United We Rock is the theme of May 4’s First Wednesday Art Walk Downtown.
The musical night in Hemming Park kicks off at 5 p.m. with a performance by Gov Club.
United Way of Northeast Florida’s community concert starts at 7 p.m., featuring Old Patrons, a band of local business leaders. Band members include Russ Thomas, CEO of Availity LLC, Chuck Divita, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Florida Blue; and Judy Walz, senior vice president of marketing and planning at VyStar Credit Union.
Concert headlinerThe Band Be Easy performs at 8 p.m.
Other highlights include Front Porch at Art Walk from 5-10 p.m. at the Jacksonville Landing, featuring a beer garden, games, food trucks and two music stages; free vintage video games from 6 p.m.-midnight at Mark’s Downtown Club & Lounge; and the last chance to eat at Chomp Chomp before it leaves Downtown.
Free parking after 6 p.m. in the garage at Adams and Clay streets, courtesy of Elite Parking. The Skyway is open until 9:30 p.m. Art Walk runs 5-9 p.m.
Davis keynote speaker at FSCJ graduation; Frisch and Marlier receiving awards
Florida State College at Jacksonville’s 49th annual commencement ceremony May 5 will feature Dr. Sampson Davis, a New York Times best-selling author and emergency medicine physician.
Davis was named one of the “premiere role models of the world” by Oprah Winfrey and is the youngest doctor to receive the National Medical Association’s highest honor, The Scroll of Merit.
About 5,165 FSCJ students earned degrees for the year, with some students getting more than one degree.
The students will receive their diploma from FSCJ President Cynthia Bioteau and the board of trustees.
Bioteau and board chair Jimmie Mayo will present an honorary bachelor’s degree to Harry Frisch, founder of Beaver Street Fisheries.
Frisch has been a longtime contributor to FSCJ, including the newly established Frisch Institute for Senior Care. The facility seeks to foster students’ interest in caring for older adults, according to a news release.
Bioteau also will present a distinguished alumni award to Jim Marlier, who graduated in 1969 and later served on the FSCJ Foundation board of directors.
The procession begins at 3:45 p.m., with the ceremony starting at 4 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Arena.
Sept. 9 deadline to register for adult tennis leagues
The deadline is Sept. 9 to register for United States Tennis Association leagues for adults 18 and over.
The USTA offers several programs through the year that vary by gender, age and skill level in singles, doubles and mixed doubles leagues.
To register or for more information, contact Carson Phillips at [email protected] or (904) 655-6234. Information also is available at usta.com/league.
Reed serving on national clinical practice panel
Debbie Reed has been named to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s new Clinical Practice Commission.
She is a professor in residence at the Department of Exceptional Deaf and Interpreter Education at the University of North Florida.
The association of education leaders from across the country will examine the state of clinical practice, commonly known as field experience, in teacher preparation.
Reed has partnered with UNF’s Center for Community-Based Learning during the last several years as a community scholar, redesigning several courses to include community-based transformational learning elements and outcomes.
She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Richmond, a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and her doctorate in educational leadership from UNF.
Cynthia Griffin joins Florida Blue Foundation board
Cynthia Griffin was elected to the board of directors of The Florida Blue Foundation.
Griffin is vice president of pharmacy government programs for Florida Blue. She will serve through February 2017.
Five directors with Florida Blue were re-elected for one-year terms:
• Renee Finley, vice president, enterprise innovation
• Jason Altmire, senior vice president, public policy and community engagement
• Gary Healy, vice president, corporate tax
• Camille Harrison, group vice president, chief customer officer
• Gonzalo Valdes-Fauli, who is retired from the board of directors
Altmire will chair the board, Healy is the treasurer and Harrison is secretary for the year.