Edward Waters College held its 2015 Commencement Convocation Saturday, May 9th. During the ceremony, President Nathaniel Glover conferred 139 undergraduate degrees on the Class of 2015.

Florida State Senator Chris Smith gave the commencement address. Senator Smith encouraged the graduates to “start a business, buy property and think big.”

“This is all advice I wish I had followed when I first became a College graduate,” Senator Smith shared with the families and graduates during the ceremony.

Senator Smith was elected to the Florida Senate in 2008 where he represents 14 municipalities in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.Most recently, Senator Smith proposed a bill that would create a

police academy at Edward Waters College to help alleviate the racial disparities among law enforcement agencies.

This is the first time Senator Smith has served as a commencement speaker. “I am honored to do it here at EWC because many of the graduates are the first in their families to receive a college degree,” said Smith. “So I know generations were changed today.”

Criminal Justice professors, Dr. Judy Scott was named the “Teacher of the Year” and Dr. Benjamin C. Okafor was named “Distinguished Professor of the Year.

EWC graduated its first Call Me MISTER scholar during the 2015 commencement ceremony Saturday, May 9th. The Call Me MISTER scholarship program is open to African-American males majoring in elementary education and pays for the last two years

of course work. Upon graduation, recipients of the “Call Me MISTER” scholarship must teach in an inner-city elementary school in the Duval County Public School system for at least five years.

During the ceremony, President Nathaniel Glover

presented Bernard Agurs with a Call Me MISTER blazer. Duval County Public Schools District Transformation Office Director, Iranetta Wright then met Agurs on the stage to give him his open teaching contract.

“I’ve had excellent role models in my life, and I want to be one that can make a difference in at least one child’s life,” said Agurs.

The scholarship program was created to help increase the number of African American males who teach in the elementary-level. Bernard Agurs is the first person in his family to graduate with a college degree.

EWC’s Legacy continues with The Class of 2015

Florida State Senator Chris Smith delivered the commencement address.

In This Issue

EWC Holds 3rd Annual Research Symposium....... Page 2

EWC Sees Application and Admissions Boost .............. Page 3

EWC Hosts Operation Save Our Sons Summit ........ Page 4

Edward Waters College Newsletter

May 2015

EWC Graduates Its First Call Me MISTER Scholar

Bernard Agurs is EWC’s first Call Me MISTER graduate.

Florida Senator Chris Smith encouraged the Class of 2015 to start a business, buy

property and think big.

The Edward Waters College 3rd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium was held April 20th in the Adams-Jenkins Sports and Music Complex multipurpose board room. The Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium provides a chance for undergraduates to present what they have learned through their research experiences to a larger audience.

The Symposium also provides a forum for students, faculty, and the community to discuss cutting edge research topics and to examine the connection between research and future graduate school training.

The Symposium consisted of PowerPoint presentation sessions by students from all academic disciplines including Biology, Mathematics and Psychology.

“All EWC undergraduates involved in research are encouraged to apply,” said Assistant Professor of Psychology, Dr. G. V. Landrum in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “The Symposium is also a great way for students who are not yet involved in research to learn about the broad range of opportunities available to them.”

Some of the presenters have been awarded paid summer internships at the University of North Florida, Ohio State University and the University of Iowa.

The Symposium encourages interdisciplinary discourse, allowing students to learn from each other about a broad range of engaging research topics.

EWC Students Participate in the 3rd Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium

The Edward Waters Lady Tigers have claimed both the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) regular season and tournament championships. The Lady Tigers went undefeated (4-0) in tournament play, finishing off their run to the title with victories over both Voorhees (0-3) and Talladega (1-2).

EDWARD WATERS 4, TALLADEGA 0Edward Waters College started the day with a shutout victory over the Lady Tornadoes. Yesenia Moreno went the distance for the Lady

Tigers, scattering four hits. Keyana Solomon

and Lynsey Rector led the offense, combining to go 2 for 6 with two runs and two RBI. Brittany Rhodes took the loss.

EDWARD WATERS 12, VOORHEES 0The Lady Tigers followed up with

a dominant performance against Voorhees. Moreno took the hill again, getting the shutout while striking out five and only giving up a pair of base hits. Nine out of 10 Edward Waters College batters got at least one hit with Aaliyah Tompkins leading the way with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Terriana McCullough was on the wrong side of the score, giving up 10 earned runs on 11 hits.

This is the first conference championship title for the Lady Tigers softball team since 2005 when they won the Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (EAIC) Championship.

