Clay residents graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University
FORT MYERS – Two Clay County students recently graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Taylor Berry of Fleming Island, recently graduated with a bachelor of arts from the College of Education. Mason Wilbanks of Fleming Island, recently graduated with a bachelor of science from the Lutgert College of Business.
Authorized by an act of the Florida Legislature in May 1991, Florida Gulf Coast University’s first day of classes were held on August 25, 1997. Today, FGCU offers a student-centered learning environment that includes the highest quality educational opportunities for the development of the knowledge, insights, competencies, and skills necessary for success.

Diaz Graduates from Graceland University
LAMONI, Iowa – Melanie Diaz of Fleming Island graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in nursing from Graceland University.
Graduates from 39 states and 16 countries earned 582 degrees. There were 335 bachelor’s degrees earned, 241 master’s degrees, and six doctor of nursing practice degrees earned by 560 Graceland graduates.
Founded in 1895 and sponsored by Community of Christ, Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa, is a community of passionate, caring and dedicated individuals who put their relationships with students first.

Nieto graduates from Troy University
TROY, Ala. – Heidi Nieto of Middleburg graduated from Troy University during Term 4 of the 2017-18 academic year.
Nieto received the bachelor of science degree from the College of Health and Human Services.
Term 4 includes students at Troy’s campuses in Dothan, Phenix City and Montgomery, Ala., along with teaching sites outside of Alabama and online.

Clay students honored by Coastal Carolina University
CONWAY, S.C. – Two Clay County students were honored for their academic scholarship during spring 2018 semester.
Alexander Franklin, a management pre-major major from Orange Park, was named to the President’s List. Students named to the President's List acheived a perfect 4.0 grade point average during the semester.
Ryan Wethey, an information systems major from Fleming Island, was named to the Dean’s List.
Students who make the Dean’s List have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher during the semester.
With a student population of 10,600, Coastal Carolina University is a public comprehensive liberal arts institution in Conway, just minutes from the resorts of Myrtle Beach.

Rivera named to William & Mary Dean’s List
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Gabriela Montesdeoca Rivera from Orange Park was recently named to the Dean’s List at William & Mary for the spring 2018 semester.
In order to achieve Dean’s List status, a full-time degree seeking undergraduate student must take at least 12 credit hours and earn a 3.6 Quality Point Average during the semester.
William & Mary is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.

Gardella named to Sewanee Dean's List
SEWANEE, Tenn. – Mason Lee Gardella of Fleming Island has been named to the Dean’s List at the University of the South for the Easter 2018 term. To earn a place on Sewanee’s Dean’s List, a student must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.625 on a 4.0 scale. Mason Lee Gardella is the daughter of Mona & David Gardella of Fleming Island.
The University of the South, familiarly known as Sewanee, is an independent liberal arts college located on 13,000 acres atop Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau between Nashville and Chattanooga.

11 Clay students make Columbia Dean’s List
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The following students from this area were recently named to the Columbia College Dean’s List for the spring semester.
To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must have completed 12 semester hours in a 16-week period and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0-point scale.
Honorees are Joshua Watkins of Fleming Island, Roy Brown and Michael Jolley, both of Middleburg, Breyana Stilts, Sandra Almond, Robert Bardroff, Casandra Coen, Christopher Murphy, Matthew Sherrill, Eric Spann and Terella Williams, all of Orange Park.
Founded in 1851 in Columbia, Missouri, Columbia College has been helping students advance their lives through higher education for more than 165 years. As a private, nonprofit institution, the college offers small classes, experienced faculty and quality educational programs.

Walker graduates from Bucknell
LEWISBURG, Penn. – Adam Walker, of Keystone Heights, graduated from Bucknell University on May 20.
Located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Bucknell University is a highly selective private liberal arts university that offers majors in the arts, engineering, humanities, management, and social and natural sciences, along with broad opportunities outside of class, to its 3,600 undergraduates.

