According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 150 children were diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2000. Now, that number is 1 in 68. Based on Bay County’s most recent estimate of children under the age of 18, about 550 local children could be diagnosed with an ASD, making this a very real issue that local families may face.

Twenty-three students were inducted into the Garnet Key Honor Society (GKHS) during a ceremony held April 4. Students eligible for membership demonstrate exemplary character, active community involvement and high academic standards. They are representative of Florida State’s commitment to strength, skill and character.

Recent estimates reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014) suggest one in every 68 people in the United States is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, making this a very real issue that many families face. Bay County families are no different. As a local non-profit, applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy provider, the FSU Early Childhood Autism Program (ECAP), is doing its part to make a difference.

ECAP, in conjunction with the Emerald Coast Association for Behavior Analysis, will host the 5th Annual Auction for Autism Awareness from 6-9 p.m. Friday, April 10, 2015, in the Holley Academic Center Lecture Hall at FSU Panama City. Admission to the family-friendly auction is $25 at the door, which includes food, refreshments and raffle tickets for the auction. All proceeds benefit FSU ECAP’s Butchikas Scholarship Program, which provides funding to families in need of ABA services who do not have insurance or financial means to afford therapy.

FSU Panama City and sponsor Tyndall Federal Credit Union will host the Second Annual Golf Ball Drop for a chance at 10 prize packages, such as theme park tickets, weekend getaways and more. Golf balls will be sold until the tournament for $10 each. You do not have to be present to win.

Florida State University Panama City along with tournament sponsors AT&T and Centennial Bank will host the 25th Annual FSU Panama City Golf Invitational on Friday, March 13, 2015, at Hombre Golf Club in Panama City Beach. Proceeds from the invitational will benefit the FSU Panama City Campus Enrichment Fund, which is used to support students and the priorities of the campus.

Dr. Jeanine Stratton will present “The Mind of the Consumer: When 'Going Green' Gets Gray” as part of FSU Panama City’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Stratton will discuss making good choices in an era of greenwashing, a marketing ploy in which a product is deceptively advertised as healthy and eco-friendly, from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at FSU Panama City’s Holley Lecture Hall.

The FSU Applied Behavior Analysis program will host an ABA conference, including a guest lecturer, job fair and panel discussion, Feb. 12-13 at FSU Panama City. All events are open to the public. BACB Continuing Education Units will be available through ECABA for $10 per unit.

James Durham doesn’t take life for granted because he has lost his more than once. After a motorcycle crash in 2011, his heart stopped eight times. Doctors said he could be in a coma for decades, but he defied the odds. Three years and 12 surgeries later, Durham is “on positive steroids” and has become a Seminole at Florida State University Panama City.

A press conference will be held on Wednesday, May 14, at 2:00 p.m., in the Larson Bland Conference Center to announce the George A. Butchikas Autism Foundation’s contribution to support the Early Childhood Autism Program (ECAP) at Florida State University Panama City.