ORANGE PARK – Students, faculty and staff students at St. Johns River State College gathered for “Popcorn with the President,” a special back-to-school event to interact with School President Joe Pickens. 

The aroma of freshly cooked popcorn filled the air for an informal, relaxed setting of fun. But what Pickens, students and staff are gearing up for is more serious, as learners on the Vikings’ Orange Park campus seek to turn in a record performance in the classroom this semester. 
“This gives us an opportunity to bring people together that work in different buildings that don’t see each other, and for me, to come up from Palatka to socialize with staff and students,” Pickens said. 
All departments met for sweet tea, soda and salty snack, along with the fun camaraderie at the state-of-the-art Clifford B. Stearns Learning Resources Center as the college welcomed students back to campus.
Christine Wilson, a first-week student in the nursing program, said while she is somewhat worried about navigating her upcoming schedule, the friendly, warm outreach of the school’s administration has quelled her concerns.
“It’s very nice to be thought of this way (by the school), and it was especially nice to meet the president face-to-face. I wasn’t able to meet the president (during my time) at the Florida State College of Jacksonville,” she said. 
Before the event, Pickens said he’s excited to return for yet another year.

After the first week of classes, the report is “so far, so good,” from the St. Johns’ campus in Orange Park, Pickens said.
“I’m happy to say that it’s been very smooth. We are pleased and delighted with the fact that enrollment is significantly up and that activity has been very robust, especially (two weeks ago) before classes started,” he said. 
Pickens said about 75% of students are traditional students who will seek to transfer elsewhere after finishing their two-year associate’s degree. He said four-year institutions like the University of Florida and North Florida, along with Florida State University, are common landing spots.

But St. Johns is still expanding their workforce offerings, he said, and one special initiative provides students with an opportunity to earn a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) through a public-private partnership with National Trucking is becoming popular. Those in the program can get instruction at the college and complete hands-on training off campus. 
“We hope most of our students stay in Northeast Florida, but we want the best opportunities for them, regardless. Truckers can make good money and can work anywhere in the country, literally,” he said. 
Dual enrollment figures are strong, a statistic boosted by local high schools. The program is robust and a significant driver of the student population at the Orange Park campus, Pickens said.
But it wouldn’t all be possible without a strong partnership with the Clay County School Board and District Schools, he said.
“We enjoy a very strong partnership with (the Board and District). They’ve been very supportive of us, and we try to reciprocate that,” Pickens said. 
The Collegiate Academies initiative, which has been picked up by Clay, Middleburg and Orange Park high, allows students to start planning with St. Johns’ in the ninth grade and complete a four-year plan to earn their Associate in Arts degree. Credits can either be earned on campus or remotely. Students then can transfer to a public or private university in the state to further their education.
Throughout St. Johns’ River’s three campuses, which also exist in Palatka and St. Augustine, online and dual enrollment numbers have skyrocketed since he assumed the post 15 years ago, taking up a large portion of student enrollment figures, Pickens said. “That’s how much that (the landscape) has changed during my time here,” he said.
The world is changing every day, but Pickens’ unwavering enthusiasm and dedication to educating students remains unchanged.
“Every new school year, it’s ‘hope springs eternal.’ Classes still (commence) in the summer, but it’s quieter. Fall is like an awakening. We’re making a difference in students’ lives, which is really important. This is why I chose the profession, and this is why our staff chose the profession,” he said.