2013 Community
Pride
Education
Georgia Southern aims high and keeps on growing
community pride 2013
2 – Statesboro herald — Sunday, February 24, 2013 | statesboroherald.com
Education
Bulloch schools shine Students, teachers have plenty of reasons to be proud Brooklet Elementary
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald File
Nevils Elementary School fifth grader Layla Martin, 11, is all smiles after spelling the word “independence” to win the 2012 Bulloch County Schools Annual Spelling Bee at Julia P. Bryant Elementary School.
➤ Mascot: Yellow Jackets ➤ Principal: Marlin Baker ➤ Assistant Principal: Christy Inman School Achievements • Named a Reward School by the Georgia Department of Education for being designated as one of the 78 highest-performing schools in the state. • Lacey Crosby and Autumn Nesmith won first place for Case Modification at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair. • Anna Forbes and Caroline Mitchell won first place in Non-animated Graphic Design at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair and advanced to state. • Hosted 17th Annual Pumpkin Parade in the Brooklet community. • BES Math Team captured 3rd place overall in the Penny Sikes Mathematics Tournament. • Morgan Debrah placed first in the Bulloch County Young Georgia Authors Contest. Kailyn McDuffie and Grace Kazak placed second. • Thirty-seven BES art students were selected to display artwork at the Averitt Center for the Arts during the month of January 2013. • Ryan Sikes and Bo Thompson were selected to represent Brooklet Elementary in the GSU Art Extravaganza. Their artwork was displayed at the College of Education through the fall of 2012. • Six students placed at the 2013 Regional Student Technology Fair. Sarah Bisso placed third in Digital Video Production. Lacey Crosby and Madison Patrick placed first in Digital Photography.
for the 2013-2014 School Year
“Trinity has been more than just a school to me. It’s a place where I feel safe. I have many friends, and have made great relationships with the teachers that I plan to keep even as I graduate. Not only, Trinity has given me the opportunity to learn a lot about the world, and a lot about our Creator. Trinity is a school I would suggest going to as a safe haven filled with kind teachers, great education with Christian principles,and a place where you can be yourself. Without Trinity, I wouldn’t be the man that I am today. I will always remember Trinity and highly recommend it to everyone who wants to know more about our grand Creator, God.”
Randy Channell • Class of 2013
• K4 - 12th Grade • Accredited by the Georgia Accrediting Commission • Above State and National averages in SAT scores • Brand New Athletic Facility & Science Labs • 1st - 8th Grade scored 90% or better on ITBS the last 3 years
• Kindergarten consistently scores in the 99% on ITBS • Half-Day Pre-K from 8:30am - 12:00pm • College Preparatory with Dual Enrollment Options • Bible taught at all grade levels • AP classes in Calculus, English Literature and Composition, Physics, and U.S. History
Trinity Christian School • 571 East Main Street Statesboro, GA 30461 • 912.489.1375
Visit us on the web at www.tcsstatesboro.com
Kailyn McDuffie placed second in Multimedia Applications. Zach Patrick placed second in Multimedia Applications. Zane Hawkins placed first in Web 2.0 Internet Applications and first in Technology Literacy. • Mrs. Janda Nelson and Ms. Julie Childers received a Foundation for Public School Education in Bulloch County Mini-Grant. The grant funded the unique Dr. Seuss Shopping Village for BES first graders. • Mrs. Heather Bridges and Mrs. Hillary Zeigler were selected as WTOC Top Teachers.
Julia P. Bryant Elementary ➤ Mascot: Bears ➤ Principal: Nathan Pennington ➤ Assistant principals: Michelle Curtis and Laurie Mascolo (part-time) School Achievements • The new Statesboro Exchange Club “Freedom Shrine” was unveiled that features more than 30 documents from American history. • Kian DeVine won first place in Photography, Emily Williams won first place in Case Modification, Sarah Harvey won first place in Photography, Madelyn Wolfe and Brooke Stansel won first place in Digital Video Production, Will King won first place in Non-multimedia Applications, Davis Vasilatos won first place in Project Programming and David Lippincott won first place in Robotics at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair.
Langston Chapel Elementary ➤ Mascot: Langston the Lion ➤ Principal: Dr. Karen Doty ➤ Assistant principal: Tanita Peak School Achievements • Georgia first lady Sandra Deal spoke selected LCMS as one of eight press conference sites across the state to launch her school bus safety campaign, “Stop Means Stop.” Bulloch County was selected because of its model school bus safety record and training program. • Launched the Sharing the Academic Responsibility (STAR) campaign for parents. • Sen. Jack Hill, R-Reidsville, read to prekindergarten classes to help celebrate Georgia Pre-K Week. • Matthew Perry won first place in 3-D Modeling for the third-fourth grade division, Kirk Wilkerson won first place in Multimedia Applications for the third-grade division, Oscar Nuñez won first place in Multimedia Application for the fourth-grade division, Eletria Biswas won first place in the Technology Literacy Challenge for the third-fourth grade division, and Nvja Gaines won first place in the Literacy Challenge for the fifth-sixth grade division at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair. • Provided Cub Club, an after-school tutoring program for kindergarten through second grade students, which is funded by a 21st Century Communities Learning Centers Grant. Program to serve 80 kindergarten through second-grade students. • Achieved the highest fifthgrade math facts fluency within the district at 99 percent. • Had 15 students, the second-highest of any other participating school, to place either first, second or third in the First Annual Bulloch County Regional Technology Fair.
Mattie Lively Elementary ➤ Mascot: Eagles ➤ Principal: Jennifer Quick ➤ Assistant Principal:
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald File
At a mock auto accident during the Ghost Out at Statesboro High on March 23, Trey Miller of the Georgia State Patrol escorts a handcuffed Lindsay Cork, 18, who was portraying a driver under the influence of alcohol at the center of the fatal wreck. Carolyn Vasilatos School Achievements • Successfully relocated to the new Mattie Lively Elementary School. • Kicked off “Reading Under the Rooftop” to motivate students to increase their reading averages. • Terry Reaves, area manager for Georgia Power Co. and Wayne Grimes, the utility’s energy education coordinator for the Coastal Region, presented Rachel Pritchard a $1,000 New Teacher Assistance grant. Pritchard, a recent graduate of Georgia Southern University, is a special education teacher. • Bryce Westerfield won first place in Multimedia Application at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair.
part in a two-week program at the Statesboro Regional Library to promote interest in reading. • Abigail Scarborough won first place in the state for her grade level in the Jimmy Carter NHS Education Program. • The school held its first Book Character Parade. • First- through fifth-grade students competed in the Second Annual Science Olympiad. • Reid Thompson won first place for Animated Graphic Design and Sloan Aubrey won first place in Nonanimated Graphic Design at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair.
Mill Creek Elementary
➤ Mascot: Cardinal ➤ Principal: Todd Williford ➤ Assistant Principal: Hope Sumner School Achievements • Edmond Bland won the fifth grade 2012 American History Essay Contest sponsored by the Archibald Bulloch Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Joshua Rawls, Robert Lloyd, Harrison Hughes and Gavin White also placed in the contest. • Sallie Zetterower Elementary was the winner of the Statesboro Regional Library’s Summer Readers Cup for the second year in a row. • Elizabeth Bennett received the Averitt Center Summer Scholarship. • Kevin Davoud won first place for third grade in the Young Georgia Authors contest.
