UWF Earns Highest Marks In University History In Key Board of Governors’ Metrics
June 30, 2024
The University of West Florida displayed a strong performance in metrics measuring retention, median wages upon graduation and high-impact practices in the Florida Board of Governors’ 2023-24 performance-based funding model. The results, announced at a Board of Governors meeting today, showed UWF earned some of its highest marks in University history and landed in the top three in three metrics among all Florida State University System metric-participating institutions.
“The University of West Florida has distinguished itself as an institution where students can earn a high-quality education in a state that is ranked No.1 in the country for higher education and land a competitive job upon graduation,” said UWF President Martha D. Saunders.“We have worked hard to advance student success and our efforts are paying off.”
UWF achieved its highest academic progress rate in University history. Metric 5 measures the second-year retention rate with a GPA above 2.0. UWF’s progress rate improved by 3.3 percentage points, totaling 86.8%. The University has put a laser-focus on supporting students in their first year of college, not only through academic support but also helping them develop a sense of belonging through welcome events such as Argo Arrival. One of the most popular events, put on by the Office of Student Engagement, is “Beach Bash” on Pensacola Beach. Many other areas within the Division of Academic Engagement and Student Affairs, including Housing and Residence Life, International Affairs, and The Kugelman Honors Program, offer special orientation events and social activities for new and returning students. These events help improve student retention by connecting them with their peers, faculty, and student support staff.
UWF also earned high marks in Metric 10 which measures the percentage of baccalaureate graduates completing two or more types of high-impact practices, such as internships or undergraduate research. The University increased to 60.6%, which is well above the 51% benchmark for excellence. UWF provides students with various HIPs inside and outside of the classroom that build early professional experience and encourage networking. 28% of undergraduate students are engaged in faculty research.
“Our excellence in Metric 10 is a reflection of our world-class faculty and their dedication to engaging our students with research and high-impact practice opportunities, setting them up for success when they graduate,” said Dr. Jaromy Kuhl, UWF provost and senior vice president.
Results of the performance-based funding metrics showed UWF graduates earned a median wage of $53,000 in 2021-22 which sets a new record for the University and is an increase of $4,200 since last year’s metrics. Metric 2 measures median wages of bachelor‘s degree-earning graduates employed full-time one year after graduation. UWF graduates’ median salary is higher than almost all metric-participating SUS institutions, trailing only to Florida Polytechnic University and University of Florida.
More than 79% of bachelor’s graduates are employed or furthering their education one year after graduation. This is a five percentage point increase from last year and landed UWF at No. 2 in the Florida State University System for Metric 1.
UWF earned a total of 84 points out of 100 on the Board’s performance-based funding model results, two points higher than the institution’s score last year.
Under the performance-based funding model, the Board of Governors scores each of Florida’s 12 public universities based on 10 metrics designed to incentivize university excellence and improvement. These metrics establish a minimum acceptable level of performance on issues such as graduation and retention rates.
Tate Aggies Host Baseball Camp
June 30, 2024
The Tate High School Aggies held their baseball camp last week with over 70 participants.
The camp for ages 7-14 was held at the Tate Baseball Complex.
The camp covered the fundamentals of baseball including throwing, hitting, fielding and base running. Team fundamentals were also covered, including bunt defenses, pop up priority, cuts and relays.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Berry’s Dramatic Homer Lifts Wahoos to 4-2 Win Over Biloxi
June 30, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
Jacob Berry hit a go-ahead three run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, sending the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to a 4-2 win over the Biloxi Shuckers on Saturday night.
Berry’s third homer of the year, and first since late April, turned a 2-1 deficit into one of the most memorable wins of the season for the Blue Wahoos. It caps a resurgent month for the club’s top prospect, who is now batting .299 in June with eight extra-base hits and 13 RBI.
The Blue Wahoos jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning with an opposite-field home run from Joe Mack against Shuckers starter Shane Smith. It was Mack’s 13th Double-A homer, putting him just one shy of a tie for the Southern League lead.
In his Blue Wahoos debut, Pensacola starter Tristan Stevens turned in a quality start. The righty went 6.0 solid innings, allowing two runs in the fourth on an RBI triple to Carlos Rodriguez and RBI single to Ernesto Martinez as the Shuckers took a 2-1 lead.
The Pensacola bullpen kept the game within reach, holding Biloxi hitless after the fifth inning. Raffi Vizcaíno (W, 3-1) worked a spotless eighth, and the Blue Wahoos turned a Bennett Hostetler walk and Dalvy Rosario single into a last-gasp threat against Shuckers closer Justin Yeager (L, 2-5).
The Blue Wahoos had gone 0-for-9 with men in scoring position on the night, but Berry lifted a Yeager offering over the left-center wall for the biggest hit of his season. It was the second two-out, three-run homer Yeager had allowed to Pensacola in the series after Harrison Spohn took him deep on Tuesday.
Austin Roberts (S, 13) breezed through the ninth to earn his league-leading 13th save.
