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ALUMNI PROFILE: PEYTON GARRIS ‘24
“
Not Waiting to Give Back”
By Tiffany King
College of Coastal Georgia alumnus Peyton Garris ’24 knows what it’s like to have great ambitions, but be limited by resources. He wants to help others reach their full potential, which is why he donated to the College’s cyber defense program and the Art and Lindee Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship. Both programs positively impacted his time at the College, and he wants to ensure that others benefit from the same experience.
Garris graduated in May 2024 with a bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in cyber defense. Originally from Darien, Garris wanted to stay local for college so he could continue to work with his father’s construction company Garris and Associates, Inc. Garris grew up doing construction work for most of his life and the local commute to Coastal Georgia made it very convenient to attend class then go to work.
“I don’t think kids realize how cool it is to have higher education so close to you. It’s amazing,” he said.
While in high school at McIntosh County Academy, Garris participated in the dual enrollment program at the College. Once enrolled full-time at Coastal Georgia, Garris considered
only staying a short time until he completed his core classes, then transferring to another school. However, like many students, he fell in love with the College particularly the professors.
“I just loved the professors so much Dr. Don Mathews, Dr. Nelbert “Doc” St. Clair, and Professor Scott Williamson. The professors here have so much personality and real-world experience,” Garris said. “A lot of them haven’t been professors their entire career. It’s nice to learn from people with actual experience. I really enjoyed the professors. That’s probably the main reason I stayed. There’s a sense of community, especially in Doc St. Clair’s class.”
Garris considers the faculty to be one of Coastal’s best kept secrets. He also commended Dr. Bill Garlen, director of business innovation development and assistant professor of management, and Dr. T. Reese, professor of finance and economics, for sharing their knowledge. Garris shared how Reese recommended a book about investing, which has him now thinking about finance in a different way.
Garris didn’t know what he wanted to study at the College, especially since his background was in construction. It only took taking one cyber defense class and Garris was hooked. He started doing so well in class that St. Clair put him on the Ateam for cyber competitions. Garris achieved high accuracy scores and showed great promise. Cyber defense students participate in National Cyber League (NCL) competitions to test their skills. The competitions often take an entire weekend, with students coming in early and staying into the night.
“Cyber defense taught me a lot about leadership and how to work with other people. Also, how to design websites, which is great for marketing, and how to be secure online,” he said.
Garris has been using his acquired skills to help his father’s company, doing web design, setting up secure online communications, and organizing financial records.
Although Garris works alongside his father, who builds coastal, cottage-style homes, he also has his own company Garris, Hamlin, and McGill LLC, which he started right after graduating from high school. Currently, his company only finances houses, but Garris has big plans for the future. He is working on obtaining a contractor’s license so that his company can do construction.
“I’d like to do something a little bigger, like apartment complexes. That’s what really interests me,” Garris said. “I’ been reading a lot about doing big deals like that and you can see a lot of apartment complexes going up in Glynn. It’s amazing.”
One life-changing scholarship really encouraged Garris to continue in pursuing his dreams. He received the Art and Lindee Lucas Endowed Scholarship in Entrepreneurship. The scholarship benefits students in the School of Business and Public Management who are rising business talents. The scholarship paid for Garris’ last two years at the College, allowing him to graduate debt-free.
“I look up to Mr. Lucas a lot because he’s done so much for Darien. He has invested so much into that community with condos and Oaks on the River (a boutique hotel). It was awesome to meet him as they were just starting construction,” Garris said.
Read more about Peyton here.
ALUMNI TALKS: SHARING EXPERIENCES
AND CAREER ADVICE WITH STUDENTS
Coastal Georgia alum Lindsey Licitra ‘22 visited the College to speak with Professor Scott Williamson’s sports marketing class. Lindsey is the ticket operations coordinator for the Savannah Bananas. She talked about her experiences, how to make one stand out to employers, and the importance of understanding company culture.
Lauren Stillman ‘21 also took the time to speak with students in Professor Williamson’s sports marketing class via Zoom. She now works as the stadium event operations coordinator at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Lauren talked about her career journey, her time in graduate school, and the benefits of networking.
Sam Ghioto ‘21 presented “The Importance of Story” to students in Dr. Robin McLachlan’s Environmental Communications course. Sam talked about storytelling and how he started his filmmaking career. He is also a photographer, writer, and the owner of Sam Ghioto Studio.
If you wish to give back to the College by sharing your career advice and experiences with current students, please reach out to us at alumni@ccga.edu. We will get you connected.
CLASS NOTES
Fahima Rastagar (‘23) is a registered nurse in Jacksonville and is now pursuing another bachelor’s in healthcare administration.
John Thompson (‘22) is a police sergeant with the College of Coastal Georgia.
Eric Belcher (‘15) is a family medicine resident physician. He graduated from Mercer University School of Medicine in 2023. Previously, Eric worked as a medical technologist/medical laboratory scientist and in different roles at various hospitals.
Cameron Arbo (‘22) is a student at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
Emily Cavender (‘24) was recently promoted to guest experience coordinator at the Courtyard Residence Inn on Jekyll Island.
Justin Couturier (‘92) is a sales manager for Club Business Concepts, LLC.
Brooklyn Armani (‘03) became a U.S. citizen and is finishing a dual bachelor’s degree.
James Ardoin (‘22) is the supervisor of shift operations at Cleco Power. James is aspiring to grow within the company and is looking forward to having his first grandchild in November.
LET’S CONNECT
To update your information with the Alumni Association and share what’s happening in your life, please click here.
Let us know how you’re doing and how you would like to get involved on campus.
We’re gearing up for Giving Tuesday on December 3rd, and this year, we’re inviting YOU to be part of something incredible! The College of Coastal Georgia is rallying our community to support the Coastal Georgia Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship—and we need your help to make it happen!
Here’s why this is BIG: Whether you’re an alum, a friend of the College, or simply someone who believes in the power of education, your contribution will have a direct impact on students. You’ll help provide the financial support they need to chase their dreams, finish their degrees, and go on to make a difference in the world.
Why should you get involved?
Change lives: 100% of every dollar you give goes directly to students helping them thrive academically without the burden of financial stress. Your support fuels their success and creates lasting opportunities!
Leave a legacy: The endowed scholarship fund will benefit students for years to come, meaning your gift this Giving Tuesday will continue to make a difference long after today is over. You’ll be building a legacy of support that grows year after year.
It’s not just for alumni: Whether you graduated from Coastal Georgia or not, everyone is invited to join in! Your support helps create a stronger community, and we’re all better when we lift each other up.
Ready to make a difference?
Join us this Giving Tuesday by visiting www.ccga.edu/ givingtuesday to make your gift. No donation is too small together, we can reach new heights and transform the lives of Coastal Georgia students!
Let’s show what we can do when we come together. Get excited your generosity has the power to change lives, and it all starts on December 3rd!
Thank you for being part of this inspiring movement.
Support the Coastal Georgia Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship this Giving Tuesday, December 3, to make a lasting impact in the lives of future students at the College.
SCAN TO GIVE
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: NOV. 2024
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We would love to stay in touch with you. Please tell us about yourself and what you’ve been up to after college. Update your contact information here. Questions? Contact alumni@ccga.edu.
