Recent News
Alumni Spotlight: Jazz Bond
This past month, the Ospreys Men’s Basketball team has been (deservingly) getting a lot of attention. However, don’t sleep on the Women’s Basketball team, who’s looking to make a run in the conference this season. To help jazz us up for the holidays, who better to chat with for our #AlumniSpotlight than Jazz Bond (’20, ’22), former women’s basketball student-athlete and first ever WNBA draft pick for the Ospreys!
Originally from Tennessee, Bond started her collegiate career at the University of South Florida before transferring to 香港六合彩开奖结果2023. One of the coaches on staff had recruited her out of high school, and she knew he was a great person on and off the court, so it helped influence her decision to become an Osprey.
In her four seasons at 香港六合彩开奖结果2023, Bond was a seven-time ASUN Player of the Week, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, two-time All-Conference selection and a four-time Honor Roll member. Her favorite moment as an Osprey was being featured on the Sportscenter Top 10 Plays after hitting a buzzer-beater three-pointer to beat North Alabama, which was led by her younger sister, Jaida.
After her third season as an Osprey, Bond started getting a handful of calls from agents. They didn’t realize she was using her COVID redshirt to play one last season, but it made her start to realize she had a shot at joining the WNBA. She followed that up with a senior season where she tallied 438 points, 225 rebounds, 45 assists, 71 blocks and 29 steals, becoming the school’s all-time leader in blocks and the Division I era leader in points, rebounds and free throws made.
Off the court, Bond was also part of CAMP Osprey, where she mentored kids at Tiger Academy. She earned her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in public health, but before she walked across the graduation stage, she heard words she’d been dreaming about since she was a child.
On April 11, 2022, the commissioner announced that “With the 31st pick in the WNBA draft, the Dallas Wings select Jazz Bond from the 香港六合彩开奖结果2023.” She said it felt surreal and she got instant chills.
In the Summer of 2023, Bond hung up her jersey and started looking for work in the Jacksonville area. She was applying to public health jobs when she stumbled upon an opening at Fanatics. With her admiration of the sports team and her passion for social media, she interviewed and was hired as their Social Media Specialist. “I’m glad I applied because the culture at Fanatics is amazing!” she said, collaborating with several other former Osprey student-athletes.
It's also a busy time for her as she and her fiancée, alumnus Anthony Hardge (’23), have a wedding to plan! These two Ospreys #MetInTheNest during media day in 2021. Hardge was a videographer for the basketball programs, and despite not talking much, he agreed to help her shoot some NIL content. One of the projects took over eight hours to film, which gave them plenty of time to get to know more about each other. Shorly after they started dating, and she knew it was the real deal after he met everyone in her family. After two and a half years together, Hardge got down on one knee. They’re looking forward to celebrating the big day in April 2025!
(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 12/4/24)
Liz Grebe (’11) is the events director for the Jacksonville Business Journal, but she’s notably leading logistics for this year’s PorchFest music lineup on Saturday, Nov. 9.
Jacksonville PorchFest is a free, family friendly event held in Historic Springfield, a community just north of Downtown Jacksonville. Bands fill the neighborhood porches as crowds of people walk the streets, enjoying the festivities, food trucks, craft beer and wine available for purchase.
Grebe said PorchFest is her favorite event of the year, having lived in the Springfield area for about 10 years. Leveraging her knowledge of the local music scene, she’s connected talented artists with event organizers, creating a packed lineup for the festival’s 10th anniversary in one of Jacksonville’s oldest neighborhoods.
Ospreys Just Want To Have Fun
Grebe earned her associate degree from Daytona State Community College before transferring to 香港六合彩开奖结果2023 to live closer to the beach.
“Orlando wasn’t going to kick it for me,” she said. “I ended up touring 香港六合彩开奖结果2023 and falling in love with it.”
