Connection - Fall 2018 by Georgia College & State University

CONNECTION ..... ..... FALL 2018

THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS

Andalusia

CONTENTS Up Front News and notes around campus

10 Feature Program Leadership Programs

14 Feature Story GC at Carnegie

16 Cover Story GC Gives Day

20 Student Proﬁle 22 Faculty Proﬁle 24 Sports 28 Week of Welcome 29 Alumni Weekend 32 Class Notes 34 Campaign Update

President Steve Dorman Vice President for University Advancement Monica Delisa Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications Omar Odeh Editor/Director of Marketing and Publications Victoria Fowler, ‘12 Writers Margaret Brown Brittiny Johnson, ‘15 Cindy O’Donnell Aubrie L. Sofala, ‘12, ’16 Al Weston Design Jon Scott, ‘83 Brooks Hinton Photography Anna Leavitt Aubrie L. Sofala, ’12, ’16 Evan Leavitt

Please send change of address and class notes to: University Advancement Campus Box 96 Milledgeville, GA 31061 connection@gcsu.edu

Andalusia, home of Flannery O’Connor, reopens to the public Andalusia, the home of famed author and

“The first step was to stabilize the building and

Georgia College alumna Flannery O’Connor, has

grounds. After this, we were able to focus on the

reopened to the public.

collection by providing individual artifact analysis and much-needed care and conservation,” says

“We are delighted to reopen Andalusia for public

Curator Meghan Anderson. “The guided tours

tours,” said Matthew S. Davis, director of historic

will allow visitor access into each of the main floor

museums at Georgia College. “Following a

rooms to witness the space as the O’Connors

period of stabilization and repairs, visitors will

would have, which is something new the public

experience Andalusia in a whole new way that

can look forward to.”

includes new objects, a full-house interpretation, and overall improvements to the grounds.”

The facility will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sundays

Davis added the work completed is “the first step

from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. All tours are on the hour,

toward a full restoration. We hope that the public

and the last tour begins at 4 p.m.

visits often and continues to monitor the progress of our work on our website and social media

Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for pre-booked

pages."

groups and senior citizens, and $2 for students. Children six and under are free.

The Flannery O’Connor-Andalusia Foundation No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information be excluded from employment or participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination, under any program or activity conducted by Georgia College.

gifted the site to the Georgia College & State

O’Connor, who graduated in 1945 from Georgia

University Foundation in August 2017. The

State College for Women, now Georgia College,

grounds were closed from August 2017 to June

lived at Andalusia from 1951 until her death in

2018 while needed repairs were made.

1964. Many of her famous works were written during that time.

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New assistant vice president for International Education joins Georgia College Georgia College welcomes Dr. James Callaghan, assistant vice president for International Education and director of the International Education Center. He is an accomplished and innovative administrator and educator with over 20 years of global experience. The Michigan native was attracted to Georgia College because of its liberal arts mission. “I’m a strong advocate of the liberal arts model,” he said. “So, the more I looked at the college, the more I wanted to work here.” Callahan brings a wealth of experience in international higher education, having taught for seven years in Rome, Italy. He then served eight years as senior international officer (SIO) and director of Study Abroad at Philadelphia University—a private university with about 3,500 students. Callaghan next served as the SIO and associate vice chancellor for International Programs at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, which has a student enrollment of 6,252. Most recently, Callaghan served six years as vice president for Academic Affairs at Muskingum University in Ohio, which has an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students.

New first-year reading program gives students more choices

Denard co-chaired the “First-year Book Committee” with Dr.

For years, incoming first-year students were required to all read the same book before classes started in August. Georgia

Andy Lewter, dean of students. They came across a new program at Boise State University in Idaho where the idea is that

College launched a new spin on that tradition this year.

if students are interested in the topic, they will read it.

It moves the common experience of one book to a common

Georgia College went a step further. They wanted to make

experience of reading, called GCREADS.

GCREADS a transformative experience by giving first-year

“What we have found, and what other FirstYear Experience professionals shared at

students an earlier encounter with faculty. First-year students will get their first taste of a college ‘micro-seminar’ – an interactive discussion in small groups that enable close interaction with one professor who shares their interest in the topic.

the most recent national

GCREADS offers first-year students a choice of 28 essays with

meeting, was more and

themes like justice, language, Southern culture, American

more students were not

history, the artist’s responsibility, sustainability, health and

reading the entire book.

wellness, technology, and leadership.

Most were reading the first 30 pages or so, and

“GCREADS is a reading experience that will be different,

sometimes they weren’t reading it at all,” said Dr. Carolyn

innovative, and interesting for our students – one that reflects

Denard, associate provost for student success and director of

the diverse interests of our students and encourages a lifetime

the Center for Student Success.

of reading,” Denard said.

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Georgia College awarded National Endowment for the Arts Big Read grant Georgia College received a $15,000 grant to host a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read in Milledgeville. The goal is to promote the joy of reading and bring the community together around a common book. The university is one of 79 nonprofit organizations across the country awarded the grant to host a community reading program between September 2018 and June 2019. Co-sponsored by Georgia Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ina Dillard Russell Library and the Department of English,

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Beeson Hall wins award for historic preservation Georgia College received a “2018 Excellence in Rehabilitation” award from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation (GTHP) for the renovation of Beeson Hall. University Architect and Director of Facilities Planning Michael Rickenbaker accepted the award at the 41st annual Preservation Awards ceremony in Columbus. It recognizes work that gave compatible use back to Beeson Hall “through repair, alterations, or additions, while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value.” “We respect the historic fabric of buildings,” he said. “We treat them like ‘forever buildings,’ which they are if you treat them with respect for their historical character.” The GTHP awards committee reviews projects annually in the categories of restoration, rehabilitation, sustainable rehabilitation, preservation, stewardship, and preservation service. A recommendation is given to GTHP’s board of trustees, which then selects projects worthy of recognition based on compliance with historic-preservation standards.

the NEA Big Read in Milledgeville will focus on the book

Activities are planned for fall 2018 that will explore different

“Silver Sparrow” by Tayari Jones.

aspects and themes from the book. The author will visit and host a book signing and discussion.

“The purpose of the program is to bring people in the community together around a common text,” said Dr. Beauty Bragg, professor of English. “As a literature professor, I think reading fiction gives people a way to connect to others from different backgrounds or who have different experiences. That

The grant allows the university to purchase 1,000 copies to distribute in the community. The distribution will be coordinated through partnerships with Twin Lakes Library, local schools, and Georgia College.

emotional connection can help us understand the human

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the

experience across boundaries.”

Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. connection magazine | 7 | gcsu.edu

Summer sun used to solar-power golf carts Two physics students continued research this summer, adding three solar-powered golf carts to Georgia College’s fleet. In addition, they made the current model more environmentally-friendly and use aerodynamics to reduce the time it takes to charge the battery.

New plaza recognizes National Pan-Hellenic organizations This fall Georgia College broke

jumped on board. Many had visited

ground on a new project honoring

other campuses with similar “plots”

a group of student organizations

or distinctive ways to pay tribute to

with strong ties to campus. The

NPHC organizations on campus

National Pan-Hellenic Council

and were excited to bring

Senior physics majors Nowsherwan Sultan and Nick

(NPHC) Historical Preservation

something similar to their

Palmer outfitted the golf carts with higher-wattage

Plaza will not only celebrate the

university.

solar panels purchased with a $7,700 grant from

The plaza will be located near Bell

Georgia College’s Office of Sustainability. Another

Hall and will include plaque for

$6,000, providing stipends for researchers, was

each of the “Divine 9”

funded by MURACE – Mentored Undergraduate

“We’ve had the benches, but we’ve

organizations mounted on stone.

