It was a day of celebration and joy for the 130 graduates who were part of the historic and momentous day in Edward Waters University's more than 150-year history.

The group of over 100 officials learned how to improve their skill set, analyze instant replay and make calls on the field.

This will be the first group to arrive on campus with the school's "university" status.

Edward Waters College in Jacksonville -- Florida’s first historically Black college -- became Edward Waters University on Wednesday.

A $50,000 donation from The Players Championship will help Edward Waters College reinstate the school’s women’s golf program.

A new era in Edward Waters football is on the way.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Edward Waters College unveiled a new academic space on its campus Wednesday, the latest of several recent improvements at the school. It’s a $4.3 million facility that includes new turf, lights, seats and a video board. School leaders called it a ‘transformative investment’ in the state’s oldest historically black college. Ever since it has been educating and inspiring students in Northwest Jacksonville, but the college is working to make a new future. College leadership is in the process of launching its first graduate program to become a university.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Local and state pastors came together Friday to educate and encourage communities that have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 to get the vaccine. “My friends, this virus has not taken a vacation, even in our own great state of Florida,” Holmes said. Ad“We’ve been meeting with community leaders, churches and politicians trying to get the word out,” said Ron Beesley, incident commander at the Gateway vaccination site. “We see a shift in our demographic, a positive movement on that part. But we are still seeing there is a lot of misinformation out there.”Since March 3, the five state and federal sites in Jacksonville have administered about 60% of the doses available between them, on average, each day.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – State officials announced Thursday morning that the three FEMA-sponsored sites in Jacksonville, which includes Gateway Mall and two satellite sites, hit a milestone. Other data from Wednesday show:The satellite site at Oceanway Community Center can vaccinate 500 shots per day. The state vaccine site at Regency Mall has a capacity of 2,000 per day. The FEMA-sponsored site at the Gateway Mall in Jacksonville stopped accepting patients Thursday afternoon as a squall line of storms approached the area. AdThe Florida Emergency Management Division said the two satellite sites at Oceanway and Carver closed and would reopen Friday morning at 9 a.m.------The Associated Press contributed to this story.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Seven federal workers stood outside the Family Dollar on the Northside of Jacksonville. In a tweet Wednesday, the director of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management said state workers have knocked on 3,000 doors in minority neighborhoods across Florida, adding he was tripling the number of teams going into communities. — Jared MASKowitz 😷 (@JaredEMoskowitz) March 10, 2021A spokesperson for the agency said Wednesday that 300 additional personnel would be heading to Jacksonville. The satellite sites are moving from Normandy Community Center and Hammond Senior Center to Carver Recreation Center in Jacksonville Beach and the Oceanway Community Center in Jacksonville on Sunday. AdJones said the issue of turnout at state and federal vaccine sites is more nuanced than awareness and education against vaccine hesitancy.

At one federal site in Jacksonville with a capacity for 500 people, just 29 got the shot on Thursday. Thousands of doses have been made available at new federal sites in Jacksonville, but so far only a third of that supply appears to be getting used each day. At the Gateway Mall site on Thursday, 840 shots were given at a site set up to administer 2,000 vaccines a day. Each of the satellite sites has the capacity to do 500 shots a day. News4Jax spoke to health experts in Jacksonville about the impact of lowering age requirements for the vaccine.

After state emergency management officials acknowledged that school personnel were eligible to get vaccinated at federal clinics in Jacksonville, among other major cities, college professors and staff still weren’t clear if the order included them. While the state has yet to provide a clear answer to that question, college instructors were not turned away from a COVID-19 shot Friday at the federal vaccine clinic in Jacksonville. Unlike Florida’s executive order, the federal directive does not single out K-12 educators as the only group eligible to get the vaccine. Tara Jackson, a 50-year-old literacy specialist for the school district, said her colleagues were excited to learn there was one location where all school personnel could go to be vaccinated. During a news conference Friday, the governor said he has no intention of making other professions eligible for the vaccine in his order.

