The University of North Florida will honor a student with an outstanding record of volunteerism, when it hands out over 780 degrees Friday, Aug. 3, during summer commencement at the UNF Arena, Building 34, on campus.
Senior Jessica Suckow, who will graduate from the Brooks College of Health with a Bachelor of Science in nursing, will be recognized as the recipient of the Senior Service Award, which is presented by the UNF Alumni Association to a graduating senior for outstanding volunteer service to the University and community.
Suckow, a St. Augustine resident, exemplifies UNF’s spirit of servant-leadership and civic commitment through her focus on making a difference and her desire to help as well as lead others. The mindset of “if not me, then who” was instilled at a young age, and she has carried that with her throughout her experiences as a wife, mother and full-time student.
While maintaining a 3.82 GPA, Suckow excelled in her academics and her commitment to UNF and the community. Though a wife, mother and student, she still found time to serve the University and multiple organizations in the greater Jacksonville area.
As an Osprey, Suckow became involved with the Student Nurses’ Association (SNA), where she served as membership chair and was named one of the National Student Nurses’ Association Super Recruiters. She served as a mentor on the Breakthrough to Nursing Committee, reaching out and empowering pre-nursing students at UNF to enter the School of Nursing program.
Suckow also served as an official delegate at the 2018 Florida Student Nurses’ Association Convention and was active in other SNA initiatives, including facilitating nursing information sessions and interviews, raising money for the UNF SNA breast cancer charity and inspiring other students to join the fight against breast cancer.
Other campus volunteerism efforts included being selected as an Osprey Community Ambassador, where Sukow assisted the UNF Center for Community-Based Learning with orientation sessions and service projects, serving as a co-facilitator for UNF Cares, a series of one-credit, community-based learning courses for first-year students.
In the community, Sukow volunteered with after-school programs at Pine Forest Elementary and Sabal Palm elementary schools as well as H.T. Jones Community Center, tutoring and teaching children how to incorporate physical activity into safe outdoor play. Additionally, she volunteered assisting senior citizens on a weekly basis at the Cuba Hunter Community Center and at Aging in Place, designing an assessment tool for a new initiative to help seniors remain in their homes living independently.
The ceremony for the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction as well as College of Arts and Sciences will take place at 10 a.m., followed by the College of Education and Human Services, Coggin College of Business and the Brooks College of Health at 2 p.m.
The University expects to award a total of 775 bachelor’s degrees, 205 master’s degrees and 40 doctorates this term. Including the summer 2018 graduates, UNF has issued a total of 76,276 bachelor’s degrees, 19,088 master’s degrees and 642 doctorates since first opening its doors in 1972.