Research and Creative Endeavors, an arm of

always wanted something to really

Flags will highlight the plaza, and

Georgia College that financially supports student

make us feel like we were part of

the Georgia College and NPHC

projects and encourages undergraduate research.

the campus,” said Director of the

seals will be featured in the

Cultural Center Stacey Milner, ’11,

stonework. An official ribbon

Dr. Hasitha Mahabaduge, assistant professor of

’15, and member of Zeta Phi Beta

cutting is planned for Homecoming

physics, started this research at Georgia College in

Sorority, Inc. ”It was something that

2019.

2016. That fall, two of his students equipped the

heritage of these organizations at Georgia College, but also promote a vibrant future.

first golf cart with a solar panel. However, it doesn’t

even in the early 2000s was proposed, but there was never the

The Georgia College & State

go far and takes about 26 hours for the battery to

financing or there was never the

University Foundation is assisting

recharge.

right space, and so we’ve kept the

with the funding of the project. The

benches. Then this year, Dr.

NPHC organizations are charged

Students improved on that by experimenting with a

Dorman was very passionate about

with raising $9,000 for the plaza.

movable solar panel. Tilting the panel to different angles, they now collect more sunlight and increase

giving students something they wanted.” Representatives from Campus Life presented an idea to students—a unique place on campus to call their own. Students immediately

To learn more about the National

running times, while lowering the need for

Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)

charging. They also tinkered with tire pressure and

Historical Preservation Plaza or to

located spots on campus where carts can be parked

contribute, visit

to take in the most optimal light.

https://alumni.gcsu.edu/nphcplaza. The team also has big plans for an “Electra-cart infrastructure” or solar-charging station on campus, with the hopes of completing that during the fall 2018 semester. connection magazine | 8 | gcsu.edu

Seven Georgia College students complete REUs in U.S. and abroad Seven biology, physics, and mathematics students were selected to do a wide-range of different research in the United States and abroad. These opportunities are called REUs (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) and are made possible by the National Science Foundation (NSF). REUs give students opportunities to gain laboratory skills, develop good work ethics, and use state-of-the-art equipment. They learn research techniques with professors, graduate, and post-doctorate students at other universities. Senior Cain Alexander Gantt is double majoring in mathematics and physics with a minor in computer science. This year, Gantt obtained his second REU focusing on “image reconstruction” at Salisbury University in Maryland. Junior biology major Billie Mills completed an REU in molecular genetics and cell biology at the University of

Georgia College graduate worked behind-the-scenes of summer’s hit Marvel movie One of Georgia College’s recent theatre graduates got an upclose view of the state’s new billion-dollar movie industry to experience what that’s like as an intern on Marvel’s new blockbuster.

Chicago.

In summer 2017, Jeremy Colwell became one of the

Senior Spencer Shortt, who has double majors in

a complex of 18 sound stages on 400 acres in Fayetteville. He

mathematics and physics, was accepted into the University

hobnobbed with makers of the superhero movie and watched

of Florida’s International REU in gravitational physics at

actors like Paul Rudd, who plays the role of “Ant Man,” work

Birmingham, England. He conducted research on “binary

their craft.

university’s first interns to work at Pinewood Studios Atlanta –

black hole formation and evolution” at the University of Birmingham.

“Being a part of Georgia Film Academy’s (GFA) first graduate

Sophomore biology major Kariann Lamon was chosen to be

opportunity,” Colwell said. “It very much gave everyone a

one of 10 students for a REU on corals at the California

hands-on and very real, very modern interpretation of how it

Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Lamon studied the

is to actually be on-set today. There’s a lot of not-so-

diversity and evolution of Western Pacific corals.

glamorous things that go on in actual filmmaking, and it’s

class of film students at Georgia College was a really cool

Junior James Fortwengler is double majoring in chemistry and math. He accepted an REU on nano-electrochemistry at Georgia State University in Atlanta. Senior physics major Aidan Jeffrey Burleson completed an REU in quantum computing at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

the really cool stuff and the glitz-and-glamour stuff too – all the stuff you fantasize and dream about.” Colwell’s name even appears in the credits of “Ant Man and the Wasp,” as one of the visual effects crew. He used “green screen” backdrops and intricate lighting to assure angles were filmed correctly. This allowed computer whizzes to add

Junior physics major Josh Ballard-Myer accepted an REU to study chemical reactions of “Belousov-Zhabotinsky” (BZ) waves at the College of Wooster in Ohio.

really cool to be shown that. But you also get to experience

special effects later. Colwell said he now has the confidence, skills, and connections to make film his career. “It just opens so many doors – so many doors that you couldn’t even imagine,” he said. “They give you the tools to go out and use them. If I’ve taken anything away from this – from both Georgia College and from GFA – it’s that I can go out and do whatever I want.”

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F E A T U R E

P R O G R A M

Fueling the leadership engine of Georgia How the university is developing community, industry, and societal leaders When Dr. Harold Mock talks about

he’s been with Georgia College. In that

editor-in-chief of the student newspaper

leadership and the liberal arts, the

time, Mock has been instrumental in the

the Colonnade. Learning leadership

simplest way he can think to describe

increased emphasis on making

within the context of what he was already

how the two are interwoven is to start at

leadership an essential component of

interested in started early his freshman

a medieval definition.

the student experience. Mock said one

year.

“The liberal arts are the skills of a free people. From classical antiquity through the middle ages, the liberal arts were the

of the most important duties of his office is to begin changing the idea of what leadership is to the average student.

“I went into the Emerging Leaders program my freshman year, and it was a really great experience,” said Walters,

skills essential to participating in civil

“Leadership is not something that we

who went on to serve as a peer mentor

society,” said Mock. “Today, we call that

study by itself,” said Mock. “We study it

in the program his sophomore and junior

leadership and civic engagement. We

within a context. Students didn’t come

year.” One of the things I took away was

want for students to contemplate the

here only to study leadership. They came

that leadership doesn’t always have to

enduring questions of the human

to study mathematics, art, marketing,

be something that people are born

condition, to harness their skills and

nursing, or education. It’s our role to

with—it can be learned.”

experiences, and to make positive

show them how they can lead within that

change in the world.”

context.”

Mock helms the Office of Leadership

Steven Walters, senior mass

which pairs 25 outstanding Georgia

Programs, which has undergone a

communication and rhetoric minor, is

College students with members of the

transition in the little more than a year

currently serving his second year as

Georgia Chamber of Commerce each

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Walters is currently in the Georgia Education Mentorship (GEM) program,

year. Like more than 500 students before

College. She participated in the GEM,

alumni that serve as community partners

him, Walters will meet regularly, observe,

Leadership Certificate, and Emerging

for our leadership program students who

and form lasting connections with leaders

Leaders programs, served as president of

are looking for practicum projects.”

that range from heads of Fortune 500

Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), the national

companies to leaders in law, education,

leadership society, and co-founded the

and health care.

student group Bobcats Against Hunger.

Another way leadership is changing at the

“Leadership programs prepared me for

Corporation of America, as a fellow in

university is with the addition of the new

life after Georgia College by helping me

residence. As part of his duties, Gregory

GC Journeys program. Leadership is one

identify my strengths and weaknesses. It

will teach, advise, and mentor students.

of the transformative experiences

helped me develop as a professional. I

students may take part in during their

use the knowledge I gleaned from

time at Georgia College. That can range

knowing my strengths and weaknesses

from volunteering with the GIVE Center,

everywhere. It’s defined my working style

being a student-athlete, serving with the

and how I work with others,” said Fisher.

