Spring/Summer 2022 Highlander Magazine

HIGHLANDER The official magazine of Georgia Highlands College

Spring/Summer 2022

Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degree in Northwest Georgia

In this Issue Nexus and Associate Degrees offered in FinTech GHC Foundation Board of Trustees adds three new members Lady Chargers dominate at NJCAA Division I National Tournament

Table of Contents

in this issue 3

Bachelor’s degrees at GHC

11

Campus News

20

Our Shared Values

26

Student Spotlight

28

Faculty Spotlight

30

Chargers Taking Charge

32

Alumni Feature

34

Foundation Spotlight

36

Charger News

Editor and Designer Sheila Jones Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Photographer Jeff Brown Director of Digital Media Services Writers Nick Godfrey Director of Communications

management, a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Highlands College put Breanna Normandy on the fast track to becoming an essential member of the team at National Diversified Sales, Inc. (Read more about her story on page 9)

KEEP UP WITH GEORGIA HIGHLANDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

/gahighlands

Mark Andrews Development Communications Coordinator

Georgia Highlands College Executive Leadership Team

ABOUT THE COVER: From internship to

/GeorgiaHighlandsCollege /GHCAthletics

The Highlander is published twice yearly by Georgia Highlands College 3175 Cedartown Highway Rome, GA 30161 • 706.802.5000 highlands.edu

@GaHighlands @GHC_Athletics

ALSO FIND US ON...

Georgia Highlands College is a multi-campus, state college of the University System of Georgia. Founded in 1970 as Floyd Junior College, it now serves thousands of students in Northwest Georgia across multiple locations. GHC currently offers an associate degree in over 30 areas of study, as well as seven bachelor’s degrees. Over 15 areas of study are offered fully online.

Dana Nichols, Ph.D. Interim President Sarah Coakley, Ph.D. Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer Jamie Petty Vice President for Finance and Administration Rob Laltrello Chief Information Officer Dana Itkow Chief Human Resource Officer Leslie Johnson Campus Dean - Cartersville site Ken Reaves Campus Dean - Marietta site

The Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degree is Here!

Georgia Highlands College supports thousands of students from over 30 counties in Northwest Georgia. With access to five sites in Rome, Cartersville, Marietta, and Dallas, GHC brings over 40 areas of study in associate and bachelor’s degree options to students in this region. And with a robust GHC Online program, students will find the same caring flexibility and support wherever they take classes.

GHC is proud to say, “We have the most affordable bachelor’s degrees in Northwest Georgia.”

As an access-mission college, GHC maintains the same high-quality academic and degree expectations seen at every college within the University System of Georgia while continuing to offer a college degree at one of the lowest costs in the state or country.

More than that, bachelor’s degrees at GHC are targeted and career focused. Regardless if you’re right out of high school or you’ve been out for a while or you’re working full time and taking care of a family – the bachelor’s programs at GHC are designed to meet your college and career goals.

Talk to Eric Johnson (page 4) who – while working for Amazon – decided to return to school as he worked. He is now using his bachelor’s degree in logistics and supply chain management for career advancement to higher-level positions in the company.

Ask Dillan Frazier (page 6) about how the bachelor’s degree in health science landed him a spot in medical school and is preparing him for a highly-skilled profession.

Find out how Katherine Moore (page 7) took a passion for healthcare and applied it to the demand for rising fields. She found a place in the healthcare business that she enjoys and became an essential part of the team.

See what LaQuisha Pillow (page 8) has to say about being a single parent while working full time and going through the supportive and flexible nursing courses at GHC to earn her bachelor’s degree and increase her opportunities as a nurse.

Learn how Breanna Normandy (page 9) took the specialized training she received in her bachelor’s program at GHC to break into a new career she loves – one that provides her “endless opportunity” to advance.

It doesn’t matter where you are in life. GHC can help you achieve your college and career goals. And the most affordable bachelor’s degrees in Northwest Georgia are proven to make a difference in the lives of GHC’s graduates. Read more about the success of GHC’s bachelor’s degrees and the students taking charge in each of these programs in this special section.

When you’re ready to make a difference in your own life, reach out to our admissions team at go.highlands.edu so GHC can show you the path forward.

go.highlands.edu

highlands.edu | 3

Career Advancement Bachelor’s in Logistics and Supply Chain Management gives Eric Johnson a path to high-level positions at Amazon

In his current role at Amazon as a Learning Assistant, Eric Johnson has always wanted to find a clear path to higher-level positions. Eric found that path with the Bachelor of Business in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Georgia Highlands College.

He said his general interest in logistics and supply chain management has come from his time at Amazon – where the skills are highly sought-after and highly utilized within the company.

Eric started his college journey pursuing an associate degree at GHC focused on business administration. He then used that as a foundation for GHC’s bachelor’s degree in logistics and supply chain management.

“Through the program at GHC, I have gained significant knowledge on logistical processes, problems, and solutions that have translated over to my current job with Amazon,” Eric said. “The result has made me more skillful and able to quickly problem-solve to ensure an efficient flow through the warehouse and down the road.”

Eric graduates with his bachelor’s degree from GHC in May 2022. He said the new skills he has learned will give him the option to improve on his current role at Amazon, as well as explore higher-level positions at Amazon thanks to earning his bachelor’s at GHC. “It is important for me to be financially independent and stable as it creates a better life for not only me but my family around me,” Eric said.

“I would like anyone who is thinking about going to college to do it! It will help and enhance your life in ways you cannot begin to imagine.”

Learning to Solve Complex Problems for a Better Future Untangling and solving the complicated and complex issues facing logistics and supply chain today are at the forefront of the learning pro-

4 | Spring/Summer 2022

cess at GHC. While logistics and supply chain management covers a breadth of topics, Eric said supply chain risk mitigation is one aspect he finds very interesting, and it ties directly into what he does at Amazon.

“There are several aspects to mitigating risk within the supply chain through management programs, process problem identification plus solution, as well as ideologies such as ISO 31000 (risk management),” he said.

Eric explained how what he learned at GHC is vital to solving logistics and supply chain problems which ultimately make for a better future in the field that has grown tremendously over the past few years.

“Being able to diversify and become a creative problem-solver in risk mitigation has proven beneficial as I worked for the Network Operations Center team for Amazon tracking risk via over-the-road transportation and warehouse operations. I was able to connect the dots and develop a better understanding through GHC’s program by connecting it with my job, and it has almost become an obsession.”

Working with Hands-On Faculty Eric has been very happy with his experience working one-on-one with faculty at GHC, leading to expanding and growing his knowledge beyond just what happens in the classroom. In his studies, Eric developed a supply chain risk mitigation honors project with Logistics and Supply Chain Management Professor Lucinda Montgomery.

“Not only has [Professor Montgomery] allowed me to run with the project and go multiple different directions with it, but she’s also been wonderful as it pertains to understanding how my mind operates,” he said.

Eric said the amount of care, support, and attention GHC faculty gives students really helps to make a difference in the learning outcomes

and success rate with each project and class. “[Professor Montgomery] has been understanding that it is difficult for me to translate my thoughts to paper and provided me with several ideas and avenues on how to handle it and create a truly enticing project,” he said. “She has been a very influential person in my life for [these last few] years, and I am incredibly grateful that she allowed me to work on this project with her.”

Real World Applications and Internships Utilizing the history of logistics and supply chain alongside current aspects, Eric and a group of his classmates researched and presented on the topic of Digital Twins.

“Digital Twins is a fascinating topic ranging back to NASA and how they would model parts of their stations and tools back on earth,” he said. “The point of this was that if something went wrong, they could figure out how to solve the issue on earth for easier operations in space.”

He explained currently Digital Twins are used in recreating human environments, warehousing processes, and are even used in how we create T-shirts on a simplistic level.

“Having a digital version of a physical object or situation improves the ability to edit, reprogram, or modify to have a successful product or process,” he said. “On a basic level, think how we go online to custom order something – we get to see the digital version of the physical object we have ordered.”

Eric also completed a 3D warehousing project for the program, which allowed him to utilize his experience from working at Amazon.

“Being able to identify parts of a warehouse such as cross-dock and the type of warehouses such as an ‘L’ shape or ‘I’ shape proved to be beneficial to my team at the time,” he said. “While I had the familiarity, putting it together was somewhat more challenging. Going from paper to physical object proved a unique and creative challenge that we winded up fairing well on.”

Additionally, Eric interned with the BartowCartersville Joint Development Authority, which he said provided him with a unique and exciting analytical perspective of how the local economy functions.

“Being able to see behind the scenes how companies find suitable land and buildings to purchase/ lease and the variables they look at the most has been a tremendous eye-opener for me,” he said.

highlands.edu | 5

Bachelor’s degree leads to medical school for Frazier In a few months, after graduating from Georgia Highlands College, Dillan Frazier will fly to the Caribbean to attend the Trinity School of Medicine located at St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Dillan started as a GHC dual enrollment student in high school and will finish at GHC with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science. From the moment he started, the goal was always to find a path to graduate school.

And for Dillan, this is another step toward a career in medicine that the bachelor’s program at GHC has prepared him for.

Earning a Spot at Top Choice Graduate Schools After GHC, Dillan will attend his first two years of medical school in the Caribbean, then he will conclude medical school in Warner Robins, Georgia.

“Following medical school, I plan to match at a top teaching hospital for Cardiothoracic surgery,” he said. “I will complete a one-year internship and a five-year residency upon completion of medical school. After becoming a Cardiothoracic Surgeon, I will work my way to the Chief of Surgery. My goal is to eventually come back to my community and help keep them healthy.”

A Cardiothoracic Surgeon specializes in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest.

Dillan said the Trinity School of Medicine is his top choice for medical school, largely due to its studentcentered objective.

“The school cares for the students. The teacher ratio is 1:10, and therefore, it allows interaction between professor and student to enable me to grasp the material better,” Frazier said. “Trinity Medical School reminds me a lot of GHC. I am accustomed to professors who care and want their students to succeed. Therefore, I was drawn into this medical school due to my experience at GHC.” Frazier said he was “speechless” when he learned he had been accepted.

“I never dreamed of going to medical school 6,333 FRAZIER– continued on page 33

Graduate School

6 | Spring/Summer 2022

Meeting the Demand

Moore takes charge of the business behind healthcare management with a bachelor’s degree Healthcare continues to be one of the fastest growing career sectors in the nation. For students like Katherine Moore, the option at Georgia Highlands College to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management is the perfect route to become an essential member of any healthcare management team.

As a graduate of the program, Katherine says earning her bachelor’s from GHC allowed her to follow a longtime career goal. Currently serving as Senior Patient Intake Coordinator at Fresenius Medical Care, she said the role is a perfect fit for what she envisioned for a career in healthcare.

Finding the Right Career Katherine always wanted to join the rapidly growing healthcare field, but it wasn’t until she sat down with faculty and staff at GHC that she learned how many options there really were.

“I knew I wanted to work in healthcare, however I was not personally drawn to bedside care such as nursing, therapies, or anything that was in a direct hospital or clinical setting,” Katherine said. “I knew I wanted to do something in healthcare, however I knew very quickly that I was not meant to be a nurse or a physician. I still wanted to work in the sector, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”

After completing her associate degree in business administration, Katherine started the Bachelor of Business Administration in Healthcare Management at GHC and felt the program would be the best route for her to pursue a career in healthcare. She said she found it interesting to learn about the behindthe-scenes elements of working in the field.

