Chargers Taking Charge

ALUMNUS GETS A KICK OUT OF DAYS AS A STUDENT

For Dunny Blankenship, a 1982 graduate of GHC (then Floyd Junior College), earning an associate degree in criminal justice was just one of many memories and accomplishments from his time as a student. Now spending his days guiding students as a social studies teacher and soccer and wrestling coach at Model Middle School in Floyd County, Blankenship reflects upon his own time as a student.

“At the time, GHC was known as Floyd Junior College and was a great place to be,” Blankenship said. “My mom had graduated from here as a registered nurse in one of the first classes at the college. It was a great school and was truly affordable.”

Following his education at GHC, Blankenship went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science from West Georgia College, a Master of Education from State University of West Georgia, and a post-master’s educational specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University. He said his time at GHC helped him develop an outlook on life that he follows to this day.

“This college laid the groundwork for me being able to understand that working hard and treating people fair goes a long way,” Blankenship said.

Blankenship said his instructors kept things interesting in the classroom which encouraged him to continue working toward his degree. He said they made lessons interesting, but also made students work hard for a passing grade.

“It wasn’t all about book work. They wanted us to understand how it all fit together,” Blankenship said. “This led me to be more understanding of the world and the people in it.”

Outside the classroom, Blankenship enjoyed competing among the college’s “Bearcats” year-round intramural sports teams, even being named Athlete of the Year in 1980. His passion for sports as a college student evolved into a life’s mission of supporting others on the field.

BLANKENSHIP – continued on page 35

ALUMNUS STARTS BUSINESS WITH GLOBAL REACH

GHC Alumnus Justin Deal made the decision to start Primeful Digital in Chattanooga as a way to improve his quality of life and the quality of life for others. Although he began his academic career in Political Science before eventually opening the search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing agency, Deal said his experiences at GHC helped drive him toward his calling.

“I was super nervous, but I still remember taking the risk and putting myself out there to join the Political Science Club,” Deal said. “It became a pivotal moment for me as it was the stepping stone that eventually led me to attend an Ivy League school and having the courage to start my own business.”

Deal said faculty and staff were helpful as he learned the ins and outs of college life, such as navigating financial aid and scholarship application process.

“GHC provided me with maximum opportunity in a comfortable setting,” Deal said. “The Floyd campus wasn’t too big or too small, and I always felt inspired to do more when I arrived on campus.”

Deal was enrolled at GHC from 2012 to 2014, graduating with an Associate of Science in Political Science. As a student Deal was involved in numerous Registered Student Organizations such as Equality Alliance, Student Government Association, Political Science Club, Phi Theta Kappa (Alpha Psi Omicron Chapter), and the Leadership Development Program. Deal also served as an Orientation Leader.

While Deal went on to study philosophy at Columbia University in New York, he said GHC provided him with the tools he needed to begin his academic and professional journey. In addition, Deal said he has several fond memories of his time on campus and engaging with

registered student organizations – even when things didn’t go according to plan. “I helped organize a trip to D.C. with the Political Science Club, and I mistakenly booked our lodging for one day less than what we needed,” Deal said. “We had to scramble to pack up all of our stuff and go sleep in a hotel outside of D.C. It was kind of a nightmare, but it taught me to triple-check all plans and how to recover and find solutions in a stressful, difficult situation.” Such events also helped Deal to learn about himself. “Moments Justin Deal like this — where I or someone else made a mistake or an error — taught me that we are all human, we cannot control everything, and that to succeed is to rise above the mishaps and find a viable solution,” Deal said. Starting Primeful Digital Content was no easy task, but Deal and his business partner were able to get things running in a short amount of time. “It took about three to six months to go from initial idea to running a business,” Deal said. “Many people wonder how we did that so fast, and it is because we had very low startup fees and have few overhead fees as our business is 99% digital.” Deal said he has been pleased with how his business has improved the lives of himself and others. “I wanted out of the 9-to-5 routine and to create more space in my life for travel and adventure,” Deal said. “I don’t want to wait until retirement to explore the world. Also, I wanted to promote a more open, workerfirst company culture and give people the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits of our burgeoning gig economy. Luckily, I had the opportunity to freelance as a DEAL – continued on page 35

KNOW A CHARGER TAKING CHARGE?

GHC alumni are Chargers! And Chargers Take Charge. Thousands of GHC alumni embody the #TakingCharge motto throughout the state and country by making a difference in their communities and making the most of their careers. Do you know other successful GHC alumni? Email us at marcom@highlands.edu and let us know, so they can join other alumni in GHC’s spotlight series “Chargers Taking Charge.”