Lloyd named to the Dean’s List at GSU
ATLANTA – Alexander Lloyd of Middleburg was named to the Dean’s List at Georgia State University during the spring semester of 2018.
To be eligible for the Dean’s List, degree-seeking students must have earned a GPA of at least 3.5 for a minimum of nine semester hours of academic credit taken at Georgia State during the fall or spring term with no incompletes for the semester.

Two Clay students graduate from Brenau
GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Brenau University congratulates its 370 graduates who earned degrees during spring commencement ceremonies May 4-5. 2018, on the school’s historic front lawn.
Amanda Ray Buchanan from Orange Park, who attended the Women’s College, graduated with a bachelor of science in health science.
Janae Anya Donawa from Middleburg who attended the Women’s College, graduated with a bachelor of fine arts in acting.
Since 1878, private, not-for-profit Brenau University has expanded its tradition of providing prestigious higher education from the campus environment it still operates to global reach through online programs. The 140-year-old Women’s College is in Gainesville, Georgia.

Dean’s List announced for spring 2018
CLINTON, Miss. – A Clay county student was named to The Mississippi College Dean’s List for spring semester.
Nathan Lambert of Middleburg was required to maintain a 3.5 grade point average, based on a 4.0 system. Students must take a full course load of at least 12 semester hours of undergraduate credit with all academic courses impacting their grade point average.
Founded in 1826, Mississippi College, affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention, is a private, co-educational, Christian university of liberal arts and sciences serving more than 5,100 students, from 40 states and more than three dozen countries.

Motes graduates from Wofford
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Dorsey Bryce Motes received a bachelor of arts degree in environmental studies with a minor in business during spring commencement here. Motes is from Fleming Island.
Established in 1854, Wofford College is a four-year, residential liberal arts college located in Spartanburg, S.C. that offers 26 major fields of study to a student body of 1,690 undergraduates.

Samford University Spring 2018 Dean's List
BIRMINGHAM, AL (05/30/2018)-- Samford University releases dean's lists after the close of the fall and spring semesters each academic year. To qualify for the dean's list, a student must have earned a minimum 3.5 grade point average out of a possible 4.0 while attempting at least 12 credit hours of coursework. Dean's List is the highest academic recognition given by the school at the end of each semester. This past semester, nearly 1,400 students qualified.
Garrett S Van Dyke of Fleming Island (32003), Saint John's Country Day School, Delaney A Haase of Middleburg (32068), Oakleaf High School

Newberry College Names Tejada To Spring 2018 Dean's List
NEWBERRY, SC (05/24/2018)-- Christian Tejada of Orange Park, FL was among those named to the Spring 2018 Dean's List at Newberry College.
Students who achieve Dean's List honors must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale during the semester for which the honor is being given.
Tejada was among 355 students who earned Dean's List honors for their academic performance last semester
NEWBERRY, SC (05/15/2018)-- Christian Tejada of Orange Park, FL completed an internship in Social and Behavioral Science at the Newberry Police Department under the supervision of Lt. Michael Kennedy.
These internships completed by the Social and Behavioral Science Department students are designed to help each student gain experience and connections for the career they wish to pursue.

Cassidy Ann Laird of Fleming Island graduates from Clemson University
CLEMSON, SC (05/24/2018)-- Cassidy Ann Laird of Fleming Island graduated from Clemson University with a Master of Science in Biosystems Engineering .
Laird was among nearly 3,700 students who received degrees at ceremonies May 10 and 11, 2018, in Littlejohn Coliseum.

Kielce Gussie Makes Spring 2018 Dean's List at Mount St. Mary's University
EMMITSBURG, MD (05/25/2018)-- Kielce Gussie of Middleburg earned dean's list honors for the Spring 2018 semester.
About Mount St. Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University is a private, liberal arts, Catholic university in the Catoctin Mountains near historic Emmitsburg, Maryland, with a satellite campus in Frederick, Maryland's second largest city. The university offers more than 40 majors, minors, concentrations and special programs for traditional undergraduate students, and 20 adult undergraduate and graduate level program

Marissa Kearney Graduates from Saint Francis University
LORETTO, PA (05/30/2018)-- Marissa Kearney, of Jacksonville (32244) graduated with a Master of Health Science Degree from Saint Francis University during the May 13, 2018 commencement exercises.
Saint Francis University (www.francis.edu) in Loretto, PA is the oldest Catholic-Franciscan college in the United States.