“Everyone knows about the patient care aspect and billing, but you don’t fully realize all of the other departments and hands that are involved with

patient care, such as Social Workers, Case Managers, Operations Specialists, Hospital Liaisons, and so many more,” she said.

Becoming Essential to the Team Katherine describes her position at Fresenius Medical Care as working both as a Coordinator and a Supervisor/Manager.

“I have my own caseload of patients that we get from outside sources, and I have to place each patient at a clinic, obtain medical documents, obtain insurance clearance, and confirm the patient’s medical acceptance and appointment times,” she said. “I also assist my team of nine other coordinators with their caseloads and assist them with placements with various types of barriers.”

Although every day is a little different, Katherine said a typical day in her role consists of assisting her team with handling dialysis placements in various ways, such as speaking to clinics, solving problems with the placement itself, and guiding on efficient ways to handle one’s caseload. In addition, she has to pull reports, obtain statistics for upper management, and numerous other tasks that are passed to her that vary throughout the day.

She says handling her varying and growing volume of responsibilities is the most challenging aspect of her position.

“Some days, you will have a very light caseload and it’s easy to work, but other days, your caseload triples, and you have to manage both your time and your resources to take care of all of your patients,” Katherine said.

Building a Lasting Foundation

Katherine said she considers graduating Magna Cum Laude as her greatest accomplishment while at MOORE– continued on page 33

highlands.edu | 7

Increasing Opportunitiy Pillow utilizes all of GHC’s flexible options to pursue passion in nursing LaQuisha Pillow is a nurse at AdventHealth Redmond. Between working full time and taking care of her family, she’ll be the first to tell you Georgia Highlands College provides the flexible options students need to be successful in their college and career goals.

LaQuisha takes with her on the job every day her studies in the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) from GHC and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN).

“I work on a Step-Down unit with a significant amount of our patient population being cardiovascular and thoracic patients,” LaQuisha said. “This includes open heart surgery, abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotids, amputees, chest pain, and more.”

And she has big goals ahead, including pursuing a master’s degree in nursing. GHC’s nursing program and bachelor’s degree, she says, is helping her get there.

“Obtaining my RN-BSN degree will expedite the process of me stepping into a charge nurse or leadership role,” she said.

Flexibility and Options LaQuisha will attest that her path toward a bachelor’s wasn’t easy, but she was committed and GHC provided the way.

“I am a non-traditional student, I work full-time hours and overtime when my unit needs it, [and] I am a single-mom… I understand the feeling of being overwhelmed, but I didn’t let that stop me. Instead, I let it be my motivation,” she said. “Don’t let life and adversity stop you from achieving your goals. The time will pass regardless, so utilize it to the best of your ability.”

In addition, she said GHC’s flexible class options helped her to move through her education while also handling personal responsibilities.

“GHC offers full-time and part-time options, as well as day and nighttime options. You can absolutely reach your goals, and the feeling of accomplishment is indescribable,” LaQuisha said. “Find the best fit for you, and make it happen.”

PILLOW– continued on page 33

8 | Spring/Summer 2022

Breanna Normandy joins one of the fastest growing career sectors after earning bachelor’s After adding a Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia Highlands College to her resume, Breanna Normandy broke into the rapidly growing field of logistics and supply chain management, which was the focus of her degree.

She said her decision to enroll at GHC for a bachelor’s degree was crucial for getting the career she was looking for, and her time at GHC helped her learn the skills necessary to be an effective leader.

“There is nothing you cannot do with this degree,” she said.

Rising to the Top Breanna works as a Warehouse Supervisor for National Diversified Sales, Inc. (NDS). She’s also in charge of Retail Customer Compliance. Originally interning for the company as a part of her studies at GHC, she said the company created the supervisor position in order to bring her on full time after she graduated.

“There is endless opportunity,” she said.

A typical day for Breanna has her flexing all her bachelor’s degree skills, she added.

“I spend about 50% of my time in the warehouse, helping and observing safety and productivity,” she said.

“For the other 50%, I am creating Tableau dashboards for retail compliance, disputing charges with retailers, and on many process improvement calls.”

But for her, what’s even more exciting is the opportunity to help the company continue to grow through her supervisory role, saying she hopes she can help “create more supervisor positions in NDS at all our warehouses to continue the great mentorship NDS has to offer.”

Learning the Right Skills to Thrive in a Career Breanna said that managing communication and workflow across a large warehouse operation effectively can be one of the most challenging aspects of her role, but GHC’s bachelor’s program prepared her to be a great leader in the workplace.

On top of the most interesting topics for her, like learning about the in-depth process of internal logistics, Breanna said the leadership classes she took in the bachelor’s program have been essential to her. She even goes back to reference her class notes and textbooks for

guidance when confronting a particularly difficult scenario.

Additionally, Breanna notes the bonds she built with her fellow classmates in the same bachelor’s cohort who went through the program alongside her and helped her develop key leadership skills like teamwork.

“Being in the same class with the same students created such a strong bond and friendship as a group,” she said, adding she and her classmates would go out to dinner and enjoy other activities and events together.

“One girl from class is now my best friend, and I speak to her every day. Another friend from class gave me my German Shepherd after class one day, and now he’s the light of my life.”

Breanna added that anyone considering the Bachelor of Business Administration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at GHC should know the program itself is designed to give students the knowledge and skill set needed to be successful in the field – and she’s the proof.

Specialized Training

EARN YOUR FOUR-YEAR. RIGHT HERE. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING MANAGEMENT

BIMM is the technology-driven process for estimating, creating and managing information and visuals on a construction project.

A building information model represents a 3D version of every aspect of the project, from facade to foundation to structural steel. This is one of just two programs of its kind in the nation.

Career options: Architect, BIM Manager, Civil Engineer, VDC Engineer, Project Manager, Mapping Technician, Industrial Designer, Building Inspector, Cost Estimator, Building Construction Manager

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - DENTAL HYGIENE

Students with an accredited associate degree in dental hygiene and who hold a license to practice dental hygiene in the United States, may be admitted to the RDH to BSDH Completion program. This program is available 100% online with the exception of an internship course that can be completed in the student’s local community.

Career options: Private Dental Offices, Schools, Public Health Clinics, Hospitals, Managed Care Organizations, Correctional Institutions, Nursing Homes, Pharmaceutical or Product Sales

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE*

This degree aims to produce graduates who are competent to collect, analyze, correlate, and evaluate scientific data pertaining to environmental and natural resources. Graduates of the EVNR degree program will be able to assess the health of various ecosystems, recommend strategies and methods for maintaining or improving the environment, effectively manage the use and protection of natural resources, and understand multiple dimensions of environmental sustainability issues. *Pending SACSCOC approval.

Career options: Wildlife Biologist, Environmental Scientist, Conservation Biologist, Natural Resource Manager, Field/Lab Technicians, Forester, Ecologist, Veterinarian, Educator

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - HEALTH SCIENCE

This degree prepares students with an interest in pursuing advanced clinical and non-clinical healthcare degrees or career advancement. Your classes will give you a broad base to build on if you continue your studies in fields such as public health, exercise science, nutrition, or medicine. Or you may choose an undergraduate specialty such as health and wellness educator and go straight into a job after graduation.

Career options: Child Development Specialist, Community Health Consultant, Community Health Education Coordinator, Dentist, Health Benefit Navigator, Health Coach, Medical Doctor

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - NURSING (RN TO BSN COMPLETION PROGRAM)

The RN-BSN Completion Program is offered completely online and can be completed in three consecutive semesters full-time or four or more semesters part-time by completing the program’s course requirements. Students are required to come to an orientation session once in the summer prior to beginning the program.

Career options: Hospitals, Home Health Care, Nursing Homes,

Doctor’s Offices, Community Centers, Outpatient Care

Facilities, Insurance companies

10 | Spring/Summer 2022

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONLOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Logistics and Supply Chain Management offers students the foundational knowledge and practical skills that are essential for efficient logistics and supply chain operations. Logistics typically refers to activities that occur within the boundaries of a single organization, and supply chains refer to networks of companies that work together and coordinate their actions to deliver a product to market. Traditional logistics focuses its attention on activities such as procurement, distribution, maintenance, and inventory management. Supply Chain Management (SCM) acknowledges all of traditional logistics and also includes activities such as marketing, new product development, finance, and customer service.

Career options: Vendor and Purchasing Logistics Management, Materials and Warehousing Management, Production Management, Inventory Control Management, Human Resources

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONHEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT Healthcare Management offers students the foundational knowledge and practical skills that are essential for a demanding and rapidly changing healthcare industry. Healthcare managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, are at the heart of the business behind the healthcare field as these experts are in charge of planning, directing, and coordinating medical and health services in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, doctors’ offices and more.

Career options: Hospital Administration, Clinic Administration, Health Information Management, Nursing Management, Rehabilitation Administration, General Management, Finance

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE*

(eMajor) Georgia Highlands College also provides an eMajor through the University System of Georgia for an online criminal justice degree. The purpose of the online criminal justice degree is to prepare students for employment within the criminal justice system in the areas of municipal, state, and federal law enforcement; corrections; juvenile justice and probation, etc., by providing students with a foundation of the knowledge, principles, theories, and functions common to the American Criminal Justice system. Criminal Justice eMajor partner institutions have pre-evaluated Georgia’s POST training curriculum for applicable credit for prior learning in the BS in Criminal Justice program. * Tuition costs and fees for this program are greater than GHC’s other bachelor’s degree programs. Visit emajor.usg.edu to learn more about the program structure and costs.

Get Started

go.highlands.edu

Students at Georgia Highlands College will save as much as $200 each semester moving forward after the elimination of the Special Institutional Fee. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) voted last week to eliminate the Special Institutional Fee charged since 2009 to students systemwide. The Board had initially established the Special Institutional Fee to provide financial support for high-quality academic programs and operations during the reductions in state funding caused by the Great Recession.

The fee has continued since that time, but beginning in Fiscal Year 2023, the state will increase USG’s budget by almost $230 million, allowing for the fee’s elimination.

As an example, the percentage change of tuition and fees for two semesters for students pursuing a four-year degree from GHC has decreased by 10.2%.

“The university system’s longstanding commitment to affordability helps empower students, keeping them on track to learn the skills they need to get good jobs in a highly skilled workforce,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “That workforce is critical to the economic development that has allowed Georgia to thrive, and we are grateful to Governor Kemp and the General Assembly for passing a state budget this year that provides record support for public higher education and USG institutions statewide.”

Additionally, GHC has been ranked one of the best returns on investment in the state for public colleges by Georgetown University’s Center on Edu-

cation and the Workforce.

In 2015, GHC was named “best value in the state”

by College Scorecard. College Scorecard was designed to provide “the clearest, most accessible, and most reliable national data on college cost, graduation, debt, and post-college earnings.”

Using data from the expanded College Scorecard, the Georgetown University report ranks 4,500 colleges and universities by return on investment.

The ranking has Net Present Value (NPV) for each college. This metric includes costs, future earnings, and the length of time it would take to invest and earn a certain amount of money over a fixed horizon.

By filtering the report by the state of Georgia, by public colleges, and ranking by the 10-year NPV, Georgia Highlands College joins Georgia Institute of Technology and Augusta University in the top three spots.

Visit cutcosts.highlands.edu to learn more about how GHC helps students graduate with little to no debt.

CONSUL VISITS GHC – Consul General of Israel to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon visited GHC in April. She was joined by members of the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeastern United States team to tour GHC’s Floyd campus and talk about potential partnership opportunities between GHC and colleges in Israel.

