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
