Zehner named headmaster at St. Johns Country Day School

ORANGE PARK—Todd A. Zehner, assistant headmaster, began his tenure as seventh headmaster at St. Johns Country Day School on July 1.

Zehner’s appointment comes after Headmaster Ed Ellison announced his resignation in May.

“Mr. Zehner has prepared himself professionally for this moment and is uniquely qualified to serve as Headmaster,” said Jonathan Montgomery, president of the Board of Trustees. “He has served as a member of the St. Johns community for nearly 30 years and has known it from every angle—student, alumni, parent, Trustee, staff, even coach. He is adept at helping others recognize their potential, develop a plan for success, and surprise themselves with what they can accomplish. It is my honor to welcome him into this new role and to offer him the heartfelt congratulations of the Board.”

Zehner has previously served on the St. Johns Board of Trustees, is a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, and was the recipient of the 2013 Alumnus of the Year Award. Prior to joining the staff at St. Johns, Zehner served as chief operating officer for Lowe Destination Development-Southeast, an affiliate of Lowe Enterprises, a national real estate firm with more than $8.5 billion in real estate assets.

Zehner received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and earned his master’s degree in business from the University of North Florida in 1996. He has held both administrative and coaching positions at the University of Florida and Florida Institute of Technology.

Zehner has a long history of commitment to youth development, including working as program director for the University of Florida Men’s Basketball “Find a Way” youth program, serving as cubmaster with the Boy Scouts of America North Florida Council and as student advisor and head coach at St. Johns.

Clay students receive Foundation scholarships at Valdosta State

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Two Clay County students are among 195 enrolled, incoming first-year, and transfer students being offered scholarships for the 2016-17 school year by the VSU Foundation Inc. at Valdosta State University. These scholarships were established by private donors and are awarded each year by VSU Foundation Inc. to students with excellent academic achievement and/or students with financial need. Each recipient represents the high standards of the university.

Sarah Gibbs and Shelby Lacy, both of Middleburg, each received a Walter R. and Dorothy S. Salter Scholarship.

VSU is a comprehensive university characterized by outstanding instruction, a wide range of student life opportunities, and a close connection to the community. It was established in 1906.

Middleburg student makes Conference Honor Roll

NEWBERRY, S.C. – The Newberry College athletic department had a highly successful spring semester in the classroom, as noted by the 142 Wolves recently named to the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

Included on the list is Hannah Schneider from Middleburg. The 142 honorees are the most on this list in program history.

To be eligible for inclusion on the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, student-athletes must have competed in a sponsored championship sport and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher throughout the academic year.

Including the non-SAC sports (wrestling, field hockey, cheer and dance), 179 student-athletes met the grade requirement. A total of 270 student-athletes had a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or greater.

Each team was also successful in terms of its cumulative grade point average. Of the Wolves' 19 varsity sports, 15 have a cumulative grade point average above 3.00, led by the women's basketball squad's 3.493 grade point average. The men's golf team had the highest male team grade point average at 3.422. Women's teams made up 10 of the teams with over a 3.00 grade point average, while there were five men's teams who met the requirement.

Founded in 1856 by the Lutheran Church, Newberry College is a private, residential, co-educational college with a diverse student population.

Reed graduates from Valdosta State University

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Michael Reed of Middleburg has earned the bachelor of arts in criminal justice from Valdosta State University.

More than 1,100 students completed the requirements of their respective academic programs during the Spring 2016 semester.

Valdosta State University is a comprehensive university characterized by outstanding instruction, a wide range of student life opportunities, and a close connection to the community. It was established in 1906. Valdosta State University offers more than 100 degrees, certificates, and endorsements at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

Kuske named to Dean’s List at Wisconsin Lutheran College

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. – Anna Kuske of Orange Park, a sophomore, has been named to Wisconsin Lutheran College's Dean’s List for the spring semester.

To be eligible for Dean’s List, a student must carry a semester grade point average of 3.6 or higher.

Wisconsin Lutheran College is an independent, residential, Christian liberal arts college located on the border of Milwaukee and Wauwatosa. The college prepares students for lives of Christian leadership, and is recognized for its academic excellence and superior student experience. For more information, visit wlc.edu.

Severson earns Dean’s List recognition at Norwich University

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – A student from Orange Park was named to the Dean’s List at Norwich University for the spring 2016 semester

Benjamin E. Severson of Orange Park met all of the academic requirements for the Dean’s List honor.

Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians.

Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army and is the oldest private military college in the United States of America. Norwich is one of our nation's six senior military colleges and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

Kirkwood Community College announces Dean’s List honors

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Kirkwood Community College has released its Dean’s List for the spring 2016 semester. These students have achieved a 3.3 grade point average or higher after completing 12 or more credit hours at the college.

Shinah Coakley of Fleming Island was named to the Kirkwood Community College Dean’s List.

Kindle named to Dean's List

NEWARK, Del. – Jalen Kindle of Fleming Island has been named to University of Delaware’s Dean’s List for the Spring 2016 semester. The Dean’s List, an honor conferred at the end of the fall and spring semesters, recognizes outstanding academic performance by undergraduate students.

Undergraduate students who have been graded in a minimum of 12 credits counting toward their grade point average for the semester and who have earned a minimum 3.33 GPA for a given semester are honored with Dean’s List recognition for that semester.

Corcoran awarded scholarships

FLEMING ISLAND – Recent Fleming Island High graduate Kelsey Corcoran was awarded a $1,000 Bill Ralls Technology Scholarship. She also was awarded the Melissa Boyett Memorial Scholarship at FIHS for outstanding work in the TV Production Academy.

Corcoran also won first place in the Florida Association for Media in Education video competition for her entry in the book trailer category. Her video will be entered next month at the state level competition.