The OneJax Institute at the University of North Florida is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Humanitarian Awards. The awards will be presented at a celebration dinner event on April 12, 2018. Since 1970, these prestigious awards have been the Jacksonville community’s way of honoring those who have given generously of themselves and have exhibited the highest personal and professional integrity.
Nominations are reviewed by a committee made up of OneJax board members and former honorees and are based upon the following criteria: a history of community service through long-term involvement in civic, religious, nonprofit or professional/business organizations, dedication to the improvement of human relations among diverse groups in the Jacksonville area, impeccable personal and professional integrity, sustained commitment to humanitarian ideals, history of placing humanitarian concerns above self-interest and realistic humility about his/her importance in the world.
There are two categories of awards that may be nominated by the community. The Silver Medallion honors those who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our community. The Dr. Gaston Acosta-Rua Young Professionals Award recognizes a young professional who is already making a significant impact on strengthening the community through their time, talent and treasure. The award is named for a founding NCCJ Board member (predecessor organization of OneJax) and Silver Medallion honoree who dedicated his lifetime to upholding the values of the organization.
Nominations must be submitted on the official nomination form available via the website. The form, along with a written statement detailing how the nominee meets the criteria, must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. Any individual or group may submit a nomination of an individual they think worthy of being named a OneJax Humanitarian.
“The nominations we receive from the community are so important to the selection process,” said Nancy Broner, OneJax executive director. “We’re a big city with lots going on and many good people making a difference. Without members of the community to help identify potential Humanitarian Award candidates, these deserving people might not be recognized for their contributions. We encourage everyone to consider making a nomination.”
The 2018 Awards Dinner will mark the 48th year that people making a difference in the community have been honored. Previous honorees include Preston Haskell, Fran Kinne, Bob Shircliff, Madeline Scales Taylor, Audrey Moran, Frieda Saraga, Gwen Yates, Hugh Greene, Susan Greene, Rodney L. Hurst Sr., Dr. Parvez Ahmed and many others.
Since 2012, OneJax has been an Institute of the University of North Florida. Through education, community building and advocacy, OneJax Institute works to make Northeast Florida a better place for everyone by celebrating differences and identifying all we have in common. For more information, visit the OneJax website or call (904) 620-1JAX.
UNF
UNF Receives 2017 Higher Education in Diversity Award
The University of North Florida received the 2017 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. This is the third time UNF has been named a HEED Award recipient.
As a recipient of the annual HEED Award—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—UNF will be featured along with 79 other recipients in the magazine’s November issue.
“UNF is honored to be acknowledged for its excellent initiatives in the areas of diversity and inclusion,” said UNF President John Delaney. “The University is dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the classroom and throughout the campus community.”
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected UNF based on its exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives, which it continues to foster throughout all aspects of campus operations, programs, services and activities. “We take a holistic approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being accomplished every day across their campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
The University continues to make great strides to foster its commitment to diversity and inclusion in employment, education and business in a variety of ways. For example, supplier diversity is a thrust in the newly named Procurement Services Department. Faculty are also more engaged in research and educational awareness demonstrated by the increasing number of competitively awarded Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Research Awards.
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity regularly conducts training for individuals who serve on search and screening committees as well as regularly reviews recruitment and personnel actions to foster diversity and inclusion. UNF also regularly conducts programs representative of various faiths and beliefs, supports student veterans through its Military Veterans Resource Center and promotes student, faculty and staff accessibility in educational programs and in the workplace.
Additionally, the University hosts several events on campus for underrepresented populations, including C.A.M.P. Osprey, Role Models of Excellence, Girls Rock Symposium and Success by Design, to name a few. UNF also works to provide opportunities for all students to access scholarship monies in a fair and equitable manner.
“The HEED award is a tribute to key decisions made during challenging times in society to ensure that UNF remains a competitive higher education university, where students successfully graduate and enjoy their student life, faculty and staff view it as a great place to work and the community acknowledges its worth and contributions,” said Cheryl Gonzalez, chief diversity officer at UNF.
INSIGHT Into Diversity is known for its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, which is the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across campuses. In addition to its online job board, INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion across higher education and beyond.
