CONGRATS, GRADS! FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY VYSTAR5 VETERANS MEMORIAL ARENA 2MAY 9, 2019nd MISSION STATEMENT Florida State College at Jacksonville provides high value, relevant life-long education that enhances the intellectual, social, cultural and economic development of our diverse community. VISION STATEMENT Florida State College at Jacksonville...Growing minds today, leading tomorrow’s world. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A MESSAGE FROM THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT TO OUR GRADUATES Welcome to FSCJ’s 2019 Commencement Ceremony! This is certainly a momentous occasion that the College community looks forward to each and every year. Leading our students toward their graduation day and preparing them for a fulfilling future is why we come to work each day. We appreciate you entrusting us with your academic pursuits and allowing us this opportunity to celebrate your success. This afternoon, you are surrounded by people who have supported and encouraged you along the way. Your loved ones, educators, mentors, classmates and colleagues have gathered here to recognize the culmination of your hard work. I am confident that these people who are most important in your life share in your pride and eagerly anticipate the amazing things you will accomplish in your personal and professional lives. On behalf of FSCJ’s faculty and staff and the District Board of Trustees, I extend my congratulations and best wishes for a future filled with happiness and continued success. Sincerely, Kevin E. Hyde, J.D. Interim College President 4 fscj.edu FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE PROGRAM PROCESSIONAL ........................................................................................................... FSCJ Symphonic Band Dr. Paul E. Weikle Jr., Conductor NATIONAL ANTHEM ....................................................................................................... Mr. Karim Zabaneh FSCJ Student Mr. Thomas Shapard, Choir Director WELCOMING REMARKS ............................................................................................. Mr. Kevin E. Hyde, J.D. Interim President, Florida State College at Jacksonville INTRODUCTION OF PLATFORM GUESTS ...............................................................................President Hyde DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD ...........................................................................Dr. Charles E. Moreland Chair, FSCJ Alumni Advisory Council and Director of Community Affairs-COJ Ms. Susan A. Amburgey, Recipient INTRODUCTION OF STUDENT SPEAKER ........................................................................ Dr. John Woodward President, Faculty Senate STUDENT REMARKS ...................................................................................................... Ms. Ta’Nasha Parker Collegewide President, Student Government Association INTRODUCTION OF COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER ....................................................... Ms. Karen E. Bowling Chair, District Board of Trustees COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS ..................................................................................................President Hyde RECOGNITION OF HONORS GRADUATES ............................................................................. Dr. John J. Wall Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs PRESENTATION OF GRADUATES AND CANDIDATES ......................................................................... Dr. Wall CONFERRAL OF DEGREES ......................................................................................................President Hyde AWARDING OF DEGREES ................................................... President Hyde and District Board of Trustees CHANGING OF TASSELS .........................................................................................................President Hyde RECESSIONAL OF PLATFORM, FACULTY AND GRADUATES ...................................... FSCJ Symphonic Band FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE fscj.edu 5 BOARD OF TRUSTEES, EXECUTIVE CABINET + ANNOUNCERS DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES Ms. Karen E. Bowling, Chair Ms. Candace T. Holloway, Vice Chair, Nassau County Mr. Thomas R. McGehee Jr., Vice Chair, Duval County Mr. Michael M. Bell Mr. J. Palmer Clarkson Ms. Laura M. DiBella Mr. D. Hunt Hawkins Mr. Thomas J. Majdanics Mr. O. Wayne Young EXECUTIVE CABINET Mr. Kevin E. Hyde, J.D., Interim College President Dr. John J. Wall, Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs Dr. Marie F. Gnage, Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness and Advancement Dr. Linda K. Herlocker, Vice President, Student Services Ms. Jana Kooi, Vice President, Online and Workforce Education Mr. Albert P. Little, Vice President, Business Services ANNOUNCERS Dr. Jeff Hess, Dean of Arts and Sciences Dr. Samantha