The Blue Wahoos wrap up their series against the Shuckers on Sunday. First pitch from Keesler Federal Park is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
Judge Denies Bruce Childers’ Claim To Be On The Ballot for Supervisor of Elections
June 29, 2024
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to place attorney Bruce Childers on the ballot for Escambia County supervisor of elections.
Incumbent Supervisor of Elections Robert Bender disqualified would-be GOP candidate Bruce Childers for not providing a copy of his required full and public financial disclosure Form 6 by the close of qualifying.
Childers was seeking an emergency declaration to put him back on the ballot as a qualified candidate for supervisor of elections.
Childers said he never received a call about any issues, which is something he claims should have been done, according to the Florida statute that states a qualifying officer shall make every reasonable effort to notify the candidate of missing or incomplete items.
Following a lengthy hearing Friday afternoon, Circuit Judge Jennifer Frydrychowicz sided with Bender, leaving Childers, a local attorney, off the ballot.
“I do not find any basis in law for taking such a bold step as to overrule the supervisor of elections,” Frydrychowicz said as she issued a verbal order.
The judge said testimony from Deputy Supervisor of Elections Sonya Daniel and assistant Keelie Sekerka led her to decide the SOE meet the requirements of election laws.
Bender is automatically elected as the only qualified candidate for Supervisor of Elections.
Photo courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Funeral Services Held For Firefighter Clay Brown
June 29, 2024
Funeral services were held Friday in for firefighter Clay Brown, Jr., 27, who passed away in an early Saturday morning, June 22 single vehicle crash on Highway 87 north of Jay.
He was a career firefighter for Escambia County Fire-Rescue and a volunteer for the Jay Volunteer Fire Department.
Funeral services took play Friday at the True Worship Assembly of God in Jay with burial following at Full Gospel Community Church in Brewon.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Brown was born in Pensacola on Sept. 18, 1996, to James “Moo” and Jeanne Brown. He graduated from Jay High School in 2015 where he was a proud Jay Royal on the football and weightlifting teams. There, he made many lasting bonds of friendship on the field, in the weight room and the classroom.
While in high school, Brown discovered his calling to the fire service and, at age 16, joined the Jay Volunteer Fire Department as a junior volunteer firefighter.
Following his desire for service, Brown enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 1, 2016. He was stationed in Bremerton, Wash., and spent time in Everett, Wash. and San Diego, Calif. for the four years he served.
Brown was assigned to the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Nimitz. He had one deployment during his enlistment for seven months to the Persian Gulf, which placed his ship in position to conduct anti-ISIS strikes in Syria and Iraq. Following his time on the U.S.S Nimitz, Brown served as an Aviation Support Equipment Technician (AS3) as an F4 for the remainder of this service.
Upon returning to his hometown of Jay, Brown enrolled in the Fire Academy to once again serve his community. He attended Northwest Florida State College for Firefighter I/II training, where he formed many bonds of friendship with soon-to-be firefighters.
Once his training was completed, Brown was hired on at Pace Fire Rescue District. From there, he moved to the Holley-Navarre Fire District – Station #41, and then found his permanent home with Escambia County Fire Rescue, serving at Station #1 in Bellview and finally at Station #7 in Ferry Pass.
Brown was an avid outdoorsman. He hunted and fished as often as possible. He was a usual participant during the Duck, Deer and Turkey seasons. Brown was a proud member of the Travis Road Hunting Club, where he enjoyed time at the “Hunting Camp” with his father and many of his father’s lifelong friends and their sons and daughters. Along with hunting, Brown also enjoyed hiking, spending much time in Idaho, which he considered his second home. His love of the outdoors extended to farming as he always looked forward to the planting and harvest seasons, always lending a helping hand to his farming friends.
Brown will always be remembered by his family, friends, and fellow firefighters as a happy and big personality who brought love and light into every room he entered. He was a member of the Full Gospel Community Church in Dixonville, Ala. where he accepted Jesus into his heart and his life, and received love and guidance from a special lifelong friend and pastor, Brother Bill Thompson.
lay Brown is survived by his mother and father, Moo and Jeanne Brown, of Jay, his sister, Kasey Yalch, special nephews, Jayce Clay Stokes and Jameson Haveard, and niece, Sawyer Haveard. He is also survived by Uncles John “Cliff” Cory Brown of Jay, Don McNabb of Levittown, Penn., Michael McNabb of Waveland, Miss., and Rick Sexton of Winchester, Calif.; Aunts, Vicki Dixon of Pace, Jeannie Johnson of Urbana, Iowa; Great Uncles Harry Hawthorne, Ray Daugette and Bruce Daugette of Milton, and numerous cousins on both sides of his family.
He is predeceased by his grandparents, Claude and Mary Nan Brown and William and Bertha (Boots) Sexton, all of Jay. Clay is also predeceased by his uncles, William Sexton, Jr. of St. Augustine, Fla., Mickey McNabb of Jemison, Ala., Wendell (Mac) McNabb of Jefferson, La., and Susan McNabb of Marianna, Fla.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Donut Strike For Manna Wrapped Up Friday (With Gallery)
June 29, 2024
Friday was the last day of the 2024 Donut Strike for Manna.
