Giddy off the high of their engagement, they started imagining what their wedding day would look like. Who would officiate the ceremony?

Without a moment鈥檚 hesitation, long-time 麻豆原创 sports and exercise science instructor Jeff Biddle emerged at the top of their list.

鈥淗e鈥檚 what every professor should be to a student. He doesn鈥檛 want you to just come in and get your degree and walk out. You could go into his office anytime he was in there and talk with him. He loved to get to know people and what you wanted to do with your life,鈥� La Londe says. 鈥淗e was the first person we thought of.鈥�

The now-Beumels met in 2012 in a biomechanics class at 麻豆原创鈥檚 South Lake campus in Clermont.

They started out as friends. Bryanna had plans to move to Portland, Oregon, at summer鈥檚 end. After a month, their relationship progressed to more than friends.

鈥淎nd then I didn鈥檛 go! And it worked out well,鈥� she says with a smile.

The two finished their sports and exercise science degrees, frequently driving the hefty commute out to Clermont 鈥� La Londe drove 70 miles one way from her mother鈥檚 home in Merritt Island — because they loved the program and professors, especially Biddle.

鈥淓very class that he taught in our major, I tried to sign up with him. He made the drive out to Clermont worth it,鈥� says Beumel, who lived less than eight miles from 麻豆原创鈥檚 main campus at the time. 鈥淚t was an hour to get out there but you knew when you鈥檇 have him at 8 o鈥檆lock in the morning it was going to be fun. It wasn鈥檛 just staring at a PowerPoint for an hour and a half. You were interacting with him and all the other students. He made it enjoyable. He鈥檚 not one we鈥檒l forget.鈥�

La Londe , a first-generation student, graduated in 2013 and is now working in the rehabilitation department at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Beumel graduated a year later as a second-generation 麻豆原创 alumnus.

As fate would have it, Beumel鈥檚 parents met while they were students at 麻豆原创 at a house party on Alafaya Trail. His mother, Linda, graduated in 1983 with a bachelor鈥檚 in chemistry. They didn鈥檛 expect that decades later, their son would mirror their love story and find his future wife while at school.

鈥溌槎乖� helped make me who I am. The experiences I had through sport and exercise molded me into the trainer and coach that I am now,鈥� says Beumel, who works at CrossFit Firebase in Orlando. 鈥淚 view it as a starting off point. That鈥檚 where we met. It鈥檚 where my parents met, as well. It holds a special value in that to me.鈥�

The couple married Thanksgiving weekend in 2016 at Club Lake Plantation in Apopka with a black-and-gold-bow-tie-clad Biddle as their officiant.

Their grandparents gave the couple their wedding rings and served as ring bearers in their ceremony.

The gold band of Beumel鈥檚 ring belonged to his grandfather. It had to be pieced back together after it was cut off his grandfather鈥檚 finger following a motorcycle accident.

When the jeweler melded it together, he chose a black zirconium to sandwich it, making it the perfect color combination for Beumel鈥檚 麻豆原创 roots.

As the couple anticipated, Biddle was a hit among the family in attendance. He was as comical and engaging in the ceremony as he is in the classroom.

In order to perform the ceremony, the professor needed to obtain a notary license. He told the couple to leave the logistics to him.

Biddle, who makes it a point to attend as many of his students鈥� commencement ceremonies as he can, says that the request for him to serve as their officiant was an honor and a privilege.

That realization hit him even harder when he recently watched their wedding video.

鈥淭heir kids and their kids鈥� kids are going to be watching that video. I鈥檓 permanently a part of their lives and their family鈥檚 lives from now on. And that鈥檚 pretty cool,鈥� Biddle says. 鈥淚 am thrilled that they asked me, thrilled that they wanted me to do it. It is certainly one of the bigger moments to happen in my life.鈥�

What he may not realize is that he secured a special place in their lives a long time ago.

鈥淏eing a first-generation degree seeker 鈥� professors are who I looked up to for guidance and direction throughout the whole process. Dr. Biddle was a role model for me,鈥� La Londe says. 鈥淔inding what you love to do may change over the years and that鈥檚 OK. That is something I learned from him. I don鈥檛 even know if I鈥檝e ever told him this, but it鈥檚 how I feel about him and what he鈥檚 done for me.鈥�

The term came about from the 鈥渆mbedded journalists鈥� who cover news stories with troops, and is indicative of the librarians who are right in the middle of online learning, having become totally immersed in assisting students whenever and wherever help is needed. The term developed a few years ago because the librarians have transitioned from just being a service provider to becoming part of their customers鈥� community.