The Consul Team toured GHC’s Rome location while learning more about the history of the college, the programs offered, and many of the college’s recent accolades. GHC and the Consul Team discussed potential partnership opportunities for academic programs, including study abroad, film, and more.

Members of the Consul team pictured (left to right) with GHC Interim President Dana Nichols are: Director of Academic Affairs Sam Von Ende, Consul General of Israel to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon, Dr. Nichols, and Director of Communications and Public Affairs Aaron J Braunstein.

highlands.edu | 11

Campus News

Cost to attend GHC drops as much as 10%, ranked highly for best return on investment

Campus News

New ‘Charger Learning Commons’ innovates the library experience for students What students need from a library can change daily based on course projects and research or even student organization efforts. The library at Georgia Highlands College is working to innovate spaces on campus to better serve students. In January 2022, GHC’s Library System opened the first “Charger Learning Commons” on the Paulding site with plans to expand to other sites in the near future.

The “Charger Learning Commons” reflect a shift in the mission and scope of the traditional library setting. The space has been designed to serve as a flexible, comfortable, and collaborative location for students, faculty, and staff.

Dean of Libraries and College Testing Julius Fleschner stated research shows students want spaces that they can make their own and that are accessible.

“The new ‘Charger Learning Commons’ at Paulding is flexible and can be reconfigured based on the needs of the hour,” he added. “This includes a

comfortable student lounge, moveable tables, whiteboards, and technology.”

The space also includes a resource center, a study area, and rooms for meetings and events.

In addition to the emphasis on flexibility, students using the “Charger Learning Commons” will find books, computers, laptops, telescopes, calculators, and all the other resources available across the GHC Library System.

“We are extremely proud of the new space and its capacity to serve our students and community,” Librarian Laura Gargis said. “The focus on flexible, usable space allows the ‘Charger Learning Commons’ to meet the needs of the GHC Paulding site head on.”

Fleschner said the GHC Library System plans to expand the “Charger Learning Commons” to other GHC sites, including the new location for GHC’s Marietta site, which will open this summer.

Georgia Power presents nearly $40,000 energy efficiency rebate check to GHC In December 2021, Georgia Power presented an energy efficiency rebate check to Georgia Highlands College for recent renovation projects to make the Floyd campus in Rome operate in a more sustainable manner.

The check was for $39,954.75.

And the money received for the rebate is already being planned to be used for additional sustainability projects at the college.

The rebate is based on a percentage of the

12 | Spring/Summer 2022

investment GHC made in improving energy efficiency at the Floyd campus during its “Chiller Replacement Project” as well as the expected reduction in electrical usage from the completion of the project.

GHC’s campus in Floyd County is the original site built in 1970, then called Floyd Junior College and later Floyd College.

Energy efficiency rebates from Georgia Power are incentives to encourage customers of the GEORGIA POWER– continued on page 13

Offering both a Nexus degree and associate degree, the new FinTech program at GHC will quickly propel students into the rapidly evolving world of online banking, finance, and digital currency.

If you have banked or shopped online, you’ve utilized a product created, built, and managed by a FinTech professional.

“In the Nexus degree, students utilize GHC’s own logistics and supply chain degree resources to provide specialty education in that area,” Interim Division Chair for the School of Business and Professional Studies Joy Hambrick said. “In addition to FinTech, careers in supply chain management are also highly demanded, thus this exclusive education experience sets students up for success in today’s market.”

The associate degree is geared toward firsttime college students with little or no experience in FinTech, as well as returning or non-traditional students and those who already have a degree but are interested in FinTech.

The program will guide students among an array of topics that are central to the industry and increasingly commonplace in the modern business world including Credential Security, Blockchain Applications and Virtual Currencies such as Bitcoin, Financial Cybersecurity and Forensic Accounting, as well as Data Analytics for FinTech.

“Just think of all online banking, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, and all the ‘pay-in-4’ apps, and you’re thinking of FinTech,” Hambrick said. “It is a very creative career where both new and existing financial technologies are discovered, managed, and improved” FinTech is on Georgia’s list of high demand careers. The average starting salary is around $100K, with the top earners making over $150K. The demand for jobs in FinTech is projected to grow by 20% next year with a high concentration of jobs in Georgia. In fact, 70% of all financial transactions are run through Columbus, Georgia.

Both the Nexus degree and associate degree are eligible for HOPE and Pell Grant.

GEORGIA POWER– continued from page 12

electric utility company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, to take steps to conserve energy and find new ways to operate more sustainably.

GHC took on that challenge when looking to replace an over 20-year-old chiller system for the campus. In addition to replacing the chiller, GHC sought out improvements and redesigns to the chilled water loop equipment.

“Replacing the larger chiller with two smaller chillers allows us to modulate the amount of electricity being used to cool the campus to meet the actual need better than we were able to do before,” Director of Facilities David Van Hook said. “This greater amount of modulation and control allows GHC to conserve more electricity than in the past.”

The GHC facilities team worked with representatives from Georgia Power to calculate the amount of electricity that we should save on an annual basis with the new design. Georgia Power used this infor-

mation to determine the rebate amount.

“As with all efforts at GHC, we strive to be good stewards of the assets with which we are entrusted,” Van Hook said. “Sustainability is a core value for us at GHC. We always strive to ensure that any renovation or construction project at our college focuses on energy efficient methods of operation and improves sustainability.”

highlands.edu | 13

Campus News

Blockchain, virtual currencies, and financial cybersecurity central to new FinTech program

Campus News

Lake Allatoona student research group receives award

Following the success of a science-based crosscurriculum research project at Lake Allatoona, Georgia Highlands College received a $5,000 PIN Award from the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation (PIN).

“The project met two major criteria – the first was our work with the Lake Allatoona Association, a local nonprofit organization,” Division Chair for the School of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Erin Shufro said. “The second was the fact that our research project is very student-driven, which was a major criterion of the award.”

Half of the award will go to students in the Lake Allatoona Research Group, and the other half will go to the Lake Allatoona Association.

Shufro said the award provides important recognition for GHC students and their efforts in the research project.

“They’ve put in so much work, and what many people don’t realize is that they are 100 percent volunteers,” Shufro said. “The students don’t get course credit for this research. Instead, they do it for the love of science. To see them recognized for their hard work means so much to me.”

The Lake Allatoona Research Group began in the fall of 2020 and has had more than 60 students from across numerous programs participate. This semester there are 12 active students in the group.

Students participating in the group complete an analysis on the amount of dissolved oxygen, conductivity and pH of the water, as well levels of coliform bacteria.

Recognition Webinar (#SMARTer Together) The Partnership for Inclusive Innovation seeks to celebrate efforts that move public innovation forward

through teamwork. PIN Awards recognize communities and student collaborative teams who are making an impactful and transformative difference in local Georgia communities.

In addition to Student Team Research Award Winner GHC, the event featured Community Research Award Winner Augusta University’s Happy Hands Project which gamified hand hygiene through a 3D printed, designed, programmed, and cost-effective hand sanitizer unit called “Happy Hands.”

According to its webpage, “The Partnership’s #SMARTer Together webinar series aims to challenge us beyond the immediate crisis and onto a newer state where we have another chance to build strong community-research partnerships for good. By focusing on complex, societal problems that communities all over Georgia and the rest of the world face, we aim to provide innovative research and create partnerships to empower all.”

PIN is a public-private partnership that guides efforts to help foster access, growth, entrepreneurship, and innovation throughout the state, with the ultimate goal of achieving inclusive innovation throughout Georgia. The organization aspires to define Georgia’s entrepreneurial identity as a national leader in technology research, development, and implementation.

Faculty-created textbook free to students, wins national award

The nursing faculty have been busy. A GHC faculty-created textbook called “Introduction to Nursing” is not only available to students for free – it has also been chosen for a national MERLOT Health Sciences Classics Award for 2022.

The text – used during the “Introduction to Nursing” class – covers an overview of nursing history, professional roles, professional education, legal,

14 | Spring/Summer 2022

and ethical considerations, evidence-based practice, caring, the culture of nursing, technology, and informatics and nursing theories.

This is just one of many ways GHC faculty are utilizing the Open Educational Resource (OER) to eliminate textbook costs and provide free digital options for students.

OER course conversions are aided by the TEXTBOOK– continued on page 15

Faculty at GHC and Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia have long collaborated at GHC’s Heritage Hall location in Rome to help medical students learn the skills they need to succeed in a healthcare career.

Recently, GHC nursing faculty Bethany Blevins, Debbie Amason, and Tracy Greeson helped 11 thirdyear medical students from the Medical College of Georgia master their clinical skills.

GHC Assistant Director of Nursing Shea Walker said there’s great value in interprofessional education practices among the two institutions.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work collaboratively as that is a hallmark of the nursing profession,” she said.

The nursing instructors covered intramuscular and subcutaneous injections as well as Foley catheter and Nasogastric Tube Insertion. In addition, GHC faculty taught purified protein derivative (PPD) testing for tuberculosis, how to a peak flow meter – a device that measures how well your lungs are able to expel air – and incentive spirometry, a device used to help patients improve the function of their lungs.

GHC and Medical College of Georgia are both part of the University System of Georgia, and Medical College of Georgia’s “Northwest Campus”

offices and classroom space are located at GHC’s Heritage Hall.

Clinical Coordinator Vicki Wiles explained the college’s medical students work with physicians throughout the state.

“Our students are encouraged to seek out valuable information and resources from nursing and allied health professionals to gain a better understanding of the real-life patient care experience,” Wiles said. “Having direct instruction from nursing faculty was a great benefit, allowing them to ask questions and practice procedures that would not normally be in their scope of practice.”

TEXTBOOK– continued from page 14

University System of Georgia’s Affordable Learning Georgia (ALG) initiative which promotes student success by providing cost-free alternatives to expensive textbooks. GHC’s faculty have been working since fall 2015 to expand OER courses each semester.

Because OER is open to anyone for free, students, potential students, or even the public can view these resources at any time. OER textbooks can be downloaded to any smart device, phone, or tablet. To view, visit affordablelearninggeorgia.org The MERLOT system provides access to curated online learning and support materials and content creation tools led by an international community of educators, learners, and researchers. The MERLOT Awards program recognizes and promotes outstanding online resources designed to enhance teaching and learning and to honor the authors and developers of these resources for their contributions to the academic community.

“I am extremely proud of the faculty for their

efforts to not only provide a high-quality textbook for our students in this regard, but to contribute to the nursing community in such an invaluable way,” Dean for the School of Health Sciences Lisa Jellum said.”

The award was presented virtually at the Online Learning Consortium (OLC)/MERLOT Innovate Education Reimagined Conference in March 2022.

highlands.edu | 15

Campus News

GHC and Medical College of Georgia collaborate on clinical skills for medical students

Campus News

Undergrad research highlights campus white tail deer travel patterns, wildflower growth and more Tracking white tail deer on trail cameras, recording the species of wildflowers, and monitoring recycling patterns are just a few of the topics explored by students during undergraduate research in the environmental science course at Georgia Highlands College.

The class research groups focused on environmental topics at GHC’s Floyd campus which culminated with a final presentation in December 2021.

“We spent about 3 weeks at the beginning of the semester going through what a research project looks like, how you write a proposal, how you build a sampling plan and then they spent the rest of the

semester gathering data,” Geology Professor Billy Morris said. “In the last few weeks, they have analyzed their data, moved into graphic design mode, and developed posters to demonstrate their findings.

