Connection Magazine Fall 2016

CONNECTION ..... .....

FALL 2016

THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS

Class of 2020

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CONTENTS 4

Up Front News and notes around campus

10 Featured Story Tale of two leaders

16 Sports 18 Phonathon 20 Student ProďŹ le 22 Featured Alumni 26 Cat Crew 28 Program Spotlight 30 Class Notes 34 Alumni Weekend

Save the Date!

Save the Date for Homecoming 2017. Be sure to join us Feb. 17 – 18, 2017 for tent city, basketball games, the crowning of the Homecoming Court and much more!

Be sure to follow Georgia College on Facebook and Twitter for updates and more information about this event.

CONNECTION Fall 2016 Vol. XXV, No.3 Copyright 2016.

All rights reserved.

Published by University Communications.

231 W. Hancock St. Milledgeville, GA 31061

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 Tim Vacula, ‘86 Guillermo “Willie” Ledezma, ’16 Anna Leavitt Aubrie L. Sofala, ’12, ’16 Cindy O’Donnell

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

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.

Blumenthal named Georgia’s Most Positive Collegiate Athlete Alumnus Ryan Blumenthal, a former guard on the Georgia College Men's Basketball team, was named the 2015-16 Most Positive Collegiate Athlete by Positive Athlete Georgia, an organization started by former University of Georgia football and Pittsburgh Steelers star Hines Ward.

Blumenthal was honored at the third annual Georgia Positive Athlete Awards Tuesday, June 7 at the College Football Hall of Fame and Chick-fil-A Fan Experience along with 30 high school student-athletes from around the state of Georgia.

"We looked at dozens of collegiate student-athletes who have either overcome difficult circumstances, give back to their communities or are making a statement about the importance of academics," said Ward. "Ryan Blumenthal has all three components."

Blumenthal is one of a group of four Georgia College marketing majors who recently had a research paper accepted for presentation at the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). The paper is derived from a project they conducted for a client in the community, and was titled "FOG Awareness, Advertisement Effectiveness and Intentions of Middle School Students: An Empirical Study." Their research was selected from more than 4,000 submissions to present to peers, faculty and staff from all across the nation.

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Student receives scholarship celebrating study of public history Junior history and geography major Darcie Scales will spend her fall semester in an exchange program in Austria, learning the culture, language and more about its rich history.

“I know it will be a challenge because I’ll be totally immersed in the German language, but it’s one of the things I’ve always wanted to do,” said Scales. “Hopefully I’ll be fluent once I return to the U.S.” Scales, who is also in the Honors program, has dedicated her time as a student to exploring all the facets of history— whether through her internship transcribing historic journals at the Old Governor’s Mansion, perusing national parks and museums across the country or learning more in her history and geography classes at Georgia College.

Georgia College provides $235 million impact on local economy Georgia College increased its impact on the

regional economy to more than $235 million for

fiscal year 2015, according to a study commissioned by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

“There are several ways that the university impacts the economy,” said Johnny Grant, director of

economic development and external relations at Georgia College. “The more than 800 jobs on

campus and the payroll associated with them is

extremely important. In addition, it is estimated

that almost 2,000 jobs are created off campus by the products and services Georgia College’s

“I first wanted to go into the environmental sciences but the more I thought about it, I remembered my time growing up and visiting national parks and museums,” the Grayson, Georgia native said. “I found out I could do geography and history, and after taking the intro classes— I knew this was where I was supposed to be.”

employees and students purchase each year.”

Scales is a recent recipient of the Georgia State Society National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Fanny Trammel Fund, which is given to a Georgia College student studying public history.

Overall, University System of Georgia institutions

“As Georgia’s premier public liberal arts college, the strong history curriculum offered at Georgia College reflects the DAR’s mission and interest in history,” the Georgia State Society DAR said in a press release. “The curriculum in public history precisely synchronizes with the Society’s objectives of historic preservation, education and patriotism. Not only do students in this major acquire historical knowledge, but the training they receive empowers them to educate others about America’s past, and by so doing, strengthens and supports our American heritage.”

The economic impact of the university extends to Baldwin, Hancock, Putnam, Wilkinson, Jones and Washington counties.

had a $15.4 billion impact on the economy. The

institutions across the state provided more than

150,000 full and part-time jobs in the state and $7.5 billion in income to those employees.

Economic impact is measured by the initial

spending of the institution for operations and

personnel as well as student spending. The total economic impact includes the effect of initial spending and the secondary or indirect and

induced spending that occurs when initial expenditures are respent.

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Georgia College receives $350,000 grant to provide underserved, rural health care Georgia College’s School of Nursing received a U.S. Department of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship (AENT) grant. Totaling nearly $350,000, the grant funds the tuition, fees, books and other expenses for students in the last two semesters of the Master of Nursing in Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program.

Students receiving the funds must fulfill a two-year obligation to serve in a high-needs or rural health district in the state of Georgia. More than 130 of the 159 counties in the state are classified as either rural, highneeds or both.

“We were thrilled when we found out we had received this grant,” said Dr. Sallie Coke, director of graduate nursing programs and grant writer. “By rewarding these students, they will then go out and provide the necessary health care to those who need it most.”

Listed as one of the states facing the most severe physician shortage, Georgia has consistently been listed in the bottom third for overall health, most recently ranked 40th in 2015 by United Health Foundation.

Georgia College’s School of Nursing works to address both of those factors through the education of advanced nurse practitioners while also encouraging students to work in rural underserved areas.

Center of Design and E-Commerce opens doors to the community The Georgia College Center of Design and E-Commerce (CODEC) recently opened its doors to the community.

CODEC provides a variety of web-based support and development services to the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business. Support and services are also provided to local businesses, government agencies and regional organizations in the central Georgia area and beyond.

Funded through a $63,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the goal is to enable rural counties in Georgia to overcome significant challenges, including size; limited financial, technological and human resources; and limited exposure to the global marketplace, by partnering with Georgia College’s CODEC. "CODEC is based on two fundamental pillars that describe our mission. The first pillar is the community service pillar through service to organizations and businesses within the local community and beyond,” said CODEC director and information systems and computer science lecturer Caroline Collier. “The second pillar is the education pillar. CODEC is part of Georgia College, and we hire students to work on these projects.

Students can then apply the knowledge they learned in the classrooms under expert supervision. They build up their resumes and are more prepared for their professional life.”

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App lands GC student ticket to Apple Worldwide Developer’s Conference Senior Brian Minter was among the who’s who of the tech world as he attended the Apple Worldwide Developer’s Conference in San Francisco, California—and it’s all due to an app he created.

Last summer, Minter created the app CourseKeeper after being frustrated with not knowing where he stood in various classes he was taking. The app keeps track of course grades, GPAs and includes a calculator that can be used to estimate the grade an individual would need to make on a final to obtain a certain letter grade in the course.

“I thought this would be a good opportunity to create an app from scratch, and I figured it was doable for a first-time app,” he said. “I’ve also always been a fan of Apple and knew I wanted to create an iOS app.”

Minter launched the app in fall of 2015, and since then, he’s garnered more than 500 downloads from all over the world.

For the creation of CourseKeeper, he was chosen as one of only 350 students worldwide to attend the 2016 Apple Worldwide Developer’s Conference, June 13-17, 2016.

