AffordableCollegesOnline.org, a leader in higher education information, resources, affordability and rankings has recognized the University of North Florida as being one of the most inclusive campuses for LGBTQ students in the country. [Read more…] about UNF Lands National Affordable Colleges 2018-19 Top LGBTQ-Friendly College List
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Best College Reviews Names UNF Among Top 50 Online RN to BSN Programs
Best College Reviews has named the University of North Florida among the Top 50 online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs for 2018, ranking No. 14 in the nation. [Read more…] about Best College Reviews Names UNF Among Top 50 Online RN to BSN Programs
UNF Recognized for ‘Most Affordable Online Child Development Degrees’
The University of North Florida has been recognized by collegechoice.net, a leading authority on college rankings and resources, as having one of the nation’s top 25 “Most Affordable Online Child Development Degrees.” [Read more…] about UNF Recognized for ‘Most Affordable Online Child Development Degrees’
SR Education Group Ranks UNF a 2018 Best, Most Affordable LGBTQ-Friendly Online College
The University of North Florida has been named a 2018 Best and Most Affordable LGBTQ-Friendly Online College by SR Education Group, a leading education research publisher. [Read more…] about SR Education Group Ranks UNF a 2018 Best, Most Affordable LGBTQ-Friendly Online College
UNF Professor Awarded Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship
Dr. Thobias Sando, University of North Florida civil engineering professor, was recently awarded a fellowship by the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program, a scholar fellowship program for educational projects at African higher education institutions. [Read more…] about UNF Professor Awarded Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship
University of North Florida Osprey Athletes Post Record Classroom Performance
With the conclusion of the 2017-18 academic year, the University of North Florida Athletic Department is celebrating the extension of one of its most impressive streaks as UNF student-athletes recorded their seventh full academic year with a cumulative department GPA of 3.0 or higher.
“Our student-athletes continue to raise the banner of success higher and higher,” said UNF Athletic Director Lee Moon. “It’s exciting to see all of our teams excel in the classroom, representing the academic success of our University in such a consistent way.”
Following a 3.324 cumulative GPA in the fall, North Florida student-athletes amassed a 3.415 cumulative GPA during the spring semester, assisting the Department in finishing the academic year with a 3.370 GPA. The final spring GPA marked the 14th consecutive semester North Florida Athletics boasted a GPA of 3.0 or higher and also established a new Department record for highest cumulative GPA.
All 19 UNF varsity teams recorded a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for the fourth successive semester—two full academic years—highlighted by all 11 women’s programs finishing with a GPA of 3.30 or higher, a first in Athletic Department history. The women’s cross-country team led all programs with a 3.761 GPA, while men’s soccer topped the male programs with a 3.401 GPA. Additionally, 29 student-athletes notched perfect 4.0 GPAs for the spring semester.
The mission of UNF’s Intercollegiate Athletic Program is to provide a high-level, broad-based program of intercollegiate athletics for student-athletes who demonstrate academic and athletic excellence. The Athletic Program is committed to the principles of fairness, gender equity and community involvement as well as moral and fiscal responsibility. The Program reflects the athletic interests of Northeast Florida, bringing identity and recognition to the University.
Top Local African-American Duval County Public School Students Honored at UNF
Outstanding African-American students in the Duval County Public Schools were honored for academic excellence and community impact at the 34th annual High Potential Youth Recognition Awards Program last night at the University of North Florida Fine Arts Center Lazzara Performance Hall.
The top eight high school seniors received one-time academic scholarships and include Sandrilla Awad Elkarim, Atlantic Coast High School; Eric Mitchell, Paxon School for Advanced Studies; Alonna Turner, Alexis Williams and Victoria Laws, Robert E. Lee High School; Nkosi Alexander-Williams, Sandalwood High School; Mahelet Dalke, Samuel W. Wolfson High School; and Sydney Lewis, Stanton College Preparatory.
Alexander-Williams and Awad Elkarim are also committed to attend UNF and are recipients of the Jacksonville Commitment Scholarship. Awad Elkarim has a 4.0 recalculated GPA and was also presented the Dr. Caroline Annette Cody Memorial Scholarship Award, while Alexander-Williams, who graduated with a 4.73 recalculated GPA, enters the UNF Hicks Honors College with an associate’s degree.
UNF presented scholarships along with the Dr. Caroline Annette Cody Memorial Foundation, Dr. James A. Joyner, III Memorial Foundation, The Gary Legacy Scholarship, Ralph and Jeannine Frasier Scholarship and the Jack and Jill of America. A new scholarship, the Conqueror’s Award, was awarded to honor exceptional students with learning disabilities who have conquered some of life’s greatest challenges.
More than 830 students with a GPA of 3.50 or above were invited to the program and were recognized with gift certificates and prizes. Melanie Lawson, WJXT Ch. 4 morning anchor, served as the master of ceremonies, while Charles Griggs, 100 Black Men of Jacksonville president, gave the keynote speech.
