CHIPOLA
BIOLOGY PROF WORKING ON MALARIA VACCINE -- Chipola College
biology professor Dr. Virginia Baker is working with colleagues
at Florida State University and the World Health Mission to
unravel the mysteries hidden in the poor efficacy of the malaria
vaccine.
Dr. Baker says, “In the field of malaria research, we are
frequently confronted with the hopeful perspective that a
malaria vaccine is eminent. Unfortunately, the development
of such a vaccine has remained elusive, with factors of unknown
origin undermining its success.”
Attempts to explain the ineffective immune response have been
sought by Dr. Virginia Baker of Chipola College, and colleagues
at FSU and World Health Mission. While working in Nigeria,
Dr. Baker uncovered an unexpected autoimmune phenomenon found in
children under the age of six. The impact of this find may
lie in a novel discovery of an innate immune response never
before identified in association with malaria. This
autoimmune activity against double-stranded DNA may negate
effective delivery of the vaccine—which in many cases is based
on a DNA adjuvant to mount an effective immune response.
After describing the discovery to researchers at Centers for
Disease Control in July, 2007, Dr. Baker was invited to speak at
The American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Meeting in
Philadelphia, November 3-8, 2007. In heated debates, the
data was critiqued by researchers involved in the Bill Gates
vaccination initiative and by international malaria research
team members.
Cytokine-Associated Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in
Plasmodium Falciparum Infected Children under the Age of Six,
the title of the manuscript describing the novel immune
response, was submitted by Dr. Baker and colleagues to the
MALARIA JOURNAL, where it has recently been accepted for
publication by peer review. The manuscript has claimed
international attention and press as the long sought-after
explanation for malaria vaccination failure. Invitations for
Dr. Baker to speak about the research are as far-reaching as
Guangzhou, China.
Dr. Baker acknowledges support by Chipola College to attend
the international meeting in Philadelphia, as well as support to
build a laboratory setting in which to engage students in the
pursuit of research venues.
CHIPOLA STUDENTS NAMED TO WHO’S WHO -- The 2008 edition of
Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges will
include the names of 62 students from Chipola College who have
been selected as national outstanding campus leaders.
Chipola students named this year are:
Alford—Burnett Jordan.
Blountstown—Kate Atkins, Tanya Savell.
Bonifay—Daniel Bernabe, Jr., Brandon Bryant, Nathan Hauser,
Mark Hodge, Jicole Niemi, Julian Paul III.
Campbellton—Cornelius Clark.
Chipley—Robert Bethea, Matthew Booth, Nathan Clemmons, Amanda
Foran, Amanda Jackson, Gardner Munn, Diviya Patel, Kevin
Russell, Jonathan Sober, Megan Warden, Dequario White, Kristen
Wilder.
Clarksville—Brandon Dysard.
Cottondale—Holly Scurlock, Kimberly Sloan, Jantzen Whitehead,
Mitchell Whitehead.
Graceville—John Byrd, Courtney Coggins, Keith Watford.
Greenwood—Ashley Duce, Shannon Hatcher, Catherine Lipford.
Malone—Lindsey Baxter, Tommy Thompson, III.
Marianna—Farren Barfield, Christopher Calton, Kristen
Carlile, Ryan Chaffee, Rachel Daniel, Mario Edwards, Brittany
Gardner, Heather Gibson, Clevin Hannah, Louvinia Hayes, Nicole
Hoff, Danielle Hughes, Monica Kennedy, Ashley McCray, Johnathan
Parker, Kyle Regnault, Kevin Shores, Richard Sims, Katharine
Taylor, Nicole VanSchoick, Megan Weaver, Katie Williams.
Ponce de Leon—Rachel Taylor.
Sneads—Jessica Lawson, Amber Weeks.
Out of District—Maria Kenyon, Donalsonville, Ga.; Brittany
Holmes, Dothan, Ala.
Inclusion in the directory is based on academic achievement,
service to the community, leadership in extracurricular
activities and potential for continued success. They join an
elite group of students from more than 1,400 institutions of
higher learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and
several foreign nations.
Outstanding students have been honored in Who’s Who since it
was first published in 1966.
CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES SET AT CHIPOLA -- Chipola
College will offer a variety of short courses in the coming
weeks.
