Edward Waters College is collaborating with the U.S. Small Business Administration to help boost local business while developing the next generation of entrepreneurs.

A free Entrepreneurship Certificate Program is being offered this fall through the College’s Business Program. The seven-week course provides participants with a complete overview of the business skills needed to develop a full, applicable knowledge of the startup and business operations process.

Applicants who enroll in the program will gain valuable insight into developing business

and marketing plans; attracting funding; securing state certification and licenses; hiring and managing personnel; and understanding accounting, budgeting and taxes.

“Eight out of 10 businesses fail within the first 18 months that they are started because of lack of

knowledge. This program will help provide vital information and resources that will help entrepreneurs become part of the 20-percent who do succeed,” said Department of Business Administration Chair, Dr. Francis Ikeokwu, Sr.

The Entrepreneurship Certificate program is open to the public, EWC students and alumni. Entrepreneurship certificates will be awarded to individuals who successfully complete all seven sessions.

For more information on this program, contact Dr. Francis Ikeokwu Sr. at 904-470-8134 or by email at fikeokwu@ewc.edu.

For his 12th straight year, Frank Burnell joined an elite group of coaches for the Michael Jordan Flight School youth camp.

Every summer 1600 boys and girls travel to the University of

California - Santa Barbara campus to learn the fundamentals of shooting, dribbling, rebounding, passing and defence from NBA great, Michael Jordan. Coach Burnell served as a league commissioner for the camp’s 17-18 age group.

“I get the opportunity to meet and network with 80 other coaches from around the country. And as we instruct the campers, we also pick up training techniques from each other that we bring back and utilize with our own athletes,” said Burnell.

Frank Burnell has served as the Edward Waters College men’s head basketball coach since 2011.

Burnell also played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) from 1983-1985.

EWC Inspires the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs The Business Program offers a free Entrepreneurship Certificate Program

In This Issue

Dr. Brian Seymour named campusResearch Director ............. Page 2

EWC continues SEC Mentorship Program ....................... Page 3

EWC Annual Fund Drive Kicks-Off ............. Page 3

Edward Waters College Newsletter

September 2014

Edward Waters College President Nathaniel Glover and

Dr. Francis Ikeokwu, Sr.

Basketball Coach frank Burnell helps students fly high at Michael Jordan’s flight school

Michael Jordan with Head Coach Frank Burnell

Biology professor Dr. Brian Seymour has been named the first Research Director of the Center for the Prevention of Health Disparities for Edward Waters College. In this new position, Dr. Seymour

will be writing grant proposals in an effort to raise funding for research; collaborate with Mayo Clinic of Jacksonville to study chronic illnesses; and work with Dr. Irvin Cohen, the Executive Director of the New Town Success Zone, to help raise awareness about health disparities that affect the urban core.

“This position provides the College a great opportunity to help improve lives through the research of diseases that affect so many worldwide,” said Dr. Seymour.

Currently, Dr. Seymour is working on grants for two research projects. He hopes to secure funding to be able to study the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and allergies in the

African-American community and study the affects of early exposure to allergens as it relates to the development of respiratory diseases like asthma.

“The death rate for asthma is 106% higher among African-Americans when compared to Caucasians. Asthma is also the second largest health disparity, among at-risk groups” said Dr. Seymour.

Dr. Brian Seymour is an immunologist with nearly 20 years of experience in the field of biotechnology. He has authored and coauthored more than 20 scientific publications. His notable work in the fields of Allergy and Asthma has been published in several leading journals including Science and Nature.

Dr. Brian Seymour Named Research Director of the Center for the Prevention of Health Disparities

The City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Sister Cities Association hosted a banquet to raise funds to provide medical supplies for Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa. Nkosinathi Benson Fihla, Mayor of the South African city, was the keynote speaker.

Twelve members of the Edward Waters College Concert Choir performed during the event as part of a combined choir consisting of members from Florida State College of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Children’s Choir and the University of North Florida. The group sang

the National Anthem of South Africa

featuring EWC student Theresa Atkins, soloist. Organizers hoped to raise between $7,000 to $10,000 for the cause. Edward Waters College President, Nathaniel Glover, served

as one of the Honorary Chairpersons for the event. “Nelson Mandela held education to the highest standard. He will be missed and respected as a world leader,” said Glover.

The City of Jacksonville partnered with the South African city to work on health and sanitation projects. Jacksonville has been a sister city with Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality since 2000, and the First Coast has helped with similar projects in the past.

The Edward Waters College Student Government Association and Mr. and Miss EWC attended the banquet. The College sponsored a table at the banquet.

