Michael Ward and Jennifer Glock Foundation Awards Transformational $1 Million Gift for FSCJ Students
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is pleased to announce a $1 million gift from the Michael Ward and Jennifer Glock Foundation for student scholarships through the FSCJ Foundation.
Ward and Glock, longtime local philanthropists, made their commitment to support the I Choose FSCJ Workforce Scholarship Fund and to establish the Michael Ward and Jennifer Glock Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund. Scholarship dollars will be awarded to students enrolled in critical academic programs that serve the highest workforce needs of the community, including health care, logistics, transportation and warehousing, manufacturing, IT and cybersecurity, and culinary and hospitality. Additionally, preference will be given to students who are completing their final 15 credit hours to better position them to complete their programs of study and graduate.
“Jennifer and I have always valued the role FSCJ plays in the educational landscape and workforce preparation initiatives of our community which are critical to Jacksonville becoming a world-class city,” said Ward. “After meeting Dr. Avendano, we were inspired by his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to student success. We wanted to do our part to secure the College’s future through a scholarship gift with the intent of helping even more students achieve their goals, earn a diploma, join the workforce and build a stronger tomorrow. I hope many others will join us in this effort.”
Retired Chairman and CEO of CSX, Ward is also the founder of City Year Jacksonville, serves on multiple not-for-profit boards and has achieved many other notable achievements. Glock serves as co-trustee of the Michael Ward and Jennifer Glock Foundation and was a licensed marriage and family therapist, practicing in Jacksonville for over 47 years. Well known for their generous spirit, the couple has made multiple transformational gifts to a variety of causes across Jacksonville, with an amplified focus on enhancing educational opportunities in the community.
“Thanks to Michael and Jennifer, FSCJ will have the necessary funds to support even more students in their educational pursuits and to enhance our community through a skilled workforce that addresses key shortage areas,” said College President John Avendano, Ph.D. “This gift is truly life changing in that it comes at a time when the growth of our community and the economic challenges our students face necessitate intervention. We are grateful to Michael and Jennifer for their forward-thinking partnership that we know will strengthen our College, our students and this community we are proud to serve.”
The FSCJ Foundation strives to remove barriers that impede students’ educational and professional opportunities. Thanks to the generosity of donors and committed partners, the FSCJ Foundation provides nearly 1,000 students each year with financial support in the form of scholarships, grants and resources. Learn more at fscj.edu/foundation.
About FSCJ
Known as “the community’s college,” Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) exists to provide equitable, high quality, success-driven learning experiences for our diverse community of students. Serving more than 45,000 students and awarding over 5,000 degrees and certificates on an annual basis, the College plays a significant role in supplying the region’s employers with a highly skilled, educated workforce.