She knew she wanted to study hospitality management, so she pursued a degree through the Coggin College of Business. She built connections with fellow members of her co-ed fraternity and recalls many study nights at the Thomas G. Carpenter Library. She ultimately left the business school to join the School of Communication for a public relations degree. Her path in communication led to an events and marketing internship with Downtown Vision Inc., which hosts events like Art Walk in Jacksonville. She managed Art Walk promotions and won a PRSA award for a project she created with another student where they encouraged campus participation by offering Downtown swag bags filled with a map of old bars, drink tickets and a scavenger hunt of cool spots in Jacksonville.
After graduation, Grebe moved up within Downtown Vision from marketing and events assistant to coordinator over three years. She then worked as an events and programming director for Friends of Hemming Park, where she organized events with cultural organizations and government stakeholders. Following that, she spent nearly three years managing the Riverside Arts Market for the Riverside Avondale Preservation, planning weekly arts and farmers markets while fostering community partnerships and social media.
As the Jacksonville Business Journal’s events director, Grebe handles major award ceremonies like Ultimate CEOs and Women of Influence, along with other community engagement events.
The Joys of Springfield, PorchFest
Grebe has cherished the sense of community she’s found living in Springfield. “It’s one of those old-school neighborhoods where you can ask your neighbor for eggs or milk,” she said.
PorchFest amplifies that community spirit by inviting Jacksonville to celebrate entertainment and culture. Thousands now attend annually and its growth from a small neighborhood event to a major celebration is rewarding. Numerous volunteers work with Springfield Preservation and Restoration and major sponsors to ensure the day’s success.
Grebe started volunteering behind the scenes a few years ago, and PorchFest officials, knowing her love for live music, invited her to take a more active role this year. Her stipulation: “If I’m helping, I am not working that day,” as she wants to enjoy the festivities. She hopes you’ll join her and thousands of others in this celebration.
With over 20 live acts this year, Grebe said she’s thrilled to see Future Joy with Michael Wilbur of Moon Hooch, New Orleans headliner J & The Causeways, and Küf Knotz & Christine Elise. Grebe also recommends checking out local favorites like Glazed and Kairos Creature Club.
Klutho Park in Springfield will host food trucks, a beer garden and the main stage for evening performances, giving newcomers a starting point to explore live acts throughout the neighborhood. PorchFest will also feature a drag show, a staple of the event.
For recent graduates pursuing event planning, Grebe said it’s essential to volunteer and network with organizations you want to be involved in. “Everybody needs help,” she said. “Volunteering will get your foot in the door. But you really have to have a strategy and follow up.”
(Written by Tyler White, Published 10/30/24)
Local Business Showcase: Regard Libations
Let’s raise a toast in the First Coast as we celebrate alumna Audrey Ancelin (’21) and Regard Libations for this month’s #LocalBusinessShowcase.
Preparing for the Bar
Ancelin studied ballet at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts before pursuing it as a career at the UNC School of the Arts. She danced professionally for five years before suffering an injury that made her rethink her career. She got a job working in hospitality while living in Charleston, South Carolina, but wanted to restart her education.
Her mother, Jennifer (’10), received her MBA in Special Education from 香港六合彩开奖结果2023, so she thought the University would be a great fit. She earned her associates degree at FSCJ and then transferred into COAS where she earned her degree in Political Science and Sociology.
As a student, Ancelin had great one-on-one experiences with her professors. Her initial goal was to be an attorney, and Dr. Joshua Gellers walked her through all those steps as she prepared for law school. But when the pandemic struck, her plans changed.
Shaking Things Up
Ancelin was among the first to get vaccinated, and with her experience in hospitality, she was asked to provide assistance at an outdoor event for locals in desperate need of social interaction. She rounded up supplies and set up a pop-up bar to create a safe, socially-distanced gathering. Word of mouth advertising spread quicker than the virus as she continuously got requests to set up at other events. So, she said, “Let’s throw an LLC on this and see where it goes.” With all her preparation for law school, she was able to do the licenses herself. Now three-and-a-half years later, her business, Regard Libations, is booked out six months in advance. In 2024 alone, they set up at 214 events.
Regard Libations is a full-service, luxury event bartending service that provides all the materials and goods for an event bar setup to create cocktails (and mocktails), executive service and cover liability. The only thing the clients provide is their choice of alcohol to avoid legal issues. They do everything from weddings to corporate events to private residence setups and have established exclusive contracts with specific venues.
