Good News - September 2020

COVER STORY 21 SEPTEMBER 2020 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Palm Beach Atlantic University has begun the academic year with the opening of Watson Family Hall, a new, eight-story campus residence built at the corner of Pembroke Place and South Dixie Highway. Each of the 154 one- and two-bedroom units has a full kitchen, along with increased safety and security features based on intentional architectural design, coupled with leading edge technology. A community room – used for activities that encourage camaraderie and *)('(&%$#"!' & " "$*" ##"$*")'( $& "*&% "$' $*"$' "( #% " " ' " ' " Watson Family Hall was built by and in partnership with Hedrick Brothers Construction of West Palm Beach. The building is named to honor and commemorate the leadership and continued generosity of the Watson Family. Their generous gift of $2.5 million will be used to endow several areas that are meaningful to the family. The '*&"(*"& " " & '" '" ( #( $#" $ '* ()" "$ "& "* "(*" " Athletics. As the University’s sixth Center of Excellence, CBL was established to confront a leadership crisis that exists today across business and ministry sectors in North America and around the globe. Its mission is to develop and support leaders who seek to integrate biblical truth and spiritual wisdom into today’s leadership best practices. The Watsons’ generosity also pours over into athletics, endowing an administrative supplement for the position of Athletic Director, ensuring continued strong leadership for this role. Their gift will also be used to update the workout room in the Greene Complex — providing new exercise equipment and a fresh, inspiring look in the gym. “PBA forever altered the trajectory of my life and I have been blessed because of it,” stated Karl Watson Jr. “We are humbled to give back to the university that means so much to our family and we encourage alumni and friends to match our donation.” He is a 1987 Palm Beach Atlantic graduate who joined the University’s Board of Trustees in January of this year. The Watson family has been long-time supporters of Palm Beach Atlantic University. Karl Sr. has served as a PBA trustee since 1997 and received the University’s American Free Enterprise Medal in 2007 for his community involvement and civic service. He is the retired president and chief operating '" '" ( '" $& '($#*" ') '$&( " " " & " '# *" & )" " #$'! *&" producers of concrete block and ready-mix concrete. Three recent Palm Beach Atlantic University graduates have won highly-competitive Fulbright awards to teach English overseas, and a fourth grad has won a Fulbright appointment to conduct scholarly research. “The Fulbright is one of the most prestigious awards an American undergraduate or recent graduate can win,” said Dr. Carl Miller, director of PBA’s Prestigious National Scholarship Program. “The goal for the Fulbright program is to send the best recent graduates of American institutions abroad for a program of cultural ambassadorship and intellectual exchange and service work.” *$ ##$" ( " ' " '$ " $)( * " ( (!$ " will serve in Bulgaria; Sarah Selden, from Littleton, Colorado, will serve in Spain; and Chanel Nassir, from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, will serve in Burma. They will begin their Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships (ETA) in January, their appointments delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. PBA has produced six Fulbright ETA winners in the last three years. Additionally, Dr. Gregory P. Perreault has won a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award to Austria. He will research and teach at University of Vienna as part of a project to study digital journalism practices in the United States and Austria. Perreault, a 2006 PBA graduate, earned his master’s degree from Georgetown University and his doctorate from Missouri School of Journalism. He is an assistant professor of journalism at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. New student residence Watson Family Hall has 154 apartment-style units. from Watson Family’s generous gift to PBA 4 more grads earn prestigious Fulbright Lindh Perreault Nassir Selden