Florida College System Activities Association

Dr. Asha Brunings is currently an Associate Professor of Microbiology at Santa Fe College. She started coaching the Santa Fe College Brain Bowl team in 2014. After seven years coaching, she was elected as the FCSAA Co-Chair of the Brain Bowl Divison, in which role she has served since 2021. 

Dr. Brunings immediately improved the competitive success of the Santa Fe Brain Bowl program when she became its coach. She worked with Chris Borglum and Stan Young, two coaches who already had success, to learn strategies for recruiting and preparing players to be successful, and she added many of her own. Under her leadership, Santa Fe has finished in the top three at the FCSAA Sate Brain Bowl tournament three times and has a streak of qualifying for the State Tournament every year since 2016. Her players are always well prepared and carry themselves with class and friendliness. Her care and interest in them as players and people is obvious to any observer. As Co-Chair, Dr. Brunings represents Brain Bowl at the FCSAA Executive Committee and attends their twice yearly meetings. She also organizes the FCSAA State Tournament each year.

Dr. Brunings has been a positive and primary force in creating a more collegial and friendly feeling among the FCSAA Brain Bowl coaches. When new coaches come on board, she is quick to not only greet and connect them to the larger coaches community, she also always volunteers to drive to their campus to help get their program up and running! Dr. Brunings is an invaluable part of FCSAA Brain Bowl. She was nominated for this recognition by the Brain Bown Divison. 

Ms. Dianna Campbell has been a Professor of Music at Seminole State College since 2004. She earned the rank of Distinguished Professor in 2022. Dianna also serves as the Director of Choral Activities and the Music Program Coordinator at the College. Ms. Campbell received her bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Florida and her master's in Choral Conducting from the University of South Florida. Before coming to work for Seminole State College, she worked as Choir Director for Lyman High School and Music Director at Central Christian Church.

Ms. Campbell has been very active in the music community throughout her career. She has adjudicated and conducted for various festivals, competitions, and conventions over the years, and has also published articles in the Choral Journal. She has been a chair on several different boards including ACDA Southern Division Regional Chair, ACDA Florida State Chair, and Florida Vocal Association Chair. Dianna also served as the FCSAA Music State Advisor from 2022-2025 and FCSAA Symposium Orchestra Coordinator from 2022-2024.

Ms. Campbell has received several awards over the course of her career and is a two time recipient of the Ken Sylvester Excellence in Teaching Award. She has presented in several workshops and regularly perfrorms in Faculty Recitals. She is also a proud member of Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Alpha Iota.

Ms. Campbell was nominated by the Music Division.

Mr. Kerry Roth currently serves as the Associate Director of Student Success at Florida State College at Jacksonville. At FCSSGA Executive Board, Region and Statewide events, Kerry has presented numerous FLT, FAT, and AFAT workshops, along with various other education sessions, and facilitated experiential team building activities. Kerry has often served as the main contact between Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) and FCSSGA whenever FSCJ has hosted FCSSGA Conferences and Retreats and recruited FSCJ faculty and staff to present to the attendees. Multiple FSCJ students that Kerry has advised have served as FJCCSGA/FCSSGA State President as well as serve on the FJCCSGA/FCSSGA State and District IV/Region 1 Executive Boards. Multiple student leaders from FSCJ and other Florida College System institutions that Kerry has advised have been recipients of the FCSSGA President of the Year Award, the Bob Graham Distinguished Service as a Florida College System Student Award, Region 1 Leadership Award, and Region 1 Rookie Award. During his time as FSCJ Collegewide SGA Advisor, FSCJ has also received the People’s Choice Scrapbook Award and the Community Service Award. Kerry has nominated numerous fellow advisors from across the state and from FSCJ for various regional and state awards. Multiple advisors and one student inductee in the FCSSGA Hall of Fame were nominated by Kerry. Many of Kerry’s mentors, heroes, and colleagues are in the FCSSGA Hall of Fame, so he is very humbled by the honor of joining them. 

Mr. Roth was nominated by the Student Government Division.

Kimmelman has served in numerous leadership capacities during his tenure at IRSC. As Chair of the Southern Conference, he also filled a seat on the Council for Athletic Affairs’ Executive Board. He later served as Citrus Conference Chair during its initial year of existence. Kimmelman has also been a member of the Board of Directors for both Florida Swimming and the Treasure Coast Sports Commission for more than 20 years. All of IRSC’s sports have enjoyed success under Kimmelman’s leadership, including an NJCAA World Series title for softball in 2024, but none can match what both he and The River have accomplished in the pool. 