The conference included the opportunity to meet Apple engineers, attend workshops and get a first glimpse at new operating systems and updates.

“He is such an inspiration to other computer science students. He has a thirst for knowledge and constantly challenges himself to do new things,” said Dr. Gita Phelps, associate professor of computer science. “He is not just interested in making an A in a given course, but of finding ways to use what he learns in real world applications.”

Minter will graduate in December and says he sees himself entering into the web development field in the Atlanta market.

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Faculty attend women in higher education leadership institutes Two Georgia College faculty members were chosen to attend the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Leadership institutes.

Professor of Chemistry Dr. Chavonda Mills received the inaugural HERS - Clare Boothe Luce (CBL) program for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) scholarship for her outstanding accomplishments and contributions to STEM scholarship and teaching.

She attended the two-week summer institute in Denver, Colorado, designed to enrich the leadership community of STEM higher education.

Supported by the provost of Academic Affairs, Dr. Tsu-Ming Chiang, professor of psychology and chair of the Institutional Research Board, was nominated by the College of Arts and Sciences and evaluated by a university committee, which selected her to represent Georgia College at the HERS Institute.

Chiang attended the two-week Bryn Mawr Summer Institute located just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which provided the knowledge, skills and perspectives needed for advancing leaders.

May 2016 graduate spends six weeks researching in Kenya Michael Ziegler, ’16, was awarded the NSF Fellowship to conduct paleoanthropology— the study of the origins of present human species using fossils and other remains—research during the summer of 2016 in the east African country of Kenya.

He was selected as one of 30 students to take part in a research project at the Koobi Fora Nature Preserve. The area has been a central location for research since around the late 1970s. Through the use of fossilized wood and stone tools, Ziegler and others added to that body of knowledge.

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doing. He said there’s an opportunity, but you’d have to camp out in Kenya for six weeks, and it’s in lion territory,” said Ziegler. “Everyone else kind of shied away, but I was interested.”

wood to prove that there was fire around two million years ago or looking at bones to see if there were cut marks,” said Ziegler. “Were humans using stone tools? Were we the ones hunting or being hunted?”

Ziegler learned about this opportunity through Dr. David Patterson, a GC alumnus.

Partnering with the Nairobi National Museum, each selected student worked on a smaller, separate project.

“He came and talked to Dr. Mead’s class about the research he was

“There’s a ton of different projects, whether it’s working on scorched

The subprojects will later be combined as support for a larger project. Through his experience, he hopes to encourage other students that they too can pursue such opportunities.

“This is an enormous, prestigious opportunity. To be an undergrad and get a NSF fellowship for this is huge,” said Dr. Al Mead, professor of biology, geology and mammalogy.

“He has the passion, and he wants to do something most haven’t done.”

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FEATURED STORY

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Tale of Two leaderS

Leadership that breaks the mold The story of one alumna who made a name for herself in the world of pharmacy and a graduate student who is making a difference on campus.

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here’s a square paperweight that faces visitors as they sit down at alumna Dr. Marie Chisholm-Burns’, ’89, desk at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). One side of the square has gold letters in all caps stating “Attitude” with the quote “Nothing in this world is impossible to a willing heart.”

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“I’ve been fortunate to have good mentors along my career,” said Chisholm-Burns, a Monticello, Georgia native, about her successes in academia. “I also consider myself a hard worker and a risk taker.”

Chisholm-Burns’ career has been a storied one— marked by her desire to make an impact and her sheer willpower to make it happen. She’s served as the dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Tennessee since 2012. Before her appointment to UTHSC, she previously was professor and head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Arizona. But before her career in academia, Chisholm-Burns began as a freshman at Georgia College in 1985, where she would go on to receive two bachelor degrees in general studies and psychology.

“My professors and the community of Georgia College were very nurturing during my time there,” she said. “I didn’t have an interest in pharmacy until my senior year. Up until that point, my exposure to pharmacy was limited. Once I realized how diversified pharmacy was—I knew it was what I wanted to do.”

With more than 275 publications and approximately $10 million in external funding, Chisholm-Burns has become a leader in higher education. Among the stories and biographies circulating the internet on her successes, almost all of them mention her dire need to make a difference— and it’s something she imparts on her students.

“I encourage my students to make their own contributions where they can,” she said. “I want them to be their own person and tell them to not follow a certain career path just because someone tells you it’s the right thing to do.”

A hallmark of her career has been serving as the executive director of the nonprofit Medication Access Program, which fills the gap of medication access to transplant patients. She started asking questions as an assistant professor at the University of Georgia and saw an

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overwhelming amount of patients going into rejection. She asked herself, “why was no one talking about this?”

“What I saw was that people weren’t taking their medications after surgery. They would have 10-15 medications to take, and no one really considers just how expensive it can be,” she said. ”It’s taken a lot to get it going and keep it going but it’s making a real difference in people’s lives.”

When she was named dean in 2011, she made history as the first African-American and woman to be given that role at UTHSC. This is one accomplishment Chisholm-Burns says wasn’t intentional but has made a large impact in her current appointment at UTHSC’s College of Pharmacy.

Through her decades-long career in pharmacy, Chisholm-Burns says her largest accomplishment isn’t one she can pinpoint, but the knowledge that through it all, she’s stuck to her values.

“Whatever you want to do in life, try to make a difference,” she said. “That’s what will set you apart. That’s what other people will remember.

“

I encourage e my students to make their own contributions where an.. an they can.

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rittan Edwards has also made her college career about making a difference where she can.

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“Georgia College is unique with the resources and opportunities provided for students through The GIVE Center,” said Edwards, who conducted research on service opportunities at other universities. “I worked for two years at The GIVE Center with Kendall Stiles, who is the senior director. She and I came up with an idea to develop a program to make the service-oriented leadership opportunities at Georgia College even better.”

The idea, based on fostering the growth of students dedicated to service, focuses on developing servant leaders who truly want to leave a legacy.

“The leadership side of our office is where I wanted to focus our attention as far as growth and expansion,” said Stiles. “I had been looking for funding to help support our leadership programs and endeavors. This grant was a vehicle to help make that happen. Since the grant was sponsored by the ENGAGE office, it forced us to laser focus our efforts around servant leadership, which made perfect sense since it fits nicely into our center's mission. This grant opportunity came at such a great time and was just the answer we were looking for.”

From that, the Servant Leadership Cohort was born.

“Robert Greenleaf coined the phrase ‘servant leaders.’ I took a lot of time studying his principles and wrote an ENGAGE grant proposal to help fund the project,” said Edwards. “I received the funding to support the Servant Leadership Fellows program, and in the first cohort that begin in fall 2015, we had eight students.”

Students from across campus showed interest in the program. In all, 20 students applied to join the cohort, and with funding set aside for only five participants, Edwards gave up her stipend from the grant to allow more students to join. Now in its second year, the cohort’s funding has increased to fund 10 participants.

Edwards says she sees a definite increase in diverse applicants versus last year—a sign that the cohort will be more representative of the changing demographics of the university.

Participants spend time each week learning different lessons on leadership Edwards develops. They also have a capstone project they complete during the program. From organizing a 5K to benefit cancer research to hosting an “Adopt a Veteran” event and coordinating a fundraiser for a local animal rescue organization, the projects are all different, yet show the impact these students hope to make on the campus and community.