ABAC recognizes students for spring term academic excellence
TIFTON – Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College recognized two students from Orange Park for achieving academic excellence in their course work during spring term. ABAC cites its top academic students each semester on the President’s List, the Dean’s List, and the Distinguished Achievement List.
Students Cooper Thornton and Leaira Asselin, both of Orange Park, made the ABAC Dean’s List.
The highest academic honor possible, the President’s List requires students to make an A in every subject and carry a minimum of 12 hours of academic work.

The Dean’s List requires students to attain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and carry at least 12 hours of academic work. The Distinguished Achievement List is composed of students who complete between six and 11 hours of academic work with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The purpose of this list is to recognize excellence and scholastic achievement among part-time students.

Local Residents Inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
BATON ROUGE, LA (04/12/2018)-- The following local residents were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Gabriel Becker of Orange Park (32073) was initiated at University of North Florida.
Randi Corley of Middleburg (32068) was initiated at University of North Florida.
Jenifer Davis of Orange Park (32073) was initiated at University of North Florida.
Christopher Day of Fleming Island (32003) was initiated at University of Florida.
Mitoki Jardine of Orange Park (32065) was initiated at University of North Florida.
Kaitlyn Powell of Keystone Heights (32656) was initiated at University of North Florida.
John Villanueva of Orange Park (32065) was initiated at University of Florida.
Caroline Williams of Green Cove Springs (32043) was initiated at University of Florida.
These residents are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.
Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."
More About Phi Kappa Phi
Since its founding, 1.5 million members have been initiated into Phi Kappa Phi. Some of the organization's notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist John Grisham and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. Each biennium, Phi Kappa Phi awards $1.4 million to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives. For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit www.phikappaphi.org.

TCC student-athletes earn all-conference honors
TALLAHASSEE, FL (05/01/2018)-- Ten members of Tallahassee Community College's baseball and softball teams were recognized by Panhandle Conference coaches on Monday when the 2018 All-Conference teams were released.
Eight members of TCC's baseball team were selected. Sophomore designated hitter Cole Vann, of Colquitt, GA, was one of three players named First-team All-conference. Vann also received the Buddy Kisner Scholar-Athlete Award, the conference's top academic honor.
Joining Vann as first-team all-conference honorees are sophomore outfielder Mason Miller, of Valdosta, GA, and freshman pitcher Justin Sorokowski, of Mechanicsville, VA..
Sophomore pitcher Jake Kinney, of Zephyrhills, FL, was voted the conference's Fireman of the Year.
Four players earned second-team all-conference honors: sophomore outfielder Tanner Thomas, of Fleming Island, FL, sophomore pitcher Alex Stobert, of Sarver, PA, sophomore second baseman Tucker Rayburn, of Minneola, FL and freshman third baseman Logan Lacey, of Tallahassee, FL.
Tallahassee Community College also placed two representatives on the Coaches' All-Panhandle Conference softball team.
Freshman first baseman Olivia Russell, of Tallahassee, FL, was named first-team all-conference, while fellow freshman Ismay Poot, of Tallahassee, FL, who plays outfield for the Eagles, was named second-team.
Tallahassee Community College is consistently ranked as one of the top community colleges in the nation. Every semester, thousands of students choose TCC as the next step in their education journey. With our Associate in Arts degree for transfer to a state university in multiple tracks, as well as over 70 different degree and certificate programs that encompass a variety of fields, TCC has a wide range of educational pathways for students from all walks of life.

