LAKELAND, Fla. (March 29, 2007) — Richard Burnette, Professor of Psychology, and Catherine R. Eskin, Associate Professor of English, served as mentors to two students from McKeel Academy in Lakeland from January through mid-March as part of the school’s senior internship program. The students, Gabe Lonsberry and Kaila Armstrong, worked for over 80 hours with the professors as part of a career exploration and preparation program that is a requirement for graduation.

Lonsberry, who worked with Eskin in the college’s English department, sat in on classes, created PowerPoint presentations, prepared a lesson, shadowed his host at meetings, sat in during student conferences and observed general class preparation. Eskin says she was thrilled with Lonsberry’s performance. “It was a joy to have Gabe in my office and in my classroom. I already miss him!”

Burnette worked with Kaila Armstrong, who attended two of his classes. In Burnette’s Psychological Tests and Measurements class, Kaila developed a portfolio of psychological tests that she administered, scored, interpreted and wrote up. In the Educational Psychology class, Kaila did everything the regularly enrolled students did and achieved the second highest grade in the class. Kaila commented that Burnette had been very helpful in preparing her for future employment. Burnette was equally enthusiastic, “It was a most rewarding experience for me. She not only took two classes with me, she also served as the student assistant I did not have this semester.” Kaila plans to earn her associate degree at Polk Community College and then attend FSC to major in psychology before going on to graduate school.

Both students, along with their classmates, presented their experiences on poster boards at McKeel Academy last week.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive, United Methodist college with a liberal arts core. The college maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 39 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 13:1 student/faculty ratio, provides strong student/faculty mentorship programs, boasts 25 NCAA Division II national championships, and is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor’s institutions and by the Princeton Review as a “Best Southeastern College.” Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is the home of the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.