Making Spirits Bright
professionalism to each event they work. She said, “Sharing those days — the weddings, birthdays, celebrations of life … it’s a big honor.” One particular event that stands out is The Amelia Concours d’Elegance, which they’ve now participated in three years running. Between the luxury cars, racing legends and over 2,500 guests, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience. She also set up a temporary brick-and-mortar lounge in the NoCo Center to enhance their Beyond Van Gogh exhibit.
Ancelin still bartends events, but she’s transitioning her staff to take over the event operations while she focuses on the big picture. Having done pop-up events in Tampa and Orlando, she’s looking to fully expand the business into the other Florida markets.
Outside of events, she enjoys her time gardening and trying local restaurants. She also got into woodworking recently as she needed an additional bar and decided to roll up her sleeves and build it herself. She also spends time with her two cats, Falafel and Mushu.
(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 12/5/24)
Donor Spotlight: Eddie Collins
Continuing our “Thanks for Giving” campaign, we’d like to recognize Dr. Eddie Collins, founding faculty member for the 香港六合彩开奖结果2023 - College of Arts and Sciences Department of Sociology, who has established a need-based undergraduate scholarship to echo his commitment to student success.
Collins attended public school in eastern North Carolina and went to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University for his bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology. After graduating in 1966, he went to Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University) where he got a master’s degree. He then taught at Clark College across the street for four years, and when he was researching for his thesis, he ran across Dr. Carroll Simms, a professor at Georgia State, who ultimately became the first chairman of the department of sociology at the newly founded 香港六合彩开奖结果2023. Simms called Collins and asked if he’d be interested in joining him, and he became an Osprey in 1972. After three years, Simms left to go up north, but Collins has remained part of the 香港六合彩开奖结果2023 community ever since.
In the early years, there were the core four in the department. Simms, Kumar Kuthiala, Chris Rasche and Collins. “Students were attracted to sociology because at least they had a vision of having some impact on society,” he said. Many of his students were much older than him; some were military and some had started their education before joining the workforce and never finished. Collins said, “Students who had a lot of real world experience and [were] very eager to get through.” The University allowed them to complete their degrees.
When he started, he taught the three courses of the social welfare program for about ten years and was also an advisor. He’d never taught these courses before, but he says “I was lucky to find some good textbooks and took a couple of other courses at Gainesville, and those courses became the courses that I enjoyed.”
He also organized a fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, who got charted in the first couple of years. He’s loved seeing the growth of campus and the student body and remembers the first time he walked around and noticed students were playing around and suntanning on the green.
“Coming out of the 1960’s, it was a very optimistic time,” he said. “I saw this university as a part of that new revolution of creating a society that was much more open, much more diverse, and much more optimistic in terms of human possibilities.”
“I think the university probably impacted the city in terms of its racial climate more than anything that’s happened in the last hundred years,” he said. He was an active member of the Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. that did an assessment of the city. Back then, the city was fragmented by regions, and he’s seen it grown tremendously in terms of developing an identity.
After 35 years, he retired from the University in July 2007, but still finds ways to contribute as an emeritus.
(Written by Alex Achorn, Published 11/26/24)
Oz For A Cause: Sarah Roberts
In this month’s edition of #OzforACause, we are highlighting a triple alumna who’s not only dedicated her life’s work to helping others through counseling and art therapy but has also staunchly advocated for herself and others living with diabetes. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and we recently sat down with Sarah Roberts, RMHCI (’21, ’21, ’24), to discuss her career and advocacy. She currently works as an associate therapist at Elite DNA Behavioral Health in Jacksonville.
A Third-Degree Swoop
As an Osprey, Roberts stayed active on campus and in the classroom, earning dual bachelor’s degrees in psychology and interdisciplinary studies, focusing on ceramic art therapy. This year, she completed her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and incorporates her 香港六合彩开奖结果2023 education into her work, primarily counseling children aged 9 and up.