The Lady Tigers Softball Team Claim the 2015 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Title

Edward Waters College 2

Brittany SantanaEWC Biology Student

Adolphus ClaytonEWC Mathematics Student

Edward Waters College biology majors Latavia Graham, Ariana Vitale and Melvin Johnson are spending their summer in the Bioinformatics Summer Institute (BSI) at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU).

Bioinformatics is the application of computer technology to the management of biological

information. Computers are used to gather, store, analyze and integrate biological and genetic information which can then be applied to gene-based drug discovery and development.

“I am extremely excited to have this opportunity because I know the research experience I will gain will make me a more competitiveapplicant for medical school” said Vitale.

The Bioinformatics Program at MVSU is the institution’s first undergraduate research program sponsored by the United States Department of Education. The program is designed to give aspiring scientists an opportunity to explore the field of

bioinformatics through the integration of mathematics, computer science, biology and chemistry. Graham, Vitale and Johnson will all receive hands-on experience led by faculty members in the MVSU Bioinformatics Program. These skills will assist to unravel genomic information in understanding human diseases and in the identification of new molecular targets for drug discovery.

Biology Students To Spend Summer Learning Innovative Research at Prestigious STEM Internship

Edward Waters College 3

The Edward Waters College Office of Admissions is reporting a dramatic increase in the number of applications received for the 2015-2016 academic year, with a 70% percent increase compared to the number of applications received during the same time last year.

“We had just over 1800 applications this time last year. This year we have over 3100,” said Director of Admissions, Joel Walker.

The College also has a triple-digit increase in the number of students who have been admitted to the institution. EWC has already accepted 1,537 students compared to the 742 students who were accepted last summer.

“There are many factors contributing to the strong numbers we have this year including a more vigorous recruiting effort in the South Georgia and Northeast Florida region and an increased visibility of the College,” said Walker.

Most of the students who attend EWC are from the Southeast with 84% coming from the State of Florida. There are also 6 countries represented among the applicants including Argentina, Columbia, Venezuela, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Ghana and Canada.

“There are numerous benefits toreceiving a higher education, and Edward Waters College is helping a college degree become more accessible to many students who never thought it was an option,” said Walker.

The deadline for students to apply for the Fall 2015 semester is July 31st. Students can apply online at www.ewc.edu.

EWC Sees a Triple Digit Increase in the Number of Applications and Admissions to the College

Ariana VitaleEWC Biology Student

Latavia GrahamEWC Biology Student

EWC Director of Admissions, Joel Walker at an HBCU College Recruitment Fair

in Lakeland, Florida

The EWC National Alumni Association is holding its 2015 National Alumni Convention June 25-28 in Orlando, Florida.

The three-day event is filled with workshops and activities designed to re-ignite, renew and reenergize your school spirit and commitment for “Dear Ole Edward Waters.” Alums will have an opportunity to reconnect and network with friends, classmates, fraternity brothers and sorority sisters while enjoying ‘the city beautiful.”

New officers for the EWC National Alumni Association (EWCNAA) will also be elected during the convention. You can register for the 2015 EWCNAA convention at www.ewctigernation.com.

2015 EWC National Alumni Convention to be Held in June

EWC Hosts the Operation Save Our Sons Summit

More than 500 male teens were at Edward Waters College for the 3rd Annual Operation Save Our Sons (S.O.S.) Summit titled “Black Lives Matter.” Operation S.O.S. is a national initiative, launched in Jacksonville, Florida, designed to equip teenage males, particularly African-Americans, with the life skills needed to be successful and productive. Organizers hope that by focusing on individual empowerment and by increasing academic achievement, it will reduce the crime rates involving young males.

11th Annual Onyx Awards Salutes EWC

EWC President Dr. Nathaniel Glover and the presidents of Florida’s HBCUs were celebrated during the 11th Annual Onyx Awards in Orlando. Civil Rights Advocate Martin Luther King III, Congresswoman Corrine Brown and U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Administrator Cassius Butts were in attendance to celebrate the exemplary leaders. Pictured from Left to Right: Bethune-Cookman University President Edison O. Jackson, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, Edward Waters College President Nathaniel Glover, Florida Memorial University President Roslyn Clark Artis, Arndrea Waters King, Martin Luther King III, Florida A&M University President Elmira Mangum, and SBA Regional Administrator Cassius Butts.

Office of Institutional Advancement

Wanda J. WillisVice President of Institutional Advancement

904-470-8251wanda.willis@ewc.edu

Anita WaltonDirector of Development and Alumni Relations

904-470-8252anita.walton@ewc.edu

Dee RegistreCoordinator of Public Relations

904-470-8050d.registre@ewc.edu