Including his stint as an assistant, Kimmelman’s coaching career boasts a total of 26 National Championships – and 40 more as an administrator. As head coach, he was recognized as NJCAA Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and NJCAA Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year in 2006. In 2011, Kimmelman was inducted into the NJCAA Swimming & Diving Hall of Fame and, a year later, received the NJCAA’s Jack Cistriano Service Award, presented annually to individuals who have provided outstanding service to the sport of swimming & diving.

Kimmelman has also been active in bringing postseason events to IRSC and the surrounding area. Overseeing one of the nation’s premiere facilities, Kimmelman has hosted and administered more than 15 NJCAA Swimming & Diving Championships on a biennial basis. From 2015-17, he partnered with Treasure Coast Sports to host the FCSAA Softball Championship at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida. 

Mr. Kimmelman was nominated by the Athletics Divison.

Dr. William Hinkle served the Director of Bands at Seminole State College for 35 years. Dr. Hinkle got his Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, and Doctorate Degree from Florida State University in 1970, 1971, and 1975 respectively. 

Dr. Hinkle started the Music Symposium in 1976-77 at the FMEA Music Conference. He served as a steering committe member and participant from 1976 until Don Snowden took over. He acted as an advisor for creating the ensembles asking directors to participate. He was the coordinator of the Symphonic and Jazz Bands for several years. He also worked with colleagues to take the choir and orchestra ensembles. 

Dr. Hinkle was president of the FAJE (Florida Association of Jazz Educators) for 2 terms. On the board for NAJE for 16 years and a lifetime member of FBA, ran the Florida All State Jazz Band 5 times and several All County Bands throughout Florida. Dr. Hinkle is also on the Band Wall of Fame at Florida State University.

Dr. Hinkle was nominated by the Music Division. 

Ms. Christina Gesmundo has served as Polk State College's speech and debate coach and Director of Forensics for more than a decade. Shortly after joining the college, she launched a new program, building an energetic and animated team that has since earned multiple state championship titles. Coach Gesmundo is dedicated to strengthening the college community and actively collaborating with student groups and campus organizations to help cultivate a vibrant, engaged campus culture.

In 2019, Polk State College's Lakeland campus proudly hosted its inaugural speech and debate tournament - an event that drew more than 100 competitors from around the state. Additionally, Professor Gesmundo enthusiastically judges at numerous speech tournaments throughout the year and is always looking for new experiences for her students. She believes in providing students with choices about what activities they find the most meaningful and facilitates their growth in whatever they seek to do, approaching Forensics with both honesty and compassion. 

Some achievements and awards that Professor Gesmundo has received are the Banking Endowed Teaching Chair at Polk State College 2020-2021, the FCSAA Forensics Coach of the Year Award in 2016 and 2019, and the Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha Forensics Coach of the Year Award in 2015.

Professor Gesmundo is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in communications at the University of South Florida. She is also an E200-registered yoga teacher.

Professor Gesmundo was nominated into the Hall of Fame by the Forensics Division.

Mr. Abdel Reyes-Torres debated for Miami Dade College from 2012 to 2014, primarily competing in NPDA formal debate. He was a state finalist in NPDA debate in 2014 with partner Yulissa Arancibia at FCSAA, then went on to debate for FIU, where he was a state finalist at the FIFA State Championship in 2018 with partner Juan Igarzabal. 

While competing for Miami Dade College, Abdel approached the activity with a tireless work ethic. He spent hours everyday in the Speech Lab practicing, putting on demonstration rounds for students, and helping tutor students that came into the lab for assistance. Despite his numerous successes, Abel has remained humble and kind. He judges at the FCSAA tournament every year, has helped coach MDC students over the years, and took time to speak with students about forensics through a colliquium presenation for the MDC Honors College. Abdel loves providing thoughtful critiques as a judge.

Abdel graduated cum laude from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in May 2021. He went on to work as a judicial intern for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida and as a legal intern at the Federal Public Defender's Office for th Northern District of Florida. Post graduation, Abdel was hired as an attorney at the Federal Public Defender's Office in Tallahassee, working in the Capital Habeas Unit from 2021-2023. Since October 2024, Abdel has served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in Davenport, Iowa, and recently argued his first case as the Lead Attorney.

