WJCT to Host Special Reception and Presentation for Honorees Sept. 15
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 13, 2016 – Two ardent library champions—one who serves on the Board of Library Trustees (BOLT), and one who serves on the Friends of the Dallas Graham Branch Library Board—are being honored as First Coast’s 2016 American Graduate Champions by WJCT. BOLT Vice Chair Ronnie King and Friends Board Vice Chair Lynn Sherman are being recognized for committing their time, skills and resources to make sure that young people succeed, and for playing an active role in improving educational outcomes for all students.
WJCT will host a special event on Sept. 15, beginning at 6 p.m. at the WJCT Studio on Festival Park Avenue to honor five local American Graduate Champions chosen this year. The public is invited to purchase tickets to the event to show support and to honor the outstanding efforts of these dedicated individuals, including King and Sherman who work to increase literacy and education throughout our community.
Ronnie King, II – Vice Chair, Board of Library Trustees
A certified software engineer, King is owner and founder Scratchwerk, LLC, providing software development services and personalized training for individuals seeking to become entry-level developers. He has served on the boards of Mentoring Families and Kids and Hubbard House, and has been active in a “Day in the Real World” and The MyVillage project. King has held leadership positions in the National Society of Black Engineers, 100 Black Men of Jacksonville, National Panhellenic Council and the Urban League Young Professionals. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and served as president of the Jacksonville graduate chapter. He earned an associate degree at the University of Florida where he played basketball for the Gators, and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of North Florida. King has served on the Board of Library Trustees for four years and will assume the role of BOLT chair on Oct. 1, 2016.
Lynn Sherman – Vice Chair, Friends of the Dallas Graham Branch Library Board
Sherman serves as director of community engagement at Baptist Health where she leads community benefit initiatives that are designed to develop strategies to improve the health and quality of life for families. Under her leadership, the nationally recognized Tipping the Scale Mentoring Adolescent Advocacy and Intervention Mentoring Program has touched the lives of more than 1,500 teens and received national recognition. The program has a 100 percent graduation rate. Ninety-eight percent of the students have gone to college, military, or gainful employment. She coordinates the annual Girls Empowerment Conference that serves more than 250 girls ages 9 – 18. She serves as a Guardian ad Litem board of director and as the vice chair for the newly formed Friends of Dallas Graham Branch Library Board. She is a past board member for the Jacksonville Urban League, Changing Homelessness of Northeast Florida, Northside Community Involvement, and Family Support Services of Northeast Florida. She was a recipient of the Community Connections Celebration of Leadership award; a recipient of the Shirley Anderson’s Excellence in Mentoring Award; named one of the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes; a Leadership Jacksonville Alum 2011; and selected by the Jacksonville Business Journal as an elite African American leader.
About American Graduate Day
American Graduate Day returns to television for its fifth year on Sept. 17, 2 – 6 p.m. ET, and will be a multi-platform event featuring local and national programming, community partners, and celebrities focused on improving the high school graduation rate in the United States. Viewers and online users are invited to become engaged with WJCT and the featured community organizations. Participate in the event by asking questions and sharing ideas before and during the broadcast on Twitter and Facebook, using the hashtag #AmGrad. To watch American Graduate Day 2015, visit AmericanGraduate.org.
Ronnie King photo
Lynn Sherman photo
About the Jacksonville Public Library
The mission of the Jacksonville Public Library is to enrich lives, build community and foster success by bringing people, information and ideas together. Last year, more than 3.4 million visits were made to Jacksonville Public Libraries, items were checked out more than 5.9 million times, and nearly 11,000 programs and services were offered to Duval County residents at the Main Library and 20 branch locations. For more information about the Jacksonville Public Library, call 630-BOOK (2665) or visit jaxpubliclibrary.org.
JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
303 Laura St. N.
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
630-BOOK (2665)
