edward waters college 2015 november/december newsletter
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The Edward Waters College Student Support Services (SSS) Program brought back the top prize in the Florida Association of Education Opportunities Program Personnel (FAEOPP) Student Leadership
Conference. The theme of this year’s debate competition was “A Call to Action,” where topics
including changing minor drug charges from a misdemeanor to a civic citation and the “Black Lives Matter” movement were discussed. The EWC SSS debate team will now represent the FAEOPP at the regional SSS/McNair debate competition.
The goal of SSS is to increase retention and graduation rates and facilitate the process of transition from one level of higher education to the next.
The last survivor of the Rosewood massacre was one of six living legends honored by Edward Waters College during the institution’s American Education Week (AEW) ceremony held Wednesday, November 18th.
President Nathaniel Glover joined the campus and community to recognize Mrs. Mary Hall Daniels, the last Rosewood survivor; Mr. Sollie Mitchell, civil rights activist who worked with A. Philip Randolph to organize the March on Washington; Mr. Lloyd Pearson, voter registration advocate and NAACP representative; Mr. Joe Tillman, President of the Buffalo Soldiers Historical Society; Bishop Rudolph McKissick, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church; Mrs. Estelle McKissick, long-time Jacksonville educator; and Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Jr., the 115th Bishop of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church.
“It is important for our students to learn from these pioneers whose sacrifices and contributions to society make them living legends,” said EWC President, Dr. Nathaniel Glover. “It also inspires and shows them that if they work hard enough, they could become living legends as well.”
American Education Week was created in 1921 by the National Education Association and American Legion over a national concern about illiteracy. It is observed the week before Thanksgiving every year to honor students, teachers, education
support professionals, parents and community members who help students succeed. The AEW celebration began with a campus parade prior to the ceremony.
EWC Honors Living Legends For American Education Week
The last survivor of the Rosewood Massacre was among the honorees.
Edward Waters College Newsletter
November/December 2015
(L-R) Alain Louis Baptiste, Demetrius Smith, Andre Stevens, II,
Jacob Thomas, and Miguel Bean
(L-R) Bishop Rudolph McKissick, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Bethel Baptist
Institutional Church;Estelle McKissick, Retired Educator;
Joe Tillman, Buffalo Soldiers Histotical Society, Inc. President;
Dr. Rev. D. Lovett Sconiers, College Chaplain; Lloyd Pearson, NAACP Activist;
Sollie Mitchell, Sleeping Car Porter;Mary Hall Daniels, Rosewood Survivor
EWC Takes First Place in the FAEOPP/SSS Debate Competition
In This Issue
EWC Faculty Presents at ABRCMS ............. Page 2
EWC Joins the NE FL Military Veterans Network......... Page 3
EWC Hosts Campus Tree Lighting ............ Page 4
The U. S. Department of Agriculture defines food deserts as areas with limited access to affordable, nutritious food. They are usually found in impoverished areas lacking grocery stores or farmers markets.
Under the guidance of Biology professor Dr. Anita Mandal and Mathematics professor Dr. Felicia Wider-Lewis, Edward Waters College students completed a comprehensive study that examined where local residents shopped for food and their perceived level of safety as they did so.
This research was presented at the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) STEM Conference held in Seattle,
Washington.
“This study was extremely beneficial to our students because it provided them with hands-on experience of the complete research process,” said Dr. Felicia Wider-Lewis. The data was collected through
surveys that were completed by patrons of the EWC Schell-Sweet Community Resource Center. The results confirmed the community surrounding EWC is considered a food desert.
“The numbers show that most of the local residents have to go to a corner store for food which are usually full of processed, pre-packaged food,” said Dr. Anita Mandal.
Both professors said leaving the plight unaddressed could result in escalated health-care costs and lead to increased adult and childhood obesity rates. They are now working with their students to create a community green-house on campus where continued student research can be done.
EWC Faculty Presents Student Food Desert Research at national STEM Conference
Edward Waters College graduated its second largest class of Entrepreneurship Certificate Program students last November.
The free program works to help boost local business while developing the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The free program is offered to the community through the EWC Business Administration program through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The seven week course goes over the basic concepts involved with starting a business including developing business and marketing plans; attracting funding; securing state
certification and licenses; hiring and managing
personnel; and understanding accounting, budgeting and taxes.
“Eight out of 10 businesses fail within the first 18-months that they are started because of lack of knowledge. This program helps provide
vital information and resources that will help entrepreneurs become part of the 20-percent who do succeed,” said EWC Department of Business Administration Chair, Dr. Francis Ikeokwu.
The Entrepreneurship Certificate Program is open to the public, EWC students and alumni. Entrepreneurship certificates were awarded to individuals who successfully completed six of the seven sessions.
