Page 13 - 5-29-15 Friday's Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015
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College Graduate Prepares For His Future
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Julian Jackson knew what direction he would take in life as a small child. Under the watchful eye of his mother, Julia Jackson, she wanted her only child to be something special.
Now a graduate of Warner University, Julian didn’t disappoint her or any of his mentors, Federal Judge James Moody and Kevin and Tonya Hammond, by graduating with his degree in sports management.
Following in the footsteps of his mother, after graduating from Howard W. Blake High School, Ju- lian enrolled at Bethune-Cookman University.
“There was nothing wrong with B-CU, and I knew my mom felt honored with me attending her alma mater, but I felt I needed a change and after a year, I transferred to Warner University in Lake Wales.
“I really wanted to follow my own path. At Warner, I was able to play basketball and participate in track and field. I was fortunate to have scholar- ships in both.”
Julian participated in the choir and ensemble at Warner and was a member of the Student Life Board.
“Now that I’ve graduated, my goal is to make an impact on society, and cherish the diversity we have. I’ve been opened up to an entirely new culture and it’s exciting and rewarding.
“I have a friend from Haiti and he told me his story. I really felt blessed to not have gone through that, but it made me work harder, and make sure I
JULIAN JACKSON
finish what I started.”
Julian said he’d love to become a professional
basketball coach in the future and start a camp for urban youth.
“As I’ve done my entire life, I want to make sure God is in control and a part of everything I do in life. “I’m happy to be back home and I hope the suc- cess I’ve experienced will help me help others. It’s also nice to be where I can get a lot of support from
my family and friends.”
Julia said growing up, she remembers Julian
performing at Disney World, singing for his junior high school, Williams Middle School.
“Julian also cherishes the memory of the late Blake head boys basketball coach, Winston Davis. He misses him dearly and is thankful for the wisdom and morning talks at school.
“Julian had a ride to school for three years, be- cause Coach Davis would pick him up from home because he lived two doors down from his teammate, Andra Smith.”
Julian was the youngest member of the Inner City Boys Choir, under the leadership of his music director, the late Gwen McCree of Gwen’s School of Music.
“He remembers the Saturday rehearsals and the twice-a-week dance ministry. He also remembers the basketball camps and practices that prepared him for his journey into college. He was truly blessed with God-given skills and the blessing of a scholar- ship.”
Julian’s grandmother is Mrs. Julia H. Jack- son.
Tampa Native Graduates Magna Cum Laude From Howard University
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On May 9th, families from Tampa traveled to Washington, DC, to attend the Commencement Cer- emony for students graduating from Howard Uni- versity. Ms. Beleria Floyd was among those who made the trip to attend the annual graduation cere- mony at the school.
Ms. Floyd attended to witness the graduation of her son, Ethan Floyd, who graduated Magna Cum Laude, with a grade point average of 3.7. Floyd earned his degree in Political Science with a minor in Sociology.
Floyd learned that five schools were interested in accepting him as a candidate for their law schools. He also received large scholarship offers from three of the schools.
He received letters of acceptance from Emory Law, the University of Georgia Law, and Berkeley Law. Vanderbilt Law, offered him a scholarship val- ued at $65,000, and Florida State Law School, who offered him a $54,000 scholarship.
Floyd was happy to receive the scholarships; however, his heart was set on attending Berkeley School of Law in San Francisco, California. The cost to attend the school for three years is approximately $237,000.
Instead of deciding on which of three scholar- ships he would accept, Floyd sent the scholarship offer from Vanderbilt to Berkeley. Berkeley, in turn, sent Floyd an offer of $75,000.
Ms. Floyd said she was encouraging him to take the money. But, he began negotiating with the school
Howard University graduate Ethan Floyd, center, is shown with his mother, Ms. Beleria Floyd, left, and aunt, Ms. Evelyn Gamble, at his graduation.
for more money. “I was screaming, take the money! He calmly and confidently said, ‘Mom, chill, I got this,’” Ms. Floyd said.
Time passed, but Floyd didn’t accept the offer from Berkeley. Then, on the last day, the school of- fered him an additional scholarship bringing the total to $105,000. Two days later, the school pro- vided Floyd with an additional $72,000, which brought the total up to $177,000.
The Bar Association of San Francisco contacted Floyd and requested that he apply for a scholarship earmarked for minority students. If he is chosen as a recipient of that scholarship, Floyd will have ac- cumulated an additional $30,000, for a total of $207,000 in scholarships and grants.
Floyd shares his wisdom with other saying, “Know your worth. I want to be an inspiration to all young brothers and sisters who think that their goals are unachievable.”
A graduate of Blake High School in 2011, Floyd is a member of First Baptist Church of College Hill. His goal is to practice International Law.
During his junior year, Ethan studied abroad and had the opportunity to visit Rome, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Naples, and Berlin, Germany.
The graduate has started his journey cross coun- try to Berkeley, making stops along the way. He plans to visit the Native American Reservations, Walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, and visit the Grand Canyon.
Of her only child, Ms. Floyd said, “The pride I feel for him is immeasurable. I am truly blessed to have him as a son.”