AEOLIAN 2015
The Magazine of Georgia Southwestern S tate University l Summer
A lwAys on G uA rd Page 10
Aeolian
Summer 2015
The Aeolian is published by the Division of University Relations at Georgia Southwestern State University.
The name Aeolian is derived from Aeolus, who was appointed by the mythological god Zeus to be the keeper of the winds — both to calm and to arouse them. He was the King of the Aeolian Islands.
Continuing its mission begun in 1906, Georgia Southwestern State University serves traditional and non-traditional students across the state, the nation and the world.
AeoliAn
800 Georgia Southwestern State University Drive
Americus, Georgia 31709 (229) 931-2037
aeolian@gsw.edu www.gsw.edu/News
interim President
Charles Patterson, Ph.D.
university relAtions
direCtor
Stephen Snyder ’04, ’10
gsW FoundAtion
exeCutive direCtor
Reda Rowell
Alumni AFFAirs
direCtor
Karen Holloway ’78
editor
Stephen Snyder
Contributing Authors
Stephen Snyder
Alison Cantrell
Keith Michlig
lAyout
Alison Cantrell
Printer
UGA Printing
Alumni AFFAirs
CoordinAtor
Kim Comer ’90, ’10
Web develoPer &
grAPhiC designer
Tatiana Baeva ’15
PubliC relAtions
AssistAnt
Alison Cantrell ’14 01 From the President’s Desk 02 03 04 06 08 10 14 16
GSW Alumni President Letter
Alumni News and Events
Accounting Professor Wins Award Sponsored by Alumni Association
Upcoming Alumni Trips
St. Simons Area Mingle
Alumni News and Events
Beach Bash
2015 Alumni Association Award Winners
President’s Reception
Homecoming 2015
Campus News
GSW to Offer Out-of-State Waivers
GSW to Offer eMajor in Criminal Justice
TCMA Department Shoots First Feature Film
2015 Featured Public Servant
Hurricane News
GSW Wins SunTrust Connecting Communities Award
GSW Athletics Has Successful Year
Cover Story Always on Guard
Blending Agriculture and Technology
Class Notes Life’s Transitions In Memoriam
C over Col. Thomas Carden stands at attention, ready to take command of the 11,000+ Citizen-Soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard. (Georgia National Guard photo by Capt. William Carraway / released)
Fostering a Legacy of Leadership
Georgia Southwestern State University maintains a legacy of leadership. We are fortunate to have many committed faculty, staff, students and alumni that have dedicated their lives to leadership and service. President Jimmy Carter, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, the late Attorney General Griffin Bell and the late Georgia Chief Justice Robert Jordan are just a few of the larger than life individuals that have emerged from Georgia Southwestern. However, leaders continue to emerge from our beautiful campus in Americus, Georgia. More recent graduates include Wes Taylor, the 2011 National Principal of the Year, and Amanda Miliner, the 2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year.
In the pages that follow, you will get a glimpse of just some of the individuals that continue this legacy of leadership. It was my pleasure to recently recognize Dr. Sam Peavy, professor of geophysics, with the 2015 Featured Public Servant Award. Dr. Peavy’s servant
“As an institution of higher education, we have an obligation to our current and former students to continue to advance the University’s reputation for excellence.”
leadership to Georgia Southwestern and the surrounding communities is inspirational and a clear demonstration of the caliber of faculty that makes Georgia Southwestern a great place for our students to live, learn and lead. Readers will also get to know Georgia Southwestern alumnus Col. Thomas Carden (’92), former chief of staff for the Georgia Army National Guard, who was recently selected by Governor Nathan Deal to serve as the state’s assistant adjutant general in charge of more than 11,000 Georgia soldiers.
These examples serve to inspire others that have an interest and passion for Georgia Southwestern State University. As an institution of higher education, we have an obligation to our current and former students to continue to advance the University’s reputation for excellence. The credentials of the University’s alumni are only as good as the reputation of the institution from which they graduate. We triumph when our faculty, staff, students and alumni are successful, and we owe it to them to be good stewards of the shared Georgia Southwestern legacy.
Charles Patterson Interim President
Making Choices
When I asked my grandson Connor, age 9, what the word “choice” meant, he said, “That is easy. It is making a decision.” And it really is that easy – like flipping a coin – heads this way or tails that way. What makes it all complicated are the factors involved and which ones we decide to use.
If our decisions did not have a ripple effect, it would be simple. Unfortunately, they do. Your decision to attend GSW started the process for you – choosing your major with maybe a couple of changes along the way and, after graduation, choosing a job. Each point in time came with a choice.