Caleb Ray and Drew Harrell tracked patterns of white tail deer on campus.

“We set out with a goal, and that was to find their pattern – where they’re going every day, what they are doing, and why they’re doing it,” Ray said.

Using five trail cameras, the students were able to track the deer from the wetlands, to wooded areas, and up to their feeding grounds at the oak trees near the north end of the parking lot.

“Every single week we would check the cameras, refresh the cards, and if one of the cameras was not successful in capturing any deer, we’d go back to the drawing board and figure out what we needed to do next,” Ray said.

Aveline Luitwieler looked at the various wildflowers that grow on various parts of the campus.

“I did this in autumn, so I wasn’t expecting to see too much, but I actually found 32 different species of wildflowers, most of which are indigenous to this part of the country,” Luitwieler said. “It was interesting to see so much diversity when I wasn’t expecting to see that much.”

While Luitwieler expected to encounter sunflowers and goldenrods, she did encounter some surprises.

“There was one flower that I only saw one of, and that was a turtlehead, and that was very strange,” Luitwieler said. “Usually when you see a habitative flower you expect to see many of them, but I only saw one.”

Susana Quinones Villarreal decided to research the water in and around Paris Lake using a pH kit, and Jazelyn Byars’ research looked at the recycling patterns of those on the Floyd campus, placing recycling bins in buildings throughout the campus.

“I was trying to see how easy or hard it would be to create a recycling program and what problems you might encounter trying to set one up,” Byars said. “I collected almost 50 pounds of recyclable material, and I bagged it up and sorted it out myself.”

Articulation agreement provides students a path to a master’s degree in five years

GHC and Piedmont University have partnered to establish a pathway for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, and master’s in just five years between the two colleges.

The partnership bridges three degree programs with a focus on communication sciences and disorders.

The articulation agreement establishes a plan where a student at GHC who completes an Associate

16 | Spring/Summer 2022

of Science in Middle Grades Education (STEM) may transfer to Piedmont University to complete a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and move into the graduate program in speech-language pathology.

For more information, email GHC Chair of Social Sciences and Education Sean Callahan at scallaha@highlands.edu.

Alejandro Alcaraz recently stepped back into his old primary school at Nebo Elementary to visit classrooms and provide presentations on oral health. This is just one of many ways students in the Georgia Highlands College dental hygiene program put community engagement at the center of their studies.

As part of their “Community Dental Health” course, senior-year dental hygiene students developed a lesson plan and identified schools which they would like to visit to provide oral health education during February, which is the American Dental Association’s (ADA) National Children’s Dental Health Month.

“Through this opportunity, we were able to serve students who may not otherwise have access to dental care and dental information,” Alcaraz said.

“It is always rewarding to see how we can positively impact those around us and to educate growing students and impact their view on the dental hygiene profession.”

Another group of students also visited secondgrade classrooms at Cartersville Primary School (CPS). Some students discussed proper brushing and flossing, while others addressed the importance of proper nutrition and the benefits of fluoride to protect against dental decay.

“It was a great experience to see the students engage in learning and to be so active in discussing their dental knowledge,” dental hygiene student Claudia Ventura said.

The GHC dental hygiene program regularly participates in service-learning projects and seeks to bring oral health education to surrounding communities, said Director of Dental Hygiene Regina Gupta. She added annual participation in National Children’s Dental Health Month is extremely important because dental decay is a chronic disease affecting so many children.

“Education is one way to improve the oral

health of children in our communities, especially if we are seeing children who might not have access to dental health care,” Gupta said.

According to the CDC, “Cavities (also known as caries or tooth decay) are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.”

Additionally, in January, GHC dental hygiene students and two faculty members participated in Special Smiles at the Georgia Winter Special Olympics 2022 State Indoor Games held in Emerson at the LakePoint Sports Complex. The Special Smiles discipline of Healthy Athletes provides comprehensive oral health care information, including free dental screenings and instructions on correct brushing and flossing techniques to participating Special Olympics athletes.

GHC dental hygiene students provided oral health education and delivered toothbrushes and toothpaste to athletes after they visited with a dentist for an oral health screening.

“This was our first opportunity to work with the Special Olympics, and we look forward to many more opportunities to work with them in the future,” Gupta said.

highlands.edu | 17

Campus News

Community engagement remains focus for dental hygiene program

Campus News

Highlands Writers Conference returns for fifth year with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Veteran journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hank Klibanoff was the featured speaker for the 2022 Highlands Writers Conference at Georgia Highlands College. The March 12th event also featured filmmakers, poets, and fiction writers leading workshops through the day.

The event was free for all GHC students and took place at GHC’s Cartersville location. The event was open to the public with a registration fee of $25 which included lunch.

The Highlands Writers Conference first began five years ago, growing to include multiple workshops and a publishing panel with notable writers from across the country.

Alongside Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hank Klibanoff, the Highlands Writers Conference was proud to host U.S. Fulbright Scholar Ambassador and author of five books Melisa Cahnmann-Taylor; highly awarded film producer and screenwriter Joshua Russell; award-winning novelist, professor, and activist Daniel Black; and director of the Master of Fine Arts program at Reinhardt University William Walsh.

This year’s publishing panel included awardwinning author of novels, comic books, short stories, screenplays, and more, Bobby Nash; Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of over 50 books, Jeff Strand; and author, publisher, and podcaster, John G. Hartness.

“This year’s slate of writers covered a wide range of writing interests, from history to journalism to screenwriting to poetry. We continue to be so grateful to the strong community of readers and writers who have made HWC a tremendous success as we celebrated our fifth year and a return to an in-person event with a virtual option,” Dean for School of Humanities Jessica Lindberg said.

18 | Spring/Summer 2022

Pulitizer Prize Winner Hank Klibanoff

The Rome International Film Festival (RIFF) entered its 18th year in November 2021 with multiple films and starstudded guests like filmmaker and actor Billy Bob Thornton.

Georgia Highlands College is a longtime partner of the local non-profit organization led

by RIFF Executive Director Seth Ingram who also serves as GHC’s Film Studies and Theater Chair.

Billy Bob Thornton attended this year as RIFF celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Oscar winning film “Sling Blade.” Thornton was presented the inaugural Flannery O’Connor Award for Storytelling at the festival.

On opening night, RIFF kicked off with the documentary “One Pint at a Time.” The film follows the trials and triumphs of Black brewers as they navigate the craft beer industry in which they invest their passion but find themselves underrepresented.

Notable films screenings included “Old Henry,”

an action western starring Tim Blake Nelson, and “The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre,” directed by RIFF alum Max Martini.

Noteworthy feature films included “Clean Slate,” a drama in which two friends struggle coming to terms with their drug addiction and mental illness by creating a short film about the pain they inflicted on their families; and “18½,” a drama thriller set in 1974 surrounding the Watergate scandal and the 18½ minute gap in Nixon’s tapes.

RIFF is a non-profit organization that welcomes local, national, and international filmmakers to share their firms in Northwest Georgia. Their goal is to entertain and educate the audience, provide filmmakers the opportunity for networking and advancement, and encourage cultural tourism and film industry development.

To learn more about the festival, please visit riffga.com Visit film.highlands.edu to learn more about the film program at GHC.

Campus News

GHC partnership with local film festival sees star-studded guest lineup including filmmaker and actor Billy Bob Thornton

highlands.edu | 19 highlands.edu | 19

Our Shared Values

In 2021, Georgia Highlands College launched a new strategic plan. The process for developing a new strategic plan started in 2018. Through a process led by the Strategic Planning Council at GHC, two important questions were asked: Who are we now?

Where do we go next?

Backed by data and information from surveys, focus groups, workshops, and forums, the strategic priorities for GHC starting in 2021 and going through 2026 are access and opportunity, inclusivity and engagement, student success, and efficiency and effectiveness.

These priorities were aligned with GHC’s mission and with the college’s five “shared values” around that mission. Those values are access, caring, inclusivity, engagement, and excellence.

In the following special section, read more about how Georgia Highlands College is working increase the college’s continued efforts of these shared values and strategic priorities.

ACCESS

We provide access to high quality, affordable educational opportunities within the diverse communities we serve. Through intellectual, cultural, physical, and social developmental opportunities, we facilitate the growth and wellness of our students, employees, and our communities.

College expands access to meet needs of student population As Georgia Highlands College works to meet the growing needs of a highly mobile student population, providing greater access to resources is paramount to academic success. The Division of Enrollment Management and the GHC Library System are two areas where the college has expanded access to students.

Enrollment Management

Through GHC’s Division of Enrollment Management, students can gain access to more information and resources than ever before thanks to orchestrated efforts across the division which includes Admissions and Advising.

To help students learn about the resources they have available from the moment they begin at GHC, Enrollment Management has worked to reorganize the orientation process.

“At GHC, orientation is not a one-time event,” Executive Director of Enrollment Management Jennifer Hicks said. “In an effort to engage students from the time of acceptance through to the first day of class, the Enrollment Management team, along with other orientation stakeholders, has invested in a multi-step approach to transitioning our students to college.”

20 | Spring/Summer 2022

Upon acceptance, students complete a self-paced, pre-orientation module to learn about GHC and how to be successful. They also complete an in-take survey that advisors use to build a customized class schedule for each student.

Once pre-orientation is complete, students sign up and attend a virtual orientation. This event is held virtually so all student types can access the opportunity to connect with GHC faculty and staff at a time that is convenient for them. The final major step in the process is our Welcome to Campus Orientation.

“These events are held the week before classes begin at each site and offer students the opportunity to meet with faculty from each school, participate in various breakout sessions that interest them – how to be successful in the classroom, getting involved on campus, paying for college, etc. – and take a campus tour,” Hicks said.

The Welcome to Campus Orientation is designed to help students really feel like they are a GHC Charger and to get them excited about the upcoming semester. Between these activities and events, staff in the Enrollment Management Division are also sending various communication campaigns to our new students to help them take care of any outstanding requirements

and answer any remaining questions.

To ensure students easily access assistance in Advising, Admissions, Student Support Services and more, GHC launched the Virtual HUB. Since its inception in the 2020 fall semester, the Virtual HUB has grown from serving 660 students in its first month to now serving more than 2,800 students at GHC. Accessible from any device as well as through on-site modules, the Virtual HUB provides students with essential services in a more convenient virtual environment. Students can go to virtualservices.highlands.edu to connect, click the “Virtual HUB” logo on various pages at highlands. edu to connect, or they can scan the QR Code with their smart phone or tablet from any campus poster advertising the HUB to get started.

“The convenience of clicking a link and almost instantly being connected to a live person on the other end who can help navigate various college processes is a game changer for many of our students,” Hicks said.

Behind the scenes, Enrollment Management has expanded how students access guidance in their academic career by working with each of GHC’s five Schools to provide faculty advisors with training on how to advise students on programs of study. Through implementation of the Quest for Success advising model and by partnering with faculty pathway experts, Advising has created specific trainings to ensure we are providing students with the most up to date information about their academic pathway.

In addition, Advising is working toward maintaining engagement with students beyond required appointments. This includes the implementation and redesign of the Early Alert system that helps students get quicker and more targeted alerts when veering off track.

“The Early Alert system helps students to make informed decisions regarding their academic progress, and we work closely with the Tutorial Center to get more students to take advantage of tutoring services when a tutoring alert is raised,” Hicks said. “In addition, we analyze year-one data to determine which population of students needs more extensive outreach.”

50

and Forward

Libraries

The library system has been integral in expanding online education through GHC, largely in part to ensuring students have the knowledge they need to access its plethora of resources.