The Citadel commissions newest Army officer Andrew Aiken
CHARLESTON, SC (05/07/2018)-- Cadets joining the Army upon graduation at The Citadel took their commissioning oath on Friday, May 4 in McAlister Field House. The cadets were officially sworn in as officers during the South Carolina Corps of Cadets commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 5.
Andrew Aiken of Fleming Island, FL (32003) is one of more than 100 Army officers commissioned in The Citadel Class of 2018.
About The Citadel
The Citadel, with its iconic campus located in Charleston, South Carolina, offers a classic military college education profoundly focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. Graduates are not required to serve in the military but about one-third of each class commission as officers in every branch of U.S. military service. Graduates of The Citadel have served the nation, their states and their communities as principled leaders since the college was founded in 1842.
The Citadel Graduate College offers 26 graduate degree programs with 42 concentration options, 25 graduate certificate programs and 10 evening undergraduate programs, through an all-evening schedule with many courses now available online. The Citadel was named Best Public College in the South by U.S. News & World Report for seven consecutive years, and #1 Best Public College for Veterans in the South as well as Best Value out of all South Carolina colleges and universities by Forbes.

Local Residents Inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
BATON ROUGE, LA (05/09/2018)-- The following local residents were recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.
Kelsey Ladd of Orange Park (32065) was initiated at Auburn University.
Sean Yumul of Orange Park (32065) was initiated at Florida Southern College.
These residents are among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.
Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."
More About Phi Kappa Phi
Since its founding, 1.5 million members have been initiated into Phi Kappa Phi. Some of the organization's notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist John Grisham and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. Each biennium, Phi Kappa Phi awards $1.4 million to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives. For more information about Phi Kappa Phi, visit www.phikappaphi.org.

Katherine Kruzan of Starke, FL Achieves Spring 2018 Dean's List at Belmont University
NASHVILLE, TN (05/10/2018)-- Katherine Kruzan of Starke, FL (32091) qualified for the Spring 2018 Dean's List at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C.
Approximately 30 percent of Belmont's 8,080 students qualified for the Spring 2018 Dean's List. Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns said, "This achievement for the spring semester indicates that these students have placed a high priority on their work at Belmont and have invested time and energy in their studies. It is our strong belief that consistent application in this manner will reap great benefits, which will equip them for a lifetime of learning and growing."
About Belmont University
Ranked No. 5 in the Regional Universities South category and named as a "Most Innovative" university by U.S. News & World Report, Belmont University consists of more than 8,000 students who come from every state and more than 36 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The University's purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world's needs. With more than 90 areas of undergraduate study, more than 25 master's programs and five doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual's horizon. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.

Local residents named to Harding University dean's list
SEARCY, AR (05/14/2018)-- The following local residents are among more than 1,200 Harding University students included on the dean's list for grades achieved during the spring 2018 semester.
Mackenzie Carroll, senior communication sciences and disorders major from Orange Park (32065)
Emily Kilgore, senior mathematics major from Middleburg (32068)
The dean's list is published each semester by Dr. Marty Spears, University provost, honoring those who have achieved high scholarship. To be eligible, a student must be carrying 12 or more hours with a 3.65 or higher grade-point average and no incompletes.
Harding University is a private Christian university located in Searcy, Arkansas. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, it is the largest private university in the state. Harding's student body is made up of students representing 50 states and 54 nations and territories. The University offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, graduate and professional degrees at the master's, specialist and doctoral level as well as numerous international study offerings including locations in Australia, Chile, England, France, Greece, Italy and Zambia. For more information, visit harding.edu.