Supreme Court Justice Discusses ‘American Law and New Global Realities’ at UNF
The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville and the University of North Florida will co-host an evening with The Honorable Stephen G. Breyer, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, at the UNF Arena, Building 34. He will discuss “The Court and the World: American Law and the New Global Realities.” This event is part of the Presidential Lecture Series, supported by the UNF Foundation and co-hosted by the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville’s Global Issues Evenings.
Justice Breyer was nominated by President Bill Clinton as associate justice of the Supreme Court and took his seat in 1994. Between 1980 and 1990, he served as a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and as its chief judge from 1990 to 1994. He also served as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States and of the United States Sentencing Commission.
In 1973, Justice Breyer served as an assistant special prosecutor of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force and as special counsel of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee between 1974 and 1975, serving as chief counsel of the committee from 1979 to 1980. In the mid-60s, he served as a law clerk to Justice Arthur Goldberg of the Supreme Court of the United States and as a special assistant to the Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Antitrust.
Prior to serving in the Supreme Court, Justice Breyer was an assistant professor/professor of law and lecturer at Harvard Law School for 27 years as well as a professor at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government for three years. Additionally, he was a visiting professor at the College of Law in Sydney, Australia, and at the University of Rome. He received undergraduate degrees from Harvard Law School, Stanford University and Magdalen College, Oxford.
Complimentary tickets are required for this Presidential Lecture. E-tickets will be available Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, at www.unf.edu/lectures or at (904) 620-2117. For those with a disability that require an accommodation, such as disability parking for this occasion, call (904) 620-2117 five days before the event to provide a reasonable accommodation for the event.
For more information, visit the World Affairs Council’s website at www.worldaffairscounciljax.org or UNF’s Distinguished Voices Lecture Series webpage at www.unf.edu/lectures.
This event is sponsored by the University of North Florida, Water Street Capital, Fleet Landing, The Haskell Company, Coastal Construction Products, Inc., William and Barbara Harrell, Association of Corporate Counsel North Florida Chapter, Corinne C. Hodak, P.A., Robert and Sallie Ann Hart and W. Radford Lovett II.
The UNF Presidential Lecture Series was established 20 years ago to bring speakers of national and global significance to the metro Jacksonville community. Past Presidential Lecturers include Nobel Peace laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Oscar Aria, poet Maya Angelou, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, wildlife researcher Jane Goodall, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, authors Frank McCourt, John Updike and Carl Hiaasen as well as presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, to name a few.
The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization devoted to promoting understanding of world affairs by sponsoring public programs for all ages, fostering discussion of international issues and opportunities, and providing a venue for people to meet others with similar interests. Our mission is to promote an understanding of the world and its people and to engage citizens of Northeast Florida in becoming better informed participants in the global community.
THE PLAYERS Championship Generously Doubles UNF Endowed First Generation Scholarship
Through the years, THE PLAYERS Championship has continually invested in University of North Florida students that are the first in their family to attend college. Now, THE PLAYERS has pledged to double THE PLAYERS Championship Endowed First Generation Scholarship at UNF to reach $1.5 million.
The PGA TOUR established THE PLAYERS Championship Endowed First Generation Scholarship at UNF in 2009. Over the years, they built the endowment to $750,000. The organization recently pledged an additional $750,000 over the next five years, doubling the endowment to reach $1.5 million.
“Education is a core charitable focus of THE PLAYERS Championship. This $750,000 endowment will help alleviate some of the financial burden many first-generation students face while attending college,” said Jared Rice, executive director of THE PLAYERS. “In April 2011, THE PLAYERS announced a commitment to generate $50 million for youth-related charities over 10 years and along with our staff and nearly 2,000 volunteers, we’re proud to say we’re on our way to achieving that goal ahead of schedule.”
The endowed scholarship at UNF currently supports 23 First Generation scholars annually. By making this investment and commitment to education, the scholarship has the potential to support over 50 scholars annually in five years. To date, more than 3,700 students at the University have been part of the First Generation scholarship program, receiving nearly $8 million in scholarship funding to achieve their dreams of being the first in their family to attend college.