麻豆原创 has about 40 faculty librarians at the main and 10 regional campuses, many of whom are involved in online-instruction modes, but a majority of the fully embedded duties are handled by regional librarians.

There currently are five full-time regional librarians who are assigned to specific online classes, along with another one at 麻豆原创鈥檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management. At the main-campus library, two librarians are embedded in classes. Most of the other main-campus librarians are more active meeting the needs of face-to-face help for students.

In the 2015-16 fiscal year, Regional Campus librarians provided help to 68 face-to-face classes compared with 80 online classes.聽In terms of students, that is 1,550 face-to-face, and 2,272 online. One reason for those online numbers is the convenience and growth of those classes.

鈥淩egional librarians were the early adapters and started serving online faculty and students as soon as the need was recognized,鈥� said Cynthia M. Kisby, head of Regional Campus libraries. 鈥淥f course, we could only do that because all of the regional and Orlando [main campus] librarians and IT staff together had already created a virtual library with access to online resources and services鈥e provide assistance via phone, chat and now Skype.鈥�

Kisby said 麻豆原创鈥檚 embedded librarians are assigned to completely online classes and those that are mixed-mode or hybrid courses that require some face-to-face class time. They also have privileges as teaching assistants.

鈥淭hey are virtual librarians embedded in the class who post to a discussion board or answer questions at any time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n some classes, embedded librarians also create and grade quizzes that measure subject-specific information-literacy skills.聽Also, being embedded is usually very discipline-specific.鈥�

Kisby credits Barbara Alderman at the Cocoa and Palm Bay campuses as being 麻豆原创鈥檚 first embedded librarian.

Alderman said that while working online from home for her master鈥檚 degree at Florida State University she discovered many times she wasn鈥檛 able to find research help at the library.

鈥淵ou had to call someone and hope they would call back,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 thought that librarians ought to be in the research classes students take to help and teach them how to use the many resources.

鈥淲e all understand the need to help students on their degree paths and to minimize the frustration when it’s possible. The online library is rich in resources and we all like to share that information.

In recent years the number of online students served by the regional librarians has exceeded face-to-face assistance, Kisby said.

鈥淲ith 麻豆原创 Online coming into the foreground, it shows how libraries continue to adapt as student needs change,鈥� she said.

Kelvin Thompson, director of online design and development strategy for 麻豆原创鈥檚 Center for Distributed Learning, welcomes the embedded librarians bringing the skills and knowledge of professional librarians right into the midst of online courses.

鈥淓mbedded librarians can be 鈥榩resent鈥� in the online course to assist students with preparations for papers or other course assignments that draw on scholarly literature,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淭his is a powerful service offered by the 麻豆原创 Libraries that provides value for students.鈥�

The Pathway program was created to help student development, academic and career planning, and academic and social integration. The program was recognized with the annual WCET Outstanding Work (WOW) Award, which is presented to colleges, universities and other organizations for exceptionally creative, technology-based solutions to a significant problem or need in higher education.

鈥淭he new Pathway component of DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 enhances the transfer experience for students, and is intentionally and purposefully designed using innovative features that will increase student engagement and success,鈥� said Jennifer Sumner, director of Regional Campuses鈥� academic support services.

The program was launched as a pilot in January with students from each of 麻豆原创鈥檚 five partner institutions: Daytona State College, Eastern Florida State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Seminole State College, and Valencia College. Pathway was fully launched this fall. There are 120 students in the program, and now that it has been fully launched, Regional Campuses expects the numbers to grow.

To help students, Pathway:

Touch-points have been set up to guide students along the way, such as when to complete career assessments, declarations of majors, attendance at skills workshops, participation with various student groups, and guided assistance in meeting requirements for the 麻豆原创 application and transfer process.

The Pathway uses online advising tools, and students can track their own academic and professional growth.

鈥淲hat makes the Pathway unique and innovative are the exclusively created technology elements designed to engage the students,鈥� Sumner said. 鈥淭he Pathway is built and accessible within 麻豆原创鈥檚 learning-management system of Canvas, provides students with 24/7 online access to advising and resources, uses virtual advising tools such as chats and video sessions, and awards digital badges that are themed to enhance student engagement.鈥�

Jeff Jones, vice provost for Regional Campuses, said Pathway is the culmination of work by Sumner, the state college partners, Regional Campuses and students themselves.

