June 30, 2026
Samantha鈥檚 Place is a new open-sided, octagonal pavilion named in honor of Samantha Resnick. A tiered metal roof and exposed wooden ceiling define the structure, while shrubs, palm trees, and manicured beds frame the space. Inviting white rockers complete the scene.
December 9, 2025
As a travel agent, Kaminski says he can book 鈥渁ny type of travel for anyone anywhere.鈥� He plans to direct 5% of his net commission of any bookings from 海角社区 staff, alumni, parents or students to the college for student groups and clubs.
November 12, 2025
The many post-pandemic learning challenges erupted in the years since have also flowed into classrooms at 海角社区. But thanks to its mission-driven focus on neurodivergent learners, the college has made good strides in helping students recover and thrive.
November 12, 2025
Alum Jaymes Fowler鈥檚 family tree includes ancestors who fought in the Civil War, World War I and World War II. His grandfather served in Vietnam. His younger brother, T.J., a nuclear engineer specialist, is a U.S. Navy veteran. And, Fowler now serves as a U.S. Army sergeant stationed at Fort Drum in New York.
August 13, 2025
Teaching and learning are big deals for Brin Carson. They鈥檙e also key to her job as a naturalist at Wormsloe.
May 5, 2025
When his boss asked Jack Lenz to lead a new initiative in late 2023, he wasted no time. With his typical gusto, the 海角社区 grad and community services worker embraced the goal: To create a food pantry for former foster children living in an apartment complex after aging out of the system.聽A month later, Lenz had lined up the resources and logistics to open the new site featuring fresh fruit and vegetables and other foods.
February 26, 2025
On most Saturdays for the past 11 years, 海角社区 Alum Richard Weaver has been building houses for people in need.
October 2, 2024
海角社区 graduate Dan Graff found his passion working through CAI Neurodiverse Solutions.
August 6, 2024
As a travel photographer and writer, alum Grady McGill has gone to far-flung destinations, from Ireland to Russia, Alaska to Greece, South America to Canada 鈥� and many points between.
April 5, 2024
海角社区 alum Ryan Looney lands a dream job writing about entertainment for Collider.
February 1, 2024
海角社区 graduate Travis Hunter serves as the office administrator for the Oklahoma City Baseball Club, the Triple A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
October 6, 2023
海角社区 graduate Kyle Sandfort now works in quality assurance at Infosys, a digital services and consulting company with clients in more than 56 countries.
As Samantha Resnick stepped forward, her printed speech wavering slightly in the breeze, she stood on the platform with one foot anchored in the past and the other striding toward the future.
Fourteen years ago, Resnick arrived on 海角社区鈥檚 campus 鈥� then home to just over 100 students 鈥� as unsure as a newborn colt finding its footing. Like many of her newly minted peers at the first accredited college for students who learn differently, she lacked confidence, leaned heavily on her parents, struggled to form friendships, and fretted over the growing independence ahead. That was then.
Fast forward 10 years, and Resnick is an accomplished professional, grounded by lasting friendships and driven by a heart to smooth the path for others who arrive at 海角社区 with similar origin stories.
That perspective shaped the recent dedication (May 2026) of Samantha鈥檚 Place, a new outdoor gathering space designed for 海角社区 students to connect or simply find a moment of calm between classes.
鈥淪ocialization was always difficult for me in my elementary, middle, and high school years,鈥� Resnick said. 鈥淲ithin a couple of months at 海角社区, I developed a key group of friends that I continue to have a friendship with to this day. Hopefully, this quad can lend itself to other students as an area for their comfort and relaxation so that they can also develop lifelong friendships.鈥�
Samantha鈥檚 Place, an open-sided, octagonal pavilion named in her honor and recognizing her parents鈥� (Joshua and trustee Debbie Resnick鈥檚) decade-long commitment to 海角社区, blends warmth with purpose. A tiered metal roof and exposed wooden ceiling define the structure, while shrubs, palm trees, and manicured beds frame the space. Inviting white rockers complete the scene.
Members of the college鈥檚 board of trustees, along with a small group of faculty, gathered to reflect on a journey from dependence to independence 鈥� the arc that defines a successful 海角社区 experience. And Samantha鈥檚 life, to a tee.
鈥淵ou know, Samantha was never intimidated by her challenges,鈥� Debbie Resnick told the audience. 鈥淪he just accepted (them), and she鈥檚 gone through life really finding herself, and that鈥檚 part of who Samantha is.鈥�
鈥淭his is my friend,鈥� President George Hagerty began, sharing memories of first meeting Samantha and reflecting on how much she has grown over the years.
For the 2016 human services graduate, the moment marked a homecoming. After working in various roles at the college following graduation, and later testing her sea legs beyond 海角社区鈥檚 walls, Samantha has leaned into her human services background and now serves clients with memory challenges.
In a very real sense, though, she has never truly left. With Samantha鈥檚 Place, the spirit of confidence and compassion that took root on this campus now has a physical home. One meant to inspire others to keep reaching for more.