For GHC students, learning how to access and use the library’s resources is easy thanks to a series of videos explaining how to conduct research through GALILEO, LibGuides, databases, and physical collections.

Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science and Campus Librarian Jessica Osborne said while many recognize the library as the go-to location for books, it is also a point of access for student success.

“We provide study rooms, computers for in-branch use and check out, study help during critical times in the semester, countless digital resources, in-person support for research, academic advising, and essential workshops on everything from using Microsoft Word to Zotero,” Osborne said.

“We frequently offer library workshops, but we also partner with other offices on campus to bring informative and fun, educational workshops/ programs to our space.”

To help students gain deeper knowledge on how to access and utilize its resources, the library has begun offering full, for-credit courses.

The libraries also provide access to thousands of physical books as well as e-books, magazines, and streaming media through partners like OverDrive, Kanopy, and Flipster.

highlands.edu | 21

Our Shared Values

CARING

We demonstrate personal and professional caring for all students and employees. Through our shared values, we seek to ensure that students and employees know that we are invested in their well-being, growth, and success.

Thank-A-Teacher Program allows students to recognize faculty Since 2020, the Thank-A-Teacher Certificate Program at GHC has given students an opportunity to express their gratitude toward faculty members who exemplify the college’s shared value of caring by going above and beyond to help students along their journey.

Every semester students are afforded the opportunity to acknowledge their professors by sharing details about how they have made a difference during that semester. Instructors then receive a Thank-A-Teacher certificate honoring their contributions.

The certificates featuring the students’ “thank you” and signed by the Provost and Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) are provided to instructors at the end of each semester after submitting final grades.

“The program shows instructors that they are making a difference and that their students recognize and appreciate their efforts,” Director for the CETL Josie Baudier said. “This program is a great morale booster, especially after the Spring 2020 semester when all courses shifted to remote instruction.”

Baudier said the response to the program has been positive from both students and faculty. .

“Instructors sincerely appreciate the personalized notes which recognize and thank them for their efforts,” CETL Instructional Designer Rachel Rupprecht said.

“They are often surprised to hear what a difference they have made with students and encouraged that their efforts have not been in vain.”

In fall 2021, a student who wished to remain anonymous, wrote a nomination letter which resulted in a certificate being awarded to the entire GHC community.

“I would like to say ‘Thank You’ to the entire GHC staff for the personal dedication each one of you provided to ensure I was successful in each semester. I always ran away from school, always felt I was not ‘school material,’ afraid I would fail,” the student wrote. “Each of you helped me face a fear that has haunted me for 40 years. Because of you, GHC, I am finally free from that fear. No longer beating myself up about past mistakes or failures. I used to get straight Fs in school and was forced to drop out because of a low GPA. Because of the awesome staff at GHC, I am now getting As and Bs, and in classes I would have normally received Fs in. Each of you should be proud of

22 | Spring/Summer 2022

the work you are doing and success you are instilling in students.”

The Thank-a-Teacher Certificate Program exemplifies how many of GHC’s instructors are carrying out the college’s mission of providing access to high quality, affordable educational opportunities for students who might otherwise not have the opportunity to pursue higher education. More than 500 certificates have been issued since the program’s inception.

“Our instructors work in and through challenging circumstances and are to be commended for their outstanding efforts,” Baudier said

Thank-A-Teacher examples:

“The comments blessed my heart. It is greatly encouraging and rewarding to know that I am making an impact in the lives of students.”

“This is some much-needed encouragement after a very stressful year.”

“These are heartwarming and truly brighten the spirit.”

“This is very encouraging for me!”

“Thanks so much for the award. This made my day!”

“It’s always a good feeling to know that some students are willing to take the time to ‘Thank a Teacher’!”

“Thank you SO much for sharing this with me!! I can’t adequately express how deeply grateful I am.”

“This was completely unexpected.”

“What a wonderful surprise! Thank you!”

“I put a great deal of effort into beefing up my online classes over the summer of 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I think that it really paid off for students during the 2020-2021 academic year. Thanks for helping confirm that for me.”

“Thank you for forwarding these comments to me.

They were reaffirming after a very difficult semester.”

Student engagement essential to student success Keeping students engaged inside and outside the classroom is crucial to GHC’s shared value of engagement.

CURE and Experiential Learning Opportunities

Inside the classroom, the college offers what are known as “Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences” (CURE), in which students are given certain parameters and are then allowed to develop, implement, and complete their own research on a topic they choose. For example, the School of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) has partnered with The Margaret and Luke Pettit Preserve which allows for field-based undergraduate research of wildlife, plants, and ecosystems within GHC’s biology courses.

Biology Instructor Ericka Walczak is currently running a CURE in her Principals of Biology class.

“This semester my guided research project was having the students look for bacteria in the soil that produce antibiotics,” Walczak said. “Students learn about soil and microbial life then obtain a soil sample from a location of their choice.”

After obtaining a soil sample, students then serial dilute and characterize the bacteria found in their sample. Next, they perform a “boxing match” between the safe relative of known hospital pathogens and their isolates – bacteria colonies – from the soil.

If an antibiotic is produced by the soil isolates, the known hospital pathogen cannot grow next to the isolate, and it creates a zone of inhibition. This result varies from student to student based on the bacteria isolated from the soil.

All the laboratories up to this point in the class are guided and about learning the proper techniques as well as base content.

“From here the students are asked to consider the growth requirements of bacteria and how they are cultured in the laboratory and create an experiment in which they could maximize the growth of their bacteria or by manipulating bacterial growth obtain antibiotic production that was missed originally,” Walczak said.

“For example, this semester I had students who grew plates outside to subject the bacteria to temperature fluctuation, I had students increase the humidity in which the isolates grew, and students grew the isolates at varying temperatures.”

Students in other courses within the School of STEM have partnered with Allatoona Lake to complete

an analysis on the amount of dissolved oxygen, conductivity and pH of the water as well levels of coliform bacteria.

Experiential learning opportunities include the School of Business and Professional Studies’ Charger Innovation Challenge (CIC) in which students create and present their idea for an invention in a competition format similar to popular TV show “Shark Tank.”

In addition, GHC’s School of Business and Professional Studies offers its Entrepreneur Speaker Series each semester, providing students with the opportunity to learn from successful entrepreneurs in a convenient, virtual format.

Both the CIC and Entrepreneur Speaker Series – while tied to specific programs of study – are open to students from all majors.

Beyond Academics

In addition to offering drive-in movie nights, student organization meet-and-greets and, of course, food and fun, GHC’s Department of Student Engagement has worked to promote and provide engaging opportunities for students that expound upon academics and selfdevelopment.

The department held the Charge Into Leadership Conference in October which featured motivational speaker and leadership expert Quentin Lee of Childersburg High School. Also featured were breakout sessions from faculty on growing and applying leadership skills, a speaker panel from outside entrepreneurs, and a Women in Leadership roundtable.

Other opportunities from the department include field trips to historic sites as well as guest speakers such as former childhood actress and current mental health advocate Lisa Jakob from “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Independence Day” fame. Personal growth opportunities such as yoga and American Sign Language basics are also offered.

highlands.edu | 23

Our Shared Values

ENGAGEMENT

We foster engagement for and between students, employees, alumni, and our communities. We encourage positive, meaningful interactions and relationships between individuals, groups, and organizations which lead to intellectual, cultural, physical, and social development.

Our Shared Values

EXCELLENCE

We champion excellence for and by each student, employee, and our communities. Through intellectual, cultural, physical, and social development, we strive to perform and achieve at the highest levels possible in all that we do by operating with the highest standards of academic achievement, personal ethics, and organizational stewardship.

Teaching and Learning center targets excellence through education and course design

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) supports the shared value of excellence by providing research-based faculty development courses focused on pedagogy and practical teaching strategies.

“The CETL staff models excellent teaching practices while offering development on these research-based topics. We strive to let the research guide our work,” CETL Director Josie Baudier said. “In these faculty development courses, we ask our participants to put the content into action, allowing us the opportunity to provide feedback on their deliverables. Feedback is key to mastery of the content.”

Some initiatives from the CETL which exemplify excellence include professional development and faculty workshops on a myriad of topics such as course design, engaging lectures, media usage, and copyright law, USG initiates, and more.

Professional Development

The CETL’s multi-week workshop courses explore the research and practices of different teaching and staff needs and provides a space for faculty and staff to practice the skills in the workshop. These workshops are delivered using D2L, the environment in which GHC’s online courses are taught. In addition, these multi-week workshop courses model best practices for online design and delivery.

“The CETL Labs facilitate asynchronous hands-on engagement with pedagogical professional development over a four-day period,” Baudier said. “Participants in labs are expected to work independently on the deliverable(s) that can be put into action in the classroom quickly.”

The CETL also organizes Faculty Learning Communities (FLC) as a way to gather faculty and/or staff together focused on one topic. These FLCs provide a space for participants to reflect on their own practice and how to make improvements. The FLC provides dedicated time to share their practices with their colleagues and learn from their peers.

Topics for this year’s FLCs included a focus on part-time faculty, book discussions, and best teaching practices. Additionally, the STEM IV Initiative Grant sponsors an FLC on High Impact Practices which CETL staff support.

24 | Spring/Summer 2022

Course Design

The CETL offers workshops and online resources on course design. The methodology of alignment and course design is embedded in most workshops because they are foundational to effective teaching and student success.

Funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) have provided for faculty to take part in Quality Matters (QM) Online Course Reviews.

Quality Matters is a nationally recognized program that provides a process and rubric for measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of online course design.

These online courses have been reviewed by a team of three reviewers external to GHC. The rubric used in the reviews is built on research-based practice for online course design.

By using QM Rubrics and Standards, this review process will give national recognition for those courses that have successfully completed the course review.

“Although this process can be extremely time-consuming and stressful for the faculty, yet it is very beneficial to creating excellent online courses for students,” Baudier said.

Currently there are more than three dozen courses undergoing review.

The GHC faculty involved in this project have contributed a large amount of time and effort. They are Allen Dutch, Althea Moser, Amanda McFarland, Donna Catapona, Jay Pickern, Jayme Wheeler, Jessica Lindberg, Jamie Howard, Kamisha DeCoudreaux, Kim Robers, Lisa Jellum, Lucinda Montgomery, Michelle Boyce, Oris Guillaume, Sandi Anderson, Sean Callahan, Tera Phillips, and Tom Harnden.

Student organizations promote inclusivity GHC is home to Registered Student Organizations (RSO) based on shared activities and interests like gaming and photography. The college also hosts organizations like Brother 2 Brother (B2B) and Woman 2 Woman, which provide members of the college’s diverse student population a sense of community and inclusivity as well as opportunities to serve others.

In recent years the college has also worked to provide a more inclusive environment for all students through the expansion of mental health resources.

Student Organizations

As part of the GHAME/AAMI initiative, Brother 2 Brother (B2B) exists to provide positive solutions to the educational, cultural, social, spiritual, and intellectual needs of African-American and Latino male college students at GHC while also providing opportunities for leadership development through campus and community service.

Throughout the year, B2B members volunteer their time to help with the GHC Foundation Camp, which provides young men ages 10 to 12 an opportunity to engage in traditional camp activities like flag football and kayaking while also being mentored from college students on brotherhood and the importance of higher education.

In recent years, B2B members have participated in Christmas toy drives, orchestrated several backpack drives for underprivileged middle schoolers, participated in food drives in Paulding and Douglas counties, and have volunteered at food banks.

