Campus Notes: Mayor Melvin Carter III implores FAMU grads to take action at commencement
Byron Dobson
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter III implores FAMU grads to take action
Florida A&M University alumnus and St. Paul, Minnesota Mayor Melvin Carter Saturday called on Summer 2020 graduates to heed the example of their predecessors in making a difference as they venture into the world.
Carter was the keynote speaker in FAMU's virtual graduation ceremony broadcast on FAMU's YouTube page, FAMUTube1887.
Carter invoked the names of FAMU alumni such as Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms, movie mogul Will Packer, Microsoft executive John Thompson and others as he challenged the 400 newly minted graduates faced with a global pandemic, economic despair, and intense racial tensions.
"Our children will call you and me to account for our actions. Now, if that feels like a lot of pressure, believe me, it is, but the endless list of Rattlers who have reshaped the globe in business, politics, health, education, entertainment and every other discipline proves that you too are ready," Carter said.
Carter graduated from FAMU's School of Business and Industry in 2002 and completed a master's degree in public policy from the University of Minnesota. He was elected as Minnesota capital city's 46th and first African American mayor in 2018.
Carter recalled the tumultuous time while he was at FAMU, when the campus was threatened by a pipe bombing and the historic 2000 Bush v Gore election when he cast his first vote for president.
"The internal flame within me burns even brighter because of the trials that met us there. Looking back at my time on campus reads like a civil rights immersion experience in a span of just a few years," said Carter, who cautioned graduates they have a responsibility to do more than just succeed.
"As you start this next season, take good care of those people who matter in your life, take good care of your community, and take great care of yourselves because we need you now more than ever," he said in his 10-minute address.
FAMU associate professor's paper published in European journal
Ezzeldin R. Aly, associate professor of sport management, co-authored the article, "Factors that Influence Fan's Attendance at Individual Sporting Events in Egypt through Coaches' and Media Perspective."
His article currently appears in the European Scientific Journal.
Founded in October 2010, ESJ is venue for academic attainments from all around the globe. It connects reviewers and authors from different countries and academic titles, providing knowledge transfer and sharing of best practices.
FSU biologist uses genome database to investigate cancer cells
Florida State University Professor of Biological Science David Gilbert is using the latest information about the human genome as a guide to better understand cancer.
Gilbert and his FSU colleagues were part of a team that compared different cancer cell types to a database of normal human cells using a new method he developed that can identify the cell type from which cancers derive.
By comparing various cancer cells to the collection of normal cells, they were able to tell which cancers mostly closely matched different cell types.
Their work, published in Nature Communications, is a companion piece to a large series of publications resulting from an international effort to understand how the human genome works, funded by the National Institutes of Health, called the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements.
Other FSU co-authors of these ENCODE papers included former postdoctoral researchers Juan Carlos Rivera-Mulia and Claudia Trevilla-Garcia, former doctoral student Vishnu Dileep and laboratory manager and associate in research Takayo Sasaki.
FSU awards honor medallions to summer 2020 graduates
Florida State University awarded honors medallions to 27 high-achieving graduates during a virtual ceremony on Thursday, July 30.
Emma Taylor, a graduate in Family and Child Sciences, was one of the honorees.
The FSU Honors Program supports the efforts and talents of the university's most intellectually curious students who have the potential, dedication and drive for creating change.
The virtual ceremony included remarks by Provost Sally McRorie, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Assistant Provost, Joe O'Shea and Annette Schwabe, associate dean of Undergraduate Studies and director of the FSU Honors Program.
TCC's nursing cohort achieves 100% pass rate on NCLEX
Tallahassee Community College's Nursing Department is celebrating the success of its nursing graduates.
Of the 42 Spring 2020 graduates, 38 who took the National Council Licensure Examination have all passed.
Due to COVID-19, nursing students shifted to TCC LIVE classes via Zoom and utilized virtual simulations to complete their clinical requirements.
TCC's nursing program awards summer graduates during virtual commencement
Several summer nursing graduates were honored during last week's virtual graduation celebration.
The webpage, tcc.fl.edu/2020NursingGraduation includes photos of the graduates and a message board.
Honorees included:
Caring Colleague Award Recipient: Brian Andrews-Larson.
This recognition was initiated, and the plaque donated to the Nursing Program at Tallahassee Community College by Sandra and Larry Seymore as a gift honoring the class of 1977.
Highest GPA Award Recipient: Allison Mackie. This award is for the student who has earned the Highest Grade Point Average in the nursing courses.
Bedside Manner: Jacob Bliven. This award was initiated by Carl Wier, former owner of the TCC bookstore. He began presenting this award in 1975.
Student Nurse of Excellence Award Recipient: Amber Lee Copen
Cathedral Award Recipient: Annie Pham.
This student has demonstrated not only excellent clinical skills but, demonstrates the application of critical thinking in her care of patients.
TCC employees win 2020 AFC Technology Commission Exemplary Practice Award
The Association of Florida Colleges Technology Commission has named its 2020 Technology Commission Exemplary Practice Award winners.
Nicholas Vick anhd Dani Hawke, who work in TCC's Learning Commons, won 1st prize in the 2020 AFC Technology Commission Exemplary Practice Award Competition.
The AFC recognizes individuals in the field who excel in their duties and exhibit excellent work.
Contact senior writer Byron Dobson at bdobson@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @byrondobson.
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