PirateQ 
Contest department entrants. Row 1: 1. Comptroller 2. Continuing Education 3. ADA Services 4. Veterans 5. Workforce 6. Facilities and Maintenance and 7. Student Financial Services. Row 2: 8. Grants and Federal Programs Staff Professional Development 9. Cosmetic Arts 10. Warrington Maintenance 11. EOC 12. South Santa Rosa Public Safety 13. WINNERS Humanities and Social Sciences and 14. Technology Operations.
Give a group of college faculty and staff members a challenge, and they will rise to the occasion with unparalleled passion and gusto.
In its eighth year since conception by the local Association of Florida Colleges (AFC) chapter in 2016, the competition just got a little more serious, as the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at the Pensacola Campus created an interactive display that not only won but earned 50 out of 40 possible points “because one of the judges couldn’t resist giving them extra credit,” claimed contest coordinator Erin Roush, Assistant Department Head, Applied Technology and Professional Services.
Roush said, “My favorite part [of the contest] is watching the college come together to show off their creativity and holiday spirit! And of course, the doors are amazing – I’m in awe of what departments come up with every year!”
The winning concept included a giant “book” entitled Here Comes Scotty Claus, complete with multiple pages depicting lyrics and photos of department faculty and staff and ending with a personal note from concept creator and work study student assistant Antonio Sebuano. The overall design also included some “milk and cookies” set out on a chair next to the door, for added effect, even though that was not included in the judges’ decisions, per contest rules.
Pensacola, South Santa Rosa, and Warrington campuses competed this year, with a total of 13 competitors. Roush is hoping all campuses will be inspired to participate to take away the title from “Team Scotty Claus.”
Judging criteria for the competition is based on creativity, complexity, holiday spirit and overall appeal. Only one door per department was allowed, with only the door itself being judged. The “bragging rights” winners earn a $50 gift card for their festive efforts to spread a little holiday cheer to our campus hallways.
One of the competition judges, an anonymous work-study student who will not be named, to protect his or her identity for safety reasons in case losing department members start to apply pressure for future competitions (said completely tongue-in-cheek, of course), admitted that this was a more difficult task than he or she originally thought.
He or she commented, “I didn’t think it would be that hard to pick a winner! I figured a majority of the doors would be gift wrapped with a few trinkets here and there, but once we started looking at the doors, I had to constantly adjust my scores of previous doors cause the new doors kept getting better! I can’t wait to see what next year’s doors will look like!”
Another judge seconded those thoughts by adding, “This door was interactive, which made us truly feel like we were part of the Christmas experience.”
Scott (“Scotty Claus”) Schackmann, Department Head of Humanities and Social Science since 2022, shared that this is the department’s first foray into the competition. He said that he has always wanted to do it because Christmas is his favorite holiday, and when he brought it up in a department meeting, Antonio Sebuano immediately stepped up.
“In high school, my band held locker decorating contests for Christmas every year; the two years I decided to participate, I won both. This door, in particular, took me about four days to fully complete. I wanted to show my appreciation for the staff and faculty while also showing off my creative skills.”
Sebuano apparently “already has plans for next year, but…they may be too top secret for anyone to reveal.” Looks like Santa’s other PSC elves may need to get busy drawing up designs a bit early for next year, or… ”Here comes Scotty Claus, Here comes Scotty Claus!”