Woman 2 Woman (W2W) was founded in 2010 with an emphasis on developing communications skills, volunteering in the community, and supporting each student in the group on the road to degree completion. The organization – which is open to all GHC students who are female or identify as female – works continuously with local nonprofit Helping Hands and has orchestrated coat drives, canned food drives and has collected toys for Toys for Tots.

“We promote an atmosphere of inclusivity amongst members by allowing meetings to be a place where members may share their own experiences and perspectives with acceptance. Questions and comments come from a place of growth,” W2W advisor and Paulding Site Manager Christina Henggeler said.

“The goal is for diverse backgrounds and ethnicities to be accepted the same way that diverse talents are viewed and accepted.”

Recently, W2W paired with Green Highlands and Students Without Borders to raise awareness and

funds for the Paulding County Animal Shelter. The Christmas Animal Fundraiser was held Dec. 1 with Katie Shipman of the shelter attending in the Charger Learning Commons at Paulding’s Bagby Building.

Other student organizations that exemplify GHC’s commitment to inclusivity include Baptist Student Union, College Conservatives, Equality Alliance, Students Without Borders, and Student Veterans of America.

Mental Health and Well-Being

In addition to providing students with opportunities for engagement, fun, and community service, GHC also seeks to provide an inclusive environment in regard to mental health and holistic wellness.

Known as Thrive@GHC and officiated through Student Support Services, students can now connect to a continuously monitored mental health support line, online-based cognitive behavioral therapy, and additional psychiatric services.

This initiative from the University System of Georgia (USG) allows students to engage in no-cost telehealth and in-person treatment sessions provided by licensed mental health physicians, virtual psychiatric clinics to offer assessment and medication management, personal student navigators to assist with referral coordination and support, and a self-directed Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (ICBT) program.

A 24/7 mental health support line offers in-themoment support and direction on the next steps a student should take when seeking mental health resources.

GHC is also a participant in the Jed Foundation program, which is a four-year program that guides schools through a collaborative process of comprehensive systems, program, and policy development with customized support to build upon existing student mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention efforts.

Additionally, GHC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee plays an important role in supporting the college’s mission by continuing to provide impactful and transformative learning opportunities that enhance inclusivity, explore issues related to diversity, and promote practices of equity that actualize the potential of stakeholders, students, faculty, and staff to become global citizens.

highlands.edu | 25

Our Shared Values

INCLUSIVITY

We recognize the contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and talents and work toward inclusivity by creating a culture where diverse perspectives are authentically acknowledged and where those perspectives influence decision-making.

Student Spotlight

GHC grad accepted into master’s program at UWG Recent GHC graduate, honor student, and student employee Samatha Lewis is continuing her education after being accepted into the University of West Georgia’s Master of Science in Sport Management program.

Lewis currently graduated this spring with both a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) and an Associate of Science in Psychology. In 2020, she graduated GHC with an Associate of Science in General Studies.

Her response to learning of her acceptance into the master’s program came with two reactions: relief credits – which required 18 credit hours and a sixhour honors project – and reached out to faculty and and excitement.

“I was relieved that I didn’t have to wonder any- staff at GHC for help, she was met with friendly more and that it was a done deal, and I was so excit- responses.

“No one ever said ‘no’ to me at GHC,” Lewis ed I grabbed my fourteen-year-old son and jumped said.

“I feel like, without GHC, my path could have up and down,” Lewis said. “He bit his tongue in the been completely different. Not bad. Just different.” process, and I felt horrible!”

While earning her degrees, Lewis says the Lewis says she is pursuing her new degree undergraduate research opportunities at the college because she wants to increase athletic performance helped her to achieve her goals. on and off the field. She said she hopes to gain a “I have taken an unmeasurable amount of greater understanding of intercollegiate athletics experience away from my time in the undergraduand an opportunity to work with athletes on a daily ate research program at GHC,” Lewis said. “I have basis. worked in a lab and have enjoyed one-on-one time Lewis plans to continue working within the University System of Georgia after earning her mas- with multiple professors giving me the opportunity to learn from them, one-on-one, in a non-classroom ters so she can continue toward a doctorate in sport environment, expanding further into each person’s psychology.

“I plan on teaching at GHC after completing my area of expertise.”

Lewis has taken an active master’s,” Lewis said. “I hope role in the biology program’s to work in the Kinesiology partnership with Lake Allatoona and Wellness department or “Don’t be closed-minded conducting undergraduate Athletic Department. when opportunities arise. research. Over her tenure at Lewis recently began There might be something GHC, she has escalated her a 40-hour internship for her responsibilities from volunteer out there that sparks Capstone class in the GHC to student lab manager to laboraAthletic Department. She said your interest that you tory coordinator.

GHC has been monumental in haven’t experienced yet!”

Through these roles, she has helping her to advance through created and implemented most of her education, and she is a the working systems within the “cheerleader” for the college. research group, ranging from data housing systems, “I’ve enjoyed all my time with GHC and I hate inputting sample readings, scheduling, organizing that I have to go somewhere else to move on in my students, and exercising quality control methods. education,” Lewis said. “I have embedded myself Prior to pursuing multiple degrees at GHC, with everyone who crossed my path and made conLewis worked for 25 years in the dental industry. nections with most of them.”

“I think Health Science is just in my blood,” She said when she completed her honors MASTER’S– continued on page 27

26 | Spring/Summer 2022

Lady Chargers point guard wins in the classroom and on the court When Sandra Lin started at Georgia Highlands College (GHC), she had to record her classroom lectures and translate the text to better understand the content. In 2019, she had moved to the U.S. from Hsinchu, Taiwan. Her goal was to attend GHC and graduate with a degree in Health Professions while playing for the Lady Chargers basketball team.

She quickly learned the language and succeeded in each of her goals. Sandra is just one of many student-athletes recently honored for academic success.

“Students who work hard and make good grades should be recognized for their efforts,” Director of Athletics Brandan Harrell said. “When our athletes have success, we want to recognize it and celebrate it.”

Sandra recently joined other student-athletes during a recognition ceremony between basketball games, honoring those who hold a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Sandra said it felt rewarding to be honored during the event and appreciates her fellow teammates and GHC faculty and staff for helping her to reach her academic and athletic goals. The point guard for the Lady Chargers basketball team holds a 3.6 GPA. MASTER’S– continued from page 26

Lewis said. “As of now, I am taking my Health Science diploma to graduate school for Sports Management.”

Lewis serves as the President of the GHC Book Club, the Co-President of Green Highlands, and is “the self-proclaimed secretary” of the Psychology Club.

In her spare time, Lewis enjoys the outdoors, concerts, and is an Atlanta Braves season ticket holder. She also packs parachutes.

“Parachute packers are a small community within the skydiving world. I travel between several states and pack parachutes for special events, state

“I’ve met a lot of good people at GHC, and I’d like to become an example for those people in Taiwan who want to come here and build their dream,” she said.

An avid basketball player since age 9, she learned about the opportunity to play basketball and attend college in the U.S. during her freshman year of high school.

“I had never been to the U.S. before I moved here,” Lin said. “When I first came here it was very difficult to communicate – I couldn’t have a conversation or tell you a full sentence – but, eventually, I would learn more words as I would read them and hear them and would just keep going and getting better.”

She graduated with a degree in Health Professions in 2021.

“I want to become an athletic trainer or strength and conditioning coach, and Health Professions is the major that can lead me to that field,” she added. records, and both military and civilian jumpers,” Lewis said. I am also a certified Federal Aviation Administration parachute rigger. That just means I can pack reserve parachutes, complete minor repairs on skydiving gear, and work military contracts.”

Lewis said that as a single mom and nontraditional student, she feels it is important for other students to know it is okay to not know what you want to do for the rest of your life at this very moment.

“Ride the wave. Let opportunity knock and answer all the doors,” Lewis said. “Don’t be closedminded when opportunities arise. There might be something out there that sparks your interest that you haven’t experienced yet! Even if you think you won’t like it, try it.”

highlands.edu | 27

Faculty Spotlight

Cobb Chamber ‘Teacher of the Year’ uses real-world applications to engage students Accounting takes on a new life in Annette Maddox’s classes at Georgia Highlands College. Students take a hard look at real company practices when working through their course material, applying their newly learned skills to real-world applications.

“Students are more likely to be engaged in the material when I can show how it relates to a real company,” Maddox said.

The Professor of Accounting was recognized as a 2021 “Teacher of the Year” during the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s Give Our Schools A Hand (GOSH) program celebration breakfast.

Maddox has been with GHC and has taught on GHC’s Marietta Campus since the fall 2007, beginning as an instructor and then being promoted to full professor. Using her experience in public accounting,

Maddox is able to reach her students by relating course material to real company practices and by providing extra assistance when needed.

“My students are always encouraged to stop me at any point during class to ask questions and are always welcome in my office or via Zoom for one-on-one help.”

Maddox holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Alfred University, in Alfred, NY, along with a Master’s in Accountancy from the University of Georgia. In her free time, she enjoys sports and the outdoors.

Held annually, GOSH is a celebration that honors more than 120 “Teachers of the Year” from Cobb County, Marietta City, and post-secondary education systems. This salute to public education is one of the largest in the nation.

Founder and CEO of the non-profit Haiti Cheri brings global perspective to business and economics classes Oris Guillaume is the founder and CEO of the non-profit Haiti Cheri. He also helps with leadership and development at North Christian University of Haiti through McGill University in Canada. And to top it off, this ordained minister, entrepreneur, and jurist also happens to be the author of “A Trail to Success: From Nowhere to Anywhere.”

Guillaume brings his global perspective and wide range of skills and knowledge to the classroom at Georgia Highlands College as an assistant professor of business and economics.

“I take the task of developing other people into kind, thoughtful and contributing adults very seriously,” Guillaume said.

“I have always been so grateful to my teachers and the educational system for making me the person that I am today.”

28 | Spring/Summer 2022

HAITI CHERI– continued on page 29

Before taking on her role as a full-time dental hygiene instructor at Georgia Highlands College, Alania Henderson spent nearly two decades working in general dentistry and periodontics, including six years of mission-based dentistry in Central America.

Serving with the Honduras Baptist Dental Mission for the first two years in Central America, Henderson worked with U.S.-based medical and dental teams that traveled to Honduras to serve the people in remote locations throughout the country.

After the first two years, Henderson and her husband served with an International Church in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, during which she partnered with local clinics and mission-based organizations to provide dental care.

She brings her nearly two decades of experience to her role at GHC along with an ongoing desire to help others.

“I have always been passionate about my profession and want to give back to the profession

through teaching future hygienists,” Henderson said.

“Serving as an instructor also encourages personal growth as I will continue to invest in continued education.”

Henderson earned an Associate of Applied Technology in Dental Hygiene from West Central Technical College in 2002, a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Georgia Highlands College in 2017, and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Florida Atlantic University in 2019.

As a GHC alumna, Henderson said she has always been impressed with all aspects of the college.

“A team-oriented work environment is evident at GHC, and I am honored for the opportunity to grow alongside such a wonderful group of educators,” Henderson said.

Henderson is a member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association and enjoys spending time with her family, including her new grandson.

HAITI CHERI– continued from page 28

and now leads, Haiti Cheri, has a clear mission to Guillaume: “cultivate thriving, self-sufficient Christian communities throughout Haiti,” through providing resources such as a medical clinic and medical teams, education, ministry, and physical construction development and economic development projects.