“

“The cohort participants are freshmen to seniors— the only common factor was that they identify themselves as servant leaders and wanted to better develop their skills,” said Edwards.

“We’re seeing people through the application process who reveal that they have been looking for something that solely focuses on servant leadership, and they are grateful Georgia College has a program like this.”

Edwards graduated in spring 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She came back in fall 2015 to pursue an undergraduate degree in economics and is also currently enrolled in the master’s of public administration program. With her experience both in and out of the classroom, she plans to work in economic development and possibly teach at the college level later in life.

“The best thing about Georgia College is that faculty and staff believe in your passion,” said Edwards. “Fostering students’ interests is what sets GC apart. I’ve been able to start two student organizations, the Servant Leadership Cohort, serve on SGA (Student Government Association), do internships, pursue two undergraduate degrees and a master’s degree, work as a community advisor, complete two of the leadership programs and go abroad for two mission trips. I don’t think all of that would have been possible anywhere other than Georgia College.” ■

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SPORTS

“Watch This”: How one Bobcat alumna defied doubt and built the Ugandan National Softball Team For many, softball is a simple sport, one for collegiate stars and church leagues alike.

But for the people of Uganda, the large yellow ball, bat and four bases mean opportunity, a word that rarely appears in Ugandan vocabulary.

Georgia College Softball alumna Joni Frei, ’04, took her 2003 NCAA Division II Region Championship title, two All-Region honors and countless school career records over 8,600 miles to the Pearl of Africa to make the impossible possible.

She made the trip from her home in British Columbia, Canada, to Uganda three times before bringing the team of 14 women back to Canada with her for the 2016 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) XV World Softball Championship at the end of July.

With the help of her two Ugandan assistant coaches, Frei traveled around the country hosting camps, gifting equipment and educating teachers on the sport to keep the Ugandans’ opportunity to play alive.

From those camps, a roster of 24 potential national athletes narrowed to a team of 14 ready for Frei to unify and prepare them for their international adventure.

Frei and her assistants had 14 days to transform the 14 unique players into a team. But their to-do list was not limited to skill development and tactical strategy. In two weeks, the entire team needed plane tickets, passports, yellow fever shots, travel insurance and international documents.

Eleven of the players had never before boarded an airplane, and a 36-hour trip loomed ahead before the calendar turned.

Uganda Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kampala Official languages . .Swahili, English Population . . . . . . . . . .37,873,253 Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93,065 sq. mi.

Currency . . . . . . . . . . .Ugandan shilling Drives on the . . . . . . .left side

The team faced a strong wall of doubt and disbelief, but a North American attitude motivated them. Frei told them to respond to their doubters with a simple “watch this.” Those two words quickly became the team’s battle cry.

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“Regardless of any doubt, adversity, challenge, perceived impossibility, we were going to show people that this was going to happen,” Frei said.

And “watch this” they did. The team competed in six games, winning two against Ireland and neighboring Kenya and accumulating 24 total runs from the nineday tournament. The team is ranked as the top-25 in the world.

Frei's next vision is to see a yet-to-beformed Ugandan Junior National team compete in the 2017 XII ISF Junior Women’s World Championship in Florida next July. She is also hoping to help Ugandan players get on European club teams and American collegiate teams.

Her softball academy, “Beyond the White Lines,” continues to grow in Uganda and other countries she has worked in, including her Canadian home, where she is the director of coaching for Softball BC. “I love this game – not only for the game between the white lines, but for the vehicle that it is beyond the white lines,” Frei said.

Frei draws inspiration from Nelson Mandela, who said, “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does… Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”

Frei credits Georgia College and her coach Windy Thees for taking a chance on “some kid from Canada” and changing her life to what it is now.

“Teamwork, vision, hard work and the human spirit in its most purest and selfless state is what made this what some would consider impossible, possible,” Frei said. ■

Where r are re r they re e now ey ow? ow w?

Mary Rob Plunkett reached the pinnacle of individual accolades as a studentathlete at Georgia College. A goalkeeper for the Bobcat Soccer squad, she is the only All-American in school history, earning that distinction in her junior season in 2009. Even as an undergraduate, she was interested in a career in collegiate athletics and has seen that dream come to fruition in positions first as a graduate student in a very selective Sport Administration cohort at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and then as the full-time director of Golf Operations at Auburn University.

Plunkett is now back in the Peach Belt Conference. Over the summer she was named assistant athletic director for Business and Finance as well as senior woman administrator at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega.

Mary Rob Plunkett What aspect of Georgia College athletics do you feel was most beneficial to your success?

Georgia College is the reason that I got into athletic administration in the first place. I have always been interested in business and athletics; and when I got to Georgia College, I saw that there were folks out there that were mixing the two and making a career out of it.

During my freshman year, I was exposed to more of what athletic administrators did and was able to start asking some questions about working in the industry.

Jimmy Wilson was instrumental in my development and encouraged me from day one to get involved. Our athletic director during my sophomore and junior years, Jud Damon, now at Flagler College, told me that I could start interning in the department to get more experience. So I owe my start in college athletics to Jimmy and Jud, I can firmly say that without their encouragement and guidance that I wouldn’t be where I am today. In my senior year, Jimmy told me that if I really wanted to make a career in college athletics, I needed to go to grad school. I think after that I called my parents and said, “I’m going to grad school so I can work in college athletics,” and from there the rest is history.

Following Georgia College, you worked at two very prominent Division I universities. What was better/worse about experiences at those larger schools?

One thing that is different [from the Division I universities] is that my football team in undergrad and my football team at my current institution are still undefeated! I can’t say that about the two Division I schools I worked for.

I wouldn’t say there is anything that is better or worse about a Division I versus

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a Division II institution. There are certainly trade-offs, but those are choices we make. Are there more revenue sources at Carolina and Auburn? Sure, but there is also more scrutiny; and there is always someone being critical of what you’re doing. I have played very different roles at the three schools I have worked at – I’ve been in a department unit, I’ve been on a coaching staff and now I’m part of the administrative team. So to compare the jobs wouldn’t be fair either. But each job I have held has built on the previous and helped shape the way I look at each and every situation that I’m faced with today.

You reached the height of individual athletic accomplishment by becoming and All-American. How did you go about achieving that goal?

To be perfectly honest, when I sat down in then-head coach Juan Pablo Favero’s office before my junior season and we were going over goal setting, I think I put down: be an All-Conference player.

But he knew I could do more, so we settled on All-Region. We had our goal cards laminated and taped inside our lockers, just for each individual player to see. Somewhere in the first few weeks I was back playing, I took a sharpie and marked out All-Region and put AllAmerican. I never told the coaches, but I used that visual daily reminder of what I wanted to motivate me each day. We had a great season that year, and I played behind one of the best--if not the best--defenses in our history that season. And at the end of the season it was announced that I had been selected as an All-American; but for me it wasn’t about the personal achievement. I wanted to go out there every day and win as a team – I couldn’t have cared less if I had the best goal against average in the country if we didn’t win games as a team. ■

Phonathon Evokes Memories

BETH BENTON, ’10

One graduate oversees sales at a tech company, another does public relations for a hospital and an early-childhood education major stands before a 4th-grade class this semester to teach.