The following Mandatory training for Child Care Facility
Personnel and Family Child Care Home is scheduled: Pre-School
Appropriate Practices, May 31, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is
$43.
An Observing & Recording Child Behavior course will meet
Monday’s and Wednesday’s, May 7 through June 16, from 6 to 9:20
p.m. Cost is $191.
A Lifeguard Training class will meet May 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13,
14 and 15, 4 to 8 p.m.; Cost is $112.
Chipola also offers custom workshops. The following are
available: Eat That Frog: Stop Procrastinating and Get More
Done; Whale Done: The Power of Positive Relationships; The
Pygmalion Effect: Managing the Power of Expectations; Discussing
Performance; The Attitude Virus: Curing Negativity in the
Workplace; Team Building: What makes a Good Team Player?; and
After All, You’re the Supervisor!
Gatlin Education Services (GES) offers, open enrollment,
online courses in: health care, internet graphics/web design,
business, law and travel. Register online at
www.gatlineducation.com/chipola.
Education To Go offers online programs in: computers,
photography, languages, writing, entertainment, grant writing,
business, sales, accounting, test prep, finance, health, child
care, parenting, art, history, psychology, literature,
statistics, philosophy, engineering, law and nursing. For dates
and course outlines, visit www.ed2go.com/chipola.
For information about any of these non-credit courses, call
850-718-2395.
CHIPOLA TO DEFEND STATE BASEBALL TITLE MAY 9 -- The Chipola
Indians begin their defense of the state baseball title, Friday,
May 9, when they face Seminole in a noon (CST) game in the FCCAA
State Tournament.
The double-elimination tournament runs May 9-13 at Chain of
Lakes Stadium in Winter Haven.
The Indians are led by ace pitcher Kyle Regnault, second on
the state pitching list with a 6-0 record and a 1.78 ERA. Matt
Jackson has an 8-0 record for the Indians with a 2.48 ERA.
Pitcher Ben Jeffers is second on the state strikeout list with
40 strikeouts in 28 innings of work.
Chris Berroa has a .398 batting average with 17 stolen bases.
Moises Montero has 12 homeruns and 52 RBI’s.
The Indians finished second in the Panhandle Conference race
with a 14-6 conference mark and a 39-12-1 overall record.
Pensacola was first in the league.
The team will depart from the college residence hall the
morning of Wednesday, May 7.
All Chipola state tournament games will be broadcast on
WJAQ-100.9 FM, and are available online at www.chipola.edu.
LADY INDIANS BEGIN DEFENSE OF STATE TITLE MAY 2 -- The
Chipola Lady Indians begin their defense of the FCCAA State
Softball title Friday, May 2, with four All-State selections in
the lineup.
Chipola’s ace pitcher Brooke Muth and shortstop Carolyn Moore
were recently picked for the FCCAA All-State First Team roster.
Muth is third on the state pitching list. She chalked up a
25-4 record in 208 innings of work. She logged 134 strikeouts
with an incredible 0.707 ERA.
Lady Indian outfielder Destiny Covington and catcher Alyssa
Shirey were named to the All-State Second Team. Covington leads
the state in stolen bases with 59 in 61 attempts. She is seventh
in the FCCAA batting rankings with a .439 average and six
homeruns. Shirey has 26 RBI’s and has stolen 16 bases placing
her among the top 20.
The Lady Indians play Polk CC at 2 p.m., Friday, May 2, in
the first round of Gulf District bracket of the state tournament
at the Auburndale Softball Complex.
The winner of the Gulf District bracket meets the winner of
the Atlantic District in the state title game on Sunday, May 4.
The Lady Indians are 40-9 in regular season play after
capturing the 2008 Panhandle Conference Title.
Chipola coach Belinda Hendrix was named Conference Coach of
the Year. Carolyn Moore was named Conference Player of the Year,
and Brooke Muth was named Pitcher of the Year in the league.
The Lady Indians have 10 players on the Panhandle All
Conference team. First Team selections are: Carolyn Moore,
Destiny Covington, Kasey Henderson, Alyssa Shirey, Brooke Muth
and Amber Weeks. Second Team All Conference picks are: Chasity
Covington, Tera Gainer, Melody Moore and Monica Kennedy.
The Lady Indians are the defending national, state and
Panhandle Conference Champions.
For the latest scores, visit www.chipola.edu,
or call 718-2CJC.