With an extensive career that includes an ongoing passion for helping youth to succeed, Guillaume took on the role of a full-time instructor in 2020 at GHC.

Prior to working at GHC, Guillaume served as a Graduate Business Chair and Professor in the Graduate Business Department at Shorter University for more than a decade and has worked as an adjunct professor at institutions including Strayer University, Saint Leo University, and Voorhees College.

His passion to teach goes hand-in-hand with his passion to help others.

To that end, the non-profit he helped start

highlands.edu | 29

Faculty Spotlight

Dental hygiene instructor brings nearly two decades of experience in dentistry and periodontics to the classroom

Chargers Taking Charge

HITTING ALL THE NOTES: ALUM CREATES FILM AND MUSIC PRODUCTION COMPANY Mychael Frazier graduated from Georgia Highlands College in 2016. These days, he finds himself applying the skills and education he learned at GHC to his passion-driven film and music production company called Third Eye Vision.

“The etymology of educating is to ‘bring out,’ and the highest education one can earn is based on whether the school culture can ‘bring out’ the best in you,” Frazier said, adding that’s what GHC does best.

Frazier cited retired Cedartown police officer Patrick McNally and former Dean of Humanities Jon Hershey as making a significant impact on his academic career. He was heavily involved in GHC’s Brother 2 Brother chapter.

After GHC, Frazier, who currently resides in Powder Springs, went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from the University of West Georgia. He recommends Georgia Highlands College to anyone who wants to further their education.

“There were lots of memories at GHC, and during my time there my life was harder,” Frazier said.

“Just being at [GHC] brought me a sense of peace, so when I lived closer, I would visit the school even though I had graduated.”

30 | Spring/Summer 2022

Frazier started Third Eye Vision LLC in September of 2018 after a friend let him borrow a camera. The company has provided services for musical artists, actors, real estate agents, politicians, and more.

In addition, the company offers services such as cinema production graphic designing, recording, mixing, and mastering music and stagehand work like lighting, LED functionality, and audio.

“A day doing stage work is like building a world for people’s enjoyment,” Frazier said. “What is particularly interesting about my line of work is that I collect ideas from the different production sets.”

Frazier said exposure to these various ideas expands his mind and helps him to create visuals for his clients.

“I have been into music production since the age of 13, so video production runs together with music,” Frazier said.

Frazier is also co-director for Uncle D Bo Productions of the Derez Deshun Experiment produced by Uncle D Bo Productions, and a co-director of the upcoming independent film called “Slime Race”

by Eyes Glued Productions in which he has a small role.

WEST HARALSON PRINCIPAL SAYS GHC WAS ‘LAUNCHING PAD’ TO DREAM CAREER As far back as she can remember, Kim Causey always knew exactly what she wanted to be, and she credits her foundation at Georgia Highlands College for getting her there.

“I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl,” she said.

For Causey, a career in education is the result of a lifetime pursuit aided by the positive influence of others, including her time at GHC (then named Floyd College).

She said she enjoyed her time as a student at GHC, noting how well the faculty and staff help recent high school graduates transition to the college setting and succeed.

“There are so many people from various departments that shaped me into the person I am today and provided me with the best educational experience while I was at GHC,” Causey said. “I am forever grateful for my experience there. It served as the launching pad to the career that I always dreamt of.”

Causey now serves as principal at West Haralson Elementary School (WHES) in Tallapoosa.

Prior to taking on the role of Principal, Causey served Haralson County Middle School as a Language Arts and Social Studies teacher for 11 years, and then as an Assistant Principal for five

years. While teaching, she also coached basketball, softball, and tennis.

“I have had a wonderful experience at WHES,” Causey said. “I am surrounded by knowledgeable and hardworking people, and we all work together very well to enhance the learning environment for our students.”

Through her career in education, Causey is able to serve as a role model for her students and share with them the lessons passed down to her by her role models as a student and young adult.

“My goal is to prepare these young students for their next level of education in hopes of watching them walk across the stage one day to receive their high school diploma, while also shaping them to be good people and productive citizens of society as they continue to grow,” Causey said.

After earning an Associate of Science in Teacher Education from GHC (then Floyd College), Causey went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education from the University of West Georgia, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Piedmont University, an Education Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont University, and an Educational Leadership Certificate from Valdosta State University.

KNOW A CHARGER TAKING CHARGE? GHC alumni are Chargers! And Chargers Take Charge. Thousands of GHC alumni embody the #TakingCharge motto throughout the state and country by making a difference in their communities and making the most of their careers.

Do you know other successful GHC alumni? Email us at marcom@highlands.edu and let us know, so they can join other alumni in GHC’s spotlight series “Chargers Taking Charge.”

highlands.edu | 31

Alumni Feature

HUSBAND AND WIFE RETRACE GHC’S ANNUAL WYOMING GEOLOGY TRIP FOR WEDDING, HONEYMOON When Cole said he wanted a destination wedding, Amber thought back to her Wyoming Summer Geology Field Course at Georgia Highlands College, and she couldn’t think of a more perfect location to tie the knot in 2021.

Mr. and Mrs. Burchardt rented a large cabin at the base of the Tetons where their immediate family stayed, and they had the wedding ceremony in the backyard.

“We spent the next two weeks toting around Wyoming, making many of the same stops I had made on the trip I took with GHC,” Amber said. “To us, Wyoming was the perfect place to have our wedding. The magnificent mountains were the perfect backdrop for our ceremony. We spent the days leading up to the wedding exploring the Teton mountain range with our families, making unforgettable memories with the people closest to us.”

When the GHC alumna went on the college’s annual Wyoming Summer Geology Field Course, it was the sights that stayed with her as she learned through experience about geology with real-world settings and applications.

“An early morning kayaking adventure across Jackson Lake in the shadows of the Tetons, towering over the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and slipping through the gorge at Alcova Reservoir are just a few of the breathtaking moments I experienced,” Amber said. “Coming face to face with a couple grizzly bears and moose were definitely a highlight as well.”

Returning to Wyoming for her wedding and honeymoon allowed Amber to relive her time at GHC while creating new memories on that same special trip with her husband, Cole.

“It was a big trip to plan, but I used my favorite places from the GHC trip to build the trip I took for my wedding,” Burchardt said. “My husband and I had so much fun during our Wyoming road trip wedding and honeymoon.

It was easier to plan the trip after going with GHC and already knowing some of my favorite places.”

She added, “My husband had never been to Wyoming, so it was a blast getting to show him all of the amazing sights.”

Burchardt said she encourages all students to take advantage of the annual field course.

“Do not let anything hold you back from this trip. If you have a reservation, my advice is to push through and just go,” Burchardt said. “The friends you have the opportunity to make are an exciting bonus – I walked away with two friends I met on this trip. Two years later the three of us moved to the same city and two of us even work together. The experiences you will have and the views you will see have the opportunity to be life changing.”

32 | Spring/Summer 2022

Photo Credit:Shelby Robinson thistlewoodphoto.com

FRAZIER– continued from page 6 miles from home. I could not believe that I had been accepted to medical school in my first admissions cycle,” Frazier said. “Being accepted proved that hard work, dedication, and discipline will get you to your dream goal, mine becoming a Cardiothoracic Surgeon.”

Prepared for the Future

Beginning GHC as a dual enrollment student in 2018, Dillan said he knew from day one he wanted to pursue a degree focused on medicine. At that time, GHC had yet to offer a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, so he planned on transferring to another institution.

But in the summer of 2020, Dillan met with an advisor who changed the trajectory of his plan. He learned that beginning fall 2020, GHC would offer a bachelor’s in health science.

“My advisor, [Assistant Director of Advising] Laura Walton, explained that the program was for pre-medical students to be able to attend medical school,” he said.

“Seeing the opportunity to save money and dig deeper into medicine, I decided to stay at GHC and attend the program. Being in the program was the best decision,

as many universities do not offer a medical-based bachelor’s degree but rather a degree in the broad sciences.”

Currently, Dillan works as a Patient Care Technician at Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center. He says the experience at GHC and his internship have given him an excellent foundation for becoming a doctor.

He said the most inspiring part of the Bachelor of Health Science program was being able to apply his education directly to the workplace -- and vice versa.

“Being a staff member at the hospital gave me a direct experience that allowed me to engage further in my health sciences courses,” he said.

Inside the classroom, Dillan said the best experience he had at GHC came from meeting professors who care for their students.

“Every professor that I have taken from my dual enrollment classes in 2018 to my last semester at GHC in 2022 has been a blessing,” he said. “I encourage all students to pursue their dreams and let nothing stop them. I appreciate all the hard work that the professors have put in to allow me to engage in the course material and apply it to my future endeavors.”

MOORE– continued from page 7 GHC but is also proud of being a first-generation college graduate. She also says that her education at GHC helped her in numerous ways that she did not expect.

“You don’t realize how much you learn in college and use in your day-to-day life,” Katherine said. “I remember sitting in my Organizational Behavior class and thinking ‘I will never use this in my career,’ but then you enter the field and it’s actually a very useful skill that you acquired.”

She says anyone considering continuing their educa-

tion with a bachelor’s degree should keep in mind that the degree opens the door to numerous opportunities, rather than limiting a graduate to a specific position.

“You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do for a long-term career, so going for a long-term bachelors will not lock you into something,” Katherine said.

“Even if you don’t know exactly what you want to do, you will learn a lot of skills in these bachelor’s programs at GHC that can translate to other sectors and industries.”

PILLOW– continued from page 8

A Well-Rounded Education for a Passion in Helping Others

“I have always had a desire to fix broken people, whether it be physically or emotionally,” LaQuisha said.

“Nursing presented the perfect career path to cater to this passion.”

She initially decided to enroll in GHC’s ASN program because she wanted to expand her knowledge and skill set while attending a local college, and she continued to the RN-BSN program to widen her career options.

“I enjoy learning and mentally challenging myself, and the RN-BSN program allows me to explore various avenues in nursing,” LaQuisha said. “I have learned that in the nursing profession you will never know it all. There is a continual learning process that requires your active participation. It wasn’t until about a year and a half into nursing that I felt like I finally got it and understood processes and transitioned from being so task oriented.”

While pursuing her degrees at GHC, LaQuisha also had the opportunity to share her knowledge with local

youth through the Bartow County School System’s Teen Maze, held regularly at GHC’s Cartersville site.

“The Teen Maze simulation provides information about the consequences of alcohol, substance abuse, unhealthy sexual behaviors, and other elements that can harm young people,” LaQuisha said. “I was surprised to learn that the students did believe many of the myths that were circulating. Teen Maze was an eye-opening experience for me to discover that I enjoy being an educator.”

Following graduation, LaQuisha plans to spend another year working with cardiovascular and thoracic patients before pursuing a master’s degree in nursing.

She said working another year in her current role will provide her with the opportunity to determine whether she would like to work as a nursing practitioner or in nursing education.

“I would like to explore different career paths of nursing, and I believe that GHC’s RN-BSN [helped] contribute to the process,” LaQuisha said.

highlands.edu | 33

Foundation Spotlight

GHC Foundation, Inc. welcomes three new members to serve on the organization’s board of trustees DR. GAYLAND COOPER Spending 40 years working in public education with roles ranging from high school science teacher to principal to Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent for Rome City Schools, Gayland Cooper says he and his late wife, Barbara Cooper, have always wanted to serve their hometown of Cedartown and the Northwest Georgia

region.

