The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)named Edward Waters College (EWC) one of the top five schools to receive the 2013-2014 Champions of Character Five-Star Institution Award.

Each school is graded on a score-card. Institutions earned points based on exceptional student-athlete grade point averages and by obtaining zero ejections during competition throughout the course of the academic year.

Edward Waters College tied in fourth place with Louisiana State University-Shreveport with a total

of 92 points out of 100. The award is granted through the NAIA’s Character Advisory Committee.

The NAIA Champions of Character program creates an environment in which every NAIA student-athlete,

coach, official and spectator is committed to the true spirit of competition through the five tenants: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. Gold (90-100 points), Silver (75-89 points), and Bronze levels (60-74 points) are awarded.

Edward Waters College was one of just twelve schools to achieve a score of 90 or higher. This is the second straight year the NAIA has named Edward Waters College’s Athletic Department one of their top five Champions of Character Five-Star Institutions.

The Edward Waters College Schell Sweet Community Resource Center has been serving North-west Jacksonville for 15 years, but its impact is being felt thousands of miles away.

The Schell Sweet Community Resource Center provides senior wellness classes, prevention services and connects residents to a community collaboration network that focuses on health, social and educational services. The resources provided their are so beneficial that the State of Florida named the community center a “Beacon of Hope.”

Marie Heath, Executive Director of the Schell Sweet CRC, is now guiding and instructing advocates in communities all over the country to effectively do the same. Heath shared information about building a “Community of Hope” on behalf of Casey Family Programs, the nation’s largest provider of family and children services. She provided information about the key components of providing community based family support projects and helped centers map their next steps to be able toimplement those projects and goals.

Marie Heath has previouslytraveled to Philadelphia, and New York for other Casey Family Programs “Community of Hope”demonstrations.

Edward Waters College Named a NAIA Champions of Character

EWC ties for fourth place among 168 institutions

In This Issue

Jacksonville street dedicated to EWC Alumnus ............. Page 2

EWC names the first three Call Me MISTER Scholars .... Page 3

Mural painted of EWC President in local school ............. Page 3

Edward Waters College Newsletter

November 2014

Edward Waters College Men’s Basketball team 2014 home opener

against Sterling College

EWC’s Beacon of Hope Shines Nationally

Marie Heath, Executive Director

Dr. Anita Mandal, associate professor of Biology, recently served as a judge for a research competition at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in San Antonio, Texas. Mandal was also awarded the ABRCMS Judge’s Travel Subsidy, which supports first time judges at the conference.

“It was an honor to be able to serve as a judge for this particular conference,” said Dr. Mandal. “It is the largest convention for minority students in the nation, and you actually have to compete with many to be chosen to judge.”

ABRCMS is the largest, professional symposium for minority students to pursue advance training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), attracting approximately 3,300 individuals, including 1,700 undergraduate students, 400 graduate students and postdoctoral scientists and 1200 faculty, program directors and administrators. Students come from over 350 U.S. colleges and universities.

The conference is designed to encourage underrepresented minority students to pursue advanced training in STEMrelated fields and provide faculty mentors and advisors with resources for facilitating students’ success. During the four-day conference, over 1,500 students participate in poster and oral presentations in twelve disciplines in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, including mathematics.

This conference is sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), Division of Training, WorkforceDevelopment, and Diversity (TWD) and managed by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).

Dr. Anita Mandal Participates in the National Biomedical research Conference

The City of Jacksonville dedicated a portion of Blossom Drive to Walter H. Matthews, the first African-American contractor bonded by the City of Jacksonville.

Mr. Walter Matthews made huge strides in the “River City” as the first African American contractor bonded by the City of Jacksonville, a former National President of the Black Minority Contractors Association, owner and operator of the W. H. Matthews Construction Company, and alumnus of Edward Waters College. During the late 1960s, Matthews was

commissioned by Mayor Hans Tanzler to build

Fire Station No. 36, which is still in use today in District 10. Fire station 36 became home to the Floradale Volunteer Fire Company, the first all-African American fire company

since Engine 3 was created in 1886.

Mr. Matthews also contributed as a student of Edward Waters College. He earned a two-year degree from the institution and played for the College’s football team until he fractured his ankle. Mr. Matthews’ wife and daughter was at the street dedication.

“This is a moment that I can’t really describe in words. He stood for excellence. He stood for no games. Everything had to

be perfect, and so it’s befitting that this would be a way to recognize that,” said Matthews’ daughter, Dr. Wallene Matthews-Bullard.

City of Jacksonville Dedicates Street to EWC Alumnus Walter H. Matthews

Edward Waters College 2

Relatives stood in front of the fire station Walter Matthews was hired to built.

