News

Family, friends gather for candlelight memorial for Thomas Graber

Photo by Andrea Huls
Family, friends, students, faculty and staff take a moment to remember Thomas H. Graber at an Oct. 8 memorial in the Flagler Room. Graber was stabbed to death in his home in Lincolnville on Oct. 26.

By Andrea Huls

Kind. Loyal. Sincere. Unique. Passionate. Funny. A gentleman. This was Thomas Graber, a great guy, a true friend. Tears, but also laughter, filled the Flagler Room as his friends, professors and Flagler College remembered him on Oct. 8.

One by one, Graber’s friends walked up to the podium to share a fun experience or a memory that described who he really was.

Patrick Higgins, political science major, became friends with Graber in a research methods class a few semesters ago. According to Higgins, unlike most students on campus, Graber loved the dining hall food. Both had meal plans, and after class they would eat lunch together and have a good time.


Moving back home after graduation losing stigma

By Kim Hartman

College graduates moving back home after graduation — an escape from Alcatraz or return to Paradise? The once widely-considered symbol of failure has become increasingly more common among college students across the country.


Ask the Gargoyle

What are the advantages of Flagler’s health insurance plans?

By Nicole Goyette

Flagler College provides all students taking six or more credits the option to buy two different health insurance plans: Plan I or Plan II, both from Bollinger Insurance Company. According to Christine Wages, assistant director of student accounts, advantages of these plans are, “it’s a low cost, low maintenance insurance plan.”


Flagler officially owns FECI buildings

President William T. Abare, Jr. talks about campus construction progress By Rich Harris Despite some setbacks concerning campus development, Flagler College President William T. Abare, Jr., continues to look to the future in what may be considered the greatest period of growth in the college’s…


Flagler College partners with Salvation Army for ‘Flagler Feeds’


From Staff

Flagler College students, faculty and staff are working with the Salvation Army to provide Thanksgiving dinner for more than 220 area residents who are in need.

On Sunday, Nov. 19, 28 area families will have Thanksgiving Dinner in the Flagler College Dining Hall at 7 p.m.

This event is the first of its kind for both Flagler College and the Salvation Army.

“I was inspired by the mission of the Salvation Army and continue to be inspired by the generosity of the entire Flagler College community,” Flagler College student and Club Liaison Chris Bacca said.


Flagler mourns loss of Graber

By Tom Iacuzio

A 23-year-old former Flagler College student was found dead in his burned out Lincolnville apartment on Oct. 26.

Police identified the victim as Thomas H. Graber of 91 Washington St.

St. Augustine Police Sgt. Barry Fox said Graber had been stabbed and the fire was set to cover up the crime.


City decal program faces setback

Flagler students can still park on city streets in Flagler model land area

By Glenn Judah

St. Augustine’s residential parking decal system will be pushed back to February to allow for some reworking, said John Regan, city chief operations officer.

The Parking and Traffic Advisory Committee voted on Oct. 26 to take more time to look at the proposed plan. This vote came two days after a city meeting where most residents in attendance showed discontent for the proposed decal system.


SIFE co-advisor named Woman of Influence

Executive Director of College Relations Donna Webb honored by ‘Jacksonville Business Journal’

By Brittany Hackett

Donna DeLorenzo Webb has a long list of involvement at both Flagler College and in the St. Augustine community, including executive director of college relations at Flagler, co-advisor for the Students in Free Enterprise program, and a member of the Westside Community Market planning group. She can now add one more title to her list: Woman of Influence.


Student wins poster contest

Design to represent 26th Annual Lincolnville Festival Junior Ian Latchmansingh created the winning design for the 26th Annual Linconlville Festival as part of a class graphic design project. By Hannah Locke When visiting Lincolnville you may not associate birds on telephone wires with the surrounding…


Flagler looks at how to raise retention rates

By Richard Harris

Tyler Jonas sits in a 300-seat classroom at Florida State University, sometimes wearing a Flagler College ball cap or T-shirt.

Jonas is one of hundreds of students who transfer from Flagler College each year.

Last year, the college lost 346 students. Of those, 110 were freshman who did not return for their sophomore year.

“Where did they go? Why did they come here to begin with and why did we lose them?” said Dean of Student Services Daniel Stewart.

Colleges across the nation are dealing with the issue of lower retention rates, and Flagler is no exception.