鈥淎ll played key roles in developing this tool,鈥� he said, 鈥淎s always, our team puts the success of our students as our primary goal. We feel that the Pathways project will further enhance our students opportunity 聽for success.鈥�

Cali Morrison, communications manager for WCET, said the Direct Connect to 麻豆原创 Pathway was selected as an award winner because it answers a significant need with targeted goals and proven impacts in a creative and sustainable manner.

“It serves as a model to the entire higher education community of a replicable program for planned transfer pathways and support can make a difference for students,” she said.

The other winners for this year鈥檚 WOW Award are:

This annual advising forum is also a professional outlet for networking and exchanging of ideas that impact academic advising, retention, graduation and career readiness. Presentations were well received among advisors and the round table discussion initiated conversations related to the completion agenda.

With the number of transfer students rapidly increasing, it is essential for advisors to be aware of academic changes in order to deliver accurate information and create pathways for student success. This year鈥檚 event welcomed over 150 advisors from 麻豆原创, Valencia College, Eastern State College, Lake-Sumter Community College, Seminole State College, and Daytona State College. Garry Capton, vice president of University Partnerships at Fairwinds, presented on financial literacy and provided the advisors with valuable information to share with their students.

Overall, the Advising Updates Forum was successful and staff looks forward to next year鈥檚 event.

Salas and Karelova started their first semester at 麻豆原创 this fall and plan to attend medical school after their 2016 graduation.

Salas, who is from Miami, attended and will continue classes at 麻豆原创鈥檚 shared campus there. Careers in physical therapy or cardiovascular surgery are two areas of his interest.

Karelova, who is from the country of Georgia, attended and will continue classes at the main 麻豆原创 campus, Karelova moved to the United States on an international study program when she was 16. She aspired to be a journalist and received an Associate in Business degree from Everest University. Soon after, she changed her career goals and applied to Valencia to pursue a career as an anesthesiologist after medical school.

鈥淭here were other options, but DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 was the best option possible,鈥� said Karelova about deciding on her plan for college.

The 麻豆原创 College of Medicine at Lake Nona is among the medical schools the two scholars intend on applying to. Johnson Scholars are a cohort of students chosen by the partner colleges. Once selected, they will receive the scholarship until graduation as long as they continue to meet the criteria set by the school. Recipients of the scholarship are deemed 鈥淛ohnson Scholars,鈥� and throughout their college careers they will have special program requirements that emphasize leadership development.

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation is a national, private foundation with a mission to assist deserving people in achieving higher education and a belief in education as a means to help people succeed in life.

Each of the four partner state colleges are responsible for raising $500,000 that the Johnson Scholarship Foundation will match for a total of $1 million for the individual colleges to disburse while the scholars earn their associate degrees.

In addition, the partner colleges are fundraising collectively for $1 million in scholarships to support their students once they transfer to 麻豆原创. The n is also fundraising for $1 million with the agreement that Johnson Scholarship Foundation will match these contributions with a goal of raising $3 million over five years. These contributions will be held by the 麻豆原创 Foundation and disbursed to the scholars while attending one of the partner colleges and will continue until completion of their baccalaureate degree at 麻豆原创. The JSF Endowment scholarships are designed to assist with unmet financial need and only available to students who participate in the DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program.

The first Johnson Scholars will be recognized at the Johnson Scholars inaugural luncheon on Oct. 14, hosted by Valencia College. The scholars will receive medallions and have the opportunity to meet with the president of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, Malcolm Macleod.

鈥淭he JSF Endowment is the first joint philanthropy between community and state colleges and a state university,鈥� said Angela Peterson, associate vice president of 麻豆原创 regional campuses. The partnership was encouraged by JSF based on the success of the DirectConnect program, which 麻豆原创 began in 2006 to guarantee entrance and accelerated admission to 麻豆原创 after students complete associate degrees from one of the four partner colleges.

For more information about the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, click here.

To learn more about the DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program,

DirectConnect is a nationally recognized program that guarantees admission into 麻豆原创 for students graduating from one of the four institutions. The state college partners 鈥� Eastern Florida State College, Lake Sumter State College, Seminole State College and Valencia College 鈥� prepared about 70 percent of the more than 10,000 students who transferred to the university in 2012-2013.

