Eastern Florida State Hosts More Than 500 Youth and Mentors at 28th Annual Summit of Seven Conference

Summit presented meaningful workshops, fun events that challenged Brevard's youth to prepare for success

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne hosted the 28th annual Summit of Seven Conference from June 10 to 12, providing a series of life-changing community educational programs for over 500 of Brevard’s youth and young adults.

“The Summit of Seven is all about the most important resource in our community, which is our youth and young adults,” said EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey.

“Everyone involved deserves praise for their efforts in helping them see their potential and build highly productive and successful lives.”

The Summit presented meaningful workshops and fun events that challenged Brevard’s youth and young adults to prepare for successful careers and family life.

The conference was open to the public with approximately 260 people in attendance on Friday night at the Annual Fun Festival where popcorn, hot dogs, hamburgers and BBQ were served with several corporate sponsors providing support such as Eastern Florida State College Foundation, Brevard Public Schools, Community Credit Union, WAWA Corporation, Truth Real International Ministries, Sanders-Randal Rice, Attorney at Law and the Air Force Technical Application Center.

Guest speakers included James Folston Sr., Myron Campbell and Darvin Taylor II.

“We are so honored to play a role in such an important event,” said Jack Parker, Vice President of External Affairs.

“It is a wonderful thing to see hundreds of our future students having fun and learning at their future college.”

In addition to The Summit of Seven Conference, volunteers delivered meals to 22 homeless individuals and 10 families in need.

Saturday morning started an exciting day for boys and men with registration and breakfast at the Evans Center before starting with break-out sessions that included science, technology, engineering mathematics (STEM), law enforcement, financial literacy, business ownership, public safety and mental health.

Saturday cumulated with a community and corporate-sponsored luncheon with 400 in attendance with LeRoy Darby as the Master of Ceremonies. There were several scholarships awarded to Brevard students, including two $1,000 EFSC scholarships and three Phi Beta Sigma scholarships.

“Eastern Florida State College’s Public Safety Institute recently had the privilege of participating in the Summit of Seven event,” said Steve Salvo, Dean of Public Safety at EFSC.

“Our part was to familiarize the students with the three main vocations taught at the EFSC Public Safety Institute, including fire fighting, emergency medical services and law enforcement. We spent until noon on Saturday interacting with the students who were split into four groups ranging from 6 to 18 years of age, where they participated and experienced hands-on applications of firefighting equipment, emergency medical tools and observed live demonstrations of law enforcement K-9 and Bomb Squad teams in action.

The interaction between the Summit of Seven students and the Public Safety Presentation Team was remarkable.

“We truly appreciate the Summit of Seven and the opportunity it presented to meet with these incredible young men,” said Salvo.

“A special thanks to our Presentation Team, Cocoa Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Sam Byrd, Eastern Florida State Firefighter Students Recruit Class 225, Andrea Jones and Cameron Maruzzella. Eastern Florida State Emergency Medical Services Program Manager Jeff Touro and Law Enforcement Academy Recruit Class 22-L1 Ellison Gaulding.”

There were several awards presented during the weekend:

The Young Man of Distinction Award was presented to three young Brevardians who have become  positive role models for others and who have succeeded in life despite difficult odds:

■ Jacob Lamar Price – Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy
■ Javel Cook – Eau Gallie High School
■ Xavier Torrell Desmond Patterson – Heritage High School

The Earl Gordon Community Service Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding service to the Brevard County community as a community leader.  The 28th Summit of Seven Boys & Men Conference “Earl Gordon Community Service Award” was presented to Charles Jackson for leading the way.

The Going the Extra Mile Award is designed to recognize people who provide solutions to solve complex problems that our community faces and those who make a significant difference in the community through their desire to create social change and improve community development. The  “Going the Extra Mile Award” was presented to Pastor Addison K. Mitchell of the Parker Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Cocoa Florida.

The Top Man Award at The Summit of Seven conference was presented to Pastor Addison Mitchell and Deon Allen of the Parker Memorial Missionary Baptist Church of Cocoa, Florida who brought the most males to the Summit.

“Eastern Florida State College wholeheartedly supports the mission and vision of the Summit of Seven in cultivating interest in education for the young citizens of our district and providing tangible, hands-on experience during the summit for these young people in several of our applied programs, such as public safety and fire protection services,” said Dr. Randall P. Fletcher, Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs and Chief Learning Officer at EFSC.

“Children today need positive motivators and role models and The Summit of Seven provides a program where young people can interact directly for a day with these important influencers.”

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