“Thanks to THE PLAYERS, First Generation students are given an opportunity to achieve their dream of a college education and experience transformational learning opportunities at UNF,” said Ann McCullen, vice president for University Development and Alumni Engagement at UNF. “This scholarship gift creates a powerful ripple effect and lasting legacy in the community by inspiring others in a student’s family to pursue a college degree. We’re grateful to THE PLAYERS for their partnership and generous investment in education.”
First Generation is a matching gift program, meaning charitable contributions will leverage additional funds for student scholarships from the State of Florida. Approved by the Florida legislature in 2006, the First Generation Scholarship Program is uniquely designed to target those most in need by reaching Florida residents who are the first generation in their families to attend college.
THE PLAYERS Championship annually combines the best field in golf with the world-class venue that is THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Proceeds from THE PLAYERS benefit Northeast Florida charities and have totaled more than $84 million since the event moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977, including a record $8.5 million generated in 2016. For more on THE PLAYERS, visit THEPLAYERS.com.
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.
UNF Honoring Student’s Exceptional Service at Summer Commencement
The University of North Florida will honor a student with an outstanding record of volunteerism, when it hands out nearly 750 degrees Friday, Aug. 4, during summer commencement at the UNF Arena, Building 34, on campus.
Senior Angela Inciong, who is graduating this week with a bachelor’s degree in health administration, will be recognized as the recipient of the Senior Service Award, which is presented to a graduating senior for outstanding volunteer service to the University or community by the UNF Alumni Association. Inciong will be honored during the 2 p.m. ceremony.
Her foundation for service is based on an understanding that the most important thing she could share with others was her time. Inciong, an Arlington resident, actively sought out leadership roles on campus in the Health Administration Student Association and the Women in Business Society. It was through these opportunities that she developed a passion for influencing fellow students as well as encouraging their educational and professional development.
In the Health Administration Student Association, she was successful in building stronger relationships between UNF students and leaders of local health care organizations. Inciong also assisted Brooks College of Health Advising by welcoming groups of local high school students to campus, offering advice on how to become a successful college student.
In the community, she was active in C.A.M.P. Osprey, an innovative leadership mentoring program that pairs collegiate student leaders from the University with Duval County Public School students in grades 5 through 9.
“Angela demonstrated a win-win attitude in her commitment to the program,” said Dr. Matthew Ohlson, C.A.M.P. Osprey program director and assistant professor in the Department of Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management. “She went above and beyond to meet expectations of not only the course but in achieving the goal of desiring to create a positive impact in her mentees.”
Inciong eventually became a C.A.M.P. Osprey lead mentor and worked with eight students at the River City Science Academy on a weekly basis, focusing on public speaking, time management and leadership skills.
The ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction will take place at 10 a.m., while the ceremony for the Brooks College of Health, Coggin College of Business and the College of Education and Human Services will start at 2 p.m.
The University expects to award a total of 728 bachelor’s degrees, 185 master’s degrees and 17 doctorates this term. Including the summer 2017 graduates, UNF has issued a total of 72,934 bachelor’s degrees, 18,426 master’s degrees and 493 doctorates since first opening its doors in 1972.
Attorney and Artist Deborah Reid Discusses First Amendment/Copyright Law
The College of Arts and Sciences and the Pre-Law Program at the University of North Florida present Deborah Reid, attorney, artist and author, who will discuss copyright law and the First Amendment as it relates to the arts, in two separate lectures next month on campus. Both lectures will take place 12:40 to 4:10 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center, Building 45, Room 1200.
Reid, an accomplished artist and an AV-rated attorney with more than 36 years of experience, will discuss “That’s Not Fair!” Thursday, July 6. This illustrated lecture presents an overview of copyright law followed by a game-show format incorporating exhibits from actual court cases to illustrate the application of the Fair Use Doctrine in copyright law.
Her second lecture, “Art Speaks!,” will take place Tuesday, July 18. Reid will present an overview of the First Amendment and focus on its interaction with the arts. She’ll also explain the extension of protected speech status, obscenity, hate speech, graffiti, street art and limitations on public funding.
Reid, who is based in Jacksonville, is currently at work writing and illustrating a graphic primer on law, which provides an overview of contracts, intellectual property, First Amendment rights and other areas of the law that impact the arts.