The new touch points for students include things such as completing a career-assessment plan; confirming early major declaration; completing a tour of 麻豆原创; and completing skills workshops related to academic planning, financial literacy and other topics.

鈥淭his enhanced pathway provides an intentional and guided support structure, where students are engaged with advising and services that will help them clarify their career goals and academic plans,鈥� said Jeff Jones, vice provost of Regional Campuses, which oversees 10 Central Florida sites.

The milestones are critical to the early success of students desiring to DirectConnect to 麻豆原创. Additionally, once a student transfers to 麻豆原创, the university鈥檚 commitment is to engage them further during their first two semesters.

The students鈥� touch points at that level include meeting with their college advisor; attending advanced skill workshops involving resume writing, internships, and job search; meeting with community leaders; and other guidelines.

The pathway teams include professionals and students from each institution and include areas such as advising, student services, and enrollment services.

鈥淭hey collaborate and coordinate the various needs and milestones of students as they transition from the state college to 麻豆原创,鈥� said Pam Cavanaugh, assistant vice provost for student services and advising.

Student focus groups that have been conducted at each of the state colleges during the summer have produced feedback on what students prefer as incentives to participate. Also, a new badging program has been designed to reward and showcase the skills and achievements of the students along the pathway. Students can display the badges in their digital world 鈥渟o we can create value for these achievements as we acknowledge them institutionally,鈥� Cavanaugh said.

A new online portal also has been established for students to be able to track their progress, and pathway teams can verify and acknowledge their successes and progress.

鈥淔rom a university perspective, 麻豆原创 benefits from having stronger partnerships with our partnering institutions and from having students that are successful both in their academic programs and as 麻豆原创 graduates,鈥� Jones said.

Hosted by the Walter and Betty Boardman Foundation, Land Preservation and Restoration: Conflicts will feature a panel discussion and audience Q&A. The event will be held in building 150, auditorium 101.

The panel will explore land management in Florida, as well as the economic impact of eco-tourism and common misconceptions the public has about land management. Panel members include:

鈥淧ublic lands have always been a treasure in Volusia County and across our state,鈥� said local environmentalist Reid Hughes, who also serves as a board member for the Boardman Foundation. 鈥淩ecent policy decisions and new challenges for land managers have caused environmentalists and members of the general public to be concerned, and this panel will discuss some of those issues.鈥�

The Walter and Betty Boardman Foundation awards grants for environmental and natural resource research and studies pertaining to Volusia County and the land surrounding it.

The new 150,000-square-foot building will be the biggest on any of Valencia鈥檚 five campuses, and 29,000 square feet of that will be classrooms and offices for 麻豆原创. Also to be housed in the building at 1800 Denn John Lane are Valencia鈥檚 new library, cafeteria, tutoring center and laboratories.

鈥淲e now have more space, services and academic offerings for our 麻豆原创 Valencia Osceola students who prefer staying in their community at a reasonable cost,鈥� said Angela Peterson, 麻豆原创鈥檚 associate vice president for enrollment services, marketing and outreach.

鈥淚t is our hope and direction to provide a pathway for students to attend college and improve the college-going rate in a county that is demographically very different from Orange, Brevard or Seminole.鈥�

Higher-education opportunities are important in Osceola County, she said, because the area has many first-generation college students.

A variety of classes at the campus now ranges from business to political science. For the spring semester, new classes will include public administration, psychology, elementary education, and criminal justice.

Pending budgetary approval, plans include expanding academic programming next fall. The new four-story building initially will house five 麻豆原创 faculty members and seven staffers. At full capacity, there will be 12 faculty members and 12 staffers at the campus.

The plans call for offering biomedical sciences at the campus beginning next fall, which would be the first science degree at a 麻豆原创 regional campus.

Dr. Kathleen Plinske, president of Valencia鈥檚 Osceola and Lake Nona campuses, said she is especially pleased that 麻豆原创 will offer the biomedical sciences degree.

“It’s the perfect degree for a student who wants to go on to medical school,” she said. 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Medicine is part of the growing medical community in Lake Nona.

Through the DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program, students who graduate with A.A. or A.S. degrees from Valencia are guaranteed admission to the university.

麻豆原创 is the first public university to offer bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in Osceola County.