Abdel was nominated by the Forensics division.  

Mr. Hunter Davis was the captain of the Chipola College Brain Bowl team from 2015-2018, playing for the Chipola team three years in total, one as a dual-enrolled student at Cottondale High School, and two more years while on campus at Chipola receiving his A.A.

Coach Young shares, “It didn't take long to realize that I was dealing with a very intelligent student when Hunter entered our program. It was just a matter of how to maximize his potential. Hunter made that easy because he was driven to master the game of Brain Bowl.”

Hunter led the Chipola team to back to back State Championships in 2017 and 2018, where he finished as the high scorer in 2017 and the second overall scorer in 2018. He also led Chipola to the National Runner-Up in 2017, where he was the 9th overall scorer on a balanced team and he was the 8th overall scorer in 2018 on another very balanced team.

Although Hunter was a great player, he was also a great leader. Most wouldn't call Hunter the traditional leader, because he led in his own style. Hunter leads with humor most of the time, but also knows just the right time to be serious. Coach Young shared that he could always rely on Hunter when he needed someone to rally the troops or just gather the group when coach needed to simply park the van at the airport. 

Hunter was nominated by the Brain Bowl Division.  

Ms. Heather Elmatti: Both as a professor and Club Advisor, Heather Elmatti ensured that Lake-Sumter State College students participated in the Florida College System Student Government Association. She demonstrated exemplary leadership as evidenced by the awards she received including FCCSGA District 2 (now Region 3) Advisor of the Year in 2004, Bob Graham Distinguished Service Award in hte Advisor category in 2006, and the FCSSGA Community Service Award in 2017 and 2019.

Moreover, Heather's involvement with the FCSAA has been nothing short of exemplary. She has served with distinction in numerous divisions including Publications and Theatre, leveraging her expertise and insight to enhance the overall student experience. After her time in the Student Government division, Heather transitioned into a faculty position teaching journalism, helping students establish print and online publications by serving as their advisor. Heather and her student team were awarded the Florida College System Publication Association Inner Circle Award and finished top three in the newspaper division in 2012, were awarded FCSPA Best Online Newspaper in 2011, and Heather was named Advisor of the Semester Award in 2013 during her tenure as The Angler Adviser. Heather also left an indelible mark on Lake-Sumter's Theatre program mentoring student directors, casting student talent and producing one to three children’s shows annually. In addition, she coordinated a free field trip for seven elementary schools annually ensuring 300-600 children were exposed to a stage play. Three children’s plays (Robin Hood, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan) received excellent reviews, and Heather received the FCSAA Theatre Division Community Service Award in 2017 and 2019.

There is so much more to tell. Heather has led amazing TEDxLSSC events on our campus, been advisor to Circle K and Honors Club, and as she currently teaches Public Speaking, she organizes student open mic events and coordinates our student commencement speaker selection and coaching. Beyond Heather’s professional achievements, she embodies the values of integrity, compassion, and excellence. She is a true mentor and role model, always willing to lend a listening ear, offer sage advice, or extend a helping hand. Heather was nominated into the FCSAA Hall of Fame by the Student Government Division.

Ms. Marjorie McGee is the Director of Student Life at the College of Central Florida. Within the Student Government Division, Marjorie has served as FCSSGA State Advisor, a member of the FCSAA Executive Committee, FCSSGA District 3/Region 2 Advisor, State Conference Chair, FLT Coordinator, Budget Manager, facilitated numerous workshops, and much more. Six of her students have served on the FCSSGA State Executive Board and several on the District/Region Board. She has nominated numerous Bob Graham Distinguished Service Award recipients in the Community Supporter, FCS Employee, and Student Categories. Her students have won numerous Scrapbook competitions with their creativity and positivity. Marjorie is also supportive of CF FCSAA Activities including, but not limited to Brain Bowl, Forensics, Music, Theatre, and Student Publications.

Marjorie is a proud graduate of Leadership Ocala Marion (LOM) Class XVI, which was a catalyst that helped her begin her career at the college. In 2013, Marjorie received the Vee Severs-Choate Advisor Award, which is given to advisors, from advisors. In 2014, she was one of the inaugural winners of the CF "Patriot PRIDE" award of Excellence. In 2015 Marjorie received the Bob Graham Distinguished Service Award in the SGA Advisor Category. This same year she was awarded the Charles R. Dassance Award of Excellence from the CF Athletics Department for her unwavering support of the program. Since 2006, Marjorie has served in numerous local and state roles within the Association of Florida Colleges, including CF Chapter President (twice!).