JESSICA GRACE SPRINGER, ‘17

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ROBERT TATE, ’07

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hat they have in common is a phone. They worked for Georgia College Phonathon, which helped shape who they are today.

Benton said. She could’ve found an easier job, but asking strangers for money gave her confidence to travel abroad and work at “the busiest theme park in the world” after college.

“It teaches you to think on your feet,” said Beth Benton, ‘10, market liaison at Optim Healthcare in Reidsville, Georgia.

“Some of my best memories of college are from that call room. It certainly wasn’t for everyone. But if you did hang with it, if you did push yourself beyond your comfort zone – you feel like you can put yourself out there anywhere.”

Robert Tate, ‘07, said Phonathon propelled him into sales and his current position as vice president of sales at PossibleNOW in Duluth, Georgia. Tate stays involved at Georgia College, thankful for his education and experience at Phonathon. He sits on a marketing-advisory board, talks to business classes, judges role-play competitions and recruits students. About 88 percent of his sales team are GC graduates.

Students make Phonathon unique, said Bill Doerr, associate vice president of University Advancement. They’re often the only personal contact 46,000 alumni get from the college.

About 30 students rotate in teams to make calls nightly, requesting donations and reminiscing.

“I know what these students are getting. I know the level of engagement they have,” Tate said. “I do think Georgia College students are a little better, a step ahead, definitely more engaged and accountable.”

“We don’t outsource to some third party. We still use students to call our alumni,” Doerr said. “So that’s a lot of responsibility. That’s kind of a sacred bond. That’s what makes these calls so special.”

The average gift to Georgia College is $100, but Doerr said each contribution makes a “huge difference” paying for extras like lab equipment, undergraduate research and study abroad scholarships. Students request money but also build relationships. Trained to know university history and current events, they share news, swap stories, get advice or comfort parents worried about their children at college.

“This relationship on the phone happens in a matter of minutes,” Doerr said. “But no matter what, you’ve instantly bonded with that person. You’ve sat in the same classrooms.

You’ve walked the same sidewalks. You’ve eaten in the same dining hall.”

Older graduates, some home-bound or alone, are happiest to receive calls, Benton said. She remembers speaking with a 103-year-old woman who was like “a living history book.” It’s fun to talk to alumnae “still bitter” about “boys” being allowed in, which stopped trips to the cafeteria in bathrobes and curlers. Graduates from the 1930s-to-1970s talk about the Golden Slipper, awarded for best class play. They also recall visiting the president’s home in the Old Governor’s Mansion for scuppernong ice cream.

“We coach our callers to talk about things like the dogwoods and azaleas on campus, because they’re the same now as they were then,” Doerr said. “You start talking about that and you can be 50- or 60-years old but, all of a sudden, you’re 18 again. It’s a powerful, powerful thing.”

“Callers benefit too,” said Mindy Miller, who works in Advancement and oversees Phonathon. She urges alumni and parents to pick up when they see a GC number. By answering, they help students gain important job skills.

“Phonathon teaches that things don’t always go as planned,”

That’s true of senior Jessica Grace Springer, ‘17, student teacher at Dames Ferry Elementary School in Gray, Georgia.

This is Springer’s fourth year at Phonathon and second as supervisor. More than other jobs, Phonathon prepared her to stand in front of a classroom and converse with parents at open house.

“It definitely gave me more confidence and not be afraid to speak up,” Springer said. “I think it helped me have an open mind. It’s just really given me a different perspective in life.”

Facing rejection and hang-ups are important lessons, all agree. Workers should face that first awkward call quickly and put it behind them. Nine might go unanswered, Tate said, but the tenth could be someone wanting to reconnect and give back.

“When you’re making that first cold call or you’re in that first in-person meeting or you get that first bit of bad feedback – you really start to question yourself,” he said, “and you wonder what you’re made of.”

Tate’s worst call was with someone who’d given once and didn’t want to be called again. Impressed by Tate’s response, the man hired him. “Once you’ve been through it, you say, ‘Hey, I’m still standing, I’m breathing,’” Tate said, “and you’re much more comfortable the next time and you’re much better off than the person who didn’t try.”

The years Tate and Benton supervised rated among the most successful at Phonathon. Both recall instituting deals, where people donate the amount of their graduation year, such as $19.90 for 1990. Fun incentives – like ringing a bell when they get a pledge, prizes for the most calls or highest gift, dressing up on Halloween or Chick-fil-A nights – keep students motivated.

“These students are the face of the university,” Doerr said.

“They’re our army out there, sharing the latest and greatest of what’s going on at Georgia College.” ■

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STUDENT PROFILE

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hen it comes to Georgia College students, Laura Ahrens plans to stay connected with them across campus to see how she can help meet their needs. As president of the Student Government Association (SGA), Ahrens serves as a resource for all Georgia College students.

“I hope to improve the student experience at Georgia College, including campus services and campus life, in any and every way that I can,” she said. “Specifically, I plan to focus on campus safety, student spaces, programming, intramurals and athletics.”

Although there are several projects and areas that she plans to concentrate on this upcoming school year, Ahrens has grown to appreciate the opportunity to meet and work with many talented students, staff and faculty.

“The staff, faculty and administrators at this university are extremely receptive to student ideas and feedback and it shows through the collaborations SGA has been involved in and spearheaded have actually been able to make a difference on campus and for students,” said Ahrens. “The students who I have met have made every year in SGA so worth it, and the connections and friendships that I have been fortunate enough to make have had such a positive impact.”

SGA President Laura Ahrens addresses students during convocation.

said Laura. “Our university and the students have so much potential, and I realized this the very first time that I stepped foot on campus. The continued involvement and connections that I am able to make each year only urge me to continue being involved and seeking all that our campus community has to offer.”

For this aspiring civil law attorney and political figure, working directly with more than 50 students on SGA and indirectly serving more than 6,600 Georgia College students daily during the past three years has helped her grow into the successful student and leader that she is today.

When she was a first-year student, Laura was elected to serve as a senator, which she considers to be a rewarding and memorable experience. Last year Laura was elected as vice president, the position that oversees all of the SGA senators.

“This experience has taught me the importance of working with and for others, how to be a resourceful student, the ability to be inclusive and understanding and the necessity of time management,” she said. “It has also allowed me to realize my leadership potential by serving in numerous positions and situations involving students and administrators while expanding my technical and soft skills.”

“Being able to lead so many students in positions and events that I had played a role in was extremely fulfilling,” Laura said. “At the Presidential Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. this summer I networked and shared ideas and experiences with student leaders across the nation, who are so passionate about their universities and helping fellow students. That was an incredible experience.”

Three years ago, Ahrens and her identical twin sister Alyssa, opted for Georgia College out of their love for the university. Alyssa, a psychology major, also serves as vice president of the Delta Gamma Foundation, Blessing Bags coordinator for Bobcats Against Hunger, a member of the Family and Hospital Relations Committee for Georgia College Miracle, a member of the Georgia Education Mentorship program and a math tutor at the Learning Center.

As she perfects her leadership skills at Georgia College, Laura offers this advice for future leaders.

