SJR STATE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS

MARCH 2018

Delonja Duncan (1997)
St. Johns County Bookmobile
Extension Services Assistant

Each week, St. Johns River State College will honor one of its own in an alumni salute, celebrating the career milestones, community contributions and personal reflections of those who began their collegiate journey as SJR State Vikings.

After receiving a full African-American scholarship to St. Johns River State College, Delonja Duncan completed her Associate in Arts degree and went on to study at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU). The same year Dalonja graduated from SJR State, she was inducted into the Golden Key National Honor Society at FAMU, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Education as well as her master’s degree in Educational Leadership.

“I received a great foundation (at SJR State) to pursue my other educational goals,” said Delonja. “It was a great transition from high school, and a few of my peers were also there. The administration was very helpful in supporting my goals, and there was a great sense of community at the institution then.” Delonja also reflected on how instrumental Education instructor Dr. Ann Masters was with helping her attain her goals.

Today, Delonja serves as an assistant for the St. Johns County Bookmobile Extension Services department. Prior to this role, Delonja taught for two years at Emerald Shores Elementary School in Ocala, and also worked at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. She has also served as the manager of the Excelsior Museum and Cultural Center.

Born and raised in St. Augustine, Delonja has attended the Grace and Truth Prayer Center of the Apostolic Faith, Inc. since she was two years old.

Delonja has volunteered with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization; the Crime Prevention Program with the Northeast Florida Community Action Agency; the Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations, Inc.; and served as the assistant financial secretary for ACCORD, where she later became president after the tenure of her mother, Gwendolyn Duncan, who also graduated from SJR State and served as president of ACCORD for a decade. ACCORD’s mission is "Remembering, Recognizing, and Honoring all those who risked their lives to attain civil rights for all and celebrating St. Augustine's pivotal role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

“Attending St. Johns River State College was a great transition from high school to college for me, because I needed the smaller class sizes where the teacher knows your name and you are not just a number,” Delonja said.

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Click on the link below to share your recent accomplishments and join the SJR State Alumni Association today - we'd love to hear from you! SJRstate.edu/alumni.html

 

 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Kessler
Director of Public Relations and Publications
(386) 312-4021