EWC Lays the Ground Work Toward Business Ownership
Edward Waters College 2
Dr. Anita Mandal and Dr. Felicia Wider-Lewis at the
AAC&U Stem Conference.
Edward Waters College joined Jacksonville University (JU), the University of North Florida (UNF) and Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) to form the Northeast Florida Military Veterans College Network.
“This is the first-of-its-kind network in the country that aligns all military stakeholders in our region to work together on behalf of military veterans, active duty personnel and military families who seek to improve their education,” said retired Brigadier General Michael Fleming, JU’s Chief Government, Military and Community Relations spokesperson.
The new network is a collaboration
among the colleges, the City of Jacksonville and Jax USA, the economic development arm of the JAX Chamber of Commerce. Currently only 36-percent of the working age population in Northeast Florida earned a two or four year degree. The group hopes to increase the total number of individuals earning college degrees to 60-percent by 2025.
The network has a resource website to help high school students, adult learners and veterans get connected to higher education in the area.
This new partnership provides a better avenue to connect servicemen and women to their educational benefits.
EWC Joins the Northeast Florida Military Veterans College Network
Edward Waters College 3
Edward Waters College is partnering with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra to present “Baby Boomers – The Music of the ‘60s” for the College’s biggest fundraiser. The 14th Annual Fine Arts Scholarship Benefit Concert will be held Sunday, February 21st at 3:00 p.m. in the Jacoby Hall of the Times-Union Center Performing Arts Center.
The music of the baby boomers was among the most varied in history. From Sonny & Cher, The Four Seasons, The Beatles and The Beach Boys, relive those great days with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. The concert features conductor Stuart Chafetz and guest vocalists Farah Alvin, Roy Chicas, N’Kenge, Max Quinian, and
Kristine Reese who will have you dancing in the aisles to the music of your youth.
The Edward Waters College Fine Arts Scholarship Benefit Concert is held every year in the Times-Union Performing Arts Center. All of the proceeds from the concert go toward funding scholarships for Edward Waters College. More than 96-percent of our students depend on financial aid to finance their
education.
“This annual concert has been a fantastic way to showcase some of our favorite artists, and this year we will be spanning multiple genres as we spotlight an entire decade,” said Assistant Vice President of Institutional Advancement, Wanda Willis.
“It’s always amazing to see artists and members of the community come out and support Edward Waters College.”
Tickets are available through the EWC Office of Institutional Advancement at (904) 470-8251 or can be purchased online at www.ewc.edu.
EWC To Host the 14th Annual Fine Arts Scholarship Benefit Concert
(L-R) Brigadier General (Ret) Michael Fleming, JU Chief Government, Military &
Community Relations Officer; Dr. Ian Neuhard, FSCJ Provost;
Tim Cost, JU President; Bill Spann, City of Jacksonville
Director of Public Affairs; Dr. Nathaniel Glover,
EWC President; Dr. John Delany, UNF President;
Aaron Bowman, JAXUSA Partnership Senior
Vice President
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) officially announced Edward Waters College’s reaffirmation, granting the institution full accreditation, during the 2015 SACSCOC annual meeting held in Houston, Texas December 5-8th.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. Edward Waters College is accredited to award degrees by the SACSCOC for the next 10 years. Part of the reaffirmation process included preparing an extensive Compliance Certification Report which documents the commitment and compliance to the SACSCOC Principles of Accreditation.
SACSCOC Officially Announces EWC’s Reaffirmation
EWC Hosts the 2015 Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award Luncheon
Edward Waters College hosted the Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award Luncheon December 1st. The award is named for the late civil rights leader and Urban League Executive Director. The award recognizes outstanding service by an individual or organization in the development of Scouting for culturally and economically diverse youth. The 2015 award went to Joseph Simmons, III, Elder and Sunday school teacher at the Southside Church of God and Christ. Dr. Nathaniel Glover served as the luncheon chairman.
EWC Holds Annual Campus Tree Lighting Ceremony
EWC President Dr. Nathaniel Glover, the EWC Concert Choir and Santa Claus welcomed the community for “A Night of Lights,” the campus tree lighting ceremony held December 9th. Children from the Community in Schools Team-Up program made holiday crafts and later met Santa. Refreshments and cookies were also be served.
The annual campus tree lighting is an Edward Waters College holiday tradition and provides an opportunity for the campus and surrounding community to celebrate the season together.
Office of Institutional Advancement
Joe MurgoVice President of Institutional Advancement
Wanda J. WillisAssistant Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Anita WaltonDirector of Development and Alumni Affairs
Dee RegistreCoordinator of Public Relations