The program is a joint venture between UNF, DCPS and Gamma Beta Boule, the local member boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Business partnership donors are PGA TOUR, Inc., Florida Blue, The Gary Firm, The Renaissance Group and Southern King Holdings, LLC.
Since its inception 34 years ago, the annual High Potential Youth Recognition Awards Program has honored the top African-American students in Jacksonville. Through partnerships and joint ventures, it has provided more than $1 million in scholarship money to honor students for outstanding academic achievement and extracurricular community involvement.
UNF Student Named 2018 AmeriCorps Member of the Year
Lyndsey Smith, a senior in the University of North Florida’s Jacksonville Teacher Residency (JTR) program in the College of Education and Human Services (COEHS), was recently honored as the 2018 AmeriCorps Member of the Year.
Volunteer Florida recognized Smith at an April 9 ceremony in Miami out of 1,500 Senior Corps and AmeriCorps members who are currently serving in 34 Florida counties. Smith, a Bartram Park resident who will graduate today with an education degree, is being honored for providing exceptional service to the community and exemplifying Volunteer Florida’s values of service, leadership, collaboration and excellence.
“We are extremely proud of Lyndsey’s selection, as she exemplifies a commitment to service while enacting the core principles of the program,” said Dr. Wanda Lastrapes, JTR AmeriCorps program director. “Her passion and commitment to urban teaching is evident through her knowledge and implementation of relevant and engaging standards-based lessons.”
Smith spearheaded the launch of a Girls on the Run (GOTR) program at Andrew Robinson Elementary School to build her students’ confidence, communication skills and connections with their peers and in the community. The program focuses on values that may not be taught in school: self-esteem, bystander intervention, diffusing anger and other important social skills as well as improving physical health by training to run a 5K race.
“I participated in a GOTR program when I was in third grade,” said Smith. “I took so much out of the program and realized the need for it at Andrew Robinson.”
As part of the JTR program, Smith completed several community service hours, including completing a beautification project on MLK Day, while teaching her students about the importance of service.
Smith currently serves as a UNF COEHS ambassador and has served in leadership positions on campus as communications chair of the UNF chapter of Student Florida Education Association, vice president of a politically affiliated club and resident assistant.
The JTR is a partnership between UNF’s COEHS and Duval County Public Schools, supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the National Science Foundation and the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. The program is currently preparing its fifth cohort of teachers for urban classrooms.
The mission of the JTR program is to recruit, prepare and retain a diverse population of highly effective teachers who serve in high-needs schools to ensure that Duval County students are college and career ready.
UNF Professor Named American College of Healthcare Executives Fellow
Dr. Shyam Paryani, University of North Florida health administration instructor and CEO of Medical & Dental Consultants, was recently named a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the leading professional society for health care leaders.
“I am delighted that Dr. Paryani has received this tremendous honor,” said Dr. Mei Zhao, UNF Department of Health Administration chair. “He has been an incredible asset to our department and students. His hard work and dedication to furthering the health administration field, as well as the local community, is inspiring.”
Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. To obtain this honor, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including meeting academic/experiential criteria, earning continuing education hours, demonstrating professional/community involvement, passing a comprehensive examination, committing to ongoing professional development and undergoing recertification every three years.
“I am extremely honored,” said Paryani, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident. “This is the culmination of my membership in this organization spanning my career as a health care professional.”
Paryani is an engineer, nuclear physicist, physician, scientist, teacher, innovator, entrepreneur as well as philanthropist. His current research is in quality management in health care. Paryani is leading efforts to develop policy for health care reform in Florida as chairman of the non-profit community organization, Floridians Advocating Insurance Reform.
Paryani served on UNF’s Foundation Board, College of Health Dean’s Council and the Health Administration Advisory Board. He was honored as UNF’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2007 and Distinguished Alumnus of the Department of Health Administration in 2017.
Additionally, he co-founded the Florida Radiation Oncology Group in 1983. Keeping alive his passion for education, he founded the Continuing Medical Education (CME) program at Memorial Hospital in 1991 and has served as chairman of the CME Committee for over 20 years. He has also served on the Florida Medical Association CME Committee for Accreditation since 1995 in various capacities, including chairman and surveyor.
Paryani earned his doctoral degree in internal medicine at the University of Texas and M.D. Anderson Hospital. He completed further training in radiation oncology at Stanford University. Paryani graduated from the University of Florida with a nuclear engineering/radiation physics master’s degree and graduated magna cum lade with an electrical engineering bachelor’s degree. He earned a second master’s in health administration from UNF in 2002, with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
2018 Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence Honor Four Teachers
Four Jacksonville teachers were recently surprised in their classrooms with the 2018 Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence, which were established by Gilchrist Berg, founder and president of Water Street Capital, to honor teachers who have had lifelong careers in teaching and inspiring students. [Read more…] about 2018 Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence Honor Four Teachers