Local law enforcement and fire departments teamed up fight hunger by going strike against doughnuts and collected food for Manna.
For a photo gallery from the Cantonment Winn Dixie, Ensley Walmart and Beulah Publix, click here.
Pictured: The Donut Strike for Manna Friday afternoon at the Cantonment Winn Dixie, Ensley Walmart and Beulah Publix. NorthEScambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour and submitted, click to enlarge.
Breeze Airways Now Offering Flights From Pensacola To Tampa, Norfolk
June 29, 2024
Pensacola International Airport (PNS) welcomed Breeze Airways Friday, complete with a water cannon salute and gate party.
Breeze Airways now offers nonstop flights to Tampa (TPA) and one stop/no change of plane service to Norfolk (ORF). The two destinations have twice-weekly service on Mondays and Fridays, giving travelers the opportunity to enjoy flights between Pensacola, Norfolk and Tampa. This is the eighth airline to offer flights at PNS.
Flight are from Pensacola to:
- Tampa, Florida: Monday and Friday.
- Norfolk, Virginia: One stop/no change of plane “BreezeThru” service, Monday and Friday.
“We are excited to welcome Breeze Airways to Pensacola,” Airport Director Matt Coughlin said. “This expanded service brings additional travel choices to our customers across the area, while being their gateway to the Gulf Coast.”
Florida’s 2024 ‘Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday’ Begins Next Week
June 29, 2024
Looking to save a little money on canoes, fishing gear, pool supplies, tickets or other fun items? Florida’s “Freedom Month” beginning July 1.
Sales taxes won’t be collected in July on many supplies for boating, fishing and camping and tickets purchased for live music events, sporting events, fairs, festivals, theater performances and movies all month.
Here is a partial list of what people can buy in July without paying sales taxes:
- Tickets to concerts, sporting events, cultural events, theater performances and movies scheduled before Dec. 31.
- Season tickets to ballets, plays, music events and musical theater performances.
- Gym memberships.
- Bait and fishing tackle that costs $5 or less.
- Sunscreen and insect repellant that costs $15 or less.
- Snorkels, goggles and swimming masks that cost $25 or less.
- Camping lanterns, flashlights and tackle boxes that cost $30 or less.
- Water bottles that cost $30 or less.
- Pool floats, inflatable chairs, and pool toys that cost $35 or less.
- Sleeping bags, portable hammocks, camping stoves and collapsible camping chairs that cost $50 or less.
- Bicycle helmets that cost $50 or less.
- Life jackets, coolers, paddles, and oars that cost $75 or less.
- Fishing rods and reels that cost $75 or less.
- Sunglasses that cost $100 or less.
- Residential pool and spa filters, lights and covers that cost $100 or less.
- Water skis, wakeboards and kneeboards that cost $150 or less.
- Residential pool and spa chemicals that cost $150 or less.
- Tents that cost $200 or less.
- Binoculars that cost $200 or less.
- Gas or charcoal grills that cost $250 or less.
- Paddleboards and surfboards that cost $300 or less.
- Canoes and kayaks that cost $500 or less.
- Bicycles that cost $500 or less.
Wahoos Stymied By Henderson, Shuckers in 7-2 Loss
June 29, 2024
written by Erik Bremer
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos couldn’t solve Logan Henderson in a 7-2 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers on Friday night.
Henderson (W, 4-0) continued his impressive first impression at Double-A with 5.2 innings of three-hit ball. The righty tied a career high with 10 strikeouts, and improved to 4-0 in his first four Southern League starts after a June 1 promotion from the Midwest League.
The Blue Wahoos managed only four hits, highlighted by a two-run homer from Jakob Marsee on his 23rd birthday. Harrison Spohn and Joe Mack added doubles in the losing effort that saw Pensacola strike out a season-high 15 times.
Biloxi jumped ahead 4-0 in the second inning with a two-out rally against Luis Palacios (L, 5-5). Zavier Warren, who had driven in all three runs in Thursday’s 3-2 Shuckers win, kept up his hot hitting with a two-run homer before Carlos Rodriguez followed with a two-run double.
Darrien Miller added insurance with an RBI double in the fifth before capping the night with a two-run homer off Jeff Lindgren in the seventh. Nate Peterson (S, 1) earned a rare three-inning save by getting the final nine outs of the night for the Shuckers.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Shuckers on Saturday. First pitch from Keesler Federal Park is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
Jay Bicyclist Killed After Being Hit By Two Vehicles
June 28, 2024
A bicyclist from Jay was killed when he was struck by two vehicles near Allentown late Thursday night.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the 43-year-old Jay man was riding his bicycle north in the northbound lane of Highway 87 near Hopewell Road about 11:39 p.m. He was hit by a car driven by a 35-year-old Brewton man, throwing him from the bicycle into the southbound lane where he was hit by a car driven by a 39-year old Georgia man.
The bicyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene by LifeGuard EMS.
There were no other injuries.
FHP is continuing their investigation.