Although the criteria don’t officially go into effect until Wednesday, Agape Health has been allowing patients who meet the expanded criteria to register through its online system. Officials running the site encourage people to register online, but people can also make an appointment in person. They might receive a QR code confirmation and be told to show up at the vaccine site and present that code to receive the vaccine, even though they are not actually eligible. Individuals who have registered online are screened for age priority and co-morbidities before they are given access to the vaccine. The company is working to get the system corrected so that it won’t allow those who don’t meet the criteria to register.

Greg Ruffin, former head football coach at Edward Waters, was let go from his job although the school is yet to announce the departure. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A week after opening a spring season with a 53-0 loss to Jackson State, Edward Waters football coach Greg Ruffin is seemingly out of a job. Edward Waters College is looking for a new head football coach. Here’s what we know for sure about Greg Ruffin. He was hired at Edward Waters College after the 2017 season as the 14th football coach in Tigers’ history.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Scores of people who made appointments to get the COVID-19 vaccine at the new Edward Waters College community site Friday morning were turned away because they had been allowed to preregister even though they didn’t meet the qualifications. Currently in Florida, only people age 65 and above and health care workers are being prioritized for the COVID-19 vaccine. Because of the error, dozens of people signed up through the online system, received a QR code confirmation, and were told to show up at the vaccine site and present that code to receive the vaccine. The state-run site will offer 200 vaccinations a day, seven days a week, and will target residents of Northwest Jacksonville, DeSantis said. Based on the vaccine availability and based on the progress of getting through the 65 and older population,” DeSantis said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – City leaders are still looking for solutions to food deserts. On Thursday, Jacksonville City Council members and other organizations met virtually to explore some short- and long-term solutions to food deserts, or areas with less or no access to fresh, healthy food. One of those areas is the New Town neighborhood near Edward Waters College. “This is a food desert without fresh fruit, fresh vegetables,” said Marcia Ellison, a 19-year resident of the New Town neighborhood. Another initiative is food pantries like the one by Feeding Northeast Florida that’s open twice a month right outside of the New Town neighborhood.

Ron DeSantis was at Edward Waters College in Jacksonville on Thursday to announce a new COVID-19 vaccination site on the campus. The permanent state site will offer 200 vaccinations a day, seven days a week, and will target residents of Northwest Jacksonville, DeSantis said. Officials running the site said they are encouraging people to register online, but people can also make an appointment in person. Mia Jones, CEO of Agape Family Health Center, which is helping run the site, said residents in the New Town neighborhood will get priority. Based on the vaccine availability and based on the progress of getting through the 65 and older population,” DeSantis said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As part of Black History Month, News4Jax has shared local stories about the Civil Rights movement, segregation, Black leaders and Black-owned businesses in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. Black history is all of our history, and News4Jax is committed to bringing you stories about our diverse communities beyond February. You might not know the area was once its own city and was a very prosperous area for members of Jacksonville’s African-American community. “A lot goes into teaching Black history. “That Black history is American history.

Edward Waters College was founded in 1866 by members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to educate freedmen. TV personality and now Edward Waters College professor Rahman Johnson is a notable EWC graduate. Less than 10 years later, it took on the name Edward Waters College with the support, once again, of the AME Church, named after the third bishop, Edward Waters. Eighty percent of the students at Edward Waters College are first-generation college students, so they’re establishing a new tradition. Even during a pandemic, Edward Waters College hit its highest enrollment in 15 years.

With the Tigers' logo down, EWC’s stadium is taking shape. Now, the transformation of a barren field into a $4.3 million facility that will serve as host to the football and women’s soccer team is nearly complete. Since the bulk of EWC’s schedule was filled out with SIAC opponents, that put the Tigers in a tough spot. “The way we stand today, and Covid dictates a lot, our season for soccer will start sometime in January. “But all the other sports that we didn’t play in the fall, volleyball, football and women’s soccer, will happen in the spring.”Football scheduling remains a work in progress.