Student Government Association, or a whole host of other leadership opportunities that Mock and his office have identified within the last year as leadership development opportunities at

This year, leadership programs is hosting alumnus Alex Gregory, recently retired as chairman, president, and CEO of YKK

Another hallmark of leadership at Georgia College, the Inspire! Student Leadership Forum, gives students an opportunity to have conversations with high-profile individuals. This year, the program will

Fisher currently works as a consultant with

include Dr. Faye McIntrye, dean at the

GovStrive in Atlanta. Every day is different

University of West Georgia, and Terry

and has its own challenges, a task that

Virts, NASA astronaut and commander of

Fisher isn’t intimidated by.

the International Space Station. It’s opportunities like these that Walters,

the university. The common thread

“A strength finder assessment given to us

between these experiences are a set of

in the LCP confirmed I naturally give my

core competencies that came out of a

all to whatever I’m pursuing. I’m not an

working group of around 45 faculty, staff,

extroverted person, but the leadership

and students.

programs encouraged me to find my

“Leadership means more than we think it

leadership style and reminded me that

does. It doesn’t just mean leaving

everyone can lead even if you’re not in a

Georgia College prepared for a career in

leadership position,” said Fisher. “I’ve

management or to want to run for

held that idea close to me in the first

Congress. It means more than being

couple years in the real world. I think

someone’s boss or having people fall in

being a leader has always been a part of

behind you. Leadership is about forging

who I am, but leadership programs

meaningful connections to our

helped develop me into who I am now.”

communities and world. It is a

“We have Emerging Leaders, the GEM program, and the Leadership Certificate Program (LCP)—these are our core programs,” said Mock. “But within this past year, we’ve been able to recognize these collaborative leadership opportunities across the university. Students are taking part in these experiences and learning leadership skills,

Mock said alumni like Fisher are integral

and at the same time, doing something

to the leadership experience for students.

they love and care about. There’s no other institution that does that.”

Fisher, and Mock said make leadership at Georgia College an unparalleled experience.

perspective, not a position,” said Mock. “Our students are learning those, not only to go forth and become leaders in

“We want all Georgia College alumni to

their industries and professions—but

stay engaged with us and often that can

create change in their communities,

McKenzie Fisher, ’16, made leadership

mean as much as taking a phone call from

school boards, local governments, and

programs a feature of her time at Georgia

a student,” said Mock. “We also have

beyond.”

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Investing in the future of Georgia College Leadership at Georgia Colleges reaches

“With both cohorts that have now

The program includes pairing participants

beyond just students. Extensive programs

completed the program, I have seen

with a campus mentor, leadership

and initiatives on campus aim to give

tremendous growth in our participants’

seminars every month, a DiSC and leader

faculty and staff leadership opportunities

perspective of our university and the role

level assessment, an off-site leadership

that enable them to thrive in their careers.

they each play in our success toward

event, and a final group project presented

becoming a nationally preeminent public

to cabinet that tackles a campus issue.

Georgia College Leadership Institute

liberal arts university,” said Cullars. “While

The Georgia College Leadership Institute

typically coming into the program with a

(GCLI) is in its third year. GCLI is an

departmental viewpoint, each participant

Development Series

intensive, seven-month leadership growth

comes away with a much broader

The Office of the Provost also aims to

and development program for staff and

perspective beyond their own

foster leadership among faculty by hosting

administrative faculty at Georgia College.

departments, seeing the larger picture of

the Department Chairs Leadership

Each year, a cohort is selected from

who we are as a university, what we do,

Development Series. Each year, the series

applications and nominations. Director of

why we do it, and where we are headed.

serves department chairs by covering

the program, Assistant Vice President Kyle

A natural extension of that larger

topics ranging from evaluating staff, USG

Cullars, said the program began in hopes

perspective is a greater personal

initiatives, conflict management, and

to attract, develop, and retain top talent

commitment to the university’s purpose,

more. Through this series, department

for the university. He said the program

mission, vision, and values. On the whole,

chairs learn best practices they can

speaks to Georgia College’s path to

participants have come away from the

implement in their own units and go

preeminence in its commitment to

program with a strong understanding of

growing the college’s greatest resource—

leadership in general, and what successful

people.

leadership looks like at Georgia College specifically.” connection magazine | 12 | gcsu.edu

Department Chairs Leadership

forward leading effectively. n

A Georgia College leader . . . COMMUNICATES EFFECTIVELY A Georgia College leader develops and

DEMONSTRATES SELF-AWARENESS

delivers multi-mode communications that

of feedback and reflection to gain productive

convey a clear understanding of unique needs of different audiences.

A Georgia College leader uses a combination insight into personal strengths and weaknesses.

COLLABORATES

MANAGES COMPLEXITY

A Georgia College leader builds partnerships

A Georgia College leader makes sense of

and works collaboratively with others to

complex, high-quantity, and sometimes

meet shared objectives.

contradictory information to solve problems effectively.

VALUES DIFFERENCE

REASONS ETHICALLY

A Georgia College leader recognizes the

A Georgia College leader gains the

value that different perspectives and cultures

confidence and trust of others through

bring to an organization.

honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

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M A x N O A H S I N G E R S G I V E T H E I R F I R S T P E R F O R M A N C E AT

Carnegie Hall

is past spring, georgia College’s Music Department accomplished something new. e Max noah Singers choral ensemble made their debut on Carnegie Hall’s historic stage.

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Dr. Jennifer Flory, director of choral

to Flory. Traveling to perform in New York

administration minor. She was a member

activities and professor of music, chose a

City is expensive. Plus, the time and effort

of Max Noah Singers all four years at

bold and gutsy program for the

it requires is a “very large undertaking,”

Georgia College, singing in about four

university’s first appearance at the famed

she remarked, so “it’s not something

concerts a year. She traveled across

New York City venue. She used the grand

every university does. And not every

Georgia and to Europe with the group.

setting to premiere songs that had never

university that does it is able to do it

Each experience was wonderful, she

been heard with choir or orchestra.

often.”

remarked, but none compared to being

They’d only been imagined in the

It was “exhilarating” for Flory to walk

creative, silent depths of the composers’

onto the gigantic Carnegie stage, see the

minds.

audience, and take the podium.

onstage at Carnegie Hall with the New England Symphonic Ensemble. “This was my first time performing at Carnegie, and I can say I was completely

“The music I chose to conduct was

She conducted the group’s performance

blown away,” Fordham said. “The hall

something new – commissioned by two

of two world-premiere works: “Heart-

was enormous and immaculate in all its

composers,” Flory said. “It was risky in a

Fire” by Carrie Magin of New York and

splendor. When I stepped onstage for the

way, because we were doing something

“On My Songs” by David Hamilton of

first time, it was breathtaking – definitely

that had never been performed before.”

New Zealand. Both composers chose a

something one cannot forget.”

poem from options provided by Flory. Nearly 50 students, faculty, and staff were

Magin’s piece was set to a poem by Sara

According to Fordham, it felt “timeless”

chosen from auditions to perform at the

Teasdale, and Hamilton set his music to a

onstage, as singers kept track of their

35th concert series for MidAmerican

poem by Wilfred Owen. Students

pages, watching the conductor’s cues

Productions, Inc. It was a once-in-a-

enjoyed getting their scores autographed

until they got “to a line in the text where

lifetime opportunity to sing in the

by both composers, who attended

the choir splits into a magnificent

stunning, multi-balconied Stern

rehearsals and the concert.

harmony that leaves you with chills.”

Carnegie Hall. Five members of the

Magin composed “Heart-Fire” on piano

Flory’s favorite moments revolved around

Milledgeville Singers Guild also

and “in her head.” She said it was

the world-premieres, which featured a

performed, along with groups from

remarkable, hearing it “come alive” for

variety of dynamics and tempos. Both

Michigan and Illinois.

the first time with singers putting their

built to loud climaxes before settling into

expression into it.

softer, slower endings.

area alumni for a preconcert social,

“The thing I think was really neat and

Fordham loved the climaxes as well. The

hosted by Foundation Board of Trustees

transformative about it was being able to

group sang “with wild abandon,

member Kim Martin, ’82. There was also a

have the composers of our two pieces

passionately,” using “a deep, pulsing

buffet supper and, after the concert, a

there with us for rehearsals,” Flory said.

ambiance that grew with radiant energy,”

cruise along New York Harbor.