➤ Mascot: Mustangs ➤ Principal: Patrick Hill ➤ Assistant Principal: Debra Minick School Achievements • A.J. Scott was granted his wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation to see the Florida State Seminoles play in the 2012 Orange Bowl. • The Fifth Grade Math Team won the Overall Team Award at the 2012 Penny Sikes Math Tournament. The Fifth Grade Ciphering Team won first place, and Ashley Noh won first place in the fifth grade individual category. • Joni Aycock, media specialist, was selected by the Georgia Association of Instructional Technology and the Georgia Library Media Association as the 2012 Library Media Specialist of the Year for the Coastal Georgia District.
Nevils Elementary ➤ Mascot: Junior Jackets ➤ Principal: Julie Blackmar ➤ Assistant Principal: Justin Chester School Achievements • Layla Martin won the 2012 Bulloch County Spelling Bee. • Kindergarten through fifthgrade students created a colorful mosaic named “Our Tree” under the direction of local artist and NES parent Laura Lingle. • Libby Williams and Madison Martin won first place in the third-fourth grade division of the Web 2.0 Internet Applications, and Hailey Herring won first place for the 5-6 division at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair.
Portal Elementary ➤ Mascot: Panthers ➤ Principal: Paul Hudson ➤ Assistant Principal: Laurie Mascolo (part time) School Achievements • Prekindergarten through second-grade students took
Sallie Zetterower Elementary
Stilson Elementary ➤ Mascot: Stingers ➤ Principal: Pam Goodman ➤ Assistant Principal: Justin Chester School Achievements • Pam Goodman was named the school’s new principal. • Madison Isom and Jerri McBride won first place for Animated Graphic Design category at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair.
Langston Chapel Middle ➤ Mascot: Blue Devils ➤ Principal: Dr. E. Bonnie Gamble ➤ Assistant Principal: Chad Prosser School Achievements • Named a Reward School by the Georgia Department of Education for being identified as one of the top 156 “Highest Progress” schools in the state. • Marielle Anduyan won first place in the seventh grade category of the American History Essay Contest sponsored by the Archibald Bulloch Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Kevin Chen won
community pride 2013
statesboroherald.com | Statesboro herald — Sunday, February 24, 2013 – 3
Education
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald File
Ron Washington is The Cat in the Hat as the musical theater class from Statesboro High gives an abridged version of “Seussical the Musical” at the Statesboro Regional Library in March 2012.
Revolution. Kevin Chen won second place. • Eighth-grade teacher Jamelleh Coes was named the 2014 Bulloch County Teacher of the Year. • Boys’ Basketball Team captured the 2012 Coastal Empire Region Championship for the second time in four years. • Sixth Grade Math Team won the Overall Team Award at the 2012 Penny Sikes Math Tournament. The Sixth Grade Math Ciphering Team won first place, and Morgan Brown won first place in the sixth grade individual category. • Linda Wade, “Y” Club adviser, was awarded the Jim White Distinguished Service Award by the State YMCA of Georgia. • Georj Lewis won first place in 3-D modeling, James Kirkland won first place in Animated Graphic Design, Alexis Cribb won first place in Photography, Jaslyn Joseph and Naja Duhart won first place in Digital Video Production, Kevin Gao and Carlos Diaz won first place in Non-animated Graphic Design at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair. • Micah Kartchner won first place in the eighth-grade Vocabulary category of the 2012 Nan Rushing Write-off. Shekinah Smith won first place in the sixth-grade Capitalization/Punctuation category.
Southeast Bulloch Middle
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald File
Langston Chapel Middle School teacher Jamelleh Coes passes out milk and snacks during the 21st Century afterschool program in October 2012. Coes was named Bulloch County Teacher of the Year.
➤ Mascot: Yellow Jackets ➤ Principal: Donna Clifton ➤ Assistant Principal: Milton Williams School Achievements • Amy Cooper won the gold medal in the Illustrated Talk Category at the State STAR Leadership Conference. Cooper advanced to the
National FCCLA Conference, where she also won the gold medal. • Won the Overall Best Team Trophy for the 27th Annual Nan Rushing Write-Off in 2012. Students swept all the first-place awards in the Language Expression and the Mental Concentration categories for sixth-eighth grades. Chyann Hole, Johathan Saviskis and John Strickland; and Skylar Shuman, Wyatt Turner, and Eric Riggs were the student winners respectively. Madi Blackburn won first place in sixth-grade Vocabulary, Lainey Forbes won first place in eighthgrade Spelling, Morgan Griffin won first place in seventh-grade Language Usage, Skylar Shuman won first place in sixth-grade Mental Concentration. • Emily Barnard won first place in the Georgia Municipal Association’s “If I Were Mayor” Essay Contest. • Math teacher Mary Jones was featured in the editor’s article of Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics “Stepping on the Numbers” Fall 2012. • Cheerleaders won third place at the Gamecock Challenge at Eagle Creek 2012, second place in the Vidalia Sweet Onion Classic and third place in Region. • The softball team was the 2012 Region runner-up. • The football team was the Region runner-up. • Layni Miller won fourth place in the State Peanut Recipe contest at the Georgia National Fair. • Amy Cooper won second place in the FCCLA Brochure Design contest at the Georgia National Fair. • All five applicants for honor band were accepted: Andrea Appleton, Brianna Ellis, Hannah Fordham, Jonathan Saviskas and Nicholas Thorn. • The school donated 188
cans of food to the Food Bank. • Drew Robertson won first place in the Geography Bee, and Braxton Sisco was runner-up. • The Quiz Bowl team was the Region runner-up. Members are: Andrea Appleton, Zach Clifton, Hannah Fordham, Collin Gawthrop, Joseph Ham, Jenny Heller, Andre Martin, Hunter McDowell, Joseph Muldrew, and Wyatt Turner. • Allen Davis, Christina Kahley and Xavier Young participated in the Art Extravaganza. • Megan Diefenbach was the Eagle Nation in Education runner-up. • Nick Thorne placed first at the Regional Student Technology Fair and will attend State Tech Fair. Amber Bacon won third Place at the tech fair.
William James Middle ➤ Mascot: Knights ➤ Principal: Mike Yawn ➤ Assistant Principal: Tony Natson School Achievements • Alex Wagner won second place in the 2012 American History DAR Competition. • Julie Muldrew received the Arts Summer Scholarship from the Averitt Center for the Arts. • Kelsey Fallin’s artwork was selected by Georgia Southern University’s Eagle Nation in Education public art project as the next design in the Eagle Nation on Parade. Fallin will work with an artist to bring her work to life, and the Eagle will come to nest at WJMS. • The baseball team won its first-ever Coastal Empire Region Championship. • Caleb Deal won first place for 3-D modeling at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair.
