The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg received the 2013 Battenberg Cup for Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
The annual honor that rewards the “best all around” in crew achievement, the Battenberg Cup is presented to only one of the more than 100 eligible surface ships, aircraft carriers, and submarines in the Atlantic Fleet.
The crew also was awarded the Gold Anchor award for personnel program excellence. The ship had the Atlantic Fleet’s lowest attrition rate and nearly doubled the Navy-wide advancement rate during last fall’s advancement cycle. Also, 99 percent of Gettysburg’s petty officers qualified as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialists.
In addition, the crew had a finalist in both the Surface Force Atlantic Sailor of the Year and Shiphandler of the Year competitions. Three Gettysburg sailors received the Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award, while another crewmember received the 2013 AFCEA Copernicus Award for Information Warfare Excellence.
Jacksonville University names provost/chief academic officer
Jacksonville University has hired Wenying Xu as its new provost/chief academic officer.
She most recently served as vice president for academic affairs at Chatham University in Pittsburgh and was selected from more than 100 nominations and applications received.
“Without question we have selected one of the finest, most engaged and dedicated professionals in all of academia nationwide to help lead our great University,” said JU President Tim Cost. “She is known and admired not only for her extensive professional skills but for her passion, creative problem-solving, dedication to faculty development and commitment to shared governance.”
In her new role, which begins July 7, Xu will oversee curriculum and all academic programs at JU.
“It is a great honor to join President Tim Cost and the JU community in their aspiration to make JU one of the best private universities in the South,” Xu said. “I’m thrilled by the fantastic opportunity to contribute to JU’s advancement in academic excellence, community engagement and globalization.”
Jaxsons Night Market this week
The second Jaxsons Night Market will hit Downtown from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday at Main and Adams streets.
The market features local farmers, a craft beer garden from Intuition Ale Works and street food vendors.
The local concept is popular on the West Coast and is a partnership between Mike Field, originator of Jax Food Truckies, and the Gallery Restaurant Group.
The event is scheduled every third Thursday of the month.
FSCJ launching three bachelor’s degree programs in fall
Florida State College at Jacksonville is launching three new bachelor’s degrees this fall.
The Bachelor of Applied Science in Logistics will give graduates access to supervisory and management-level positions in distribution centers and warehouses, and to the hands-on people who make things move.
The Bachelor of Science in Financial Services will prepare graduates for financial services jobs such as loan officer and counselor, credit analyst, financial manager and personal financial adviser. The Bachelor of Science in Human Services is for students who want to be social and community service managers, or are interested in a variety of counselor positions. It will also prepare them for transfer into graduate-level human services degree programs.
For more information, call (904) 646-2300 or visit fscj.edu/academics/degrees-certificates.
JU students win broadcast awards
Marking nine years of top statewide awards for Jacksonville University Broadcast Communications students, Sarah Mecklenburg and Hayley Muley recently took home honors in two categories at the 2014 Florida Associated Press Broadcasters college awards in Orlando.
December 2013 graduate Mecklenburg won first place in Best Photo Essay, for “I Believe in Determination” and Best Long Light Feature, for “The Bend of the Road.” Muley, a sophomore, was runner-up in the Best Photo Essay category, for “I Believe in Talent.”
McCall acquires Enviro Pest Control
McCall Service Inc., one of the oldest pest control companies in Jacksonville, has acquired Enciro Pest Control and will merge some administrative and operational processes into McCall’s local center. The company will continue to operate independently.
Enviro Pest is a family-owned business that started in 1974 to provide pest control and lawn services. McCall also is family-owned and operated and performed pest control, lawn car and petroleum distribution.
It has served Florida and George since 1928.
Craft and Import Beer Fest on Friday
The sixth annual Craft and Import Beer Festival will be 5-9 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Arena.
Featuring more than 350 beers from more than 45 brewers, organizers are selling 2,500 tickets — 2,000 fewer than last year’s event — to create a more intimate setting. Tickets are all inclusive for food samplings from 20 area restaurants in addition to the beer tastings and start at $40 for general admission.
In addition, there will be a silent auction and entertainment. For more information, visit beerfestjax.com.
K9s for Warriors breaking ground on training facility
The K9s for Warriors program will break ground on a new training facility in Nocatee on Thursday.
The ceremony will be at 4 p.m. at the future site of the new facility on Palm Valley Road in Nocatee (directly across from Palm Valley Golf Course). It will feature remarks by K9s for Warriors founder Shari Duval as well as a graduate of the group’s program, which pairs veterans with service dogs to assist them in making the transition back to civilian life.
Currently, the program is able to accommodate four veterans per month at its existing three-acre facility in Ponte Vedra Beach. Veterans participating in the program live on-site for three weeks in a four-bedroom, two-bath home while they are paired and trained to work with their service dogs. The new facility will accommodate up to 16 veterans each month.
In addition to four homes where veterans will live during their training, the new site will feature a clubhouse with a fitness room, big-screen TVs, pool tables and computer work stations where veterans may keep in touch with their families.
For more information, visit k9sforwarriors.org.