“I chose to come to Georgia College with the intent to graduate from here, get involved and make an impact,”

“Get involved as members and leaders on campus because unimaginable opportunities and experiences come from simply committing to something that you’re passionate about, and you’ll learn so much about yourself and others along the way,” she said. “You could end up becoming the SGA president. I never imagined I could or ever would be representing all Georgia College students, essentially serving as the student leader of student leaders.” ■

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FEATURED ALUMNI Bobby and Chelsea Losh

From farm to family Local married alumni farmers focus on sustainability, community and social issues n the eve of his wedding, alumnus Bobby Losh quietly stowed the freshly fallen, golden-hued leaves of the great Georgia College Ginkgo tree into a plastic bag.

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The leaves were his gift to alumna Chelsea, his now wife of three years, on their wedding day—a piece of Georgia College they sprinkled along the aisle.

“We knew we wanted a part of the college with us on that day,” said Bobby.

That same spirit of story paired with sustainability, social responsibility and community is what drives Bobby and Chelsea, along with their 2-year-old son Tripp, in their pursuit of creating locally-grown, organic food on their 40-acre vegetable farm Babe + Sage.

“We saw the farm for the first time in 2011, and we both knew it was the right time to come back,” said Bobby.

After Chelsea graduated in 2010, the couple knew they wanted to explore the world of sustainability further.

The two spent some time working for a farm in West Virginia, then took classes on sustainable agriculture in North Carolina. It was in 2011 when they realized they wanted to lay down roots in a community they could call their own. After getting a call from Georgia College professor and former advisor Dr. Doug Oetter about a local farm lead in Gordon, Georgia—the couple made a plan.

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“In a lot of ways, my liberal studies major has helped me be a better farmer,” said Bobby. “Everyday I’m looking at a complex situation and having to find systematic solutions—and that’s what my major was all about. We learned so much in just that first year—as a farmer, you have to wear many different hats.”

Chelsea, who was instrumental in initiating the green fee on campus, which has gone on to fund bike racks, energy audits and recycling on campus, says her vision of the farm revolves around the idea of community. As part of that effort, she’s founded the Green Market, a local, sustainable farmers market in Milledgeville, and is involved with the Middle Georgia Crop Mob and the Middle Georgia Growers Co-Op.

“Food has such value,” said Chelsea. “I’ve tried to focus on bringing everyone together and making social change where you can. We know it’s going to be a long process, but we’re going to continue to do all we can.”

The 2011 English graduate was also an ENGAGE Fellow in 2015, where she worked to drive discussion about food access. Her work led to establishing the acceptance of EBT and SNAP at the Green Market as well as piloting the Fresh Food Bus program, which offers community members transportation to the market and is funded by Wholesome Wave Georgia.

Babe + Sage is currently in their fifth growing season and has a bustling farm share. Customers can invest in a half or full share before the upcoming season. The idea to grow food for neighbors, friends and the larger

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“To live content with small means, to listen to stars and birds to babes and sages with open heart; this to be my symphony.”

-William Channing

community is a mission Bobby and Chelsea say is personal. Unlike the agriculture practice of monocropping, where one vegetable is produced and then sold to distributors, Babe + Sage takes a more thoughtful approach to growing food for families.

“Our intent was always to grow real food for real people,” said Bobby. “Part of it was also tied in this idea that there was a need for it in middle Georgia.”

While a student at Georgia College, Bobby regularly took classes with Dr. Stephanie McClure, professor of Government and Sociology. Years later, the lessons learned are still with him— and with Chelsea.

“Her class gave me a real understanding of how others’ experiences can hamper their possibilities,”

said Bobby. “It gave me knowledge that inequalities are real and helped us see them and want to do something about it.”

Seeing a need and finding a solution is what Bobby and Chelsea have built Babe + Sage on. The other part of their journey can be summed up by a line from a poem written by William Channing, which inspired the name of their farm.

“To live content with small means, to listen to stars and birds to babes and sages with open heart; this to be my symphony.”

“The whole poem was about how he lived such a simple life and was content,” said Chelsea, “and that’s our lives.” ■

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CAT CREW GETS JOB DONE

RAIN OR SHINE The year it rained should’ve been the worst - a wretched washout with soggy clothes-pasted-to-your-body kind of wetness. But it’s the day Cat Crew volunteers remember as the most rewarding move-in day at Georgia College.

It was 2013. A day of constant cold downpour, resulting in the highest-satisfaction ratings ever surveyed from students and parents who arrived on campus expecting aggravation and damp belongings but left awed and inspired by the dedication and unflinching fortitude of volunteers who refused to quit.

“While miserable, the rain [year] was one of my favorite years. I’d never seen so many people come together and stick with it. It really showed the spirit and heart of Georgia College,” said Cindy McClanahan, director of marketing and communications for auxiliary services who helped start Cat Crew in 2008.

“A couple thousand ponchos were handed out but hardly kept volunteers dry in the undulating rain, said Larry Christenson, executive director of housing who calls Cat Crew a “well-oiled machine.”

“It wasn’t just a trickle. It was a downpour,” Christenson said. “Water was flowing down the streets and people were soaked. I’ll tell ya, the students and faculty and community members all pulled together and made it happen with a smile.”

The number of students volunteering is what “really shocks” Steve Barsby, assistant athletic director and tennis coach who coordinates volunteers. “What kid in August, before school, wants to get up at 7 o’clock in the morning and carry furniture and boxes up to a room?” he asked. But more astounding was seeing them work in rain that felt like “minus 8,000 degrees.”

“I was real impressed, because it was cold. I was FREEZ-ING,” Barsby said. “But what can you do? People are coming whether it’s raining or it’s dry. You can either complain about it or you get it done.”

Positive attitude gets it done every year with streamlined, jaw-dropping efficiency. Green T-shirted students scramble like ants unloading cars in the blink-of-an-eye, running up and down stairs 20 times with bundles of clothes, futons, TVs, metal racks, refrigerators and mounted bobcats like one brought this year by business major and golfer Ben Huckaby of Bishop, Georgia.

When done checking in, Huckaby discovered his belongings already inside. His mother said, “It took three minutes and literally all the stuff was moved.”

Joe Wood of High Falls, Georgia called it “organized chaos” as he unpacked with daughter Elaine, a biology major. Wood described moving to other universities as “hectic” but said their Georgia College experience “went without a hitch. They got it knocked out in a hurry. It took me 30 minutes to pack it into the car and them three or four to get it out.”

All agreed move in would be slower and more aggravating without 500 volunteers who sacrifice sleep and free time, helping 1,400 newcomers settle into what’ll be home for the next 10 months.

“There’s no way we can give enough thanks to our Cat Crew volunteers,” said Matthew Terry, who does marketing for housing and organizes Cat Crew. “Many come back year after year to show support for our students. Their love for this campus and dedication to the community is really something special.”

Most volunteers find it fun despite heat and hard work, McClanahan said. It’s an honor to share one of the biggest days in a student’s life – leaving home, moving to college, saying goodbye to Mom and Dad. “There’s so much excitement and nervousness – a little bit of fear, a little bit of curiosity – and the Cat Crew members see that and feed off of it and they get to be part of that excitement,” she said.