• Marielle Anduyan and Darius Deloach won first place in Case Modification at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair. • Noah Caplinger and John Desiderio won first place in Digital Video Production at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair. • Dong-Kyun and Aidan Owens won first place in Multimedia Application at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair. • Swept all first-place awards for the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade divisions in the Writing Category of the 2012 Nan Rushing Write-off. Winners were Elizabeth Diamandruas, Ashley Williams and Sam Pollack. DeShauna Williams won first place in seventh-grade Vocabulary. Angela Zhao won first place in seventhgrade Spelling. Madelyn Fennel won first place in sixthgrade Language Usage, and Katherine Price won first place for the eighth-grade division of that category. Nick Thorne won first place in seventh-grade Capitalization/ Punctuation.
Portal Middle/ High School ➤ Mascot: Panthers ➤ Principal: Shawn Haralson ➤ Assistant Principal: Stephen Hoyle School Achievements • Joseph Lockley signed a letter of intent to play football for Georgia State University. • Josie Barnes, Logan Stephens and Ryan Rogers were among only 12 students in the state to pass both sections of the National FFA Organization’s Green Industry Junior Certification Exam. • “A Day for James Bostic” was held to raise money for a student in need.
“Challenging, Teaching and Nurturing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today”
REGISTER NOW for 2013-14 School Year The Area’s Premier Educational Institution
Dual Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and School and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SACS/SAIS); Accredited “with quality” by Georgia Accrediting Commission. All faculty members are fully certified or in the process of certification through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission; 15 have advanced degrees; 27 have 10 or more years of teaching experience.
College Preparatory Curriculum • Class of 2012 - Average SAT score -1556 (Bulloch County School System average was 1404, state average was 1452 354995, national average was 1498) - Composite ACT score - 21.6 (Bulloch County School System average was 18.4, state average was 20.7, national average was 21.1)
Exceptional athletic and co-curricular programs for girls & boys 32 varsity and middle school teams; nine parent-sponsored elementary athletic teams. Bulloch Academy competes in the highest level (Class AAA) of the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA).
• New tennis courts • New multi-purpose building for wrestling, cheerleading and physical education classes Of the 30-student graduating glass of 2012, most were awarded funds • Weight-room expansion to help pay for this post-secondary education. Some of the • Archery for middle, elementary and high school scholarships received by BA students were the Zell Miller Scholarship, • Skeet Shooting Team to form in Fall 2013 the HOPE Scholarship, the National Beta Club Scholarship, the Planters EMC Scholarship and academic/athletic scholarships to Georgia Varsity: In the past five years, BA has had seven state championSouthern University, Furman University and Baylor University. ships (competition cheerleading, wrestling, girls’ tennis, girls’ and Other colleges and universities that graduating seniors attend are the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, College of Charleston, University of boys’ track, seven state runners-up (wrestling, girls’ basketball, girls’ and boys’ track, girls’ cross country and competition cheerleading), Alabama, East Georgia University. eight ‘Final Four’ appearances, eight ‘Elite Eight’ appearances and won 12 region titles Five Advanced Placement (AP) courses • Senior-to-Sophomore Program in Pre-Calculus and Calculus • The Bible taught in Upper School Literature classes Middle School: In the past five years, BA has had the ‘undefeated and • Science Laboratories for Upper and Middle Schools unofficial’ state champions in girls’ track, the East Georgia Middle • SMART boards in all classrooms School champions (girls’ and boys’basketball) and 28-8 in football. • Three computer laboratories (Lower, Upper/Middle, Media Center) Competing with local and area public school teams. • Advanced Learning Support for Students • ACCEL program with GSU for juniors and seniors Small-school atmosphere • CAMPS (Computer, Art, Music, Physical Education, Spanish) for all • Students in lower, middle and upper school interact frequently, which lower-school classes fosters family atmosphere among all students and faculty members • AIM (Accelerating Inquisitive Minds) for all lower and middle-school • School-wide mentoring programs classes • School-wide assemblies and pep rallies • Strings program (Violin) for elementary music program • Parent volunteerism encouraged • Strings program (Guitar) for high school music program • Annual class trips and numerous field trips • Robotics Team in high school • Class musical programs • New primary and elementary-school playgrounds. • Students have the opportunity to participate, achieve and excel in multiple sports and co-curricular activities. Low student-teacher ratio • Current enrollment of 497 in PreK4-12 Scholarships Available • Small class size, which is more conducive to individualized Through the Georgia GOAL (Greater Opportunities for Access to instruction & attention • Two classes per grade level Learning) Scholarship program, we can offer partial scholarships to • Parapros in PreK, K & 1st grade Georgia residents currently enrolled in a Georgia public school (K-9) • Partnership with Oe Dae Language School in Seoul, South Korea for who wish to attend Bulloch Academy. English Language Infusion Program
873 We s t s i d e R o a d • S t a t e s b o ro , G e o rg i a • ( 9 1 2 ) 7 6 4 - 6 2 9 7 • www.bullochacademy.com
4 – Statesboro herald — Sunday, February 24, 2013 | statesboroherald.com
community pride 2013
50K+
approximately
20%
VOLUNTEER HOURs LOggEd sERVINg BULLOCH COUNTY
of GeorGia southern students participate in community service more than
2,000 students volunteered In bulloch county
community pride 2013
statesboroherald.com | Statesboro herald — Sunday, February 24, 2013 – 5
Our students logged MORE THAN 50,000 hours of service in Bulloch County last year. We COuldn’t Be mOre pROud.
more than
2,400 StudentS volunteered 20+ hourS during the year
20,212
StudentS
All statistics are approximations based on 2011-2012 academic year records. Service hours are recorded by the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement and only include hours that students voluntarily log and verify.
community pride 2013
6 – Statesboro herald — Sunday, February 24, 2013 | statesboroherald.com
Education
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald File
Statesboro High senior Supriya Immaneni and teacher Richard McCombs are named the regional STAR student/ teacher during a banquet at Georgia Southern University in March 2012.
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald File
Mattie Lively Elementary School parents, teachers, and students explore the nearly-completed new school building in May 2012. The school’s Parent Teacher Organization held their last meeting of the current year at the new facility and more than 200 people showed up, including some retired teachers, according to principal Jennifer Quick. “We wanted to include an open house with the meeting, and apparently word got out.”
Amy Cooper of Southeast Bulloch Middle School won the gold medal in the Illustrated Talk Category at the State STAR Leadership Conference. Cooper advanced to the National FCCLA Conference, where she also won the gold medal.
Photos by SCOTT BRYANT/Herald File
Above, Nevils Elementary School fifth-grader Madeleine Adams, 10, right, describes the construction process of her computer case modification project to judges Jane Stanley, far left, and Sandra Neal during the regional student Technology Fair at Julia P. Bryant Elementary School in January 2013. Adams built a barn to house her laptop computer to contrast the old way of storing things verses the new way. “We used to use barns to store everything we needed. Now we use computers,” she explained. Below, a closer look at the barn.