“Cedartown was very good to us when we were growing up, and we have always wanted to give back,” Cooper said. “Georgia Highlands is absolutely the greatest value for a college education around, and here it is right in our own community.”

Following a lifetime of public service through educa-

SALLY PLATT With a history of community service through her expansive career in Nursing, Education, and Information Technology, Sally Platt will bring her years of mentorship and civic outreach experience to the GHC Foundation.

Platt, of Marietta, most recently served as a Registered Nurse for 33 years, retiring from the Scottish Rite campus of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in 2009.

Platt became involved with GHC after mentoring a Rotary Club scholarship recipient who initially began their academic career at another nearby institution.

“The student I was mentoring transferred to Georgia Highlands and I didn’t know that much about the college,” Platt said. “He asked me if I would still be his mentor, and I said ‘sure,’ and we transferred his scholarship to GHC so he could continue his education.”

That was when Platt decided to learn more about GHC and what the college has to offer. She invited then-

CINDY WILLIAMS Cindy Williams, who serves as the CEO of the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce, will apply her background in the chamber industry to a new role as a member of the GHC Foundation Board of Trustees.

Williams has worked with the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber since February 2016 and has worked in the Chamber industry since 2006. In her previous role as President & CEO of the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce, she oversaw the development and implementation of a community-wide tourism marketing plan, led a local festival to its first ever designation

34 | Spring/Summer 2022

tion and community outreach, Cooper, who retired in 2012, said he is always looking for ways to serve. His longtime commitment to education means his role on the board will be student-focused, with the overall goal being to help students continue a path of higher education.

“I want the young people in our area to be successful and to earn a college degree and have the American dream someday for their family,” Cooper said. “I feel privileged that I was asked to serve, and I hope that I can contribute to the GHC Foundation financially and with my experience as well.”

Cooper is a member of the Rotary Club of Rome and serves on the Boys and Girls Club Board of Northwest Georgia and is a past president. He serves on the board of the Rome Symphony Orchestra and on the board at Harbor House. He is past president of the Rome/Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth and past chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rome/Floyd United Way.

president Don Green and now interim president Dana Nichols to speak at a Rotary meeting and later was asked if she would like to serve on the GHC Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

“Mentoring is something I have done a lot of. I taught high school for 10 years before I went into nursing, and with five children and stepchildren of my own and many grandkids, I have a sense of how kids think in a way,” Platt said. “And the last 10 years of nursing I was in pediatrics, which is ages birth to 21.”

Platt said the more she learned about GHC, the more she wanted to become involved and become a champion for students and the GHC Foundation, She said the affordability and quality of programs offered by the college should make the institution a first choice for anyone seeking a college degree.

“I love to do public speaking, so I see part of my role as being able to spread the word about Georgia Highlands,” Platt said.

The Rotary Club of Marietta Metro, of which she is a longtime member and past president, now offers by way of its Foundation, a scholarship through the GHC Foundation.

as a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event, and led the Chamber to achieve the Georgia Certified Chamber designation.

Williams has earned her certification as a Georgia Certified Chamber Executive. She is a graduate of Leadership Georgia, the Institute for Organization Management, and the Georgia Academy for Economic Development.

She currently serves as the Chair-Elect on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and locally on the Board of Directors for the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Art in Bartow.

In addition, she holds a Business Marketing degree from Piedmont College and a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University.

FUND AN EDUCATION. FUND A DREAM. FUND A FUTURE. Georgia Highlands College Foundation, Inc. has supported GHC and the education, dreams, and futures of students since 1973. The Foundation relies on your support and that of likeminded donors to make this mission a reality.

A donation of just $200 can make the difference in whether a student is able to complete their degree. Your gift, no matter the size, will make a tangible impact in the lives of students.

GHC FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Greg Patton, Chairman Patton Financial Associates

Randy Quick, Chair-Elect & Treasurer Rome Radio Partners, Inc. Luke Lester, Past Chairman Bond, James Bond, Inc. Dee Bishop David Caswell

Your contribution to the GHC Foundation will directly support programs like: Scholarships, Athletics, Foundation Camp, Food Pantry, and more!

Foundation Spotlight

Take Charge - Change Lives

Melanie C. Collier

Dr. Gayland Cooper Mary Louise Lever Steve Moore Sally Platt John Quinlivan Matt Sirmans Sue Spivey Tommy Strickland Mark Weaver Cindy Williams

JOIN OUR LEGACY OF GIVING BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE FOUNDATION TODAY. Give online at givetoday.highlands.edu or by mail at GHC Foundation, 3175 Cedartown Highway, Rome, GA 30161.

To learn more about how you can take charge and change lives, contact Liz Jones, Director of the GHC Foundation and Annual Fund, by phone at 706-368-7509 or by email at GHCFoundation@highlands.edu

Liz Jones Director of Foundation & Annual Fund Dr. Dana Nichols, Ex-Officio GHC Interim President Jamie Petty, Ex-Officio GHC Vice President Finance & Administration

Charger News

CHARGERS = LADY CHARGERS COMPLETE A SEASON OF CHAMPIONSHIPS

Over 30 straight wins. Ranked #3 in the nation. GCAA Champions. NJCAA Southeast District 1 Champions.

The NJCAA District 1 National Basketball Championship Game.

The Lady Chargers season concludes with accolades and new trophies in the case outside the Georgia Highlands College gym in Rome where they played every home game – a season to be proud of, a season that will be remembered.

With the roaring cheers of those streaming from Georgia alongside those who traveled to Texas with them, the Lady Chargers arrived in Lubbock at the RIP Griffin Center to battle it out against multiple teams for a chance at the national champion’s title.

The Lady Chargers’ defeated three teams in their quest, including Hutchinson, Trinity Valley, and Jones.

In the final game against Tyler Junior College, the Lady Chargers fell behind by 12 points with less than three minutes remaining in the 4th before rallying back and closing the gap by 6 with less than two minutes remaining. Ultimately, Tyler Junior College moved ahead and closed out the game with a final score of 92-80.

As the season ended, the Lady Chargers can proudly say the team has gone further than any other team before them – with the men’s basketball team making it as far as the semifinals in the national tournament in 2015.

Additionally, the women’s basketball team at Georgia Highlands College saw even more success off the court: Coach Brandan Harrell was honored as “Coach of the Year,” and Lady Charger Jashanti Simmons was honored as “Player of the Year.”

For more Charger action, visit ghcchargers.com to follow the men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as the softball and baseball teams.

36 | Spring/Summer 2022

Charger News

CHAMPIONS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR JASHANTI SIMMONS

COACH OF THE YEAR BRANDAN HARRELL

Jashanti Simmons is the 2022 WBCA Two-Year College Player of the Year and headlines the 2022 WBCA Two-Year College Coaches’ All-America team.

The WBCA presents the ‘Player of the Year’ award annually to the top player in five of the six WBCA membership divisions.

GHC Head Coach and Athletic Director Brandan Harrell was named the 2022 WBCA Two-Year College National Coach of the Year. Harrell will receive the Pat Summitt Trophy, named for the late legendary University of Tennessee coach and awarded annually to the national coaches of the year in each of the WBCA’s six membership divisions.

highlands.edu | 37

Charger News

SEASON RECAP Charger Basketball 2021-22 BASKETBALL SEASON ENDS IN THE GEORGIA COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

The men’s basketball team at Georgia Highlands College had a mixed season of wins and losses through 33 games (21-12) with an average of almost 80 points per game. The Chargers fought hard for a position in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Game against South Georgia Tech but found themselves falling just short of the title.

As seen in the Rome News-Tribune:

The Chargers rallied back from a 15-point deficit with less than four minutes to play in regulation to force overtime, but South Georgia Tech made four free throws in the final 31.8 seconds of overtime and also got a crucial out-of-bounds call in their favor with with 10 seconds remaining in the extra session to earn an 87-84 victory in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Game.

Georgia Highlands (21-12) found themselves in a deep hole late in the game as a bucket by South Georgia Tech’s Jalen Reynolds with 3:51 remaining in regulation pushed the Jets’ lead to 78-63. But the Chargers refused to go away and continued to chip away at the deficit with clutch offensive sequences and crucial defensive stops and forced turnovers.

They scored 11 straight points to cut the deficit to 78-74, and after a free throw from South Georgia Tech with less than a minute to play, Georgia Highlands’ CJ Jackson knocked down a 3-pointer with 22 seconds to play to make the score 79-77.

On the ensuing inbounds pass, the Chargers defense forced a steal, which Joel Pullen converted into a game-tying lay-up. South Georgia Tech had one last chance in regulation but missed a jumper and then had the ball deflected out of bounds as time expired in the fourth to send the teams to overtime.

In the extra session, South Georgia Tech (2211) built an 83-80 lead, but Georgia Highlands

38 | Spring/Summer 2022

battled right back in front thanks to two free throws

by Julian Dozier Jr. and a shot from deep inside the paint by Jarrel Rosser to go up 84-83. The Jets’ Will Johnston knocked down two free throws with 31.8 seconds remaining to put his team ahead 85-84, but the controversy happened on Georgia Highlands’ next possession as it appeared the ball was knocked out of bounds by Jets’ defender but possession was awarded to South Georgia Tech. Johnston proceeded to make two more free throws after being fouled, and a last-second 3-point attempt by the Chargers didn’t fall to send the Jets to a GCAA title and the Chargers to a crushing season-ending loss.

“Our guys fought so hard...that’s why it’s so sad after all that for the game to end the way it ended,” said Georgia Highlands head coach JJ Merritt. “It’s extremely tough to watch for our guys who put so much into this. When you grind it out like we did today and come back from so far down to get back in the game, you shouldn’t have it taken away from you like we feel it was.”

Merritt said he didn’t want to see this team’s time together on the court end…

“I will say that this group is special,” said Merritt.

“We went through so much adversity and bonded together to make this run. I’m really proud of them and what they have given this program this year. I hate to see it end because I feel like we could’ve done more.”

Georgia Highlands College softball is led by Head Coach Savannah Sloan and Assistant Coach Jordan Thornton. The team competes in Region XVII of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association affiliated with the National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1. The team is based at the Cartersville site and plays all home games at Star’s Field located in Cartersville. For a full game schedule, team roster, and season updates, please visit ghcchargers.com.

Charger Baseball

Georgia Highlands College baseball is led by Head Coach Dash O’Neill, Assistant Coach Todd Cole, and Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Tucker Hughes. The team competes in Region XVII of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I. The team is based at the Cartersville site and plays all home games at the Prep Baseball Report LakePoint Sporting Community in Emerson. For a full game schedule, team roster, and season updates, visit ghcchargers.com.

highlands.edu | 39

Charger News

Charger Softball

GHC Today is the official news center for Georgia Highlands College.

Students, alumni, and community members can subscribe to receive periodic updates from the college and see all the exciting things happening at GHC!

SUBSCRIBE NOW AT GHCTODAY.HIGHLANDS.EDU

ER

D HIGHLAN The offi

ine of cial magaz

r 2021

Fall/Winte

llege

Georg

Co ia Highlands

sue In this Is

C’S CING GH INTRODU PRESIDENT INTERIM CHOLS NI NA DA ARD: 50 & FORW CHES GHC LAUN IC PLAN EG AT NEW STR ELOR’S NEW BACH BUILDING DEGREE IN LING N IO MODE INFORMAT MENT MANAGE

DON’T MISS THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE HIGHLANDER MAGAZINE! Want to receive a free copy of the Highlander magazine twice a year?

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

8 HIGHLANDER.HIGHLANDS.EDU