Elections officials are setting up sites to prepare for the expected crowds Monday when early voting starts in Jacksonville and across most of Florida. It is expected that a new early voting site at the Prime Osborn Convention Center will be one of the most popular of the 20 sites in Duval County, but is causing a stir with a neighboring Northwest Jacksonville neighborhood. People like Schree Gray, who lives near EWC, said moving that site is a problem for voters in that area. It needs to be closer so we could vote, because some of us don’t have cars,” Gray said. Pastor Reginald Gundy has been voicing concern about removal of the site.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Edward Waters is adding men’s volleyball to its college athletics program, the school announced on Friday. The school received a $100,000 grant from the First Point Volleyball Foundation and USA Volleyball to help get the sport off the ground. Those organizations helped six Historically Black Colleges and Universities launch men’s volleyball last year with a $1 million grant. EWC is the first HBCU in Florida to add men’s volleyball. Pending a successful transition this year, EWC will be positioned to qualify for and compete in the SIAC Championships.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Edward Waters College community is mourning is the death of football assistant coach Cornelius Corprew. Corprew was set to begin his first season as wide receivers coach for the Tigers. We are saddened to announce the passing of Wide Receivers Coach, Cornelius Corprew. Corprews most notable collegiate coaching stint was at Tulane University, where he spent three seasons, from 2014 to 2016, as the assistant director of player personnel and assistant wide receivers coach. On the high school level, Corprew spent two seasons as the offensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach at Jean Ribault High School from 2013 to 2014.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. On campus classes are starting again at University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, and Edward Waters College this morning. UNF is requiring masks at all times for students, including outdoors. University officials are also requiring students use a daily self-screening tool. RELATED: Pandemic protocols: College students under new process for move-in dayAt Jacksonville University, students and staff are sticking to three commonly cited guidelines to prevent the potential spread of coronavirus. Keep 6 feet of physical distance between yourself and othersWear face coveringsWash your hands frequentlyEd Waters College established protocols for students living on campus who test positive for the virus.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. When the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference decided to not play football this fall, it put Edward Waters College in a strange position. The Tigers are not a member of the SIAC but the majority of their football schedule was filled with schools from the conference. Bryant did not set a timeline for the announcement of EWCs new football schedule. EWC is set to debut a new football stadium this year and this will be the first season for the soccer program. The Tigers currently have 152 players on their football roster and have ordered 175 Schutt splash shields for the football team.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Dr. A. Zachary Faison, the president of Edward Waters College, announced Friday that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the college will be helping students financially during the upcoming school year. The college has committed to paying financial balances of eligible returning students during the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters. I have a little over 700 students that are eligible to return that were enrolled at our institution, Faison said in his announcement. Classes during the upcoming school year begin Aug 17. Registration will continue through August, and students can apply online or contact the director of admissions at 904-470-8202.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Nat Glover is a pioneer in Jacksonville, and the citys former top cop was the first and only black sheriff elected in Florida during the 20th century. The former president of Edward Waters College told News4Jax Thursday that he has hope for the city when it comes to race relations and reforming police. The whole notion of change is sometimes uncomfortable for people, Glover said. During his time as Jacksonvilles sheriff, Glover acted on his vision of police reform needed at the time. He served as president of Edward Waters College from 2010 until retiring in 2018.

Now, the project is nearing completion, and this will give the Tigers football team a place they can finally call home. Mayor Lenny Curry first designated funds to the football field in 2017. Just as a student body they like to see some excitement and now with the football field we are generating that excitement, he said. Like many other teams around the country the Tigers football program has not had a chance to work out together in months because of COVID-19. Once the field is completed it will be the home to more than just the EWC football team.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. On this edition of This Week in Jacksonville, state Sen. Audrey Gibson takes a look at Duval Countys response to the coronavirus and how the pandemic has impacted the African American community. Edward Waters College President Dr. Zachary Faison Jr. explains how the school will move forward. And U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho focuses on reopening in a safe and effective manner.