• Abbie Hooks won a Good Citizen Award given by the Archibald Bulloch Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. • Students participated in the Junior Achievement Program of Georgia seven-week unit “Careers with a Purpose.” • The Drama Team won second place at the Region 2-A One-Act Play Competition. • The middle school girls’ team won the Southeast Georgia Middle School League Region Championship, and the middle school boys team was region runner-up. • Faith Reddick and Caitlyn Girardeau competed in the Southeast Georgia Region Middle School Golf Championships at GordoniaAltamaha State Park and won first place. • The school board recognized Assistant Cafeteria Manager Annie Lovett and Cafeteria Manager Patsy Hendrix for their roles in the school being awarded a certificate of accomplishment from the Georgia Department of Education. • Dr. Thomas Marshall, agricultural science teacher, is now a Georgia Certified Plant Professional after completing a training and examination process this summer at the University of Georgia’s Griffin Campus. • The FFA Meats Evaluation Team won the Georgia FFA Meats Evaluation & Technology Career Development Event. • Chris Cross won first place in the eighth-grade Capitalization/Punctuation category of the 2012 Nan Rushing Write-off. • Kyler Scott advanced to the state FFA STAR Event and received a silver medal in the category of Nutrition and Wellness. • Each of the seven PMHS students who participated in the 2012 4-H District Project Achievement placed in the top three with more than 400 students competing. Ansley Morris, First Place, Rabbits; Cayla Morris, First Place, General Recreation; Kacy Smith, First Place, Arts; Piper Jones, Second Place, Pork Production; Brant Smith, Second Place, Performing Arts; Payton Thompson, Second Place, Dog Care & Training; and Jada Pollett, Third Place, Wildlife.
Southeast Bulloch High School ➤ Mascot: Yellow Jackets ➤ Principal: Dr. Trey Robertson ➤ Assistant Principals: John Page and Jack Webb School Achievements • Opened the new $4.5 million athletic stadium. • Jamal Johnson signed a letter of intent to play football for Georgia Southern. • Knapp Boddiford and Zachary Futch participated in Georgia’s Governor’s Honors program at Valdosta State University. • Shelby Bridges was awarded a $13,000 WalMart Foundation Scholarship. • Alexis Denise Dyches was presented with the bronze medal for Junior ROTC by the Archibald Bulloch Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. • Forest Strickland received the Good Citizen award from the DAR, and he received the Bulloch County Farm Bureau Scholarship. • Micaela Wert received the Youth Arts Scholarship from Averitt Center for the Arts. • Knapp Boddiford won first place and became a Master 4-Her in the Plant and Soil Science Project. As a result, he was selected to represent Georgia at the National 4-H Congress. • Susannah Lanier, agricultural educator, was one of 39 individuals nationwide who received the Teachers Turn the Key Award. • Salena Neuwar advanced to state after capturing first place at Georgia Southern University’s National History Day Competition.
• SEBHS Literary Team won first place in the GHSA Region 3-AA Literary Competition. • Francis Allen won the 2012 Georgia Trig-Star Competition. • Ashlyn Howard was named to the 16-member AllState Cheerleading Squad during the Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association’s Cheerleader of the Year Competition. • The Cheerleading Squad captured the Region 1-AAA title. • Mary Catherine Cromley won a National Proficiency Award at the Annual National FFA Organization Convention. • Ten Advanced Chorus members were selected for the Georgia Music Educators Association’s prestigious AllState Chorus, and three were selected for the All-State Reading Chorus. • Casi Lee and Jessica Bearden were named both state and national FCCLA Champions in the Chapter Service Display Category for their presentation on Project S.A.F.E., a community service event they organized along with classmates from their school’s student council and FFA chapters. The event featured Bulloch County’s public safety providers, who educated families on farm safety, fire safety, electrical safety and more. They advanced to nationals after winning a Gold Medal at the state STAR Leadership Conference. • Ethan Perkins will serve on State School Superintendent John Barge’s Student Advisory Council for the 2012-2013 school year. • The SEBHS FFA Horse Evaluation Career Development Event Team won first place at the 2012 Georgia HECDE competition. The team will advance to the national competition in October 2013. • Opened the George Roebuck Fieldhouse which was renovated from the school’s former gymnasium. • Knapp Boddiford placed first in the Georgia FFA Association’s Area 4 Tractor Operation and Maintenance Career Development Event.
Statesboro High School ➤ Mascot: Blue Devils ➤ Principal: Dr. Marty Waters ➤ Assistant Principals: Dr. Ken LeCain, Julie Mizell and Bobby Costlow School Achievements • Science Teacher Richard McCombs was named the 2013 Bulloch County Teacher of the Year and the Bulloch County and Region STAR Teacher. • SHS Valedictorian Supriya Immaneni was named both Bulloch County and Region STAR Student. • Michael Summers signed a letter of intent to play football for Georgia Tech. • Freddie Burden signed a letter of intent to play football for Georgia Tech. • Reggie Owens signed a letter of intent to play football for South Carolina State. • Ben Lloyd was selected for the Georgia All-State Band. • The Blue Devils Band marched in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. • Chandler Weaver won the Georgia SkillsUSA Competition and advanced to the National SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City, Mo. • Trisha Mitra and Thomas Smith participated in Georgia’s Governor’s Honors program at Valdosta State University. • Emily Kingsmill received the Good Citizen Award and a bronze medal for Junior ROTC from the Archibald Bulloch Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. • Lindsay Cork received the $2,000 Change in Action Scholarship from Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol. • For the 10th year in a
row, the SHS Science Team advanced to state competition. • Sherwin Davoud qualified to advance to the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair. • Junior Varsity Division I Math Team took first place at Georgia Southern University’s 24th Annual Invitational Mathematics Tournament. • The JROTC Blue Devil Battalion received the firstplace, state championship trophy at the annual State Drill Meet. • The SECME Water Bottle Rocket Team claimed its second national championship. • Received a Ducks Unlimited Charter, making SHS the only high school in Georgia with an active DU chapter. • Lindsay Cork won first place in photography and in the literacy challenge for the 11-12 division at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair. • Whit Van Tassell won first place in digital video production and in the literacy challenge at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair. • Danny Greenway won first place in non-multimedia applications at the 2012 Regional Student Technology Fair. • Erected a Memory Wall in the school to showcase the school’s 100-year-plus history. • Hosted a college fair for students with representatives from more than 20 colleges and universities in attendance. • Science Quiz Bowl Team I won first place at the 2012 Region Science Quiz Bowl. • The Bulloch County Historical Society placed a historical marker on campus in honor of the school’s 100-year-plus history. • Hosted the East Georgia Marching Band Festival. • SHS Model United Nations Team received an Honorable Mention Delegation award at the regional Model United Nations High School competition at Georgia Southern University. Supriya Immaneni won Distinguished Delegate in the Security Council, Elijah Jackson and Raj Patel won Distinguished Delegation in the General Assembly, and Sydney Davis & Jake Orvis won Honorable Mention delegation in the General Assembly. • Jarrett Cartee became a Master 4-H’er. • Former SHS Blue Devil DeAngelo Tyson played in Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens. • Former SHS Blue Devil Justin Houston played in the NFL Pro Bowl representing the Kansas City Chiefs. • Taylor Sarratt signed with Georgia Southern University to play women’s soccer. • Justin Mee and Lance Mangrum signed with Augusta State University to play baseball. • Boys Track Team won the region championship. • Girls Track Team won the region championship. • Alisia Jenkins placed second in state in long jump and eight in state in the triple jump. • Shanice Walker placed fifth in state in the 300-meter hurdles. • Boys 4x100-meter relay (Devin Budgett, Zaquavian Smith, Micheal Summers, and DeQuan Daniels) placed seventh at state meet. • Shanice Walker signed with Clayton State University. • Courtney Reese signed with Brewton-Parker College. • Heather Wasdin signed with Brewton-Parker. • Chess Team placed first overall in the high school standings for the Ogeechee River Scholastic Chess Association’s annual fourtournament series. Team member Josh Wright placed second for the year and Izell Scott placed third. • The SECME Vex Robotics Team placed third nationally and the SECME Mousetrap Team placed fourth nationally.