This lecture is funded by the following endowments: Brown, Terrel, Hogan Pre-Law Endowment, Rutledge P. and Katherine R. Liles Lecture Fund, Maria Keebler Child Advocacy Fund and the Coker, Schickel, Sorensen and Daniel Endowment.
Both lectures are free and open to the public. For more information about this event, contact Dr. Jenny Hager, UNF associate professor of sculpture, at (904) 620-4687 or at [email protected].
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.
UNF Announces New Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement
After an internal search, the University of North Florida has hired Ann McCullen as the new vice president for University Development and Alumni Engagement and executive director of the UNF Foundation. She began her new position May 20.
“I am confident that with Ann’s extensive experience and leadership in development as well as alumni engagement in higher education, she will advance the University to the next level,” said UNF President John Delaney.
McCullen, a San Marco resident, will be responsible for providing vision and leadership to assist the deans and other University leadership in the planning, organizing and implementing of fundraising initiatives, including planned giving, annual giving, alumni engagement, capital and major campaigns, endowments, prospect research, scholarships and development funds. She will also serve as executive director of the Foundation, working closely with the UNF Foundation Board and will be responsible for the supervision of approved Foundation activities.
McCullen joined the University 14 years ago after serving as major gift director for Habitat for Humanity International in Americus, Georgia. She began her work with UNF as the director of development in the College of Arts and Sciences, where she served for four years. During this time, she obtained the University’s largest gift annuity and exceeded annual fundraising goals, averaging $1.5 million per year.
She went on to serve as the assistant vice president of development and campaign director. In this position, McCullen directed the campus-wide $130 million The Power of Transformation Campaign and led eight fundraisers in all five colleges. Between 2013 and 2014, McCullen served as interim vice president of development and executive director of the UNF Foundation. She was later promoted to associate vice president of development and campaign director, securing a $7 million gift to create the Hicks Honors College, the University’s sixth college.
McCullen has been very involved in the community, serving as a mentor in the Association of Fundraising Professionals, First Coast chapter and recently serving on the board of the World Affairs Council, Jacksonville. She also previously served as an evaluation team leader with the Women’s Giving Alliance, The Community Foundation, and as a board member with The Sanctuary on 8th Street for six years.
UNF Accounting Grad Top CPA Exam Performer/Elijah Watt Sells Award Winner
Patrick Kmieciak, who earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of North Florida, is a top CPA exam performer and winner of the 2016 Elijah Watt Sells Award by the American Institute of CPAs. This is the first time a UNF graduate has been recognized with this national award.
“The faculty in the Department of Accounting and Finance are extremely proud of Patrick upon being named as a recipient of this prestigious award,” said Dr. David Jaeger, chair of the Department of Accounting and Finance at UNF. “This honor is well deserved and is the result of Patrick’s hard work and dedication, providing evidence of the high-quality students attracted to the accounting programs at UNF.”
Over 100,000 individuals sat for the exam in 2016 and only 58 candidates meeting the criteria received the Elijah Watt Sells Award. The award is bestowed upon CPA candidates who have obtained a cumulative average score above 95.50 across all four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination, passed all four sections of the exam on their first attempt and completed testing in 2016.
“The CPA Examination, along with the education and experience required, sets a high bar for entry into the profession. This serves to protect the public interest by ensuring that only qualified individuals earn a CPA license,” said Michael Decker, AICPA vice president of examinations. “On behalf of the AICPA, I’d like to congratulate this year’s winners of the Elijah Watt Sells award on their outstanding accomplishment and wish them the best of luck in their careers.”
Kmieciak, a downtown resident, is currently employed at PwC LLP, where he provides auditing services to private and public clients. While at UNF, he was a graduate and teaching assistant, teaching intermediate accounting classes as well as proctoring exams. In the fall of 2013, he began tutoring accounting and finance students and currently conducts private tutoring sessions on the weekend, which allows him to aid students and stay close to the University.
Kmieciak is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma. He was on the President’s Honor Roll between fall 2013 and summer 2016, earning a 4.0 GPA every semester for three years. In 2015, he scored in the 99th percentile on the Coggin College of Business exit exam and the 97th percentile on the Graduate Management Admission Test.