I-TEAM: EWC football players face eviction from off-campus apartmentsPublished: December 20, 2019, 5:26 pmVIDEO: A group of Edward Waters College football players turned to the I-TEAM after receiving eviction notices at their off-campus apartment complex.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Family and friends on Monday night honored the life of a 19-year-old Edward Waters College student who was killed in a crash late Friday evening in Ponte Vedra Beach. Friends, classmates and school counselors filled the room with love for Lugo and showed support for Lugo's family. One by one, people stopped to hug Lugo's mother, Sarai Rosario-Acosta. The family pastor, Rebecca Osorio, translated Rosario-Acosta's words, saying Lugo's mother was humbled by the support. Lugo's family moved from Puerto Rico to Jacksonville 4 years ago.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - New developments have surfaced following an I-TEAM investigation involving allegations of hazing at Edward Waters College (EWC) in Jacksonville. She told the I-TEAM she wants to warn students and parents about the dangers associated with pledging a fraternity. Since the I-TEAM's original report aired July 25, the mother contacted us to say she received a letter from Edward Waters College. Edward Waters College takes these type (sic) of reports seriously. The letter goes on to explain EWC's Hazing Prevention Policy and ways students can confidentially report information to college officials.

VIDEO: New developments have surfaced following an I-TEAM investigation involving allegations of hazing at Edward Waters College (EWC) in Jacksonville. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Edward Waters College has signed a deal with Nike through BSN Sports. Nike will be the official supplier of apparel and athletic equipment for all the athletic programs at EWC. The college will be provided with rewards, discounts and marketing and promotional materials. "We are excited about this new partnership with Nike and BSN, as this agreement will operate to heighten the position of the Edward Waters College brand, not only through athletics but will equally function to advance our overall institutional footprint into new markets and spaces for the benefit of our students and stakeholding partners," said EWC President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. A. Zachary Faison Jr.Tiger fans will be able to buy Nike gear through online stores hosted by BSN. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

The mother of a senior at Edward Waters College is coming forward to talk about her son's initiation into Kappa Alpha Psi. Allen said the injuries were a result of a beating with a wooden paddle in the spring of 2018. Allen said it happened while her son was a senior at Edward Waters College -- while he was pledging the fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi. Instead, she said it was a synthetic drug commonly called a "jig," a mixture of synthetic heroin, cocaine and LSD. The college issued this statement in response to questions from the I-TEAM:"Edward Waters College (EWC) takes any allegation of hazing extremely seriously.

Truett, 59, said she already had some college credits under her belt, but she took a break to focus on work and family. She said she didn't want her daughter to wait like she did. "My daughter had stopped college, and I decided that it was a way for her to really get back into it, because I really wanted to complete college myself,” Truett said. Next month, mother and daughter will move the tassel and cross the stage together with bachelor's degrees in business administration -- a degree that Truett said she will put to good use. "(I'm) looking forward to some other type of position, maybe in management, using it for a chance,” Truett said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Brad Bernard has been relieved of his duties as head football coach at Edward Waters College. EWC Defensive Coordinator Alvin Wyatt has been named interim head coach until further notice. Wyatt is the winningest coach in Bethune-Cookman history. Alvin Wyatt has been on the Edward Waters College coaching staff for one year. Rembert says Wyatt will serve as both defensive coordinator and head coach at least until the end of the season.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Edward Waters College in Jacksonville is among 97 historically black colleges and universities that are receiving grants from the U.S. Department of Education. While EWC will receive $1,297,176, Florida A&M University will receive $6.6 million, Bethune-Cookman University will receive $2.9 million and Albany State College was awarded $3.7 million. In addition, funds may be used for the purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment and the development of academic instruction in disciplines in which African-Americans are underrepresented. "HBCUs have made enduring, even staggering contributions to American life despite the steep financial challenges many have faced," U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a release. "The grants will help these important institutions continue to provide their students with the quality education they need to compete in the global economy."