Districtwide District Achievements • The Board of Education promoted Charles Wilson, the school system’s assistant superintendent of business and finance, to superintendent. • Implemented the new Common Core Georgia Performance Standards and provided teachers and administrators support by providing professional development in the area of standards-based classroom instruction and designating a CCGPS implementation specialist to direct training, coordinate resources and provide support across all grade levels. • Standard & Poor’s upgraded the school system’s credit rating for general obligation bonds from A+ to AA-. • Continued to strategically manage finances because of the economic recession and the reduction of nearly $10 million in state and local revenue, with long-term costreduction strategies, a strong reserve fund balance, federal stimulus funds and a staff attrition formula. The district will continue to find ways to reduce costs. • Nominated the Statesboro Herald for a Beacon Award for excellence in education reporting, and the newspaper was awarded one of eight of these awards during the 2012 Georgia School Boards Association Conference. • Provided space for the Georgia Network for Education and Therapeutic Support’s Cedarwood facility to relocate from Evans to Bulloch County, thus reducing the school system’s cost to transport BCS’s students that are enrolled in the program. • Completed construction of the new $12 million Mattie Lively Elementary School which opened to students Aug. 1, 2012. • Hosted winter and spring Special Olympic Games for local students. • Hosted Parent University to provide workshops for parents on topics such as positive discipline, cybersafety and preparing for college. • Ranked eighth in the nation for technology use according to e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education, the National School Boards Association and convergemag.com. • One of three Georgia school systems to pilot Gov. Nathan Deal’s new Reach Scholarship. • Received a $4,325 donation from the Kiwanis Club for the purchase of 54 document cameras in the school system’s nine elementary schools. • BCS contributed $3,232.80 toward the American Diabetes Association’s Kiss-A-Pig Campaign. • Partnered with the Averitt Center for the Arts to help transport elementary and middle school students to the Averitt for fine arts education programs after school. • One of six school districts selected for Georgia Southern University’s Real STEM program. • The Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission donated nearly 800 educational booklets to the school system’s fifthgrade students and teachers in celebration of National Soil Stewardship. • All fifth-grade students participated in the Keep Bulloch Beautiful program’s annual Water Festival that helps teach about natural resources and conservation. • The Bulloch County Foundation for Public Education awarded more than $20,000 in grants to 20 projects that were submitted by teachers from Bulloch County Schools. • Through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant program, the Georgia Board of Education approved the continuation of
community pride 2013
statesboroherald.com | Statesboro herald — Sunday, February 24, 2013 – 7
Education funding in the amounts of $349,206 for Langston Chapel Elementary School and $346,885 for Langston Chapel Middle School for fiscal year 2013, which is year two of the three-year grant. • Purchased Professional Development 360 Software to assist teachers in obtaining professional development and recertification online. • Partnered with the Bulloch County Commission on Health and Human Services and local public safety to provide educational events to high school students to prevent drug and alcohol use and other risky behaviors. • 75 percent of teachers hold advanced degrees and average 15 years of experience. • Three faculty members are state teachers of the year for their fields’ professional associations. • School District and all schools are accredited by AdvancED (SACS). • Bulloch County Schools bus driver Gil Riggs placed fifth in the 2012 Georgia School Bus Rode-o. • Implemented new U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrition Standards across all schools. • Celebrated National Parent Engagement Month by conducting a campaign that reached out to area churches. • The board recognized Edwin Hill of District 3 and David Ball of District 1 for their eight years of service to the Bulloch County Board of Education.
Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts & Technology ➤ Mascot: Cheetahs ➤ Principal: Corliss Reese ➤ Assistant Principal: Barbara Reeves School Achievements • The school’s charter was renewed for additional five years. • Stefan Minton organized his own fundraiser, which allowed him to erect a pergola and picnic tables.
• Kara Pemberton and Kayla Smith were both nominated for the Governor’s Honors Program. • The school received a $70,000 facility grant to go toward renovations and transportation. • Ethan Reeves received the Bonner Scholarship for Berry College. • CCAT’s enrollment increased by 15 percent between December 2012 and January 2013. • Patrick Murphey was a 1906 Scholarship recipient at Georgia Southern University.
Bulloch Academy ➤ Mascot: Gators ➤ Head of School: Leisa Houghton School achievements • Celebrating 41st year as an independent, college-preparatory school serving the students of Bulloch and neighboring counties. • Enrollment of 498 students in PK4-12. • Member of Georgia Independent School Association and dually accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Southern Association of Independent Schools; accredited “with quality” by the Georgia Accrediting Commission. • All faculty members are fully certified or are in the process of certification through Georgia Professional Standards Commission; 15 have advanced degrees and 27 teachers have 10 or more years of teaching experience. • Five Advanced Placement classes — U.S. History, World History Government, Literature and Composition, Language and Composition, Calculus. • Class AAA state coaches’ duals wrestling champion (2012), Class AAA state competition cheerleading champions (2011), Class AAA state runners-up in wrestling and girls’ track and field (2011); Region 4-AAA softball champion (2011); Region 3-AAA wrestling champions (2012); Region 4-AAA runners-up in girls’ cross country (2011). • Of the 45-student Class of
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald file
Bulloch Academy first-graders Emily Nguyen, right, Sopie Strickland, center, and Katherine Whitlock, all 7, make their way through the hallways to watch a Dr. Seuss video during a schoolwide celebration in March 2012. 2013, 35 have already been accepted to the colleges their choice during the early enrollment period for post secondary institutions. Twenty-two have been accepted at Georgia Southern University or are joint-enrolled through the ACCEL program. Others have been accepted at the University of Georgia (10), Auburn University (four), University of Alabama (three), Georgia Institute of Technology, Mercer University, University of Tennessee, The Citadel, Clemson University, Emory University, Savannah College of Art and Design and Texas A&M. One young man is even in the running for a congressional appointment to West Point. • Nine students already have received scholarship offers for the 2013-14 school year. These are Auburn Presidential and Auburn College of Sciences and Mathematics (Asa Johnson), National Merit (Johnson), University of
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald file
Earnestine Williams serves up some lasagna to Statesboro High students during lunch in August 2012.