Cat Crew is one of the biggest volunteer efforts on a campus known for philanthropy and makes a great “welcoming presentation,” Christenson said. “It’s a ‘feel good’ not only for people receiving the service but also for the people giving. I mean, hey, it’s Georgia College! It’s part of the culture we instill.”

A smaller, less-sophisticated effort called Helping Hands existed in the 1990s under former housing director Paul Jahr, who retired as associate vice president of student affairs in 2013 and comes back every year to volunteer. Back then, he said helpers wore parking vests, not green T-shirts. They carried stereos and hand-me-downs, not flat-screen TVs and refrigerators. Loud music blared from stereo speakers, not a lone iPhone.

But much remains the same too. Move in still marks a threshold apprehensive first-year students cross towards full-fledged adulthood - a day charged with emotional anticipation and boundless energy when all unite with a common goal.

“No one wants to move their own stuff let alone a stranger’s,” McClanahan said. “They come out voluntarily in the world’s hottest location on the planet, where it’s humid and miserable and they’re here to help somebody. That’s just amazing.” ■

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT s Georgia College nursing professor Dr. Sheryl Winn makes her way down the large corridor of Daybreak Clinic, it’s hard not to notice the frequent waves, nods and welcoming “hellos,” she amasses at every turn.

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And it’s no surprise Winn is wellknown at the clinic— equipped with her purple stethoscope and pink reading glasses— considering she’s been there since it opened in November 2013.

Since it’s inception, the Macon clinic has transformed into a bustling resource center with two fully furnished exam rooms, a stocked medication closet, pantry, laundry services, showers and Internet and phone booths.

The clinic is also where Georgia College Family Nurse Practitioner, undergraduate and graduate nursing students participate in service learning. They aid nearly 75 patients, who also happened to be some of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in middle Georgia.

By 8:30 a.m., there’s already a stack of folders marked “confidential” waiting on the conference room table for Winn and graduate student Lesley Stephens to siphon through.

Stephens, who is in the family nurse practitioner program, whips into a room followed by Winn, where there’s already a patient waiting.

Inside her folder is previously prescribed medication, necessary medical background and an array of test results, but what isn’t listed is the patient’s sense of humor, their favorite subject of political discourse or the financial hardships they

face— these are things that Stephens learns each time she treats her patients at Daybreak.

“You really are exposed to so many different types of patients,” said Stephens. “And it’s very much the mentality of the more you see there’s such a big need—the more you want to do.”

The routine of seeing the same patients and going on their journey of health and healing with them is what has made Stephen’s clinical experience unique.

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“This experience has made these patients so real to me,” said Stephens. “The consistency you get working at Daybreak makes the difference. I get to know them. I share in their happiness as they get better and help them when and if they get worse.”

Winn says part of the appeal of Daybreak is its benefit to not only the patient, but also Georgia College graduate and undergraduate students.

HELPING TO HEAL Nursing students, faculty serve vulnerable populations of middle Georgia

“Our students really thrive at Daybreak. They develop personal connections, but they’re also getting valuable experience,” said Winn.

“Our undergraduate nursing students have the ability to practice physical assessment and patient education skills, while our graduate and Family Nurse Practitioner students get experience in diagnosis and treatment skills.”

Coordinator of clinical services Sister Catherine Brown has worked at Daybreak for two years and says the university’s commitment to

Daybreak is what has made it what it is today.

“Georgia College gave us a whole lot of credibility,” said Brown. “If it wasn’t for the university, we simply wouldn’t be here.”

Brown says Georgia College faculty and students understand the dire need of case management, which is what Daybreak offers its patients. It’s what allows Winn and Stephens to see the same cases repeatedly, forming a bond.

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“They see us everyday, we know them,” said Brown. “Not only that, but we know their situation—so they’re going to trust and listen to us.”

The bond that is made through the relationship is what Winn says leads to students wanting to give back.

“We’ve found that our students enjoy volunteering their time here,” said Winn. “It’s very much fostering that spirit of giving back in them that will last with them their whole career.” ■

1990s

CLASS NOTES

Timothy J. Kemp, ’99, will be inducted into the South Carolina State University Athletic Hall of Fame in October. Kemp was a MidEastern Athletic Conference two-time indoor 880-yard run and 800-meter champion the first two years of the inception of the championship meets. He was the head track and field coach at Monroe Area High School in Walton County located in Monroe, Georgia, for 18 years before becoming an assistant principal at the school. He also coached Georgia College’s current head Cross Country coach Stephen Cary for one year while at Monroe Area High School. Kemp retired from the Walton County School system in June 2015. He is still involved with the school becoming the head boys track and field coach at Walnut Grove High School as well as the founder and head coach of TK's Electro Track Club.

Jason Miles, ’99, who received his bachelor’s degree in history and minored in broadcast journalism, has accepted a reporter position with KHOU-TV in Houston, Texas. He joins the CBS station after more than a decade with WMC-TV in Memphis, Tennessee. He also worked for television and radio stations in Huntsville, Alabama; Columbus, Georgia and Atlanta. His broadcasting roots date back to his days at Georgia College where he worked at a local Milledgeville radio station. He also served as reporter and anchor for Georgia College Tonight, the campus television newscast. In addition, he was active in Georgia College theatre performing in “The Crucible” and “A Christmas Carol.” He even starred as Tom Sawyer.

2000s Ryan Lesniak, ’00, ’02, was recently promoted to athletic director and assistant principal at Peachtree Ridge High School. His career began at Grayson High School in 2002 where he taught business education

and coached baseball, softball, volleyball and basketball. After six years at Grayson High School, Lesniak was hired to start the girls’ basketball program at Archer High School in 2009 while teaching marketing and video broadcast. Lesniak turned the Lady Tigers program into a perennial contender making the state championship game in 2014 and the final four in 2015 including an 80-15 stretch over the last three years of his coaching tenure. Now, Lesniak leads Peachtree Ridge's Athletic Department, a 13- year-old Gwinnett County school with an enrollment over 3,200 students.

Harold Mock, ’06, was recently in Berlin where he spoke on European security policy at the invitation of the Bundeskanzler-WillyBrandt-Stiftung. His presentation was entitled "A Post-National Europe: Brandt's Vision for the EC between the Superpowers" and was delivered at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

Additionally, he recently spoke on AngloGerman relations at the University of Cambridge (UK) and was invited by the historic Stresemann-Gesellschaft to speak at the State Chancery of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Mock is finishing a book manuscript titled “Dangerous Power: An International History of German Unification, 1969-1993." He also serves as a Bradley Research Fellow in the Corcoran Department of History at the University of Virginia.

Justin Harmon, CPA, CITP, ’08, was one of 19 young certified public accountants (CPA) honored for his contributions to the areas of information management and technology assurance during the first annual Standing Ovation held on June 5 by the American Institute of CPAs. Standing Ovation recognizes young CPAs who exhibit outstanding professional achievement in specialization areas. Harmon is a managing partner of Kimmons, Harmon & Company, P.C. Lee Ann Hughes, ’09, ’12, received her juris doctor degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University on May 14. On April 14, she was commissioned as an ensign in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the United States Navy. Hughes begins officer development school in Newport, Rhode Island in September. During law school, she interned for the Honorable Chief Justice Hugh Thompson of the Georgia Supreme Court and completed an externship for two semesters with the Bibb County District

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Attorney's Office where she practiced under the Third Year Practice Act. Hughes also completed a summer internship at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, working under the Force Judge Advocate of the Naval Education and Training Command. She also coached a youth girls’ lacrosse team and subsequently started the first high school women's lacrosse program at Stratford Academy in middle Georgia in May 2014, where she was the sole junior varsity coach for two seasons.