Marjorie has made such a positive impact upon the students of CF as an educator, mentor, and maternal figure in their lives. She leads by example with endless energy and serves as a mentor to numerous educators across the state. Marjorie was nominated into the FCSAA Hall of Fame by the Student Government Division. 

Ms. Jacki Waller is the Women's Cross Country Head Coach at Pasco Hernando State College. Jacki's love for running was evident from her high school competition days. She was the best runner in Pasco County for four straight years earning a scholarship to Ohio University where she earned a bachelor's degree in 2001. Returning to Pasco County she taught high school mathematics and coached the high school team. In 2004, PHSC decided to drop the tennis program and start women's cross country to boost female participation for equity reasons. Jacki was the first choice to coach this new team.

Jacki jumped at the opportunity to start the intercollegiate program in 2005 when asked. As a part-time coach, she has built one of the top programs in the country. Her teams have placed in the top 10 five of the last six years and have won the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 championship six of the last eight years. Many runners have achieved All-FCSAA/All-Region 8 honors and national honors in the 5K and half marathon distances.Her dedication and support for her student-athletes is evident by the success the program has achieved not only in racing, but in the classroom and in the community.

Jacki has earned FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Coach of the Year six times and NJCAAAtlantic Region Coach of the Year three times. Jacki is very well respected among her colleagues and has been very involved in seeing the growth of the sport. Being the only program in 2005, the FCSAA has grown to 13 colleges that will participate in the fall of 2024.

Jacki was nominated for the FCSAA Hall of Fame by the Athletics Division.

Ms. Melodie Dickerson is a Professor of Music at State College of Florida, where she serves as the Director of Choral and Vocal Studies and Chair of the Performing Arts Department.

Melodie has served an integral role in running the FCSAA Winter Music Symposium since 2008.  She was the coordinator of the symposium for a number of years, putting in extensive time and effort to run an event that has been of great benefit to many students around the state.  In this role, she worked with various colleges and universities to secure sites for the symposium and was the leader in the coordination of a quite complex event.  She has also served as a mentor for others who have served in leadership roles over the years.  Her efforts have been essential in the continued success of the symposium over the last 16 years.

At State College of Florida, Melodie has directed more than 25 productions, including West Side Story and Oklahoma. She also co-wrote and directed the 2007 permiere of a new musical called In Ybor City! Melodie is the recipient of the 2020 SCF President's Faculty Excellence Award, the NISOD Award in 2011, and was named the Inaugral Chair of the SCF Department of Performing Arts in January 2021.

In her local area, she has appeared with the Northport Symphony, Anna Maria Island Symphony, Venice Symphony, and the Pops Orchestra of Sarasota-Bradenton as well as numerous other music series and recitals. Melodie also performs as part of the duo, Solea Musica, with her husband, classical guitarist Rex Williams. They have released a CD, Into the Sky, and performed concerts throughout the state of Florida and in Czech Republic! 

Melodie was nominated for the FCSAA Hall of Fame by the Music Division. 

Dr. Robert Lamb is a Professor of Music at Eastern Florida State College where he directs choral activities. He is affiliated with the Music Division Winter Symposium held annually in January. He was the Director of the Student Artist Competition from 2005-2008 and 2019-2024, and continues this function for the 2025 Winter Symposium. 

In his position as Student Artisit Competition Director, Dr. Lamb contacts directors, registers students in the competition, arranges for accompanists, coordinates the auditions with the host colleges, arranges and coordinates the adjudicators from the host colleges or surrounding areas, tabulates adjudicators' scores, coordinates the winners' recital and the dress recercal for that recital, and distributes the adjucation comment sheets to the participating school directors. This competition yields $2,000 scholarships to four-year college music programs for winners in several music performance cetegories. 

Dr. Lamb is also an active member of several professional organizations including the American Choral Directors Association, the American Guild of Organists, Chorus America, the American Musicological Society, and FCSAA. In the American Choral Directors Association, Lamb served as the North Carolina State Newsletter Editor and currently serves as the Florida Repetoire and Standards Chair for Community and Two-Year Colleges. In the American Guild of Organists, he served as the Dean of the Western North Carolina Chapter. Dr. Lamb is also a proud board member of the Brevard Sympohny Orchestra.

