FSCJ, City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and UF Health Announce Heroism Award

For Immediate Release: December 23, 2019

Contact:       Jill Johnson, FSCJ, (904) 632-5016

                        Nikki Kimbleton, City of Jacksonville, (904) 255-5020

                        Dan Leveton, UF Health, (904) 244-3268

FSCJ, City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department and UF Health Announce Heroism Award

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) welcomed community and local leaders to the Fire Academy of the South, located at FSCJ’s South Campus, on Monday, December 23, 2019, to name the first-ever recipient of the President’s Heroism Award.

In October, UF Health Jacksonville Security Officer Davay Kinsey acted quickly and heroically to aid two local firefighters who were assaulted by a patient they were called to help. She played a critical role that day in saving a life and, in response to her bravery, the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department, City of Jacksonville and UF Health joined forces with FSCJ to honor her life-saving actions.

“As a community, we all worked together to identify a way that we could appropriately thank Officer Kinsey, said College President John Avendano, Ph.D. What better way to do that than to help her achieve her own personal and professional goals? FSCJ is proud to play a part in helping Davay realize her true calling as a Fire Fighter for our community.”

Through the support of the FSCJ Foundation’s Power of Possible scholarship fund, the College is working to help Officer Kinsey’s lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter become a reality. She will receive financial support that will cover the full amount of her tuition, books and fees as she enters the Fire Academy in January 2020.

“Davay Kinsey demonstrated true courage, decisive action, and dedication that fateful October night, when she saved the life of one of our city’s heroes, JFRD Captain Latorrence Norris,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “She is completely deserving of this reward and it is my hope that when she completes her training that she can join the 1,500 brave men and women of the greatest fire and rescue department in the nation.”

“From the moment I met Davay, I immediately identified qualities of strength, confidence, teamwork and leadership,” said Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Chief Keith Powers. “Her compassion and desire to help others is exactly what we are looking for in the fire service.”

“We are incredibly proud of Davay for many reasons, most importantly for her actions that night that saved a life,” said Leon L. Haley Jr., CEO of UF Health Jacksonville and dean of the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville. “Her immediate reaction to help someone in need is symbolic of this organization, where our staff members work every day to care for others. We wish her well and will continue to support her goal of becoming an emergency medical technician.”

To learn more about the Fire Academy of the South, visit fscj.edu/campuses/south-campus/fire-academy-of-the-south.

About FSCJ

Known as “the community’s college,” Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) exists to provide valuable, high-quality learning opportunities to anyone with the desire to enhance themselves through the pursuit of higher education. Serving more than 50,000 students and awarding more than 6,000 degrees and certificates on an annual basis, the College plays a significant role in supplying the region’s employers with a highly skilled, educated workforce.

*Photos available here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmKdwjSG

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