Jacksonville University students cleaned up at the Minority Access National Role Models Conference in Washington, D.C.
Of the four National Role Model awards, JU students Edrick Hamilton, Alanna Rowan and Keith Taylor Jr. took home one each. They were nominated by Carole Barnett, chair of the Humanities Department, and Colleen Wilson, chair of the School of Education.
The awards recognize minority college students who have maintained outstanding academic records and successfully completed a major research project. Recipients are eligible to apply for grants and scholarships through the organization.
“This is a huge distinction that really reflects their backgrounds and showcases their commitment to academics and community service,” Barnett said in a news release. “They have exhibited scholarly excellence and are extremely involved on campus, making them top role models for others.”
Memorial for Tom Slade next week in Tallahassee
A memorial service for former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Tom Slade will be Monday in Tallahassee. Slade, 78, served in the state Republican role from 1993 until after the 1998 elections. He also served in the state House and Senate in the 1960s.
He will be honored in the Historic Capitol’s Senate chambers at 4:30 p.m., according to The News Service of Florida. After the service, friends are expected to go to Clyde’s and Costello’s “to raise a glass in (Slade’s) honor,” according to organizers.
A separate memorial service was held for Slade last week at the Orange Park United Methodist Church. He died Oct. 20.
Area malls to extend hours for holidays
The Avenues and Orange Park malls and the St. Johns Town Center will extend shopping hours for the holiday season.
On Thanksgiving, the venues will open at 6 p.m. and close at 1 a.m., part of the holiday shopping kickoff. They’ll reopen at 6 a.m. on Black Friday and close at 10 p.m.
From Nov. 29-Dec. 23, the malls will offer extended hours, as well. On Dec. 24, The Avenues and Orange Park malls will open at 8 a.m.-6 p.m., while the St. Johns Town Center will be open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. They all will be closed Christmas Day.
There will be several programs at each of the venues throughout the holiday season, including valet parking and shuttles.
Sheriff’s office having gun buyback event Saturday
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is hosting a gun buyback event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Christ’s Church Mandarin, 6045 Greenland Road.
People participating will receive $50 for every firearm turned in. In addition, for each gun turned in, the Delores Barr Weaver Fund at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida will donate $50 to the Police Athletic League. A similar match was done during the June buyback event that raised $34,000 for the organization.
Guns should be transported unloaded and in the trunk of a vehicle.
For more information, contact the sheriff’s office Community Affairs Division at (904) 630-2160.
Open house Saturday for FSCJ adult education
Florida State College at Jacksonville will host an open house event Saturday to provide information, recruit and enroll prospective students into its Adult Education program.
The program includes a range of instructional programs to help adults receive the basic skills they need to be productive workers, family members and residents.
Attendees will learn about three programs: high school equivalency, adult high school and adult basic education.
Adult education courses are $30 per term.
For more information, visit fscj.edu/academics/adult-education.
The open house is 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Advanced Technology Building at the Downtown campus, 401 W. State St. Raffle contests and light refreshments will be available.
Adecco CEO Crouch to keynote JAXUSA Partnership event
Adecco Group North America CEO Bob Crouch will be the featured speaker at the JAXUSA Partnership event Dec. 8.
The partnership is a division of the JAX Chamber and hosts quarterly luncheons.
Crouch will discuss employment trends and the company’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Jacksonville from Melville, N.Y., which was announced this year. The company was offered $2.4 million in incentives as part of the move.
Crouch was appointed CEO in 2012.
“Adecco Group is yet another international company that came to Jacksonville as part of an acquisition and, when it came time to expand, chose to do it here,” said JAXUSA Partnership Chair Fredrik Eliasson in a news release. “We look forward to hearing Bob’s insight into what led the company to select Jacksonville, as well as his expertise in the human resources industry and how staffing decisions are shaping today’s economy.”
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Cost is $45 per person for Partnership Investors, $60 per person for chamber members and $70 for nonmembers.
To register, call (904) 366-6638.
St. Johns Town hosts Holiday Spectacular on Saturday
The St. Johns Town Center will host its ninth annual Holiday Spectacular event Saturday headlined by country music singer and four-time Grammy nominee Joe Nichols.
The event kicks off at 2 p.m. with family-friendly activities and entertainment like stilt walkers, costumed characters, balloonists and holiday-themed opportunities. The Main Stage entertainment begins at 6 p.m. in front of Maggiano’s Little Italy.
For the finale, Santa Claus will lead the crowd in an official countdown to light the 32-foot tree. The night concludes with fireworks at 8 p.m.
For more information, visit stjohnstowncenter.com.