Bradon Holder among Georgia Southern students to receive Emmy nominations
STATESBORO, GA (05/14/2018)-- The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has recognized Georgia Southern University's Multimedia Development Center (MDC) with four Student Emmy Award nominations. Students to receive a nomination include Bradon Holder of Orange Park (32065). The MDC student production teams received two nominations for Sports - Live Events, Fairfield vs. Georgia Southern in Men's Baseball and Georgia State vs. Georgia Southern in Women's Basketball. Also, student Holden Galatas received a nomination in the Talent category for his anchor work of these events.
"I'm so excited to have received this honor, I never really thought this would be occurring in this stage of my career. This has been a team effort since we started. If I win this, it is a trophy for the team not just for me," said Galatas.
Students Shelby Head, Bradon Holder, Jayden Moss, Sterling Mattison and Robert Ross received a nomination for Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs for the production of the "Strings at Southern Chamber Music Festival."
"The experience working at the MDC has provided me with an unsurpassed professional experience in the broadcast and video production field. I have been presented with numerous opportunities to grow and really augment my major of Electrical Engineering with this educational experience. I can't thank Georgia Southern enough for this opportunity," said Holder.
Moss also received a nomination in the Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs category and has been hired to produce videos for Disney Theme Parks upon graduating from Georgia Southern.
"Thank you Georgia Southern, it's because of the experience at the MDC that I was able to be hired in my job at Disney and then be nominated for this award," said Moss.
The student Emmy winners will be announced in Atlanta on June 9.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, NATAS, is a professional organization for individuals in the television and broadcasting industry. NATAS is the standard-bearer for excellence in the television broadcasting industry and the gatekeepers of the prestigious regional EMMY Awards.The Southeast Chapter represents the most experienced and talented television professionals from all disciplines of the industry and from each of our television markets (Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Asheville, N.C.).
The MDC, a division of University Advancement and External Affairs, provides students with training and hands-on experience that they can then translate into real-world opportunities. Students run cameras, direct, produce and manage more than one-hundred live events each year including ESPN3 and nationally televised broadcasts.
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 27,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

Cadets graduate from The Citadel
CHARLESTON, SC (05/15/2018)-- Approximately 500 members of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets accepted diplomas during The Citadel's commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 5 in McAlister Field House.
The following local students were among the graduating class:
Andrew Aiken of Fleming Island, FL (32003) received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Amos Jackson of Middleburg, FL (32068) received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
About The Citadel
The Citadel, with its iconic campus located in Charleston, South Carolina, offers a classic military college education profoundly focused on leadership excellence and academic distinction. Graduates are not required to serve in the military but about one-third of each class commission as officers in every branch of U.S. military service. Graduates of The Citadel have served the nation, their states and their communities as principled leaders since the college was founded in 1842.
The Citadel Graduate College offers 26 graduate degree programs with 42 concentration options, 25 graduate certificate programs and 10 evening undergraduate programs, through an all-evening schedule with many courses now available online. The Citadel was named Best Public College in the South by U.S. News & World Report for seven consecutive years, and #1 Best Public College for Veterans in the South as well as Best Value out of all South Carolina colleges and universities by Forbes.

Jenn Breast named to Dean's List
ROME, GA (05/15/2018)-- Jenn Breast of Fleming Island, FL., was named to the Spring 2018 Dean's List at Berry College. The Dean's List honors students who posted an academic average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale while carrying a class load of at least 12 hours during the semester.
Berry College is recognized nationally for the quality and value of its educational experience. Located on a magnificent campus encompassing more than 27,000 acres near Rome, Ga., Berry challenges its student body, consisting of more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students, to embrace a firsthand education that unites strong academic programs with opportunities for meaningful work experience, spiritual and moral growth, and significant service to others.

Student recieves leadership award

TAMPA – Eleanor Marshall, from Keystone Heights, received the Resident Assistant of the Year Award at The University of Tampa’s 2018 Leadership Awards Night.
Marshall graduated from Keystone Heights Jr./Sr. High School in 2016 and is the daughter of Rich and Peg Marshall. She plans to graduate from UT in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing.
At UT, Marshall is a member of the Honors Program, Delta Sigma Pi professional business fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi honor society and the Catholic Student Organization.
The University of Tampa is a private, residential university located on 110 acres on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. Known for academic excellence, personal attention and real-world experience in its undergraduate and graduate programs, the University serves approximately 9,000 students from 50 states and 140 countries. Approximately 62 percent of full-time students live on campus, and more than half of UT students are from Florida.