life and where she has felt support at all times. Another reason why was head coach Bob White. “Coach White has always been like a dad away from home and is always helpful and patient with not just me, but the entire team,” Quesada said. “Being a player here is different. The culture is different. It’s always been good playing for Coach White and that’s one thing I will miss when I graduate.” With hoping to end her senior year on a possible national title, Quesada hopes one day to work for a volleyball team in the Dominican Republic. Being the lone senior on the team and one of three players from the two-time national semifinals team, Quesada looks to lead the team to another trip to nationals and this time, a championship, with key games including the Pepsi Bash at the Beach tournament (Oct. 5-6) and the South Region Crossover Tournament in Davie (Oct. 20).
Sky’s the limit, say CC runners Meghan Gilmore, Faith Warren provide leadership By Carlie Morley Staff Writer
Senior Faith Warren, center, says the cross country team is blessed with great races and a “unity and bond that is just unexplainable.”
The sailfish women’s cross country team looks forward to the season ahead after hearing the news that they are 7th in the south regional preseason rankings. “After seeing that we are pre ranked 7th and having everyone returning it was a little disappointing, however it gives us something to strive for,” head coach Trish Butler said. After realizing their potential at last year’s NCAA south regional race, the team has high goals for this season, especially having redshirted senior Meghan Gilmore back for one last hoorah. “I thought my life was over,” Gilmore said about her broken foot last fall that kept her from running. “I thought it was so unfair and I didn’t understand why God would let that happen to me, but it ended up being a blessing in disguise.” For a little while she hated running because, “It was my drug and I overdosed on it and it killed all the fun in my life,” but was eventually able to find balance in her life. During the free time she had to reflect, Gilmore realized that there was more to life than running. “I am the happiest and healthiest I have ever been,” Gilmore said. “Through the support of my teammates, family, friends and God I was able to find a healthy balance (between running and life) and now I get the chance to run and attend grad school.” Gilmore couldn’t be happier to have this last opportunity to spend time with her teammates while running. “I am so lucky to get another chance, I would be running anyway, but
to get to do it with an amazing group of girls and get that quality time is cool!” she said. Gilmore and teammate Faith Warren both have similar ideas of why their team has been so successful. Warren explains their secret to success. “I have never seen a team of girls genuinely love, encourage, motivate, and work better together than the women’s cross country team,” Warren said. “Because we have always kept Jesus Christ as the foundation of our team, He has blessed us with not only great races but a unity and bond that is just unexplainable.” “It sounds cliché but it’s true,” Gilmore said. “Nothing beats hard work, determination, sacrifice, persistence and unmanning love for one another.” With that said, Gilmore believed that rankings don’t mean that much in sports. “I believe anyone can accomplish anything they put their mind to,” she said. “Years from now we will forget the times or the places that we get, but we will never forget the memories.” Her goal for this season is simply, “just to have fun, and hopefully inspire other people through my struggles.” Coach Butler has a goal for the team as well. “Our goal is to place top three in the region,” she said. “In order to reach this goal we need to stay healthy and continue working hard. We are off to a great start. We are going to race ourselves into shape through September, and continue working through October to get ready for Regionals.” “Now that we have seen our hard work pay off, we are giving it all we have with all our hearts, the sky is the limit and nothing is impossible,” commented Warren. With the dedication and love the girls have to the sport and to each other, they will be sure to make it a great season. Gilmore and Warren will have their last chance to shine as seniors on the team and set the bar for the underclassmen for next year.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF LORI RICHARDS
Ben Vogeney goes high to head the ball for the Sailfish.
Soccer men grab 2 shutouts Soccer women lose to Barry University; cross country women place well in two meets By Joshua Reid Sports Editor
Elizabeth Gonzales moves the ball against Barry University. Photo by Lori Richards.
On Sept. 7 and 8 the men’s soccer team played back-to-back games in Boca, with the first game against Anderson University. The Sailfish posted their second consecutive shutout of the season with a 4-0 win. The Fish throttled the Trojans in the first half, jumping to an early lead thanks to a beautiful feed from junior Kevin Ireland to freshman Cameron Roberts, who sent the one-timer into net for his first goal of the season. Six minutes later, junior Kenny Hogg added his sixth goal of the season from another beautiful feed from Ireland. Hogg beat the keeper one-onone after Ireland lobbed a pass over the defense, and the Sailfish never looked back. Senior goalie Jonathan Strunk notched his second shutout of the season, stopping all four shots sent his way. The Fish outshot their opponent 19-9 for the game and 8-4 in shots on goal. On Sept. 8 the team posted another 4-0 shutout, this one against Ave Maria University. In this match, Hogg took over by scoring his second hat trick of the season. Hogg started the scoring for the Sailfish in the 16th minute, taking a through ball and knocking a shot in at goal. After the keeper blocked the initial shot, Hogg recovered and drove home his eighth goal of the year into an open net. After Hogg converted on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute, senior Gabe Carneiro delivered a beautiful cross from the right side that Hogg was able to get a head on and beat the keeper. It marked the tenth goal in just four games for Hogg. Freshman Austin Spagnola and junior Steven Bush split time as goalkeeper, with both players collecting two saves. PBA totaled 12 shots with six on goal, while Ave Maria took seven shots with four on goal. With the win, the Sailfish remained undefeated with a 5-0 record and will have one more road match before its home opener on Sept. 26 against Barry University. The women’s soccer team had its own opener on Sept. 8 against Barry University. Unlike the men, the women fell 0-2. After a top-five finish at last year’s NCAA South Regional that possibly opened some eyes to the elevation of the Palm Beach Atlantic University women’s cross country program, the ladies were aiming to make another big statement on Friday as they competed in their first race of the 2012 season. They would do just that with a second-place team finish while senior Faith Warren earned a third-place finish with a 5,000-meter time of 19:29. Senior Katherine Harvey tallied a top-20 finish, as did grad student Meghan Gilmore as Harvey crossed the finish line in 17th place with a time of 20:38 while Gilmore managed a 20:45 time slot, which placed her 19th in the field.
Sophomores Kourtney Sumner and Jessica Sexton were next for PBA, with Sumner finishing coming in 37th with a time of 21:51 while Sexton came in 42nd with a time of 22:04. On Sept. 8 the cross-country team traveled south on Saturday morning as they competed in the Greentree Invitational. Although a small collegiate meet, the Fish were able to put through some solid running times as their team competed officially for the second time this season. Warren led all collegiate runners with a time of 19:41. Following Warren in the standings were two other senior PBA runners in Harvey (20:05) and Gilmore (20:48) while sophomores Sumner and Sexton posted times of 21:17 and 21:57 in the women’s 5,000-meter race. Other PBA participants included Morgan Skwira (24:06) and junior Sarah Walsh (24:36). The next race was on Sept. 15 at the Mountain Dew Invitational in Gainesville.
EVENTS Volleyball: Sept. 18 v. Florida Tech 7:00 M.Soccer: Sept. 20 v. Nova Southeastern
W. Soccer: Sept. 21 v. Florida Memorial U
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