Latest news with #GulfCoastStateCollege
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mosley's Hannah Ottley continues athletic career at Gulf Coast
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – 2025 Mosley High School graduate and volleyball all-star, Hannah Ottley experienced a full-circle moment after she returned to the Commodore youth camp as a rostered player and camp coach. Ottley, an incoming freshman at Gulf Coast State College, is set to join the Commodores volleyball team this fall. Her return to the Commodore youth camp served as a reminder of the journey that brought her from Emerald Coast Volleyball Club to being apart of the Gulf Coast State Commodores. 'I probably met Coach Allen when I was in seventh grade at Mowat Middle School,' Ottley said. 'I wasn't very good at the time but I came to camp and just kind of always stuck around the gym.' Ottley's sophomore year at Mosley marked a turning point in her career, when she made the varsity team. 'That year really helped me. I gained a lot of confidence and I was always getting more touches on the ball, and working out. That's when things started to shift.' Ottley became a key player that year for Mosley, finishing her sophomore season with a .652 hitting percentage and 16 kills. Her performance began to inspire her to pursue playing in college. The spring of 2025, Ottley officially committed to play volleyball for Gulf Coast State College. Her presence at the Commodore camp served as inspiration for the younger players in attendance, many of whom will follow a similar path through local clubs and school programs. Coach Scott Allen acknowledged her journey and growth throughout the years. 'Hannah Ottley, Mosley graduate, will also be a freshman this year. We've known her since she was 12 or 13. It's a pretty cool experience seeing them grow and eventually put on a Gulf Coast jersey.' Ottley, who plans to study business, said staying in Panama City was an easy choice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Papa Joe's hosts 2025 Commodore Pickleball Extravaganza
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Gulf Coast State College partnered with Papa Joe's Bayside to host a round-robin pickleball tournament as a fundraiser for the Commodore's athletic department. The event featured fast-paced matches, food and drinks, creating a laid-back atmosphere for participants of all ages and skill levels. Attendees not only got active but also showed their support for Commodore athletics. 'This was designed to be a 'fun' draiser,' said Commodores Athletic Director Mike Kandler. 'I think people are really enjoying it.' According to Kandler, the tournament would not have been possible without the strong backing of local sponsors. 'Primarily we had a bunch of participants, but we also had over 50 local businesses donate,' Kandler said. 'That just shows how much our community supports Gulf Coast athletics.' Papa Joe's Bayside served as the title sponsor and played a major role in making the event accessible. 'They've contributed way above and beyond,' Kandler added. 'They made it a very affordable venture for us.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gulf Coast State College offers new scholarships for hospitality students
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Paul Bonnette is an advisor for the Hospitality Management and Tourism program at Gulf Coast State College. He teaches real–world–based classes, with field trips, speakers, and interactive classes to engage his students. 'We are fortunate to have people from Gulf Coast Jam come out and talk about what it takes to put on the amazing festival that it is. We work with, you know, other places like Swampy Jack Wanna Go Adventure. We've done field trips about hospitality marketing, like how do you market a attraction like that, you know, and we work with places like, you know, Pirate's Voyage and so many other great community, you know, places that really kind of show the student, hey, look, hospitality is a ever growing, ever expanding field,' Katherine Griffin Bootwright Endowed Chair for Hospitality Management & Tourism Paul Bonnette said. Tourism hospitality is Bay County's and Florida's number one economic driver. The people behind the scenes play a vital role in the industry. Students learn how to impact a visitor's experience, one guest at a time. 'So many families come year after year, they stay at the same place, they eat at the same restaurants. They go to the same attractions because this is something that's special for them. And so we really want to show the students, this is what you're doing is helping families make memories that are going to last a lifetime,' Bonnette said. Julie Hilton donated $2.5 million to help expand the hospitality program. That donation included funding for new scholarships, so that getting an education doesn't have to be expensive. There are two $500 scholarships currently available. 'We have Hospitality Rockstar scholarships. These are for the students who are just coming out of high school, and they're interested in hospitality. They're interested in what Bay County is all about, with providing exceptional experiences. And then we have Hospitality Heroes. These are for the people who are already working in the hospitality industry. They're going in day after day, making these magical memories, but they want to enhance their skills,' Bonnette said. Each hospitality student is required to complete an internship over the summer, working with hospitality partners like the St. Joe Company, Oto Development, Hilton Sun, and Dee's Hangout. Registration for Gulf Coast State College's fall semester is open. For more information on the Hospitality Management and Tourism program, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gulf Coast State College introduces new hospitality scholarships
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) – Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) launches two new scholarships through its Hilton Hospitality Management and Tourism Program. GCSC officials said the college plans to use these scholarships to ease students' journeys into one of the most people-centered industries: hospitality. 'Hospitality is a huge industry with local and global potential. We want to help more students see it as a real career option, and give them the support to get started,' Katherine Griffin Boatwright Endowed Chair for Hospitality Management & Tourism at GCSC, Paul Bonnette, said. Students can qualify in two ways. The Hospitality Rockstars Scholarship is for high school graduates pursuing a degree in hospitality, and the Hospitality Heroes Scholarship is for current hospitality workers or GCSC students building on their experience. Each scholarship offers $500 per semester, gifted from Ms. Julie Hilton and the Hilton family, to help with tuition costs. They require six credit hours a semester for eligibility. These awards can be used alongside other financial aid, such as the Gulf Coast Guarantee and other scholarships. Click here to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sunny's Beach Access: New ADA accessible beach access unveiled in PCB
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – Sunny's Beach Access is ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the beach this summer. On Wednesday morning, community members unveiled the second ADA accessible beach access in Panama City Beach. Beach Access 16 now has a newly renovated boardwalk ramp and railing, and it's equipped with a mobility mat on the sand. 'We are making sure that this beach access is completely accessible to all those with disabilities, with wheelchairs, walkers, and so on. And we're naming it specifically after a little girl whose second birthday is today,' local pediatrician Dr. Allison Davis said. Sunny Peek was born with congenital muscular dystrophy. It's a disorder that causes significant muscle weakness, for which there is currently no cure. Gulf Coast State College introduces new hospitality scholarships But this community-wide initiative ensures kids like Sunny have access to the beach. 'Accessibility means a lot of things to a lot of different people. And so, I think the most important part is that we're offering an equivalent experience for people living with disabilities. Not just a check mark on a form or to say we are compliant with whatever regulations exist, but making sure that people living with a variety of limitations have the same possibility and opportunity for experiences that everyone else does,' Sunny's Dad, Tory Peek, said. The $152 million project was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Bay County's general fund. Davis and her team raised money through a walk-n-roll event, and the United Way of Northwest Florida presented a donation to pay for the mobility mat. For more information about the next walk-n-roll event in October, click here. The access is located at 7817 Surf Drive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