“They were able to give me and the

she said. “’Heart-Fire’ inspired phrases

Auditorium and Perelman Stage at

President and Mrs. Steve Dorman joined

students feedback on what they thought

like ‘I am sandaled with wind and with

When extending the invitation to Flory,

needed to be tweaked or how they

flame’ and ‘I will sing to the trees and the

Peter Tiboris, general music director of

thought we should do things differently or

stars in the sky’ — the perfect way for the

MidAmerica Productions, wrote: “In

to give us a big ol’ smile, when they were

choir to kick off its eventful night.”

viewing the audition videos, I noticed that

really pleased with how we did.”

the chorus delivered warm yet sensitive

“Choosing unfamiliar songs definitely

performances under your superb

“Just having that interaction with live

makes a good statement,” Fordham said.

leadership. The choir’s attention to

composers, I think, is something that will

“By performing world-premiere pieces,

nuance and blending contributed greatly

stay with the students for their entire life

we were able to share 21st-century

to the stunning performance.”

and career,” she said.

compositions about acting upon the passions of one’s life to a vast audience. I

It’s a “relatively unique experience” to

Shelbea Fordham graduated in May with

sing at the celebrated venue, according

a music major and business

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was very proud to stand on that stage as

a Georgia College student that night.” n

C O V E R

S T O R Y

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GC Gives Day STARTING A NEW TRADITION FOR GEORGIA COLLEGE

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n just three hot, summer months—

Once students make a human connection

worked up a sweat shoveling dirt,

one tiny idea sprouted, grew, and

with people in their community, it’s “so

building a water trench, spreading pine

blossomed into a huge, logistical

powerful,” said Dr. Shawn Brooks,

straw, and moving potted plants. Lockerly

feat: GC GIVES Day.

Georgia College’s new vice president for

employee Adrian Williams was glad to

Student Affairs. GC GIVES Day was his

see the students. The property is too big

brainchild.

for him and two other maintenance

Enough work sites, supplies, food, water, and transportation were arranged for

workers.

1,450 first-year students to spread

“It’s powerful for the community, and it’s

throughout Milledgeville and Baldwin

powerful for the students,” Brooks said.

“It’s great to have them here,” Williams

County and—in one morning—

“And it’s really important for Georgia

said. “With all the things that need to be

simultaneously perform community

College. We want to ensure that people

done? It’s a lot. It’s nice to have the help.

service at about 40 different locations.

understand we’re here. We care. And we

It’s wonderful.”

want to give back.” Students played Bingo with the elderly,

Thomas Johs of Sandersville is majoring

packed school supplies at the Boys and

GC GIVES Day was organized by Kendall

in business. He didn’t mind getting up

Girls Club, and guided horses carrying

Stiles and Kristy Johnson, senior and

early to help out.

physically-impaired children. They

assistant directors of community

educated the public about recycling.

engagement. They worked in partnership

“It’s great,” he said, wiping the sweat

They pulled weeds, mulched, and planted

with Ashley Bacon, executive director of

from his forehead and leaning on his

gardens. They painted. They cleared

Keep Millegeville/Baldwin Beautiful.

shovel. “I’m excited to be out here,

debris. They pressure-washed buildings. They picked up garbage.

especially helping out the community and One of the largest groups of volunteers

making a positive impact here in

worked at Lockerly Arboretum. About 120

Milledgeville.”

connection magazine | 18 | gcsu.edu

The GIVE Center, located on the first floor of the Maxwell Student Union, is the only center of its kind in Georgia. GIVE stands for “Georgia College Inspiring Volunteers to Engage.” Each year, more than 2,000 students perform and document about 50,000 community service hours at the GIVE Center.

Most students, like Johs, seemed happy

college student here. We give back. We

as soon as the day began and Holcomb

to donate their labor on GC GIVES Day.

are servant leaders.”

saw her new friends, she perked up.

Brooks came to Georgia College from the

“The mood kind of picked up a little bit

But Brooks said he understands if some didn’t like the work.

University of Pittsburgh, which has a

more, and when I heard we were going to

“I hope—if there are students out there

regional campus where freshmen do

a nursing home, I got really excited,” she

who don’t like their service site—that they

community service. But that class was half

said. “I really like older people. I like

connect with the understanding that this

the size as Georgia College’s, requiring

talking to them and hearing their stories.

really isn’t about me,” Brooks said. “This

only a dozen work sites. Most universities

When they said we were doing their nails

isn’t about the trash I have to pick up. This

do have volunteer days as a choice for

and their make-up, I got really excited

is about me connecting with a greater

freshmen, but few make it mandatory.

because I’m a little girly.”

Getting every first-year student

More students are entering college

“You flip the script and, suddenly,

immediately immersed in volunteerism

already equipped with a mindset for

everything changes,” he said. “Your

and civic engagement helps ensure they’ll

philanthropy, said Brooks and Stiles. In the

perspective about things change, and you

be more successful in life.

past 10 years, students have become

good.”

start to look for ways that you can impact change for the greater good.”

more civic-minded. About one-third of all “Employers are looking to hire students

students at Georgia College track service

who have been involved outside the

hours. Brooks recalled commencement in

A liberal arts education aims to connect

classroom,” Brooks said. “Some graduate

May, when GC President Steve Dorman

students to the broader community,

and professional schools won’t even

asked members of the 2018 graduating

according to Brooks. He wants to create

consider you unless your resume has a

class to rise if they’d done community

informed citizens, who care about the

whole lot of service in it.”

service. About 90 percent stood.

One of the best ways to do that is by

“Regardless of what field they move into,”

In four years, due to GC GIVES Day, 100

providing exposure to the community

he said, “we want to ensure that they care

percent will have done community service,

beyond campus.

about their fellow human beings, and

according to Stiles. Although she had

world and society they’re moving into.

they’ve done something in order to give

done a few big service days through the

“This is their new home, so we want to

back. We don’t want takers. We want

GIVE Center, she’d never put together

connect students to Milledgeville and to

givers.”

something of this magnitude.

rationale of doing it in this particular

Merritt Holcomb of Columbus is majoring

“This is a new tradition at Georgia

moment is to get freshmen to start

in English and creative writing. There had

College,” Stiles said. “It’s very exciting to

thinking of this as a way of life at the

already been a few busy days for first-year

university. This is what it means to be a

students, packing up and moving in. But

Baldwin County,” Brooks said. “The

connection magazine | 19 | gcsu.edu

see where this is going to grow and go.”n

S T U D E N T

P R O F I L E

SGA president to steer student government

in new direction connection magazine | 20 | gcsu.edu

Amelia Lord, a junior political science major, wants to

our values,” said Lord. “The Student Emergency fund is a

close the gap between students and the Student

philanthropy for student government. I’d like to hold a

Government Association (SGA). As the new president, she

large-scale fundraiser and collaborate with other

aims to reach each student by encouraging them to play

organizations to make it successful.”

an active role in the association. Serving in student government has become second nature to Lord. She has represented her peers in an elected position since she was in third grade. “I was always really excited to serve on SGA as a freshman senator at Georgia College,” Lord said. “I

SGA Senator Cameron Watts and Lord have established a pilot program with Early College to provide an individualized tutoring program for Early College seniors. The program aims to raise their ACT and SAT scores, so these students will have a better opportunity applying to different colleges once they leave Early College.

wanted to be involved all of the time.” “We’d like to also have a TEDx talk so we can showcase Lord knows the leadership journey won’t be easy.

some of our amazing students and professors who are doing independent research on campus,” said Lord.