Georgia charter (Johnson), three University of Georgia Honors Program scholarships (Johnson, Anna Mallard, Maddie Marsh), two Georgia Southern housing scholarships (Ally Cheshire, Anna Newton), two Mercer Engineering (Derek Harrison, Chase Merrill), an Alabama Presidential (Mitchell Smith), an award from Auburn (Merrill) and a Savannah College of Art and Design award (Sarah Schwager). • Fourteen students are currently eligible to receive the Zell Miller Scholarship, which pays full tuition at an in-state public university. Students must have a 3.7 grade point average, score at least 26 on the ACT and/or 1200 on the SAT (critical reading and math). Twenty-four more are in line for the HOPE Scholarship. Four international students are not eligible for either of the Georgia residential scholarships. • Other recent college acceptances include the United States Military Academy, University of Oklahoma, Purdue University, University of Illinois, Furman University, Jacksonville University, University of Mississippi and Georgia College and State University. • Of the 30-student graduating glass of 2012, most were awarded funds to help pay for this postsecondary education. Some of the scholarships received by BA students were the Zell Miller Scholarship, HOPE Scholarship, National Beta Club Scholarship, Planters EMC Scholarship and academic/athletic scholarships to Georgia Southern University, Furman University and Baylor University. • Of the 33-student graduating class of 2011, most were awarded funds to help pay for their post-secondary educa-
tion. Some of the scholarships received by BA students were a Congressional Appointment to the United States Military Academy, the University of Georgia Charter Scholarship, academic and/or athletics scholarships to Furman University, Jacksonville University, Kentucky Christian University, a Georgia Southern University International Diversity Scholarship, several local organization scholarships and the HOPE Scholarship. • Class of 2012 scores on SAT averaged 1556. The national average was 1498. The state average was 1452. The Bulloch County School System average was 1404. • Class of 2012 scores on the ACT averaged 21.6. The national average was 21.1. The state average was 20.7. The Bulloch County School System average was 18.4. • In the 2011-12 school year, 49 students took AP courses. There were a total of 74 exams, and 36 students (73.5 percent) scored a 3 or better. In the Bulloch County School System, 192 students took AP courses. There were a total of 237 exams and 95 students (49.5 percent) scored a 3 or better. • Class of 2011 scores on the SAT averaged 1602. The national average was 1500. The state average was 1445. • Class of 2011 scores on the ACT averaged 22.9. The national average was 21.1. The state average was 20.6. • BA has full-time art and music teachers. • Strings program (Violin) for elementary music program. Strings program (Guitar) for high-school music program. • All classrooms have SMART boards. • The school has three computer labs (Lower, Upper/ Middle and Media Center). • CAMPS (Computer, Art, Music, Physical Education and Spanish) for all lowerschool classes on a daily rotation for 40 minutes per class. • AIM (Accelerating Inquisitive Minds) for all lower and middle-school classes. • Partnership with Oe Dae Language School in Seoul, South Korea, for English Language Infusion Program (Korean students live in Statesboro with host families and attend Bulloch Academy to help learn conversational English). These students have come over in July 2011, January 2012, August 2012 and January 2013. • Major renovation project for primary and elementaryschool playgrounds, spearheaded by BA fourth-grade teachers Eileen Rice and Joie Roach, got underway in 2011 and was 95 percent completed by December 2012. • Multi-purpose building for wrestling, cheerleading and auxiliary physical education classes was completed in 2011. • Weight room expansion, which almost doubled the size of the facility, was completed in 2011. • BA physical education teachers Barbara Conner and Jessica Fletcher developed a
middle-school Archery team in 2011 through the National Archery In Schools program. The team and several individual archers won regional and state competitions in 2012 and competed at a national competition in Louisville, Ky., in 2012. In 2013, the elementary and middle school teams won the regional competition and are awaiting the state competition. • BA high school science teacher Karen Whitten began a Robotics team in 2011. In February 2012, the team finished eighth out of 64 teams in the international regional competition in Orlando, Fla., and was the top-ranked rookie team. The team is preparing for the 2013 competition.
Trinity Christian School ➤ Mascot: Lions ➤ Headmaster: David Lattner School achievements • Record enrollment for second straight year (223 students) – 14 percent increase over 2011-2012 • Senior Charity Ruth Bray was named a 2013 National Merit Commended Scholar based on her score on the PSAT as a junior. • Class of 2013 (11 members) SAT Average: 1719 (574 Math, 568 Critical Reading, 577 Writing); 274 points above Georgia state average of 1445. • 2012 STAR Student Anne Tanner Murray and STAR Teacher Sandy Kent were recognized by state Rep. Jan Tankersley, R-Brooklet, at Honors Chapel in May 2012 and were presented with resolutions passed by the Georgia General Assembly in their honor. • Senior Charity Ruth Bray has been named the TCS STAR Student for 2013 and has chosen kindergarten teacher Mrs. Shannon Coffey as her STAR Teacher. • In 2012-2013 TCS fielded teams in boys and girls cross country, girls volleyball, boys and girls swimming, boys and girls basketball, softball, boys soccer and cheerleading. • The JV boys basketball team won first place in the Appling Christian Academy JV Tip-Off tournament in November 2012. Freshman Micah Smith was named tournament MVP. • College acceptances for Class of 2013 (thus far): University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, University of South Carolina, Covenant College, Art Institute of Atlanta, University of Louisiana-Monroe, Georgia Southern University • Senior Randy Channell was selected for the All-State Chorus for 2013. • The TCS Middle School Math Team took first place (out of 29 Division III teams) at the 2012 Georgia Southern University Math Meet. TCS also held five of the top six individual places (out of 110 students) for Middle School Division III.
East Georgia State College gets new president Special to the Herald
Robert G. Boehmer has been named by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents as the fifth president of East Georgia State College. The Regents’ decision followed a recommendation by University System Chancellor Hank Huckaby and ends the interim status Boehmer has held since November 2011. “I am delighted that Bob has made such a tremendous impression at East Georgia State College,” Huckaby said. “The Board of Regents’ decision to change his title from interim to permanent president is the right course and reflects on his solid performance over the past
months. The college is ready to move forward under his leadership as the permanent president.” Boehmer added: “I am honored by the trust placed in me by the chancellor, the Board of Regents and the East Georgia State College community. I look forward to our continued growth and advancement, particularly as we expand our access mission and attain our goal of creating a more educated Georgia.” East Georgia has 2,944 students enrolled this semester, including 1,686 in the Statesboro campus. While the college has had a presence in Statesboro, on the Georgia Southern University campus, since 1998, East Georgia opened its own building on U.S.