Ryan Greene, ’09, ’16, began his new position as the director of Auxiliary Services at Middle Georgia State University in July. He graduated with his Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from Georgia College.

assistant principals who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, collaborative leadership, school personalization and personal excellence.

Calli Marshall, ’11, began working as a client service representative at an animal clinic in Alpharetta, Georgia, in Sept. 2015. “I couldn't have asked for a better job where I get to be around all kinds of animals all day,” said Marshall.

Amanda Morris, ’15, is approaching her oneyear anniversary as the marketing and public relations manager at the Albany Museum of Art in Albany, Georgia.

2010s Jenna Green Maddox, ’10, opened her business Pecan Row in late July. Pecan Row is an antique, gift and home décor shop located in downtown Waynesboro, Georgia.

Josh Miller, M.Ed. ’10, ’11, ’14, was named head golf coach at Georgia Military College.

Katrina Collier-Long, ’11, an assistant principal at Fort Service Learning Magnet Academy in the Muscogee County School District was named the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals’ Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year for the 20152016 term. The National Association of Secondary School Principals and Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals Assistant Principal of the Year program annually recognizes outstanding school leaders who have succeeded in providing highquality learning opportunities for students.

Long was acknowledged by her peers for the exemplary contributions she had made to the profession. The program honors school

Kayla Upchurch, ’15, will attend the University of Georgia School of Law this fall.

Since graduating from Georgia College, she worked as a legal assistant at Meriwether & Tharp in Alpharetta, Georgia. She has also completed an internship at Governor Nathan Deal's Office at the Capitol in Atlanta as well as an internship at Global Image Sports in Roswell, Georgia.

Sydney Niemi, ’16, received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is a registered nurse at Northside Hospital in Atlanta specializing in cardiology.

Tori Tuning Gooden, ’10, married Brock Gooden on July 15 and started her new position as a second grade teacher at Southview Primary School in July. The couple resides in Auburn, Alabama. Members of the bridal party included alumnae: Tiffany Cannon Bayne, ’09, ’11, Emily Walsh Edwards, ’09, Kayla Jones, ’12, Lacey Hitchings Lunsford, ’09, and Stephanie Pope, ’09.

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CLASS NOTES

Madison Bailey, ’14, was recently promoted to a regional college recruiter for GEICO to help students find long-lasting careers. She started as a liability claims representative in June 2014. She is now responsible for recruiting for that position and the recruiting and hiring for GEICO's Management Development Program.

CLASS NOTES

Rachel Watkins Davis, ’12, married Grant Davis, ’10, on April 14, 2016, in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Rachel received her master’s degree in education: counseling and guidance at Point Loma Nazarene University and is an elementary school counselor. Grant is a national sales executive with AT&T. The newlyweds reside in San Diego, California.

Katlyn Allmon, ’07, ’11, and Daniel Rabideau, ’12, are engaged. Allmon teaches eighth grade and high school physical science in Johns Creek, Georgia, and Danny is working at an accounting firm in Suwanee, Georgia. They met at Georgia College when Allmon was a junior and Rabideau was a sophomore in 2010 and have been dating ever since that time.

The couple was engaged at midnight on May 1, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tennessee on their six-year anniversary. Allmon and Rabideau are planning to be married in May in Savannah, Georgia.

Ashley Kanak, ’12 and Billy Copeland, ’12, were engaged in July in Savannah, Georgia.

They met at Georgia College in 2012. Kanak recently began working as the assistant director of Annual Giving at Georgia College in July 2016. Copeland, also a newer employee at Georgia College, started as the assistant director of the Outdoor Center in January 2016.

Laura Thomas ’12, and Maxwell Pichan ’12 were engaged on July 2, 2016 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Kaitlyn Hall, ’16, and Jeremiah Cole Fronebarger, ’15, have been together for nearly six years and during four of them one or both of them was a Bobcat. After Kaitlyn graduated, Cole proposed on May 28. They are happily engaged and looking forward to a wedding in 2017. Cole works in landscaping and is pursuing a master's degree in occupational therapy from Brenau University, and Kaitlyn started her first teaching job in August at Crabapple Lane Elementary School in Peachtree City, Georgia. She hopes to soon pursue a master's degree in special education from Georgia College.

Gregory, ’06, ’07, and Paige Price Madden, ’08, of Brunswick, Georgia, welcomed their second child Blanton Lamar Madden on Aug. 1, 2016.

Danielle Thomas Wade, ’09, ’13, and Trey Wade announce the arrival of their first child, daughter Everly Grace, who was born Nov. 16, 2015.

Allie Stinson Crupie, ’11, and Peter Crupie, ‘11, welcomed their first child, Maggie Louise Crupie, into the world on July 26, 20106.

“We are so excited for this new adventure in our life and can't wait to watch her grow up,” said Allie. “Thank you, Georgia College, for all the wonderful memories and go Bobcats.”

Please submit your news for Class Notes at: webforms.gcsu.edu/classnotes. connection magazine | 32 | gcsu.edu

With eight Bobcats by their sides, Kate Miller Hogan, ’15, and Dylan Hogan, ’15, were married on April 2. Dylan and Kate met at Georgia College in Spanish class during fall 2013. Dylan proposed on front campus on April 2, 2015. The wedding party consisted of Tyler DiNatalie, ’16, Nick Haden, ’16, Jillian Lyford, ’16, Whitney McCorkle, ’16, Lucy Miller, ’19, Danny Sheets, ’15, Danielle Witting, ’16, and Lindsay Yates, ’15. Alexis Haggerty, ’16, was the photographer.

In Memoriam Mike Thomas Jaqueline McCrary Andrews, ’36 Fay Pilkenton, ’36 Mable Jackson, ’39 Florence Hartman Little, ’39 Juanita Ingram Scott, ’39 Evelyn McNair Shaefer, ’39 Melba Rackley Elkins, ’40 Julia Meadows Frerichs, ’41 Martha Laidler McDonald, ’42 Janis Dunbar Paulk, ’42 Ada Napier Poss, ’42* Mary Lanier Nuss, ’43 Frances Simmons Tennille, ’44* Rebecca Minor, ’45 Imogene Holcomb Abell, ’46 Ruth Read Adam, ’46 Dorothy “Dot” Gassett Ellis, ’46 Charlotte May, ’46 Jane Burch Hawes, ’48 Carol Martin Simpson, ’48 Alma Gentry Beckham, ’49 Sarah “Jean” Warren Garrett, ’49 Mary Ham Stone, ’49* Sara Taylor Dukes, ’49 Louise Moore Shirreffs, ’50