“There will be senators who are older than me, and who have been in student government longer,” she said. “It

She’ll focus on teamwork to make those goals happen.

will take time to adjust as president and work with

SGA senators will be available to students for a few hours

different parts of campus in a new way. But, I’m up for the

a day to discuss issues.

challenge.” “I want to make sure that everyone is hands-on and She plans to take student government in a new direction.

understands what’s going on,” Lord said. “Every student votes and has a say in what we do. SGA members will

“I want to start initiatives that are very different,” she said.

ensure everyone from a freshmen senator to a secretary

“That’s something that we really haven’t seen in a while. I

on a committee to the vice president to myself

also want to make sure that SGA is truly representing and

understands what’s going on and are working together to

reaching the students. We need to be as open as possible about our events, so that everyone can feel like they’re a part of SGA and get involved.”

communicate with all Georgia College students.” Lord understands how to build good leaders through

Some of the programs Lord has planned include Swipe Out Hunger (founded by GC honor student Kendyl Lewis), increasing the student emergency fund, starting a senior tutoring program at the Early College (supported by the Office of Academic Affairs), and holding TEDxstyle talks on campus.

communication. Her peers demonstrated this by nurturing Lord’s skills, helping her to rise in rank. “When I was a freshman, I was promoted to chair of the SGA Wellness and Safety Committee,” she said. “At the time, SGA President Laura Ahrens, ’17, and Vice President Terrell Davis, ’17, saw something in me by giving me that

“Swipe Out Hunger is as simple as setting up a table in the MAx,” she said. “The students let us know how many meals they’d like to donate. Those meals are transferred

leadership position. So, I would love to pay it forward and do that for other students by making sure the people who are in a chair position feel like they are leaders.”

to students who are in financial need. We hope to grow and support this. It’s a big task, coordinating with Sodexo

Now, Lord is in a position to mentor all GC students.

and the MAx and making all students, including those who are financially disadvantaged, aware of this

“I hope that at the end of my term, every single student

program.”

on campus knows where our office is located, what we stand for, and our election process,” said Lord. “I want to

“Second, we’re pairing Swipe Out Hunger with the Student Emergency Fund because they align nicely with

make sure that SGA becomes a more inclusive

organization serving every single student on campus.” n

connection magazine | 21 | gcsu.edu

F A C U L T Y

P R O F I L E

Dr. Samuel Mutiti: {HYDROLOGIST, SOCCER COACH, AND RESEARCHER}

SAMUEL MUTITI IS A MAN WHO RARELY SITS STILL.

connection magazine | 22 | gcsu.edu

hen he’s not teaching

Now, Mutiti hopes to finish a project he

from people at the school and in the

geology, bringing students

started during his Fulbright Teaching

community, who were grateful,” Mutiti said.

on research trips to

Scholarship in 2016-17. He’s trying to

“Our goal is to eventually finish. However

Zambia, sitting on Georgia

protect children from lead contamination in

long it takes, I’ll keep trying.”

College’s Sustainability Council, or studying

soil and water at an elementary school in

water issues at a myriad of local research

Kabwe, Zambia – a small mining

As part of that project, students will plant

sites—Mutiti’s rushing to his car to get to

community dubbed by news sources as

sunflowers this fall in Georgia College’s

soccer practice on time. He coaches and

“the world’s most toxic town.”

greenhouse at Herty Hall. Sunflowers have

refs games for Baldwin County youth, ages 5 to 18.

For almost 100 years, the government operated a mine there, providing residents

It’s all part of a life that centralizes on

with jobs but also contaminating soil and

students and doing what’s best for them.

water. Children play in dirt fields, breathing

“My favorite thing is working with students,” said Mutiti, a professor of biology and environmental science at Georgia College for nearly 10 years. His

in dust particles laden with high levels of

absorptive qualities. They pull heavy metals from the soil into their roots. Next summer, Mutiti will take another group of students to Zambia to finish the wall and plant sunflowers at the school.

heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and zinc.

In addition to research in Zambia, Mutiti

Scientists come and go—but nothing ever

conducts multiple local projects. Several at

changes.

Lake Laurel in Milledgeville are quantifying low oxygen and iron levels in wetlands and

wife, Dr. Christine Mutiti, teaches biology at

“They begin to get tired of scientists

the university as well, and their 16-year-old

coming into the area and collecting data

daughter plays soccer on the Baldwin

without any action to correct the problem,”

County High School team.

Mutiti said. “They’ll ask you, ‘What about

At Andalusia, former home of famed author

my children?’ They want to see something

and alumna Flannery O’Connor, Mutiti and

done.”

students are examining historical farm

“I enjoy teaching in the classroom. I enjoy it even more when I’m in the lab and we’re actually holding things and talking about

Located near the mine, the school is one of

things,” Mutiti said. “I like seeing students

the most contaminated areas in Kabwe.

do and learn at the same time. To me,

Playground soil contains lead levels over

that’s the most exciting part, when they

6,000 parts per million (ppm) – much higher

begin to make connections.”

than the limit set by the Environmental

Mutiti’s specialty is hydrology. He teaches physical geology, historical geology of the earth, economics and geology, introduction to environmental sciences, and a GCY1

Protection Agency (EPA), which is no more

will determine whether wetlands act as a water filter.

activity to see if soil additives from the 1950s still impact water quality today. At Lake Sinclair, students look for evidence of heavy metals emitted from a former electricity company. And, at Sapelo Island, they conduct studies on crawfish.

than 400 ppm. Lead causes neurological

Research gives students a chance to do

problems, brain damage, lowered IQ in

hands-on work and connect book learning

children, and miscarriages.

to real-world problems, Mutiti said. About

course he created, called “Water and

“We’ve concluded the biggest pathway is

Society.”

through inhaling dust, from the plants

two students a year discover a love for geology under his guidance.

they’re consuming, and from children hand-

“I’m surprised by the number of students

to-mouth,” Mutiti said. “Healthy adults

who’ve left here and gone on to do

have a better chance of getting rid of lead

geology,” Mutiti said. “To me, that’s the

poisoning. But children? Not so much. It

most exciting part — when students start

will impact their development. Once they

making connections to unrelated or

get it, the damage can be irreversible.”

everyday things.”

hydrology as a graduate and doctoral

In 2017, Mutiti raised $3,700 to start

“Research is my passion,” he added. “I

student, using Geographic Information

building a cement wall around the school.

think every student should have the

System (GIS) technology to map

He hired local workers, and study abroad

opportunity to do some kind of research. It

groundwater quality in the city of Lusaka,

students helped. However, they didn’t have

helps them grow as people. I enjoy getting

Zambia. He compared its municipally-

enough supplies to finish. Another $7,500

students to realize: They’re more capable

supplied and water-connected urban

is needed to complete the wall and cover

than they think.”

setting with isolated rural zones. This

ground with two layers of clean topsoil,

deepened Mutiti’s concern for water quality

grass, and plants.

Growing up in Zambia, a central-southern portion of Africa, Mutiti studied computer technology at Oxford, England, then got his master’s and Ph.D. in environmental sciences at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He developed an interest in

in less industrialized countries.

“We had a lot of interest and feedback

connection magazine | 23 | gcsu.edu

For additional ways you can support the Biology Department’s work, please contact Bob Preston at bob.preston@gcsu.edu.

G C

EARLGRANT

A T H L E T I C S

f you – like an estimated 40 million

Before his coaching career began, Grant

"We got down to Milledgeville, what we

others – filled out an NCAA

spent two years playing at Spartanburg-

found out was, ‘wow.’ This is a big-time

Basketball Tournament bracket last

Methodist College, a junior college. With

facility. Nice little country town. Beautiful

spring you may have noticed an

eligibility remaining after his two years in

dormitories," Grant said. "But the

unfamiliar name. In the Midwest

Spartanburg were up, Grant was receiving

players...we were playing pick-up with the

Region of the bracket facing No. 4-

offers from Division I programs like

guys and realized they had some players.

seed Auburn was the relatively unknown

Winthrop and Tennessee Tech, but an

These guys were good and it was like,

and No. 13-seed College of Charleston.

offer of a free ride brought him to

'Man, these guys are Division II?' It was

The reason the Cougars aren't a

Milledgeville.

kind of shocking. On top of that, though,

household name? It was their first NCAA

they were good guys.”