Art therapy, in many ways, inspired Roberts to become a therapist. During undergrad, while taking 17 credit hours one semester, she struggled with stress as she pursued forensic psychology aspirations. Practicing ceramics during this time helped her manage the pressure and persevere through her studies.
“I thought, ‘How cool would it be for me to be able to use the tools that I’ve learned to put my stress into something and create something out of nothing and teach that to people.’”
During undergrad, Roberts also worked as an orientation leader, senior mentor, and development associate for 香港六合彩开奖结果2023’s University Development and Alumni Engagement office after graduation.
She speaks highly of her master’s program, noting classes such as Expressive Arts Counseling, Equestrian Therapy, and Sexology as enjoyable and beneficial for helping clients. Currently, she holds a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern (RMHCI) designation and will need to pass an exam after two years of client work and 1,500 direct-client hours to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
Diabetes at a Glance
Diabetes is a group of diseases affecting how the body uses glucose (blood sugar), according to Mayo Clinic. Glucose provides energy for muscles, tissues, and the brain, but diabetes can lead to excess blood sugar, causing severe health issues.
With Type 1 diabetes (T1D), the pancreas makes little or no insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter cells and produce energy. There is no cure for T1D, which is often caused by genetics or viral infections and typically appears in childhood or adolescence but can develop in adults.
In Type 2 diabetes (T2D), the pancreas produces insufficient insulin, often due to inactivity, obesity, or insulin resistance in fat, muscle, and liver cells. While T2D usually occurs in older adults, rising obesity rates have led to more cases among younger people, including children.
Roberts was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 3 after a severe strep throat infection triggered an autoimmune response that temporarily shut down her pancreas. She uses two medical devices to manage her blood sugar: a Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) and an insulin pump. These devices create a closed-loop system, acting as an external pancreas, she explained.
“I like to call myself part robot,” she said.
Insurance coverage for these devices can be challenging, and rising insulin costs remain a major issue for the diabetic community. Roberts said she’s had to fight her insurance provider to access the care she needs, while legislators often fail to grasp the life-or-death nature of insulin access.
“I think a lot of the time it’s seen as a luxury,” she said. “If you don’t have insulin, you can’t eat, you can’t function. You need insulin to survive.”
She also noted research showing that COVID-19 has triggered autoimmune responses in some adults, leading to late-onset Type 1 diabetes diagnoses.
“I know a lot of people in the mid-to-late 20s who got COVID and now they have Type 1, so it’s definitely something to pay attention to.”
Advocacy and Diabetes Camp
Roberts uses her T1D diagnosis to educate others and encourage younger generations to persevere despite their condition. As a child, she wrote a letter to President George W. Bush advocating for stem cell research, a potential avenue for curing diabetes. She received a reply with a presidential stamp, which she still has to this day.
Since age 5, Roberts has been involved with the Florida Camp for Children and Youth with Diabetes (FCCYD), returning frequently as a counselor. The camps offer a safe space and community for children with T1D.
Recalling her childhood, she faced bullying from peers who joked about her condition or mocked her medical devices. She said she often hid in school bathrooms to check her blood sugar.
“To be able to go to a space at least once a year [where] I didn’t have to hide part of myself is the best part about it,” she said.
Diabetes Camp provides a refuge where kids can participate in activities without worry, supported by trained counselors and professionals. The camps also offer diabetes education and mental health counseling. Roberts’ favorite, Camp Winona in DeLeon Springs, features lakeside cabins and is run by the YMCA.
Roberts advocates for person-first language, encouraging people to say, “I have Type 1 diabetes” instead of “I’m diabetic.” She explains that this distinction emphasizes that individuals are more than their condition—a principle she also applies to mental health and autism.
Living with diabetes requires constant decision-making, from monitoring blood sugar and food intake to managing devices and insulin. Roberts acknowledges this can be exhausting, especially after difficult fluctuations in blood sugar.
When she is not working as a counselor or volunteering at Diabetes Camp, Roberts enjoys pottery, spending time with friends, searching for shark teeth, visiting local breweries, and growing her vinyl collection.
(Written by Tyler White, Published 11/19/24)