Flagler College, a unique campus that sits in the middle of downtown St. Augustine, the former luxury hotel built in 1888 by Henry Flagler, has been an established educational institute since 1968. Originally an all women's college and then transformed to co-ed in 1971, the campus has attracted students and faculty alike from all over to attend the small, historical and private college. One of those attracted was Professor Nick Panepinto of the business department, who is not only faculty but also a former student and class of 1985 graduate. While vacationing in Daytona Beach, Panipento visited St.
Augustine with his father in the late 70's, who had a friend whose son attended Flagler and really took to the area. Nevertheless, he returned back to his hometown of Duanesburg, New York and enlisted in the Navy in 1979 as an E5 Fireman aboard the USS Emory S. Land .
Upon finishing his enlistment, Panepinto returned back to Florida to visit and then decided he wanted to finish his education at Flagler College. After graduating Flagler in 1985, he then moved all the way to South Bend, Indiana as he
was accepted into graduate school at Notre Dame to which he received his MBA with Academic Honors!
With all his schooling under his belt , Panepinto was ready to conquer the financial world and landed himself a job on Wall Street in New York City. " My rent was 700 bucks a month for a studio apartment on Park Avenue. I worked for CompuServe on Wall Street, the first online computer network that everyday people could afford and was liven life in the fast lane," Panepinto recalls. But it wasn't too long after, one of Panepinto's former professors from Flagler, Steve Evans, reached out and offered him a job as an instructor. Although the then future Professor said it did take him some time to make a decision, Nick Panepinto made his way back to St. Augustine for the third time in 1989 as an instructor teaching Financial Management, Insurance and Risk, and Investment.
Throughout the Professor's thirty-six years at Flagler College he has not only become a highly respected member of the faculty but an icon as well. "He always remembered his student's names and his office door was always open to help students out with their studies however he could. His happy go lucky demeanor and his witty sense of humor made for a virtually painless finance lecture and his personal stories were interesting and hilarious!" says a former Flagler student. In fact, in 1975 the young Nick Panipento wrote President Ford a letter because he felt the gas prices were too high. It was 60 cents a gallon at the time and the President actually wrote him back! "Those prices were really cutting into my cruising time!" says Panepinto with a smile. Currently, Professor Panepinto teaches Marketing, Advertising, and Retailing and on his days off he is an avid golfer, paddle tennis player, and walks the beach for exercise.
So, whether it's seeing Professor Panepinto walk across campus, getting some lunch or sipping his favorite Yuengling at a local watering hole, be sure to give him a high five and a smile, maybe say, "Go Irish!" because this man has not only served our country but has also devoted his career to educating the students of Flagler College for over 36 years.
" What I want students to leave with once they graduate Flagler is to have a better understanding on HOW to learn, because learning doesn't stop once you get a degree."
- Professor Nick Panipento