Tournament appearance since 1999. This

"Me and my buddy Mike Jones were

season featured a long-awaited return to

shooting around and this guy pops in the

After an impressive weekend, Grant and

the Big Dance for the Cougars and it

gym and says 'Hey, I'm Pete Strayhorn

Jones were more than prepared to come

comes thanks, in large part, to a former

from Georgia College & State University.

to Milledgeville.

Bobcat.

We'd love to get you guys on campus. I'll be in the area the next couple of days —

"Me and Mike Jones were talking before

Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant began

would y'all like to ride back and take a

we got back to Spartanburg Methodist

his coaching career in 2001 as a graduate

look? It's a beautiful place in Georgia,

and said, ‘Man, that’s a nice place. Do

assistant (GA) at Georgia College under

about 45 minute away from Atlanta.'"

you want to go ahead and sign?' We

legendary Bobcat head coach Terry

Grant said. "That's when he's got us now.

signed the papers and sent them back

Sellers. After two years as a GA, he

Neither one of us had ever been to

Monday morning," Grant said.

moved on to become an assistant coach

Atlanta. Obviously, we found out later

at Winthrop University, then Wichita State

that it was more like an hour and forty-five

Grant and Jones joined a team that

University, and then Clemson University,

minutes, but that’s good recruiting. You

would go on to win 49 games and two

before being named head coach of the

have to tell the truth now, but sometimes

straight Peach Belt Conference (PBC)

Cougars in 2014.

you've got to bend it a little bit."

titles over the next two years. The 199900 edition of the Bobcats won 25 games

The first year, they won nine games. The

Grant and Jones agreed to travel with

with Grant averaging 13.3 points per

next year, they won 17. The following

Strayhorn, and a white lie wasn't the only

contest – the second-best on the team –

year, they won 25. This season, they were

thing about Georgia College that

leading the team in assists, finishing

victorious in 26 games, took their first

impressed the pair. The campus and its

second in steals, and shooting a team-

Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)

potential proximity to Atlanta was

high 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Regular-Season championship, and, most

certainly a selling point, but the biggest

Grant, along with Bobcat Hall of Famer

importantly, their first NCAA Tournament-

draw was a nucleus of players that would

Julius Joseph and other Bobcat legends

birth-clenching CAA Tournament

soon become the best team in Georgia

like Jones and current GC Women's Head

championship.

College history.

Coach Maurice Smith, pushed the Bobcats to the first and only NCAA DII Elite Eight appearance in school history.

connection magazine | 24 | gcsu.edu

"That was the only time we had ever

"I took a lot from coach Sellers, from the

years, two conference championships. I

traveled on an airplane. For a few of us,

standpoint of I thought he did a great job

took a lot from that because I learned

that was the first time flying on an

of 'getting' the players. He did a great

that you can do coaching that way. You

airplane, ever," Grant said. "We went out

job of forging teamwork and unity. He

can have balance. You can take the kids

there to try and win a National

had balance. He and his wife Cathy had

to church. You can bring the kids to your

Championship. We lost, but we had a

balance. We spent life together. We spent

house. You don't have to cuss at them.

great time."

time at their house. We went to church

That was a beautiful thing to see as a

with them. He got us to be great

young coach."

After Grant's senior season came to a

teammates and win a lot of games. He

close, Coach Sellers invited him back to

was tough, but he never demeaned a

Georgia College to serve as a graduate

player in terms of the way he treated him.

assistant with the team. Grant agreed and

I don't remember ever hearing too many

spent two more years in Milledgeville. In

cuss words, which as a coach can be hard.

that time, he took what he could from the

He forged a team in unity and

Bobcats' legendary coach.

unselfishness. I learned a lot from them," Grant said. "We won 49 games in two

connection magazine | 25 | gcsu.edu

Grant has used those lessons to create one of the most upstart programs in college basketball today. The Cougars traveled 2,438 miles to San Diego to face Auburn, giving the Tigers all they could handle in a tight 62-58 loss. It was one of the biggest games in program history in

front of millions of viewers nationwide. n

A L U M N I

P R O F I L E

From Cuban refugee to corporate lawyer:

Alumnus lives the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;American dreamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cubans have fled their homeland in an effort to escape the oppressive government and harsh living conditions for many years. In the midst of riots and protests in 1994, tens of thousands of refugees packed onto small boats or make-shift rafts bound for Florida and a better life outside the communist country.

connection magazine | 26 | gcsu.edu

Born in Cuba, Javier Becerra’s family

no idea the options or process to

have had that opportunity at any

joined the mass exodus on that 90-

pursue his undergraduate degree. At

other university. Through my

mile journey by raft when he was just

the insistence of a friend, he came to

involvement, I was able to realize I do

four years old.

visit Georgia College and then

have these characteristics, these

applied. Little did he know, his

leadership skills that I can help give

“We were about 10 hours into the trip

application would introduce him to a

back to others. I could not only use

when we were rescued,” said Becerra,

life-long friend and mentor when

those at Georgia College, but

’12. “We were rescued by the Navy

Javier Francisco, associate director of

eventually in my professional life as

and taken to Guantanamo Bay, and I

enrollment management, read it.

well.“

for about eight months along with

“Javier read my essay and saw that I

At the time, he thought this college

Cuban and Haitian refugees.”

was a Balsero, a Cuban refugee, and

education would lead him to a career

he called me one day. He was like,

in the medical field, but a summer

lived in Guantanamo Bay as a refugee

The overcrowded camp was filled

‘Man, I’ve read your story, and I want

with people hoping to be able go to

you to come to Georgia College,’”

the U.S., but the time table for when

said Becerra, who was admitted to

or even if that would happen was

the Bridge Scholars Program,

vague—until an unfortunate turn of

a conditional admission program for

events sped up the timeline for them

freshman applicants who demonstrate

to be granted asylum.

potential for success in college.

“During that time, I got hit by an

That phone call changed the lives of

Army guy on a bicycle, and I went

both Javiers. For Francisco, it meant

into a coma,” said Becerra. “They

offering a new world of opportunities

were going to have to evacuate me

to a young Hispanic man, something

and my mom to the U.S. because I

he’s personally passionate about. For

wasn’t waking up, but I did end up

Becerra, it meant finding his true

finally waking up about 13 hours later.

potential and opening doors he never

A week after that they went ahead

imagined.

and sent us to the U.S.” “I was able to help Javier start the So began their new life. The family

first Latino student organization

spent some time in Miami, then after

organization, LSA (Latino Student

Becerra’s father heard great things

Association), at Georgia College. I

about Atlanta, he moved up to find a

was one of the founding members,”

job and housing before moving his

said Becerra. “I also helped bring a

family.

Latino fraternity to Georgia College,

“My parents risked everything for the

experience at Yale University shadowing in a hospital changed that. “I didn’t like seeing people suffer at the ER,” said Becerra. “My friends I met while studying biology said, ‘Javy, if you don’t want to do medical school, go to law school. You talk a lot. You’ll do good in law school.’” That’s exactly where his liberal arts experience led him. Becerra graduated from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2017. He now works as a Junior Counsel attorney at IMERYS USA where he practices corporate and intellectual property law. “If you would have asked me in 2008, or even after I graduated, would I be an attorney today, I would have said ‘no.’ I never would have imagined

Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino

that in my life,” he said. “I’m blessed,

Fraternity, Inc.”

I truly am, to have met people in my life who invested time in me, who

American dream. You know, we heard about the American dream, and it’s

On top of starting new organizations

gave me the opportunities, and made

kind of been something I’ve been

on campus, the biology major also

me realize — ‘I can do this. I can

searching for my whole life here in the

served in several other leadership

accomplish what I want.’”