Highway 301 South about a year ago. Prior to being named interim president at Boehmer East Georgia, Boehmer served as associate provost for academic planning at the University of Georgia, beginning in 2010. He also served as UGA’s liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and as a trustee and member of the commission’s executive committee. Boehmer joined the faculty of UGA’s Terry College of Business in 1989 and was promoted to full professor of legal studies in 2004. He was appointed as UGA’s
East Georgia State College ➤ President: Robert G. Boehmer ➤ Fall 2012 enrollment: 2,944 students (1,686 in Statesboro) ➤ Main Campus: Swainsboro ➤ Newest degree offered: Bachelor of Science in biology ➤ Programs of study offered: 21 ➤ Brief history: Emanuel County Junior College opened in
Swainsboro in 1973. Became East Georgia College in 1988. Operated Statesboro Center on Georgia Southern University campus starting in 1997. Satellite campus opened on U.S. Highway 301 South, Statesboro, in 2011. Became East Georgia State College in 2012.
associate provost for institutional effectiveness in 2001. His role was expanded to include oversight of UGA’s extended campuses in 2007. He holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Oregon School of Law, which he received in 1977. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) degree from the University of Oregon School
of Business Administration in 1974. Before becoming a faculty member at UGA, he practiced law in Oregon for more than 10 years and was a partner in an Oregon law firm. Boehmer has served as chairman of the Regents Advisory Committee on Effectiveness and Accreditation, which advises the Regents on institutional
effectiveness and regional accreditation, including quality enhancement, student learning outcomes, comprehensive program review, assessment practices, continuous improvement, accreditation compliance and public accountability. He has received numerous awards for teaching excellence including the Richard Russell Teaching Award from UGA, the Teacher of the Year and the MBA Teacher of the Year awards from the Terry College of Business, the Hatten-Howard award from the University’s Honors Program and selection as a Lilly Teaching Fellow. Boehmer and his wife, Joyce, have two adult daughters, Megan and Beth, who live in Oregon.
community pride 2013
8 – Statesboro herald — Sunday, February 24, 2013 | statesboroherald.com
Education
GSU students approve fees By HOLLI DEAL BRAGG and MATT YOGUS hbragg@statesboroherald.com myogus@statesboroherald.com
SPECIAL
Alex Harris, left, a business management instructor, and John Witherington, a hotel/restaurant/tourism management instructor, watch a demonstration of a three-dimensional imaging educational tool for Ogeechee Technical College faculty in September.
3D technology comes to OTC By JEFF HARRISON jharrison@statesboroherald.com
Donning pairs of 3D shades, professors with Ogeechee Technical College sat in a darkened room in September to test-drive their newest tool for teaching. Before making its debut in the classroom, one of three high-tech computers purchased by the college hummed on the conference center floor, projecting interactive and immersive three-dimensional images on the big screen. Without using inordinate amounts of time, or getting the least bit messy, educators slowly picked apart a human eye, revealing its inner workings, down to individual nerves. They trekked with a red blood cell through the human body, bypassing major organs along the way. They even disassembled an internal combustion engine, leaving scattered pistons, crankshafts and spark plugs in their wake. The group watched as 360-degree models of the human skeleton, stars, planets and animals twirled just in front of their eyes — or, at least, the 3D glasses made those images appear much closer than they were. Teachers used the opportunity to try their own hands operating software that customer-service representatives, on hand for the demonstration, say is changing the way students learn. “An advantage to using this 3D technology in education, according to several studies, is it raises test scores and retention rates,” said John Reeves, the director of medical programs for Vizitech USA, the Eatonton, Ga.-based technology company that produces the computers. Reeves was at OTC to help train teachers on the new hardware. “It does so because of the visual experience involved with it,” he said. “When presented with something visually, up close, more neurons
fire in the brain, making the information, or event, more memorable.” Faculty and staff at Ogeechee Tech, and in several other schools in Georgia, seem to agree. Ogeechee Tech has agreed to purchase a computer for each of the college’s primary buildings — three currently, and a fourth that will be bought later — to be used by instructors whenever necessary. “The reason we’ve purchased these computers is to allow students who are more hands-on, visual learners to actually see what they’re being taught,” said Charlene Lamar, the college’s vice president of academic affairs. “If you’re trying to explain a heart, or teach how the axle of a car works, then you can use this hardware to show students exactly how everything operates, fits in and works together. “The programs cover everything from health to industrial fields. It covers the whole spectrum of what we do here — even math,” she continued. “I would say that just about all of our students will be exposed to this new technology.” Included on the computers are programs that play high definition, 3D videos, PowerPoint presentations and allow students to view, construct or deconstruct items in a three-dimensional world. Teachers say there is no doubt that the new machines will make appearances in classrooms very soon. “We’ll absolutely use the software,” said Jan Martin, the director of OTC’s Radiology Program and an instructor. “We will use it in our procedures and physics labs. “We teach, when students come in, procedures to X-ray patients. So the anatomy portion of the hardware will come in very handy,” she said. “Students can actually look at bones, look at organs and take everything apart themselves.”
After Georgia Southern University students voted in September to pay a fee to support a move to college football’s highest level, two steps remained. One came a few weeks later, in November, when the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents approved of the fees the students voted for: a $75 per-semester activity fee to pay for the move to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The other is still out there: an invitation to join an FBS conference. The Georgia Southern Eagles are currently in the Football Championship Subdivision. Students also voted to fund expansion of the Allen E. Paulson Stadium by 6,200 seats and a new deck, as well as to fund “sustainability and green efforts on campus.” If the Board of Regents approves in April, the sustainability and greens efforts ($10 per student) would go into effect in fall 2013. The stadium improvement fee ($25 per student) also was approved by the board in November, and it will take effect next fall. The $75 per-student, per-semester fee supporting the move to FBS would not go into effect unless the university receives an invitation to join an FBS conference. “This is a big hurdle,” said GSU President Brooks Keel, who spoke after the vote was announced at noon Friday, Sept. 28, at the Russell Student Union Rotunda. “It is an unbelievable statement our students have made. I don’t think there is anything they could have possibly done to speak louder.” The fees lured about 55 percent of eligible voters to vote online. A record 9,390 students cast votes. About 70.4 percent of the voters approved adding 6,300 seats and a new student deck to Paulson Stadium. About 74.7 percent of voting students approved the sustainability and greens fees, and 61.2 percent of students voting said “yes” to funding the move to FBS status. After Dominique Quarles, the president of the university’s Student Government Association, announced the results, a small crowd of students who gathered to hear the news cheered loudly. Zoe McFall, 20, a prenursing student from Douglasville, said she voted “yes” on all three measures. “Gotta support those Eagles,” she said. “This is a big turn in the history of
WebMBA a ‘best value’ Special to the Herald
The Georgia WebMBA, the online Master of Business Administration program offered by Georgia Southern University and five other members of the University System of Georgia, was ranked No. 15 in the Top 25 Best Value Online MBA programs by BusinessMBA.org, an online resource containing information and rankings about the nation’s best business schools and MBA programs. “We are very excited to be recognized by BusinessMBA.org as a ‘Best Value’ online MBA,” said Ronald Shiffler, the dean of
Georgia Southern University’s College of Business Administration. “Overall, the Georgia WebMBA adds significant value for our students in several ways — through accreditation, affordability and team-based learning. After 11 years of delivering our online program, we work continuously to ensure our students are receiving a top-quality education at a price they can afford.”
Georgia Southern offers the Georgia WebMBA through the College of Business Administration. The program ranks ahead of online MBA programs from the University of Memphis and Mississippi State University. Arizona State University’s program took the No. 1 ranking. For more information about the Georgia WebMBA program, visit: www.coba. georgiasouthern.edu/mba.