Edward Waters College Joins the City of Jacksonville to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela

Edward Waters College 2

EWC Students: Talmadge Austin, Sharkena Brown, Malika Allen, Nkosinathi Fihla,

Miss EWC Ashley Williams, Mr. EWC Jose Bennett, Kabreel Campbell

Dr. Brian Seymour and EWC Junior Ryan Andrews

The Office of Institutional Advancement will kick off its Annual Fund this month and needs YOUR SUPPORT! For faculty, staff, parents, alumni and friends of Edward Waters College, giving to the college’s annual fund is an opportunity to change the lives of our students.

The donations to the annual fund provide unrestricted dollars that help to support key activities at the college. In addition, these funds help to bridge the gap between the funds generated though tuition and fees and the actual cost of educating a student. With unrestricted funds, the college is able to tap resources for immediate needs, offer financial support to students, enhance opportunities for teaching and

learning, and improve the College’s historic campus.

Your support in the Annual Fund is critical to the growth and success of the college. As a private institution of higher learning, the college depends on financial support and annual giving to meet its operational needs. Each donor’s reason for giving to Edward Waters College is different. Some give to the college to strengthen the

academic and physical resources, provide scholarship support and other’s give in appreciation for what Edward Waters College has contributed to their lives personally or in the community. There is no gift that is too small…even a small gift can yield big dividends.

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

To donate online, visit the college’s website at www.ewc.edu and click on the donate button.

Edward Waters College Kicks Off the EWC Annual Fund drive

Edward Waters College 3

Eight students completed a weekend of training in Orlando, Florida for the SEC Mentorship Program. The educational research project managed by the University of Florida works to improve the lives of at-risk, black males enrolled in the third through fifth grades.

Dr. Randy Nelson, Founder of 21st Century Research and Evaluation, Inc., developed the Situational Environmental Circumstance (SEC) model from his research while working with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

The premise of the program is to

identify college students who share similar backgrounds with the elementary students they are assigned to mentor; so the young boys are able to relate to them and follow in their footsteps.

“Example is the best teacher. When kids know that you’ve been there, it makes a difference,” said Site Coordinator, Darren Gardner. “When you can say I saw drug dealers on every corner or I heard gunshots at night too, they listen. They will also see that you are now in college and know that they can attend too.”

Edward Waters College students will be working with boys who attend S.P. LivingstonElementary School. Similar

programs are being conducted in all of Florida’s HBCUs. Organizers hope this statewide program will become national.

EWC Continues to Partner with the University of Florida for the SEC Mentorship Program

Pictured L-R Willie Coleman, Jacob Thomas, Eric Odom, Heurtis Wyche,

Herven Seraphin, Alonzo Cunningham, Bernard Agurs

Daniel Heron

The Edward Waters College Schell Sweet Community Resource Center and the Nourishment Network held their monthly food distribution Saturday, August 23rd where 370 families in need were able to receive food.

Every fourth Saturday of the month, around 8,000 pounds of food provided by the Nourishment Network is distributed. Each recipient leaves with about three-bags of non-perishable food. This past month recipients also received one 13-pound turkey and a bag with 10 chicken drumsticks. The monthly food distributions are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“It is very crucial and important for our clients to receive this food,” said the Director of the Schell Sweet Community Resource Center, Marie Heath. “This is the only way many families are able to have food on their dinner tables at the end of the month.”

The Schell Sweet Community Resource Center was named the Hunger Champion in 2013 by the Florida Department of Children and Families for its efforts in connecting the community to the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This is the fifth year the Schell Sweet Community Resource Center has been hosting the monthly food distributions.

370 Families in need received food from the EWC campus

Students complete CSX/EWC leadership development program

Edward Waters College students Spencer Smith, Kendal Thompson and Monique Kelly successfully completed the CSX/EWC Leadership Development Program. The program allows students with a 3.0 GPA or higher to qualify for paid internships at CSX where they can enhance their professional presence, communication, critical thinking and personal leadership skills. Pictured above: Dr. Anna Hammond, EWC Executive Vice President, Mr. Derrick Smith, CSX VP of Marketing, and the CSX Leadership Team

EWC Helps Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Job Corps

On August 22nd, the Jacksonville Job Corps Center celebrated 50 years in Job Corps and 35 years in the Jacksonville community. The organization gives students between the ages of 16-24 the opportunity to select from ten vocations offered at the center. Students can also receive their high school diploma through their SAL TECH Charter School. The program has educated more than 2.6 million young people and serves about 60,000 young Americans each year. The Jacksonville Job Corps Center trains about 425 students per year. Congresswoman Corrine Brown served as the guest speaker for the ceremony. Pictured above: Congresswoman Corrine Brown and EWC Staff Member Darren Gardner

Office of Institutional Advancement

Wanda J. WillisVice President904-470-8251

Dee RegistreCoordinator of Public Relations

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