BK News

Vincent Saladino was first a student, then an alumnus, a teacher, and finally a dynamic administrator at BK. Now he will step into a collegiate role and proudly represent our BK community that has shaped him for almost 30 years. While we deeply regret losing Mr. Saladino as an administrator, we are thrilled to see a member of our alumni community do great things in Jacksonville and beyond. Congratulations on your new role as Head of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Jacksonville University. We will miss you, but wish you success and know you will do great things!

Dr. Mark Dawkins ’81 is one of seven brothers (all BK graduates), a lifelong learner, and a strong supporter of Catholic education. He says St. Patrick’s Catholic School and Bishop Kenny prepared him for college, and his involvement in BK service organizations taught him the importance of giving back to his school and community.  His favorite teacher was Mrs. Marnett, who he says just knew how to manage her class. He remembers riding the bus every day with his close friends from the Northside and enjoyed the time they shared there, talking about school and life.  

After graduation, Mark earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech.  He loved fixing things and learning how they worked, but what intrigued him more was his interest in solving problems using logic and rules. This led him to the University of Florida to pursue a graduate business degree and a Master of Accounting.  During this time, Mark tutored some of the UF athletes in finance and accounting courses.  They said he could explain difficult material in a way that was easy for them to understand, and they encouraged him to teach.  He entered the world of corporate banking, but ultimately decided to return to school to pursue a Ph.D. in Accounting from Florida State University. 

What followed is a 30-year career in higher education.  Mark has been a tenured professor at the University of Georgia and is currently at the University of North Florida where he is a professor of accounting.  He passionately feels his students' success is his success, and is committed to preparing students in accounting with the skills necessary to succeed in today’s workforce. There has been a decline in students enrolling in accounting over recent years. Accounting firms are meeting salary demands in the industry and providing a better work-life balance for employees as a result. His advice to anyone wanting to pursue a career in accounting is that the field is wide open right now and do not be intimated by higher-level math.  The key is foundational math skills and the ability to engage with people.   

Mark is the proud husband to his wife, Jaynce, an attorney who recently retired.  He is also a loving father to his two children, Klaire and Ian, and grandfather of three.  Mark enjoys spending time with this family and occasionally hits the slopes for some skiing.  He continues to embody a Crusader spirit of service by serving as a board member for the Guardian School of Jacksonville, where he is helping develop a speaker series to open opportunities for middle school students.  We thank him for his continued work in our community and for serving the students at the University of North Florida. 

 

Congratulations to senior Juliana Namen who has been named the Bishop Kenny High School March student of the month. Juliana has been recognized as the “Teachers Choice” exemplifying the characteristics of respect, dependability, and citizenship. Juliana commented when asked about this recognition, “Compassion is very important to me because we are all made in the image and likeness of God, I strive to always show compassion and I hope that compassion continues to be a focus at Bishop Kenny. When my fellow classmates told me that I was named student of the month, I was very surprised and honored to be chosen.” 

Juliana has a rigorous academic schedule and strives to keep her faith and focus on Christ in the forefront of her week. She is currently in the English, Mu Alpha Theta, Rho Kappa, Spanish, Science, and National Honor Societies. Juliana is a member of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, volunteers with the Servant Sisters home of the Mother at Assumption parish and participates in Assumption Youth Group activities. Another volunteer opportunity that brings joy to Juliana is reading books to disadvantaged people in her community.

Juliana has been accepted to the University of Florida for Fall 2023 where she plans to study Environmental Science and minor in Business. She has a passion for animals and would like to become a Veterinarian.