In recognition of the founding of the University of North Florida, Celebrate UNF, an annual event showcasing the impact UNF alumni, donors and friends have on the University and its students, will take place 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at the Adam W. Herbert University Center, Building 43.
UNF will celebrate its origin by announcing the selection of two community leaders and one local organization to receive the prestigious Presidential Medallion, a symbol of exemplary service and outstanding commitment to the University.
“As UNF honors its heritage and looks ahead to a future filled with innovation and excellence, we’re proud to acknowledge the individuals and organizations that have supported the University over the past 47 years,” said UNF President David Szymanski.
This year’s honorees include Chuck Moorer, Jorge Morales and Brooks Rehabilitation.
Each recipient will receive the Presidential Medallion for Outstanding Service, which is the highest form of nonacademic recognition awarded by the University. The medallion is given annually to recognize both alumni and friends who have given their time and talents to help make UNF an outstanding institution of higher education.
Chuck Moorer is a longtime advocate for the University. He’s been a member of the UNF Foundation Board for over 10 years and serves as the chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee as well as a member of the Executive and Investment committees. He also
has served on the MOCA Board of Trustees for five years.
Additionally, Moorer has mentored UNF students through the Ospreys Connect Mentoring Program and enjoys spending time on campus auditing classes, especially in art history. He has established two endowed scholarships in the Department of Art and Design—the Dr. Debra Murphy-Livingston Study Abroad Scholarship and Dr. Peter Scott Brown Art History Endowed Scholarship—honoring UNF faculty members.
Jorge Morales, chairman and owner of Information and Computing Services, Inc., is a longtime supporter of UNF. A UNF Foundation Board member, he is the immediate past chairman of the Development Committee and serves on the Dean’s Leadership Council for the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction.
Morales established the ICS Scholarship Endowment in 2015 and has provided scholarships to the University since 2007. In February, Morales’ family and RF-SMART, a division of ICS Inc., generously donated $1M to the School of Computing to create scholarships for computing students, who are recruited as interns and frequently hired as ICS employees.
Brooks Rehabilitation has been a partner with UNF since 1980. In 2006, Brooks Rehabilitation contributed a charitable donation of $3.6M to create six professorships, fellowships and scholarships. As a result, the College of Health was named the Brooks College of Health.
Doug Baer, president and CEO of Brooks Rehabilitation, has been an advocate for the Brooks College of Health, where he has served on the Dean’s Council since 2012, including two years as Council chair. He’s also a current Foundation Board member.
Brooks College of Health students in exercise science, athletic training, physical therapy and nursing all have clinical placements at Brooks Rehabilitation, while nutrition and dietetics as well as public health students also intern there. BCH faculty work with the Adaptive Sports Program at the facility, while Brooks Rehab staff also teach some athletic training and physical therapy courses at UNF.
Additionally, Brooks Rehabilitation consistently hires BCH students, including Master’s and Bachelor’s in Health Administration graduates. Over the last six years, Brooks Rehabilitation has designed a paid residency position for a Master’s in Health Administration student.
UNF, a nationally ranked university located on an environmentally beautiful campus, offers students who are dedicated to enriching the lives of others the opportunity to build their own futures through a well-rounded education.