Today, you still have choices that continue right here on the campus of GSW, your alma mater. You have the choice to encourage young people to register and attend your school. You also have the choice to broaden your social and business circles by coming back to campus for events sponsored by the GSW Alumni Association throughout the year or by continuing your education.
George Bernard Shaw said “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” Many people feel they only have one chance at creating a life and that the choices they make are engraved in stone. But that is not true. We live in a world of change, and for the most part, we are given second and even third chances to choose our paths in life. I think the term is “do over.” I hope that you will take time to inventory who you are and what you have become as a result of your choices, and if you need a “do over,” take that step.
No matter the choices you make, I hope that you will continue communicating with and utilizing the many resources available to you from the university, and remember that Georgia Southwestern State University can help you. It is right here waiting for you.
Len Hicks GSW Alumni Association President
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(AS OF JULY 1, 2015)
Ervin Anderson ’93, Americus
Richard Arnold ’76, Americus, Vice President
Russ Barnes ’87, Americus
Daphne Ann Chambless ’50, Marietta, Lifetime Member
Kim Comer ’90, ’10 Americus, Staff/ Secretary
Cheryl Fletcher ’82, Americus
Lemond Hall ’98, Cordele, President
Karen Holloway ’78, Americus, Staff
Len Hicks ’76, Americus
Eva Joiner ’00, Ashburn
W. Cody King ’90, Leesburg
Billy King ’81, Dunwoody
Kellie Leary ‘08, Roswell
Glynn Mathis ’51, Americus, Lifetime Member
Doug Moses ’97, Locust Grove
Dwayne Myles ’02, Mobile
Rudolph Patterson ’59, Macon, Lifetime Member
William Peterson, IV ’00, Americus
Lamar Radford ’00, Bonaire
Liz Ruf ’76, Hiawassee
Jimmy Peel ’80, Stone Mountain
Samantha Price, Americus, Ex-Officio Board Member
Kathleen Tucker ’00, Americus, Treasurer
Mary Wysochansky ’89, Santa Rosa Beach
Accounting Professor Wins Award Sponsored by Alumni Association
Susan Robinson, associate professor of accounting in the School of Business Administration at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW), is the 2015 recipient of the Professor of the Year Award. The honor was presented to her at the 2015 Spring Commencement on May 9 in the Student Success Center.
Developed in 1980, the award is sponsored by the Georgia Southwestern Alumni Association and covers the faculty member’s quality of classroom teaching and performance, dedication to the profession and his or her impact on students through the teaching and learning process. The recipient is chosen by graduating seniors.
Originally from Athens, Ga., Robinson joined the GSW faculty in 2009. She has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) since 1978 and worked for public accounting firms from 1976 until 1990. She received her B.S. from North Georgia College in 1973 with a major in mathematics and minor in accounting. She then received her Master of Accountancy (MAcc) from the University of Georgia in 1975.
Robinson and her husband moved from New Orleans to Albany, Ga. in 1983. She worked for Mauldin and Jenkins, LLP, a regional CPA firm, from 1983 to 2009, where she served as a tax manager for many years before joining the faculty at GSW.
“I am both honored and humbled to have been chosen as the Professor of the Year. The award is especially meaningful because it originates with recommendations from students,” said Robinson. “I am very fortunate to be a part of the faculty at GSW and enjoy a second career that combines my interests in accounting and business with an opportunity to engage in educating the next generation of business professionals.”
Upcoming Alumni Trips
NOVEMBER 6 – 15, 2015 Discover Tuscany
APRIL 24 – MAY 8, 2016 Exploring Greece and Its Islands
MAY 15 – MAY 26, 2016
National Parks of America
For more information, contact Karen Holloway at 229-931-2149 or karen.holloway@gsw.edu. Or visit gsw.edu/resources/alumni/travel-tours.
Alumni News and Events
Susan Robinson named 2015 Professor of the Year
Robinson (left) pictured receiving the award from Alumni Association President Len Hicks at the 2015 Spring Commencement
St. Simons Area Mingle
p Mary Evelyn Cook, ’52, (left center) and husband Clark Cook (right center) chat with former GSW assistant professor of biology Jack Carter (far left) and Don Carter, ’36, (far right) at the St. Simons Area Mingle on April 12, 2015
q Michelle Chaney, ’10, attends the mingle held at The Casino at Neptune Park located on St. Simons Island.