Lois Roberson Wood, ’50 Frances Martin Woodruff, ’50 Katherine “Vi” Whitton Griffith, ’51* Eloise Blackburn MacKay, ’51 Sara Sweatt Myer, ’51 Joanne Malcolm Thomas, ’51 Betty Campbell Young, ’51 Valdese “Val” Lott Hurt, ’52 Mary Hopkins Vredenburg, ’52 Gloria Dent Giles, ’53 Marjorie Shurling Hale, ’53 Shirley Perry White, ’53 Elsie Worley Collins, ’54 Ruth Brown Benigno, ’56 Hannah Ray Simons, ’56 Anne Georgia McKinley, ’57 Charlene Greer Alker, ’58 Barbara Eidson, ’60 Ramona Huguley Corsetti, ’61 Patricia Gilbert Smith, ’62 Ethel Copps Tanna, ’62 Louise Duck Jordan, ’63 Ann Matthews Houser, ’67 Madeline Johnston Gillespie, ’69 James “Dodo” Hollis, ’69 Edwin “Bruce” Jones, ’73

Katherine Finn, ’74 Garnet Carter, ’75 Martha Burnett Fountain, ’75 David Jones, ’75 Patricia Griffin Scoggins, ’78 Laurine Taylor Brown, ’79 Sheree Fleming Wright, ’79 Robert “Bob” Engelauf, ’80 Cynthia “Cindy” Peacock Hendrix, ’81 Patricia Collins Morgan, ’81 Joni Brooks, ’84 Alberta Evans Wege, ’84 Krystal Brantley Everett, ’85 Olin Burkhalter, ’87 Julian Sharpe, ’89 Wanda Coticchio, ’98 John “Ray” Markwalter, ’98 Amanda Peterson Morgan, ’00 Amy Coleman, ’01 Zachary Hart, ’11 The editor of Connection magazine retracts the inclusion on the deceased list of Nancy Waits Stephens, ’65, in the Summer 2016 issue, as her name was included in error.

*Denotes alumni of Peabody School.

This list recognizes deceased alumni that the university has been made aware of since Aug. 19, 2016.

5:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

7 - 9 p.m.

50th Class Reunion Dinner

All Class Picnic

Jazz Band Concert

Old Governor’s Mansion

Front Campus Tent

Russell Auditorium

Join fellow classmates as the Class of 1966

Enjoy lunch and relax in the Georgia sunshine

Hear the sounds of the GC Jazz Band concert:

celebrates their 50th class reunion and

with fellow alumni and their families. We’ll

Groovin’

becomes members of the Half-Century Club.

have music and activities for Bobcats of all

Thursday, Nov. 3

ages.

7 - 9 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 4

Jazz Band Concert

9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Russell Auditorium

Campus Tour: West Campus

Registration/Hospitality

Hear the sounds of the GC Jazz Band concert:

Student Activities Center

Front Campus Tent

Groovin’

1:30 p.m.

See what’s new around campus with a personal tour.

11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.

7 p.m.

Peabody Reunion

Volleyball vs. Flagler College

Magnolia Ballroom

Centennial Center

Volleyball vs. Armstrong

The graduates of Peabody High School

Spend the evening cheering on your Bobcats

Centennial Center

are invited to celebrate their reunion.

to a win!

Cheer your Bobcats onto a win!

Noon - 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 5

3:30 p.m.

Campus Highlights Tours

9 a.m. - Noon

2 p.m.

Wine and Cheese Reception

Various Campus locations

Registration/Hospitality

with Sister Classes

Tours: Museum of Natural History

Front Campus Tent

Old Governor’s Mansion Education Room The Classes of 1965 and 1967 are invited to

Tours: Museum of Fine Arts Tours: Old Governor’s Mansion

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

join their big/little sisters as the Class of 1966

*Specific times may vary

Tours: Old Governor’s Mansion

celebrates their 50th Reunion.

Old Governor’s Mansion 7 - 9 p.m.

1 p.m.

Campus Tour: Main Campus

11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Alumni Awards Ceremony

Student Activities Center

Meal at the MAX

Magnolia Ballroom

See what’s new around campus

Maxwell Student Union/Dinning Hall

Join the Alumni Association as we honor the

with a personal tour.

Check out the delicious offerings of the Max!

exceptional achievements of your fellow

2:30 p.m.

10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

alumni. The cost includes beer, wine and History of GC with Dr. Bob Wilson Donahue Lounge

dinner.

Tours: Ennis Hall Ennis Hall

Hear how Georgia College has progressed from its days as Georgia Normal & Industrial

10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

College through 2016.

Tours: Greenhouse Herty Hall

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Greenhouse 101

11 a.m.

Herty Hall

Campus Tour: Main Campus Student Activities Center

3:30 p.m.

Campus Tour: West Campus Student Activities Center See what’s new around campus with a personal tour.

See what’s new around campus with a personal tour.

Register to attend online at gcsu.edu/alumni/alumni-weekend

connection magazine | 34 | gcsu.edu

Alumni Weekend 2016 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. 31, 2016

I am planning to attend:

n Alumni Weekend Registration

n Peabody School Luncheon

n Class of 1966 Reunion Dinner n Jazz Band Concert n Meal at the MAX n Picnic

n Class of 1966 Big/Little Sisters Wine and Cheese n Alumni Awards

Quantity

Total No. Attending

________X $5

________________

________X $20

________________

No cost

________________

Lodging

________X $10

________________

________X $5

________________

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

________X $7

________________

No cost

________________

________X $40

________________

Subtotal =

________________

Hampton Inn . . . .478-451-0050 Antebellum Inn . .478-445-3993

n Unfortunately, I am unable to attend Alumni Weekend 2016,

but would like to contribute to the Georgia College Heritage Fund.

Enclosed is my tax-deductible donation of $_________________.

Mail registration form to: GC Alumni Association Campus Box 96

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

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refugee scholarship recipient will return the favor Dr. Gertrude Ehrlich, ’43, remembers when Adolf Hitler annexed Austria. She was just 15 years old at the time living in Vienna, Austria. Ehrlich and her family fled to the United States as her uncle provided affidavits for them to enter the country. He had come to America around 1890.

Ehrlich’s mother, sister and aunt came to the United States in August 1939. Her father and another aunt joined them in February 1940.

University of North Carolina in 1945, after which time she taught at Oglethorpe University for four years. Ehrlich earned her Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1953. en, she taught at the University of Maryland from 1953 to 1990 rising from instructor to full professor.

Ehrlich attended Georgia Evening College in Atlanta, while working as a clerk at Bon Art Studios during the day. In 1941, she was offered a refugee scholarship covering tuition, room and board at Georgia State College for Women (GSCW), now Georgia College.

After graduating from GSCW in 1943, she taught for one year at the high school in Lyons, Georgia, then briefly at the high school in Guilford, North Carolina. She earned her master’s degree at the

“Sarah Nelson was kind and caring and knew her stuff,” she said. “I hope the recipients of the money in my residual estate will enjoy Georgia College as much as I enjoyed GSCW.”

“I was very grateful for the scholarship that enabled me to attend GSCW,” said Ehrlich. “It would have taken me much longer to become an academic myself if I had not received this generous scholarship.”

In memory of her former Georgia College math professor Dr. Sara Nelson, Ehrlich plans to offer a scholarship in her will.

You can easily plan a gift. Contact Elizabeth Hines at 478-445-1944 or elizabeth.hines@gcsu.edu to make your gift today.