The station also stands directly across from the street dedicated in his memory.

President Nathaniel Glover and EWC Biology Professor

Dr. Anita Mandal

Attorney Steve Pajcic and his wife Anne were honored during the Association of Fundraising Professionals Florida First Coast Chapter National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon held at the Hyatt Riverfront Hotel in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.

The Pajcics have been leaders in the Jacksonville community for many years. In February 2013, the couple made history at Edward Waters College when they gave $2 million, the largest unrestricted gift made by a single source.

Prior to supporting EWC, the Pajcics established a million dollar endowment at the University of North Florida (UNF) that pays the full tuition of any Paxon High School graduate, who

is accepted and enrolled at the university. Steve and Anne have also donated an additional $1 million for teacher salary incentives at Annie R. Morgan Elementary School.

Steve has also given his time as

the organizer and coach of over 50 teams of disadvantaged youth.

You can also help make an impact at Edward Waters College by donating to the EWC Annual Fund. These unrestricted donations help impact every area of the Edward Waters College experience including academic programing, faculty enrichment, technology upgrades, scholarships and financial aid.

To make a donation to the Edward Waters College Annual Fund, please contact:

The Office of Institutional AdvancementMs. Wanda J. Willis, Vice Presidentwanda.willis@ewc.edu(904) 470-8251

Attorney Steve Pajcic and Wife Anne Honored for their record-Setting Donation to the College

Edward Waters College 3

Edward Waters College has named Bernard Agurs, Jacob Thomas and Hurtis Wyche, Jr. the institution’s first three Call Me MISTER Scholars.

The Call Me MISTER scholar-ship program is open to African American males majoring in Elementary Education and pays for the last two years of course work. Students must also pass the Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE) General Knowledge Test to qualify for the program.

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. The scholarship program was created to help increase the number of African American males who teach in the elementary-level.

According to the Department of Education, African American men

only make up two-percent of the 4.8 million educators across the country. Less than one-percent of them teach in elementary schools.

Edward Waters College is hoping to have at least 15 to 20 Call Me MISTER scholars every spring and fall semesters. Students interested must be admitted into the institution to qualify for this scholarship.

For more information about the program, please contact Ms. Charlotte Clark-Rowe with the Department of Teacher Education and Urban Studies at 904-470-8064 or 904-470-8125.

EWC Names First Three Call Me MISTER Scholars, while Continuing to Recruit Potential Candidates

EWC Senior Bernard Agurs is one of three students who have been named

Call Me MISTER Scholars.

Steve’s son Seth Pajcic and his wife Cathleen accepted the recognition

in his father’s absense.

The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Windborne Music presents “The Music of Whitney Houston: A Celebration” featuring Broadway sensation, Rashidra Scott for the Edward Waters College 13th Annual Fine Arts Scholarship Benefit Concert. This year’s concert will be held Saturday, January 24th at 8:00 p.m. in the Moran Theater of the Times-Union Performing Arts Center.

Join the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra along with conductor Brent Havens, Rashidra Scott and Windborne Music for an evening of hits such as “Saving All My Love,” “How Will I Know?,” “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?” and of course “I Will Always Love You.”

The Edward Waters College Fine Arts Scholarship Benefit Concert is held every year in the in the Times-Union Performing Arts Center. All of the proceeds from the concert go toward funding scholarships for the College. More than 98-percent of our student population depend on financial aid to finance their education.

Tickets are available through the Edward Waters College Office of Institutional Advancement at 904-470-8251. You can also purchase tickets online at www.ewc.edu.

EWC 13th Annual Fine Arts Scholarship Benefit Concert

Mural of Dr. Nathaniel Glover painted in Middle School

President Nathaniel Glover is making an impact on the lives of students long before they apply to college. A mural of Dr. Glover was painted in a hall-way at Eugene Butler Middle School. The artwork even includes the President’s “4 P’s to Success.”

Eugene J. Butler and Joseph Stillwell Middle Schools began offering single-gender classroom experiences in the 2014-2015 academic school year. Each school is divided into a boys and girls academy, each with its own set of administrators.

President Nathaniel Glover Participates in the 2014 HBCUSummit

President Nathaniel Glover was one of four Florida HBCU Presidents who participated in a panel discussion initiated to help find ways to advance minority student retention. Dr. Glover joined Florida A&M University President Dr. Elmira Mangum, Bethune-Cookman University President Dr. Edison Jackson and Florida Memorial University President Dr. Roslyn Artis for “The State of the Florida HBCU: Pathway to Preeminence to Retention and Graduation.” The event was held in the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida November 23rd.

Office of Institutional Advancement

Wanda J. WillisVice President904-470-8251

Dee RegistreCoordinator of Public Relations

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