Edward Waters College Newsletter January 2016
Edward Waters College Celebrates 150th Anniversary Hundreds fill the Centennial Lawn for the Sesquicentennial kick-off. In 2016, Edward Waters College celebrates its 150th Anniversary. The momentous occasion was commemorated with a balloon release and celebratory cake-cutting during a Sesquicentennial Kick-Off held on the Centennial Lawn January 20th. President Nathaniel Glover, EWC faculty, staff, students and alumni gathered to honor the rich history of Florida’s oldest historically black college and private institution of higher learning. There were spirited performances by the Triple Threat Marching Band and EWC Concert Choir.
high school, college and seminary levels. Construction on the first building began in 1872 on ten acres of land in Live Oak, Florida. In 1892 the school’s name was changed to Edward Waters College in honor of the third Bishop of the AME Church. The school moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1893 where the campus was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1901. In 1904 the Board of Trustees purchased the present site of the school on Kings Road where it was rebuilt. Dr. Nathaniel Glover cutting the cake during the celebration.
Formerly named Brown’s Theological Institute, EWC was founded in 1866 by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church to educate newly emancipated slaves. The school met the needs of its community by offering courses at the elementary,
Biodegradable balloons were released during the ceremony.
The program also concluded with the release of 150 biodegradable purple an orange balloons and the cake-cutting. EWC’s 150th Anniversary celebration will continue with events throughout the year.
Students from the Call Me MISTER Program served as ushers.
The Triple Threat Marching Band began the program by processing onto the Centennial Lawn.
Decades later, Edward Waters College continues to educate students of all races and religions. The College continues its mission of advancing students in a global society through excellence of scholarship, research and service for the betterment of humanity.
FEBRUARY 2015 EWC Cross Country/Track & Field head coach Archie Gallon was one of four recognized by the African American Coaches, Game Officials and Athletics Association.
APRIL 2015
APRIL 2015 The Triple Threat Marching Band performed during the 2015 NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship game in Tampa, Florida.
The EWC Men’s Track & Field team won the 2015 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Championship.
JUNE 2015 City of Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown declared June 30, 2015 “Nat Glover Day.”
EWC 2015 YEAR
JANUARY 2015
APRIL 2015
Broadway sensation Rashidra Scott was featured in “The Music of Whitney Houston: A Celebration” for the 13th Annual EWC Fine Arts Scholarship Benefit Concert.
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The EWC Lady Tigers Softball team won the 2015 MARCH 2015 Gulf Coast Athletic MAY 2015 Conference (GCAC) More than 500 students were regular season and Bernard Agurs became recognized during the tournament EWC’s first Call Me Academic Honors championship. MISTER Graduate. The Convocation held March program works to put more 18, 2015. Sixty-percent African American male of them were teachers in elementary students-athletes. classrooms.
AUGUST 2015
OCTOBER 2015
Biology professors Dr. Anita and Dr. Prabir Mandal collaborated with Dr. Mishra Sudish from Michigan State University for a study to decipher a protein transmission code.
The EWC Tigers and Jacksonville University Dolphins compete in the Jacksonville Classic.
SEPTEMBER 2015 The Schell Sweet Community Health Clinic opened at Edward Waters College.
DECEMBER 2015 The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges reaffirmed EWC, granting full accreditation for the next 10 years.
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JULY 2015 EWC was awarded two 2015 HBCU Awards for Best Male Faculty - Dr. Brian Seymour and Best Business Program.
SEPTEMBER 2015 EWC kicked off the #BlackMindsMatter movement. The initiative encourages young African Americans to use the arts and education for polictical activism.
NOVEMBER 2015 EWC joined the Northeast Florida Military/Veterans College Network. The initiative works to make it easier for past and present service members to enroll into college.
Edward Waters College
Sing Along to the ‘60s while Supporting Students
EWC Hosts the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Edward Waters College is collaborating with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra to present “Baby Boomers – The Music of the 60s” for the institution’s biggest fundraiser. The 14th Annual Fine Arts Scholarship Benefit Concert will be held Sunday, February 21st at 3:00 p.m. in the Jacoby Hall of the Times-Union Performing Arts Center.
Edward Waters College honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 87th birthday by hosting the 2016 Day of Service. EWC students joined more than 500 volunteers with HandsOn Jacksonville, LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), the United Way of Northeast Florida and Wells Fargo to complete 30 service projects in the Springfield, Northwest Jacksonville, New Town and East Jacksonville neighborhoods.
The Edward Waters College Fine Arts Scholarship Benefit Concert is held every year in the Times-Union Performing Arts Center. All of the proceeds from the concert fund scholarships for Edward Waters College. More than 96-percent of our students depend on financial aid to pay for their education. Tickets are available through the EWC Office of Institutional Advancement at (904) 470-8252 or can be purchased online at www.ewc.edu.
EWC Campus Becomes a Global Work of Art
Office of Institutional Advancement Joe Murgo Vice President of Institutional Advancement 904-470-8250 joseph.murgo@ewc.edu Wanda J. Willis Assistant VP of Institutional Advancement 904-470-8051 wanda.willis@ewc.edu Anita Walton Director of Development and Alumni Affairs 904-470-8252 Dee Russell Coordinator of Public Relations 904-470-8050 d.registre@ewc.edu
Edward Waters College became part of a global discussion on deforestation when it participated in “The Blue Trees” project. Students joined worldrenowned artist, Konstantin Dimopoulos to color the tree trunks on campus blue. “Every minute the planet loses natural forests at the rate of 50 soccer fields per minute. This art installation brings awareness to this global problem,” said Dimopolous. This project has been hosted in London, Singapore, Vancouver, Seattle and Houston. Dimopoulos colors the trunks with biologically-safe, water-based ultramarine mineral pigment. The color will fade within the next six months.