UNF Students Honored for Service at Spring Commencement

Joanna Norris, Assistant Director

Department of Media Relations and Events

(904) 620-2102

The University of North Florida will honor two students with an outstanding record of volunteerism when it hands out close to 1,500 degrees on Friday, April 30, during spring commencement at the UNF Arena on campus.

Mandarin resident Lianne Bronzo, who will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a 3.98 GPA, will be recognized as the recipient of the Senior Service Award, while UNF senior Noel San Antonio, an electrical engineering major who lives on the Southside, will be recognized as the recipient of the Albert D. Ernest Jr. Caring Award.

The UNF Alumni Association presents the Senior Service Award to a graduating senior for outstanding volunteer service to the University or community. The Caring Award recognizes a student who demonstrates the spirit of caring, humanitarianism and volunteerism exemplified by Albert Ernest. The Caring Award will be presented during the 12:30 p.m. ceremony, while the Senior Service Award will be presented during the 4 p.m. ceremony.

Bronzo’s contributions to the University community are many. A student committed suicide during her freshman year, which affected her deeply. She realized that many people aren’t aware of the signs or actions that one could take to prevent a suicide from happening. As a result, Bronzo helped form and became a founding member of Active Minds, a student-run organization that focuses on de-stigmatizing mental health and bringing awareness to mental health issues, particularly on college campuses.

She held several key positions, serving as the organization’s president this past year and was recognized by the national organization for her contributions, with UNF receiving its first 5 Star Chapter Award for outstanding performance in the areas of administration, communication, leadership, meetings/events and outreach.

Bronzo has also made significant contributions through the UNF Honors Program, where she became involved in undergraduate research. She was selected from several applicants to join a prestigious interdisciplinary research team and was selected as the Advanced Research Intern for the Honors Program, where she served as a guest lecturer, mentor and editor.

She also became a volunteer peer mentor to other undergraduates pursuing research in the social sciences, providing feedback on drafts and conference presentations, mentoring as many as eight team members at a time. She did this while completing her own undergraduate Honors thesis and working with UNF’s On Campus Transition Program, providing social and academic support to students with developmental disabilities.

San Antonio’s commitment to humanitarianism began in his village in the Philippines. Coming from a small village where opportunities were limited, he realized that education would be the key to his success. It was a long journey from his home to UNF but this instilled in him the motivation to return to his village and build a school for the children.

The first school building was constructed in 2006 and St. Anthony’s school opened to 60 pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. Last summer, San Antonio and five UNF students returned to build a second building for first- and second-grade children, allowing 80 more children to attend school. Through his hard work, as well as through the generosity of many volunteers, these Philippine students not only receive a free education but also free uniforms and books. San Antonio’s dream is to one day expand the school to grade 12.

The ceremony for the Brooks College of Health and the College of Education and Human Services will be held at 9 a.m., followed by a ceremony for the Coggin College of Business and the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction at 12:30 p.m. The final commencement ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences will be held at 4 p.m. All ceremonies will be held at the UNF Arena.

The University expects to award 1,654 bachelor’s degrees, 217 master’s degrees and 33 doctorates this term.

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