The Elijah Watt Sells Award program was established by the AICPA in 1923 to recognize outstanding performance on the CPA Examination. Sells, one of the first CPAs in the U.S., was active in the establishment of the AICPA and played a key role advancing professional education within the profession.
UNF Receives Platinum-Level Skin Smart Campus Designation
The University of North Florida was awarded the platinum-level Skin Smart Campus designation by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention and will implement a campus-wide skin cancer prevention initiative this month as part of National Skin Cancer Awareness month.
The Indoor Tan-Free Skin Smart Campus Initiative was started in response to the 2014 U.S. Surgeon General’s call to action to prevent skin cancer, which emphasized indoor tanning and unprotected sun exposure as significant health hazards that increase the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers.
“Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the country, with 20 percent of the population likely to develop skin cancer in their lifetime and an annual treatment cost well over $8 million. Even more tragic is that skin cancer is mostly preventable by avoiding indoor tanning and reducing sun exposure,” said Dr. Julie Merten, assistant professor of public health in the Brooks College of Health at UNF.
An Indoor Tan-Free Skin Smart Campus demonstrates a commitment to skin cancer prevention and the ongoing health of its students. UNF is committed to keeping indoor tanning machines off campus, educating students, faculty and staff on the dangers of indoor tanning as well as providing sunscreen samples in common University areas.
The universities recognized by this award have demonstrated a commitment to skin cancer prevention and the ongoing health of its students. Platinum-level universities don’t list any off-campus housing that includes indoor tanning as an amenity on the university’s off-campus housing listings website, doesn’t permit any indoor tanning salon to be included as a university-affiliated debit card merchant and provides access to educational programming focusing on the risks of UV exposure and skin cancer prevention practices to students, faculty and staff.
“Many colleges just don’t seem to realize the importance of this issue,” said Dr. Sherry Pagoto, Skin Smart Campus Initiative co-chair. “They don’t view the health hazards for indoor tanning and unprotected sun exposure as significant like they do tobacco.”
Despite the known risks, indoor tanning is common among adolescents and young adults, with 37 percent of white adolescent females and 11 percent of adolescent white males having used indoor tanning facilities at least once in their lifetime. Additionally, early research suggests that indoor tanning has addictive properties, and that the risk of addiction is higher for individuals who begin tanning at an earlier age.
OneJax Metrotown Institute Hosts Teen Diversity Leadership Program
The OneJax Institute at the University of North Florida is now accepting applications from teens entering grades 10 through 12 to participate in its Metrotown Institute, a four-day program that promotes respect and understanding across the differences of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status and ability. The Institute will take place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, June 12, to Wednesday, June 14, and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at Riverside Presbyterian Church, 849 Park St.
“Metrotown is truly a transformative experience for students who complete the program—it opens their eyes and changes the way they see the world,” said Nancy Broner, OneJax executive director. “The teens deal directly with prejudice and discrimination and while they’re learning about people who are different, they’re learning a lot about themselves.”
The Metrotown Institute brings together high school students to explore living successfully in an increasingly diverse and interdependent world. Participants will share ideas and feelings, discover their own unique talents, and experience a variety of perspectives on diversity issues, multicultural communications, religious traditions, gender roles and self-esteem, while earning 35 community service hours for their involvement. There will be small group discussions and workshops, creative and artistic activities, outdoor experiences and personal reflection.
Students must be referred to the program or endorsed by a sponsor, such as a parent, teacher, counselor, clergy or community leader. Anyone interested in referring a student should contact OneJax at (904) 620-1529. Students will be required to complete an application to be considered. Applications and additional information can be obtained at www.OneJax.org.
The program is designed for 50 students, who will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fee is $150, which includes daily lunch and snacks as well as dinner on the final night. Sponsors are encouraged to help students raise money to cover the registration fee, although no one will be prevented from participating due to an inability to pay.
Metrotown is supported by the United Way of Northeast Florida and UNF. As an interfaith organization, the OneJax Institute at UNF educates, advocates and builds community to promote respect and understanding that will overcome bias, bigotry and oppression.