Alumni News and Events
Alumni Association Beach Bash
t Left to right: Carson, ’75 and MaryLen, ’74, Walker; Jan and Dan, ’73, McGowan; Patricia, ’86, and Cal, ’70, Duke pose with a fun, beach-themed cutout.
p Mary Wysochansky, ’87, received the Leewynn J. Finklea Outstanding Alumni Award, which recognizes outstanding alumni service to the Alumni Association and the university and was named in honor of the first alumni director. Wysochansky is pictured here with Alumni Association President Len Hicks. 2015 Alumni Association Award Winners
t Doug Moses, ’97; Eric Holland, ’00; and Lemond Hall, ’98, show the signs of their respective fraternities. Moses was a member of Alpha Psi Alpha, and Holland and Hall belonged to Kappa Alpha Psi.
q Alumni dance after a low
q Eric Holland, ’00, was awarded the Aeolian Award, which is chosen based on outstanding lifetime achievement as a distinguished community leader. This award honors a person who has excelled in their profession as well as in their community. Holland is a successful basketball coach in Tifton, Ga.
p Kim Comer, ’90, ’10, (left) and Karen Holloway, ’78, (center) were each presented with the Outstanding Staff Member Award. This recognition goes to staff members who have performed outstanding service to the institution, its students and alumni.
p Second Chance Band, a beach and soul band based in Jesup, Ga., plays for attendees of the Beach Bash on April 25, 2015.
country boil dinner and cocktails at the Griffin Bell Conference Center.
Alumni News and Events
Brick Dedication Ceremony
p Past Alumni Association Presidents stand together in Centennial Plaza after the Brick Dedication Ceremony on April 25, 2015.
Homecoming
2015
q 2015 Homecoming Queen and King, Hannah Bray and Cody Stripling, pose together after the Homecoming Coronation on Feb. 1, 2015.
p Attendees mingle outside the Storm Dome at the 2015 Homecoming Cookout and Tailgate.
p Centennial Plaza is home to a set of bricks honoring each past Alumni Association President. Bricks for all of the association’s past presidents were unveiled at the dedication ceremony.
p GSW basketball alumni reunite during the Class of ’65 Basketball Reunion in the Florrie Chapel Gymnasium on Feb. 7, 2015. Hugh “Butch” Watts (fourth from left) was elected to the GSW Athletic Hall of Fame during the 2015 homecoming game.
t Students show their GSW colors and pride during the tailgate event before the men’s and women’s basketball games.
GSW to Offer Out-of-State Waivers
Out-of-state tuition waived for residents of Alabama, Florida and South Carolina
All residents of Alabama, Florida and South Carolina that attend Georgia Southwestern State University will be granted out-of-state tuition waivers by the University System of Georgia (USG) beginning Fall 2015. The USG Board of Regents approved this border state amendment to the waiver policy in March 2015.
This new program will allow Georgia Southwestern and a few select other schools within the University System to recruit aggressively in these border states, stimulating enrollment growth. Georgia-specific financial aid benefits like the HOPE Scholarship will not be available to students from Alabama, Florida or South Carolina. Current students from these states will be awarded out-of-state waivers, as well, so long as they are continuously enrolled at GSW.
“This change in policy allows Georgia Southwestern to grow its enrollment while creating a more diverse student body, expanding the University’s footprint throughout the Southeast and supporting the local economy” said Interim President Charles Patterson, Ph.D. “We are grateful to Chancellor Huckaby and the Board of Regents for amending this policy.”
For the USG’s college completion goals, higher enrollment means there are more students working towards degree completion and meeting Complete College Georgia goals to have a more educated citizenry.
Did You Know?
Georgia Southwestern has three alumni that have been named to the Regents Hall of Fame since 2008. The award has been in place since 2003.
- 2008: Griffin B. Bell (left), former U.S. Attorney General
- 2011 - Rosalynn Carter (center), former First Lady
- 2014: Jerry Newman (right), Columbus businessman and founder of Park Properties
GSW
to Offer
eMajor
in Criminal Justice
Georgia Southwestern State University will be adding a new major in August – a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice offered completely online. Known as an “eMajor,” this new degree was approved at the February 2015 Board of Regents meeting in Atlanta as a collaborative program with Dalton State College. The new degree will be granted from Georgia Southwestern’s Department of Psychology and Sociology. Courtney McDonald, Ph.D., associate professor of sociology, will be the director of the program.
The Bachelor of Science in criminal justice eMajor is specifically designed to meet the needs of adult learners, military students, working adults and returning students seeking degree completion.