Ertenberg, Professor of English Mr. Joe LaBarbera, Professor of Speech Communication Ms. Karen A. Otto, Professor of Speech SPECIAL THANKS Mr. Gabriel Babbitt, ASL/English Interpreting Graduate Mr. Karim Zabaneh, Soloist FSCJ Symphonic Band 6 fscj.edu FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE STUDENT SPEAKER + DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI RECIPIENT STUDENT SPEAKER TA’NASHA PARKER Collegewide President, Student Government Association Born at Martin Army Hospital in Ft. Benning, Georgia, Ta’Nasha Parker has lived in Atlanta, Georgia; Tampa, Florida and New York City, yet her time spent living in rural areas such as Cusseta and Columbus, Georgia, and Panama City, Florida, shaped her decision to pursue a career in economic and community development. Having dreamed of building and rebranding the rural areas in which she lived, and fueled by a desire to learn and problem-solve, Ta’Nasha realized this career path would be the perfect environment to bring those dreams to life. Ta'Nasha is graduating from FSCJ with her Associate in Arts and will begin working toward earning her Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management. She is the Student Government Association Collegewide President and is also a member of the African American business leaders. She was recently named the Florida College System's Student Government Association (FCSSGA) President of the Year for 2018–19. She has an extensive resume, having worked for companies such as Allstate, Quest Diagnostics and United Health Group. In 2013, Ta’Nasha and her sister founded Parker and Associates, a tax firm which has grown from two employees to seven. Ta’Nasha’s ultimate goal is politics, to affect global change for her generation and serve as the voice for the citizens of underdeveloped communities. Her interest in politics began in the third grade when she ran for student body president. While she did not win the election, it served as a reminder to never give up no matter how long it takes. DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI RECIPIENT SUSAN A. AMBURGEY Susan Amburgey’s higher education journey began in 1980, following her high school graduation. After becoming a wife and mother, she put her dream of becoming a teacher on hold. Years later, she tried to return to college, but instead took on the role of caregiver for her parents. After moving to Jacksonville, she began working toward her degree at FSCJ while working various jobs in logistics. In 2013, she earned an Associate in Arts and in 2014, a Technical Certificate in Logistics and Transportation. Susan was the first student to be accepted into the Bachelor of Applied Science in Logistics program and, after a 36-year journey, graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 2016. The first female to be named safety manager at RDL Logistics, Susan was promoted to her current role, operations manager. She earned eight coveted Council of Supply Chain Management certifications as well as the Professional Designation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management industry certification. For the past 32 years, she has volunteered with the Miss America program, helping to award more than $2 million in in-kind scholarships to contestants. Susan was recognized by the Florida Department of Education with the Commissioner’s Leadership Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service. She supports FSCJ as vice chair of the business program’s Advisory Committee, has served as a guest speaker at FSCJ events and for logistics and supply chain management classes. Her next goal is to earn a master’s degree and return to FSCJ as a professor. FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE fscj.edu 7 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2018 & 2019 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES Brown, Ariel Delacruz, Victoria Lizde, Dzeneta Bryant, Kentoya Janique ††† Gafar, Suha ††† Mcintosh, Olandria Carley, Nyja Lillian ††† Grainger, Michael Jeffrey † Mckeon, Erich † Connaughton, Danielle ††† Hook, Christina M. Steinke, Kayla Creech, Breanna Lescouflair, Marie-Yves Vurve, Nancy BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Alderman, Samantha Hayes, Brittney Morgan, Lynn Anderson, Nala Haynes, Kariana † Nahley, Donald ††† Austin, Sean Highsmith, Michelle O'Brien, Kelly Beale, Joshua Hill, Bridget Okonji, Cederick † Bilgin, Ebru Hilton, Evan Owens, Madison Black, Kristina Hunt, Taylor Owens, Nicole Mary Boudreaux, Anna Ingles Ferri, Angelica Pavlosky, Jessica Breland, Carlile Itani, Heather Pendergrass, Rachel † Callender, Kucel † Jackson, April Percival, Jordan Carmona, Cynthia Miranda Johnson, Katrina †† Perry, Terrea Choudhury, Nabil Johnson, Ruthie Quilantang, Carina Clement, Sydney Jones, Keown Rafuse, Nicolae Coleman-Wilkerson, Dana Joy, Antoinette Jacqueline Ragland, Bethany †† Cook, Lauren Kague, Adjovi Amandine Richards, Roderick Cooke, Renee Kaneer, Caitlyn Rigano, Shelby Cooper, Stacey King, Shawnetta