U.S.”

roles as president of Gamma Beta Phi

Becerra spent much of his childhood

Honor Society and Omicron Delta

From his experience, he hopes other

Kappa Leadership Honor Society.

first-generation college students see their value and grasp the life change

and his teenage years in the Atlanta suburb of Grayson. As a first-

“It gave me the opportunity to be

generation college student, he had

involved, and I don’t think I would connection magazine | 27 | gcsu.edu

that education and a strong support system can bring. n

WEEK OF WELCOME

Save the Date for Alumni Weekend 2018!

connection magazine | 29 | gcsu.edu

Friday, Nov. 2

Saturday, Nov. 3

Registration/Hospitality Front Campus Tent, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Registration/Hospitality Front Campus Tent, 9 a.m. – Noon

Campus Tour See what’s new around campus with a personal tour. Student Activities Center, 1 p.m.

Campus Tour See what’s new around campus with a personal tour. Student Activities Center, 9:30 a.m.

Peabody Reunion Tea Reunite with other graduates of Peabody High School. Old Governor’s Mansion Education Room, ($20 per person), 2 p.m.

Golden Slipper Brunch Has your class already celebrated its 50th reunion? Reconnect with fellow alumnae for brunch! Library Living Room, ($10 per person), 9:30 a.m.

History of GC with Dr. Bob Wilson Join “Dr. Bob” as he gives a history lesson of Georgia College. Atkinson Hall, 2 p.m.

All Classes Picnic Enjoy lunch and relax in the Georgia sunshine with fellow alumni and their families. We’ll have music, activities sponsored by Academic Outreach, and a guest appearance by Thunder himself. Front Campus, ($7 per person), Noon

Grand Opening of Heritage Hall Celebrate the opening of the University's Heritage Hall. Visit the Georgia College Archives, the Heritage Living Room, and take a stroll through the university's history. Ina Dillard Russell Library, Clarke St., 3 p.m. Academic Outreach 50th Anniversary Reunion Join fellow Academic Outreach Alumni to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Academic Outreach. Front Campus Tent, ($5 per person), 5:30 p.m. 50th Class Reunion Dinner The Class of 1968 celebrates their 50th class reunion and joins the Half-Century Club. Old Governor’s Mansion, 6:30 p.m. Party Like It’s 1988 The ‘80s are back, in a big way! The Class of 1988 celebrates their 30th class reunion with an evening of all things ‘80s. University Banquet Room A, ($10 per person), 7 p.m. National Pan-Hellenic Council Reunion Join fellow National Pan-Hellenic Council alums at this all-class reunion during Alumni Weekend. Donahoo Lounge, ($10 per person), 7 p.m.

Wine and Design Milledgeville’s own Modge Podge Mama leads a painting class for artists of all levels of expertise. Front Campus Tent, ($10 per person), 2 p.m. Campus Tour See what’s new around campus with a personal tour. Student Activities Center, 3 p.m. Wine and Cheese Reception with Sister Classes The Classes of 1966 and 1970 are invited to join their big/little sisters as the Class of 1968 celebrates their 50th Reunion. Old Governor’s Mansion Education Room, 3:30 p.m. 45th Class Reunion Reception Join fellow Class of 1973 alumni for a special reception. Ennis Hall Porch, ($10 per person), 5 p.m. Alumni Awards Ceremony and Athletic Hall of Fame Join the Alumni Association and the GC Athletics Department as we honor exceptional achievements by your fellow alumni and friends of the university. This cost includes beer, wine, and dinner. Magnolia Ballroom, ($45 per person), 6:30 p.m.

Alumni Weekend 2018 Registration Form Name _________________________________________ Name while attending _________________________________________________ Class Year___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Name of Guest(s)_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone_________________________________________________Primary E-mail_________________________________________________

All alumni and guests must register for Alumni Weekend to receive a name badge, which acts as a campus pass and ticket to all non-ticketed events. We want to know that you and your classmates are coming home for the weekend!

RSVP by Oct. 29, 2018 I am planning to attend:

Quantity

Total No. Attending

n Alumni Weekend Registration

________x $7

________________

Lodging

n Peabody Reunion Tea

________x $7

________________

Fairfield Inn . . . . . 478-452-5202

________x $20

________________

________x $5

________________

Hampton Inn . . . .478-451-0050

________x $10

________________

n Meal at the MAx

n Academic Outreach 50th Reunion n Party Like It’s 1988

n National Pan-Hellenic Council Reunion ________x $10

________________

________x $10

________________

________x $7

________________

________x $10

________________

________x $10

________________

________x $45

________________

n Golden Slipper Brunch n All Classes Picnic

n Wine and Design n Class of 1973

45th Reunion Reception

n Alumni Awards and Athletic

Antebellum Inn . . 478-445-3993

Mail registration form to: GC Alumni Association Campus Box 96 Milledgeville, GA 31061

Hall of Fame Ceremony Subtotal =

________________

n Unfortunately, I am unable to attend Alumni Weekend 2018,

but would like to contribute to the Georgia College Heritage Fund. Enclosed is my tax-deductible donation of $_________________.

Complete the information below to pay by check or credit card. If paying by check, please make checks payable to GC Alumni Association. ■ American Express

■ Discover

■ Mastercard

■ Visa

Cardholder’s Name:___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Credit Card Number:__________________________________________________________________________________________________ Expiration:____________________________________________________________________________ Security Code:__________________ Signature:__________________________________________________________________________________ Date:_____________________ Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 478-445-5771 for additional information. connection magazine | 31 | gcsu.edu

1960 s Sabra Joy Hanson-Holladay, ’69, of Decatur,

this spring—the highest honor given toward promoting tourism. She is the tourism director for Americus in Sumter County.

Georgia, still teaches (part time) at age 73.

1970s Debbie Nelson Dean, ’76, ’83, was selected to the Houston County, Georgia, Teacher Hall of Fame in 2016. She taught English/language arts for 42 years—33 of them in the Houston County School system. After retiring from the classroom in 2013, she has been supervising student teachers at Georgia Southeastern State University.

1980 s Darrell Goolsby, ’87, retired from the State of CLASS NOTES

Georgia April 30, 2018, with 30 years of service.

1990 s Lionel Brown, ’94, ’98, ’08, was named Peach County (Georgia) School District’s new superintendent. Brown’s 24 years of experience in education began as a teacher and coach. In 2009, he became principal at Houston County’s Veterans High School. Brown also served as executive director of secondary options for Houston County Schools. He has a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. Art McSwain, ’97, joined Certis USA as regional manager in July where he is responsible for the sales and marketing of the company’s biopesticide products in Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and southern Virginia. McSwain is a member of the Southern Crop Protection Association, Georgia Pecan Growers Association, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, and the Georgia Plant Food Educational Society. Nicole Thurston Kirksey, ’97, received the Georgia State Commissioners Award for Outstanding Leadership in Promoting Tourism

Brewster Clark Rainer, ’98, published his ﬁrst book, “How to Build an IT Department, from Chaos to Continual System Improvement,” after more than 20 years experience building and restructuring information technology departments.

2000s Matthew S. Davis, ’02, ’04, was recently promoted to the position of director of Historic Museums at Georgia College. In this new role, he directs Andalusia: The Home of Flannery O’Connor, Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion, and the Sallie Ellis Davis House. He was also elected as president of the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries—a statewide organization dedicated to serving a diverse membership in a way that establishes a responsive network, provides a resource base, and promotes professionalism so that Georgia’s museum community is strong, eﬀective, and proactive. Davis began his term in January. Randi Bates, ’03, recently became vice president of A1 Healthcare Partners Division. She has been with the company for 15 years previously serving as the marketing manager and director of client development. Matt Elder, ’08, recently became director of the new HomeFirst Gwinnett Initiative for United Way of Greater Atlanta in Gwinnett County. He will lead the charge against chronic homelessness in Gwinnett County by assessing current needs, developing a plan, and coordinating with local leaders and stakeholders to take action. Beth Lanier Canada, ’09, was awarded the Charted Property and Casualty Underwriter designation by the Insurance Institutes April 16, 2018. She will attend the program’s conferment in San Diego, California in October. Canada is a claim specialist for State Farm in Atlanta.