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald file
The Georgia Southern football team takes the field against Elon on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at Paulson Stadium. Students voted the following week to approve a $75 per-semester fee that would be imposed should GSU be invited to an FBS conference, a $25 per-semester fee to pay for the expansion of Paulson, and a $10 per-semester fee to pay for environmentally friendly initiatives at the university. GSU.” Keel said the increase is “the first major increase (at the university) in years.” Students ran a website, went door to door to generate interest and voting participation, and had signs on campus promoting the voting opportunity. If the Eagles move to the FBS level, Georgia Southern will garner more national attention, Keel said. “That’s what I am particularly excited about,” he said. The move also would make it possible to recruit the best athletes, he said. GSU head football coach Jeff Monken was all smiles during the announcement. “I think it’s great for the university to have a student-led vote, and be able to voice their hopes and dreams,” he said. “It’s fantastic the students were able to vote their opinion on what they think is important.” Expansion of the stadium is expected to be well under way by the next football season begins. The $25 per-semester fee will be in
effect until the estimated $9 million cost is paid. The lower level of the north stands would be widened with an additional 3,000 seats, and an upper deck would be constructed, adding another 4,000 seats. A walkway would be created at the lower level, displacing roughly 800 seats, so a net gain of 6,200 seats would be added to the facility. With seating capacity currently listed at 14,444, Paulson Stadium would eclipse 20,000 seats. “Right now there’s 14,400 seats or so, but we’ve averaged, in the last two years, over 19,000 fans per game,” Monken said. “We had 20,000-plus for the opener (against Jacksonville), and that’s a lot of people in the stadium without a seat.” Paulson Stadium also plays host to non-sporting events. The 2012 spring commencement ceremony had an estimated attendance of 23,000. National musical acts, most recently The Fray and The Band Perry, perform regularly at the venue.
Currently, GSU students’ access to sporting events is included in their athletic fees. There are 4,000 reserved student seats, according to GSU sports information director Barrett Gilham, meaning only roughly 25 percent of fee-paying students have access to a seat at football games. The sustainability fee will be used for “retrofitting buildings, low-flow shower heads, relamping, etc., to make the university more water- and energyefficient. It also will aid in promotional efforts to encourage a green lifestyle all across campus such as advertisements reminding students, faculty and staff to turn off lights and running water when not in use,” according to Georgia Southern’s website. “Our students these days are very concerned about the environment and the sustainability of the environment we have,” Keel said. “Those funds will provide resources and educational opportunities to help determine how this campus becomes more environmentally sensitive.”
The dangers of drinking and dunking
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald file
After playing basketball while wearing goggles to simulate alcohol intoxication, Bulloch Academy students Jaylen Evans, center left, Chris Young, center right, and Anna Newton, right, answer questions from Taylor Collins about their experience.
community pride 2013
statesboroherald.com | Statesboro herald — Sunday, February 24, 2013 – 9
Education
New college at GSU
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald file
Victoria McCullough, left, and Brittany Powell find family in the stands during Ogeechee Technical College 2012 Spring Commencement at Hanner Fieldhouse.
OTC graduates largest class yet By BROCK D. VICKERS Herald Correspondent
SCOTT BRYANT/Herald file
In this April 2011 file photo, Georgia Southern University graduate student Spencer Harp, left, grinds an aluminum fender mount for a better fit as he and the rest of his team prepare a Baja vehicle built for a national competition. During a March 2012 announcement about the creation of the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology, President Brooks Keel said he wanted Georgia Southern students to know how to build things as well as engineer them.
School offers degrees in engineering, technology By JEFF HARRISON jharrison@statesboroherald.com
Less than one year removed from garnering approval by the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents to offer degrees in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering at Georgia Southern University, school staff announced a major shake-up to the college’s internal structure in March 2012. President Brooks Keel and university staff announced in a press conference at the university’s Performing Arts Center the formation of the new Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology. The new college combines high-demand degree programs in engineering and computer sciences to better meet educational and training needs of the state and region, according to Keel. “This has been a change in the making for more than 30 years,” Keel said. “To be able to merge these to two programs into one — to allow those disciplines to come together in very important and collaborative ways — is truly, truly unique; unique not only in this part of the state, but in the country.” “To think what that will mean for the educational and training
opportunities for the students that will be enrolling in these programs is absolutely fantastic,” he said. The new Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology supplants the former Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology — which was renamed — and includes seven degree programs (civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, computer science, information technology, and masters programs in applied engineering and computer science). “Georgia Southern’s strategic vision is to be recognized as one of the best doctoral research universities in the country – and that is an ambitious vision,” said then-Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Ted Moore. “In order to do that, we have to excel in all three aspects of our mission. The announcements today are very important components of that strategy.” “The alignment that results in combining engineering and information technology means several strong academic departments will reside in our new College of Engineering and Information Technology,” Moore said, at the announcement ceremony.
“That spells synergy, ladies and gentleman. The total will well exceed the sum of the separate parts.” By combining the two programs, Georgia Southern’s engineering students will have access to a state-of-the-art education, according to Keel. “This will provide our students an opportunity to receive a unique education by blending these programs,” he said. “Digital is the way things are going to go and I think we all know that. This gives our students a great chance and to be uniquely trained and more competitive after college.” In forming the new college, the university changed the name of the former Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology to the College of Science and Mathematics. The college houses Georgia Southern’s biology, chemistry, geology/geography, military science, physics, pre-medical/pre-dental and mathematical sciences degree programs. Dr. Mohammad Davoud was named the interim dean of the new college. “This is truly exciting time for us. The College of Engineering and Information Technology will be a nationally recognized leader in the area of
student-centric, application-based teaching a research,” Davoud said. “This college will foster learning, and technologically and economically enrich our community.” Approximately 2,078 students are currently a part of the new College of Engineering and Information Technology, which employees 38 fulltime faculty.
Ogeechee Technical College filled Georgia Southern University’s Hanner Fieldhouse with its largest graduating class in history in May 2012. Four hundred students were awarded degrees, certificates, or GED diplomas at the commencement ceremony. Barry Turner, the college’s vice president for community college relations, said it was a sight to see, as Hanner was packed from rafter to rafter. “We had the largest number of graduates we have ever had for a single year…So, we had a full house tonight, and this is the most people we have ever had here and walked across the stage,” he said. The 2011-12 year was one of growth for
Ogeechee as enrollment grew by 10.3 percent with 4,470 students attending classes, and 993 students graduating from a diploma, degree, or certificate. “Graduation is a time of celebration for our students, their family and friends, and for our faculty and staff. We are all excited to acknowledge the hard work of each student in reaching this milestone,” President Dawn Cartee said. State Sen. Jack Hill, R-Reidsville, gave the commencement address and focused on the importance of a degree and its power to help raise students’ fiscal possibilities. Hill challenged the graduates to “expect more” of themselves and their degree. “You are promoted, not for what you accomplish, but for what they expect you to accomplish,” he said.
Congratulations! JEMELLEH COES of
First Baptist Church
Preschool
Langston Chapel Middle School
•“Wee Learn” Curriculum • Hands On Learning Centers 8:30 - 12:00 noon 6 months - pre-K • Age-appropriate Activities • Low Teacher/Child Ratio
2014 BULLOCH COUNTY
Teacher of the Year
150 Williams Road, Suite A • Statesboro, GA 30458 912.212.8500 • www.bulloch.k12.ga.us KEYWORD: Bulloch County Schools
for additional information about our program or registration please call gwen wilson at
489-7926
10 - STATESBORO HERALD - Sunday, February 24, 2013 | statesboroherald.com
community pride 2013