Robert was nominated for the FCSAA Hall of Fame by the Music Division. 

Mr. Bryan Batista was a Forensics student at Tallahassee Community College! He graduated from the College in 2001, then went on to FSU to receive his Bachelor's degree. During his time at TCC he was an active member of the TCC Forensics team. Some of his accomplishments on this team include: 2001 State Pentathlon Champion, 2001 ADS State Champion, 2001 IFC POI 1st Place, IFC Impromptu Semi-Finalist, ADS State Champion, State Pentathlon Runner Up, and over 100 other awards.

After his graduation from Florida State University, Bryan spent some time working in broadcasting. He has produced and hosted shows for several companies including iHeart Radio, Brighthouse Networks of California, and Krystal Broadcasting Studio. Currently, Bryan works as the CEO of his own company, Infinite Low Country Events.

Bryan was nominated for the FCSAA Hall of Fame by the Forensics Division.   

Mr. Chase Cashion was a proud member of the TCC forensics team from 2014-2016. During his time with the team, he competed all across the country in oral interpretation, limited preparation, public address, and debate competitions. In his first year of competition, Chase scored second place in the "top novice" category at the Bradley University invitational and won first place in an impromptu speaking competition at Cerritos College in Los Angeles, California. Chase was named team captain during his second year and continued his success winning first place in "After Dinner Speaking" at the Star Invitational. In the spring of 2016, Chase became the second student in TCC"s history to win a gold award in "Speech to Entertain" at the national Phi Rho Pi competition and helped the team to receive an overall bronze award.

After graduation from TCC, Chase moved to Orlando and competed for UCF's forensics team. During his year and a half of competition, Chase helped UCF win their first tournament, in route to capturing their very first state championship in the spring of 2018. After graduating from UCF, Chase returned to Tallahassee to coach and travel with the team. As a coach, Chase assisted with the creation of various speeches and won the fellowship award for coaching at Phi Rho Pi in Reno, Nevada. Chase considers his years on the forensics team in Tallahassee to be the most fun experience he had in college, and is forever grateful to all of the coaches, friends, and competitors he met along the way.   

Chase was nominated for the FCSAA Hall of Fame by the Forensics Division. 

Dr. James Meier  is a Professor of Humanities at the College of Central Florida. James has taught in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department of the College of Central Florida since 2007. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy. After working for several years variously as a customs officer, stock broker, and manufacurer's representation, he returned to school to pursue graduate degrees in American History. He graduated from Queen's University with his Master's in 1994 and from the University of Florida with his Doctorate in 2000.

Shortly after joining CF, he and his co-coach, Darrell Riley, helped re-establish College of Central Florida's Brain Bowl program after its previous coach had resigned a year earlier. Following Riley's untimely death in 2021, Dana Harris and Melissa Quigley came on board as new coaches, forming alongside Meier what has come to be known as Brain Bowl's "Mod Squad."

In the 17 years that he has coached Brain Bowl at CF, more that 120 students have participaed on its teams. CF has qualified for the NAQT Community College National Championship tournament on multiple occasions and once for the Intercollegiate Championship Tournament!

Dr. Meier's involvement with Brain Bowl has been rewarding on many levels. He found that the Brain Bowl community unfailingly fosters a collegial environment among both coaches and players of opposing teams even though the competitive spirit runs high. He has made a large impact on the Brain Bowl community.

James was nominated for the FCSAA Hall of Fame by the Brain Bowl Division.  

Mr. Sean Platzer is a professor at Valencia College. He was a also a student a Valencia College, graduating in 2007. Sean played on Valencia College's Brain Bowl team for three years, starring as the lead scorer on the 2005 FCSAA state runner-up team and again on the 2006 FCSAA state championship team. 

In addition to his stellar play on the team, Sean came back to Valencia to staff Brain Bowl tournaments after he moved on to the University of Florida. He has also contributed by writing questions for use at tournaments since 2009 and has staffed at FCSAA Regional and State tournaments since 2018.

Sean currently teaches at his alma mater, Valencia College, and is co-coach of the team. He gives six hours of work for the team each week, not including the many weekend overnight trips, due to his love of the game and the students. As an adjunct faculty member, he gets no stipend or release time for those many hours. His dedication to the game is clear and valuable to students, and he has made a significant impact on the Brain Bowl community.

Sean was nominated for the FCSAA Hall of Fame by the Brain Bowl Division.