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2010s David Scott Howard, ’10, is traveling all over the United States ﬁlming professional conferences and conventions as project coordinator of Playback Now. He received his master’s degree in moving images/ﬁlm/video production from Georgia State University in 2014. Dr. Katrina Evans Dobbs, ’10, ’12, of Covington, Georgia, received her doctorate in educational leadership from the Jack N. Averitt College of Education from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, May 2018. Dobbs is a district curriculum specialist for high

school language arts and began working for the DeKalb County School system in fall 2018. She is married to Rev. Ashley L. Dobbs, and has one son, Brandon Thomas. Bobbi Otis, ’13, graduated with a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Georgia in May 2018. This fall she will begin a Ph.D. program in public communication with a concentration in politics and rhetoric at Georgia State University. Eric William Schmidt, ’13, ’15, and Candace Cown Schmidt, ’13, had their ﬁrstborn son, William “Will” Cown Schmidt, May 31 in Athens, Georgia. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 20 inches at birth.

CLASS NOTES

Hailey Powell, ’14, married Casey Nutt, ’14, ’16, May 19, 2018. They were both education majors at Georgia College and were randomly paired in a group project. Hailey and Casey were surrounded by family and friends at the Tate House in Tate, Georgia, for the celebration.

Please submit your news for Class Notes at:

webforms.gcsu.edu/classnotes connection magazine | 33 | gcsu.edu

CLASS NOTES

Tate Llewellyn, ’15, married Cody Braun, ’15, May 12, 2018, in Temple, Georgia. The couple met during their four years together at Georgia College while serving in the same campus ministry, Young Life. Their wedding party included Georgia College alumni including Casey Braun,’17, Jay Crowley, ’15, Kelsey Taylor Lisicia, ’14, Meredith McConnell, ’14, Austin Parks, ’15, Abigail Per-Lee, ’15, Ben Redford, ’15, Hank Shaw, ’15, and Ellen Staton, ’15. “I am forever grateful to Georgia College for providing me with lifelong friendships, and education that well-prepared me for a career and my wife,” said Braun. “Go Bobcats.”

Laurel Smith, ’15, married Alex Rinaudo, ’14, April 14, 2018, in Newnan, Georgia. They met their sophomore year at Georgia College. Her bridesmaids included Brooke Deveraux Thornton, ’16 and Victoriana Lord, ’17. Laurel is a ﬂight attendant, and Alex is a manager of a hotel.

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U P DAT E C A P ITA L

C A MPA IGN

Total fundraising for FY18 - $6,055,617. As of July 31, 2018, the total raised for the campaign was $23,191,473 out of $30,000,000. Join us as we seek to raise the additional $6,808,527 to meet our goal by June 30, 2020. Visit campaign.gcsu.edu for more information about Follow Your Passion. Find Your Purpose.

In Memoriam Powell Moore* Henry Rankin Jane Rogers Seneker* Sara Sturdivant Stone Allene Middleton Smith, ’24 Margaret Trapnell Glover, ’32 Floreine Herron Hudson, ’36 Edith Harbor Cook, ’38 Marie Slade Brandenstein, ’40 Klonnie Wren Lewis, ’41 Sarah Vaughan Ridgeway, ’42 Christine Willingham Gay, ’43* Mary Foshee Gunneis,’43 Jane Garrett Phillips, ’44 Edith Kirkland Malone, ’45 Carolyn Plunkett Pratt, ’45 Beth Hall Stedman, ’45* Hazel Wood Alexander, ’47 Marilynn Tanner Fletcher, ’48

Mona Duke Brown, ’49 Ann Berry Williams, ’49 Virginia Folsom Beverly, ’50 Nona Woﬀord Reeves, ’51 Imogene Westmoreland McCants, ’52 Betty Butler Walker, ’52* Martha Traylor Smith, ’53 Mattie Cravey, ’54 Louise Eakes Hill, ’54 Josephine Warren, ’56 Sara Davis Young, ’56 Robbie Jardine Galloway, ’57 Louise Lunsford Myers, ’61 Helen Stark, ’62 Beverly Garrett Barney, ’63 Audrey Bainum Poole, ’63 Virginia Dickson, ’65 Carrie Thrift Hall, ’69 Emily Nutt, ’70

Shirley Owens Astin, ’71 Jerry Dykes, ’72 Rebecca Miller Gurr, ’73 Maria Diaz Thompson, ’73 James Hitchcock, ’76 Michael Andre, ’77 Richard Torrance, ’79 Carol Carter Quednow, ’80 Rita Yarbrough Minter, ’81 Daniel Henry, ’83 Joyce Miller, ’86 George Stefano, ’89 Clifton Langston, ’97 Shirley Outlaw Everett, ’98 Chandlor Whipple, ’98 Rhonda Bobo Jones, ’01 Veronique Wright, ’07 Samuel Kuehn, ’17

*Denotes alumni of Peabody School. This list recognizes deceased alumni that the university has been made aware of as of April 23, 2018. connection magazine | 35 | gcsu.edu

University Communications Campus Box 97 Milledgeville, GA 31061

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Changing lives—one student at a time Fred Crouch reflects on his 38 years of teaching ninth through 12th grade students anthropology, geography, government, and U.S. history in Maryland. He truly is his mother’s son. His mother, Marge Mulligan Crouch, who attended Georgia College, was also a teacher. Her sisters, Julia Mulligan Turner, ’38, and Rebecca Mulligan, ’43, became teachers as well. “I’ve always believed in holistic education,” Crouch said. “I got this from my mother and her sisters.” Decades ago, Crouch’s mother would often walk the neighborhoods to explore the environments her students lived in. “Most of her students lived in terrible conditions,” Crouch said. “She was always proactive on what was needed and that was to some extent part of my focus.” His mother’s nurturing nature with students rubbed off on him. He wanted to help meet his students’ individual needs, considering many of their families were in financial need. “It’s not just about the academics in the classroom,” he said. “I was concerned about their well-being. I’ve had children who were homeless, whom I worked with guidance counselors on, and we found housing within the school district for them.” One boy in Crouch’s class needed a liver transplant. “I contacted my congressman, senator, and the news media, and, eventually, he got on the list for a liver transplant,” he said. The nurturing aspect goes a long way, helping students to retain the subject material.

“If the child feels that you truly care about them and their lives, then you will receive more cooperation in the classroom, and they become more interested in what you’re teaching,” Crouch said. Georgia College made an impression on his mother and aunts. “They had grown up in Glennville, Georgia, so Georgia College was a breath of fresh air,” he said. “It was their first big window on the world and had a major impact on them. All three of them were very progressive and had a tolerant and compassionate view of the world.” In gratitude to his mother, Crouch created a scholarship in her memory. “I decided I wanted to do something for my mother and her sisters, because they had done so much for me throughout my life,” he said. “They enabled me to make it through college without any college loans. My aunt Becky and I thought it would be nice to set up a scholarship that would provide assistance to other students down the road.” Crouch and his aunt discussed that the scholarship should be needs based to go towards tuition, housing, or books. “I know that there are a whole lot of families that have other costs that they can’t afford,” he said. “I’ve seen children put their clothes into paper bags to go off to college.” Crouch also has provided Georgia College with a gift in his will. “We all need to think about our roots and how we got where we are,” he said. “We need to chip in when it comes time to help other people make it up the ladder. We need to be there to assist them in that journey.” To create your lasting learning legacy and help future generations of students, like Crouch has done, contact Elizabeth Hines at 478-445-1944 or elizabeth.hines@gcsu.edu to learn more.