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College of Business hosts Rett syndrome fundraiser

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Every year since 2010, Florida Tech has seen a fundraiser hosted for Rett Syndrome.

This is because Henry Perez, the dean of the College of Business, has a 23-year-old daughter named Lily with the syndrome.

According to rettsyndrome.org, Rett syndrome is a rare non-inherited genetic disorder that occurs mostly in girls, although it can rarely occur in boys.

Rett syndrome tends to have an affect on brain development. Perez’s fundraiser, known as the Florida Strollathon, benefits rettsyndrome.org.

The organization invests in research, educates about the syndrome and calls for volunteers to help with fundraisers.

The Strollathon will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Space Coast Field of Dreams.

Many people across the state, including families who are affected by Rett syndrome, will gather together at the Strollathon.

A Rett syndrome awareness week at the College of Business and a pancake breakfast fundraiser at Lucky’s was held beforehand to spread awareness. Funds were collected during the events.

Graduate student Kristi Stephens is participating in the fundraiser for the first time, and will be assisting Perez. Stephens got the opportunity to meet Lily, which inspired her to participate.

“I am particularly inspired to support families and children who face daily challenges because I am fortunate to have two healthy children of my own,” Stephens said. “I believe an entire community benefits when people are willing to help each other with kindness, generosity and compassion.”

Stephens has played a major role with the fundraiser, as she has “planned details of the event such as catering, entertainment and booking hotel accommodations.”

With Stephens’ interest in volunteering, she said she enjoys helping others and getting to know new people, such as the families that attend the fundraiser.

“The most rewarding part of my contribution so far has been interacting with families who have daughters with Rett syndrome,” Stephens said. “It has been a pleasure to support them in a small way, whether by setting up their fundraising pages, helping them post photos and letters, booking hotel rooms or answering general questions about the event.”

Stephens said she looks forward to meeting the families in person and will be proud to have contributed to their enjoyment of a fun day while supporting a cause that can make a difference in their lives.

The fundraiser’s goal is to raise over $100 thousand this year.

If this goal is reached, the fundraiser would raise one million dollars over the course of the Strollathon’s ten-year period.

Students form club to promote College of Business

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Students formed a club to run social media for Florida Tech’s Nathan M. Bisk College of Business this spring.

According to Kollin Upton, a senior studying business administration, the College of Business Social Media Team consists of about 10 students aiming to increase outreach and engagement to current and potential students.

Upton started the club and now serves as its administrator, meaning that he performs secretarial tasks and other “behind-the-scenes” work.

Upton said the group meets once a week to think of ways to promote the College of Business. The discussion and schedule revolves around events happening that week.

“We do things like student spotlights, or event spotlights, where we recognize events going on around campus,” Upton said.

He said that the student spotlights help appeal to prospective students by showing what current students are accomplishing.

Since the club’s formation, the members have created an Instagram account for the College of Business, floridatech_cob.

“It’s been about a month and a half,” Upton said. “Our Instagram presence has grown notably.”

He explained that the group began with a mass email to seek members. Interested students volunteered to participate, and Upton said the students continued with it because they enjoyed it.

The group includes international students and at least one nontraditional student, according to Upton.

He said that having members from different backgrounds helps provide different perspectives in their planning.

Upton says the group being mostly student-run allows for the content to be more relatable the student audience, since they are their own “target market.”

“Students know what students want,” he said.

The club is led by two student leaders. Upton said that having two leaders provides more than one “point of contact” for leadership duties.

Drew Bastian, a senior studying global management, is one of the club’s student leaders.

He said the club provides the students with marketing experience and a chance to use what they are learning, while giving them a say in how the College of Business is seen by others.

The group is working to gain followers on the College’s Facebook and LinkedIn.

According to Upton, the group has limited access to these pages, unlike the full access to the Instagram account.

Bastian said the club would like to improve the timeliness and accuracy of posts across these pages.

“The future plans for the group, currently, are to grow the social media presence of the [College of Business], and to eventually hand the group off to other students that are as interested in learning about social media and how it can help in business,” Bastian said in an emailed response.

He explained that the group does not currently have any other specific plans, but that he is “excited for the future.”

“With all the different backgrounds we have working on getting information and content made, I feel like anything can happen,” Bastian said.

According to Bastian, the club will be seeking new members in the fall semester.