American Graduate

Who is your American Graduate Champion?

Become an American Graduate Champion. Be A Mentor.

Nominate your American Graduate Champion today! Deadline to nominate is Saturday, September 15th by 5pm.

“Stories of Champions” seeks to highlight a wide range of community leaders and everyday heroes who regularly dedicate their time, talent, and resources to developing positive relationships with young people in order to keep them on the road to success.

“To be a mentor is one of the most effective ways to make a difference in the life of a young person. Whether a teacher, community volunteer, or neighbor, a mentor provides support, guidance, and caring to encourage, inspire, and develop young people and opens their minds and eyes to new opportunities. Mentoring relationships are long-term (at least 6 months) and involve regular communications between mentor and mentee.”

Examples of an American Graduate Champion may be:

• An elected official actively involved in the creation of programs for Florida students with a strong emphasis on mentoring;
• A philanthropist with a long-standing commitment to youth mentorship;
• A business owner who created a mentoring program for students;
• An educator who mentors students both in and out of the classroom to achieve lasting results;
• An entrepreneur creating internship and career mentoring opportunities narrowing the achievement gap.

The target areas that WJCT’s is focusing on for our American Graduate Champions are:

• Career Readiness and College Completion
• Caring Consistent Adults
• Dropout Prevention and Re-engagement
• Early Education
• More and Better Learning
• Special Needs

Champions will have their story told in a short video that will be aired on WJCT-TV, broadcast on 89.9FM, and shared online at WJCT.org and via WJCT’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. Champions will be honored at a short ceremony at WJCT’s 2019 TEACH Conference.

WJCT Hall of Champions

2017 Champions

SFC Myron Jackson - 2017 Champion

Vicki Murphy - 2017 Champion

Matthew Ohlson - 2017 Champion

Larry Roziers - 2017 Champion

Pearl Roziers - 2017 Champion

2016 Champions

Amy Buggle - 2016 Champion

Ronnie King - 2016 Champion

Travis Pinckney - 2016 Champion

Rachel Rippey - 2016 Champion

Lynn Sherman - 2016 Champion

2015 Champions

Leon Braxton - 2015 Champion

Kathy Christensen - 2015 Champion

Elexia Coleman-Moss - 2015 Champion

Elizabeth Stansel - 2015 Champion

Janet Adkins - 2017 Champion

2014 Champions

Betty Burney - 2014 Champion

Liz Duncan - 2014 Champion

Gary Chartrand - 2014 Champion

Trey Csar - 2014 Champion

Diane Kornegay - 2014 Champion

For more information on how to volunteer for any of the agencies represented by our American Graduate Champions, see the list on below:

Clay County Schools
Interested volunteers should contact Lauren Bankhert
Email: lauren.bankert@myoneclay.net
Phone: (904) 710-1909.

College RED Program
Interested volunteers should contact Travis Pinckney
Email: travis@collegered.com
Phone: (904) 451-5147.

Baptist Health
Interested volunteers should contact Lynn Sherman
Email: lynn.sherman@bmcjax.com
Phone: (904) 202-5112.

DLC Nurse & Learn
Individuals interested in volunteering should contact Mayra Correa
Email: mayra.correa@dlcnl.org
Phone: (904) 387-0370.
Groups interested in volunteering should contact Caleigh Quast
Email: caleigh@dlcnl.org
Phone: (904) 387-0370.
Volunteers are needed in classrooms, at events, to help with fundraisers, in the office and to help with weekend projects around campus.

Jacksonville Public Education Fund
Interested volunteers should contact Maira Martelo
Email: maira@jaxpef.org
Phone: (954) 804-9010.

Empowerment Resources Inc.
Interested volunteers should contact Elexia Moss
Email: elexia@empowermentresourcesinc.org
Phone: (904) 268-8287.

Communities in Schools
Interested volunteers should contact Mattie Robinson
Email: mrobinson@cisjax.org
Phone: (904) 366-6350.

I’m A Star Foundation, Inc.
Interested volunteers should contact Betty Burney
Email: info@imastarfoundation.org
Phone: (904) 924- 0756.

Beaches Habitat for Humanity
Interested volunteers should contact Sarah Jared, Community Relations Manager
Email: sarah@beacheshabitat.org
Phone: (904) 595-5793

TEACH 2019

Join WJCT and Community First Credit Union for the 6th annual TEACH: Better Together, a professional development conference created by teachers for teachers at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Teachers, principals, and other education professionals from across Florida will gather together and spend the day meeting and sharing ideas with fellow educators, learning new ways to engage students, and empowering themselves to further inspire others!

The event features expert keynote speakers, cutting-edge information, and invaluable tools and resources to enhance teaching skills. CLICK HERE for more details.

Also, check out all our great TEACH photos from the 2018 conference!

For updated information CLICK HERE, and add the page to your browser favorites!

Teacher Town Hall

On April 28, 2012, WJCT hosted a statewide Teacher Town Hall at WJCT Studios. The Town Hall gives a collective voice to the needs, inspirations and ideas of teachers in Florida. WJCT edited the 90-minute conversation into a 60-minute television program that simulcast on 89.9 WJCT-FM, and broadcast across Florida on FPBS member stations.

American Graduate: Let's Make It Happen is a public-supported media initiative, supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), to help students stay on the path to on-time high school graduation and future success.