TCMA Department Shoots First Feature Film
Experience gives students an inside look at the film industry
The Georgia film and television industry is a large and prosperous entity, earning $5.1 billion this fiscal year. Georgia attracts film companies for reasons ranging from its varied geography to its tax incentives for film and television productions. Most recently, Georgia has been used as the filming location for scenes in movies such as the “Hunger Games” franchise and “Selma.”
As a result, there is a demand for a workforce with the skills necessary to support these endeavors, but production companies that shoot in Georgia say they often struggle to find the workers they need.
A new effort at Georgia Southwestern State University is preparing students for careers in the film industry. The Department of Theater, Communication and Media Arts (TCMA) has given students the opportunity to experience the process of creating a movie, as it recently wrapped shooting on the department’s first major feature film.
The film, entitled “Which Way There,” was directed by Joey Watson, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication and media arts at Georgia Southwestern. The lead role was played by Natalie Donner, an Atlanta-based actress. Joanna Miller, a writer from Los Angeles, co-wrote the screenplay with Watson. Both Donner and Miller are former students of Watson.
Many of Watson’s current students at GSW also worked as cast and crew members, filling roles like assistant director and production coordinator.
The production was aided by collaboration from the GSW School of Nursing, where the simulation lab was used to shoot hospital scenes and by several local businesses. Perry Brothers Oil Co., the Windsor Hotel, the Rylander Theater and the Sumter Historic Trust all allowed the film to shoot on their properties.
2015 Featured Public Servant
Sam Peavy named GSW’s 2015 Featured Public Servant
Sam Peavy, Ph.D., professor of geology, is Georgia Southwestern State University’s 2015 Featured Public Servant.
For the last 12 years, most of Peavy’s service away from campus has been through work with the Kiwanis Club. He has served as president (20112012), and he served on its board of directors for three years (2010-2013). Peavy remains extremely active today (i.e. Kiwanis Pet Parade, baseball tournament, elementary school reading days, etc.).
Peavy’s service activity is not limited to Kiwanis. The professor uses his position as an experienced scientist, educator and university faculty member to its fullest potential. He has frequently traveled to area schools
to lead workshops on geology, judge science competitions or simply talk to individual classes about his trade.
At GSW, Peavy has served on numerous committees, including a 13-year stint as “Captain of the March” during commencement exercises. He also serves as a co-advisor for the Geology Club, as an advisor to Gamma Beta Phi and as a mentor to new faculty.
Peavy was also the 2009 recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Service at GSW and the GSW Alumni Association’s Excellence in Commitment to Teaching Award in 2005.
Joey Watson is pictured here with Sidney Scott, a sophomore communications major and director of photography for the film.
GSW Wins SunTrust Connecting Communities Award
The Georgia Southwestern State University athletic department was presented with the SunTrust Connecting Communities Award at the Peach Belt Conference’s awards dinner on May 26, 2015. GSW received the honor for ‘Coat for a Coke,’ an initiative that provided winter coats to needy families in the Americus community. The award is sponsored by SunTrust Banks, Inc., an official partner of the Peach Belt Conference.
Coat for a Coke was organized by the women’s soccer team and held during their match against Clayton State on October 25, 2014. Anyone who donated a coat received a Coke product provided by the women’s soccer team. The team utilized social media and distributed fliers throughout the campus and Americus community to help publicize their initiative.
With over 100 spectators in attendance, the women’s soccer team received over 50 donated coats. The donated coats were then taken to the First United Methodist Church of Americus who transported the coats to the Union Tabernacle Clothes Closet in Americus. The Union Tabernacle Clothes Closet is open to needy families of the Americus community.
The SunTrust Connecting Communities award is designed to recognize efforts undertaken by PBC member institutions to reach out and be a partner with their local and regional communities. The award provides a cash prize to be given to the winning schools’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Article provided by the Peach Belt Conference
GSW Athletics Has Successful Year
The conclusion of the 2014-15 academic year means the end of another year of intercollegiate athletics at Georgia Southwestern State University. The Hurricanes received a lot of attention this season in a variety of sports as a member of the Peach Belt Conference and NCAA Division II.
It was another banner year for the GSW men’s golf program. The Hurricanes recorded three runner-up finishes in 2014-15. GSW took second place at the 13team North Georgia Fall Invitational in October, the 18-team Newberry College Invite in February and the 16-team Argonaut Invitational hosted by West Florida at the end of March. In a loaded South/Southeast Super Regional, where 18 of the 20 participating schools were nationally ranked in the top 26, the Hurricanes finished ninth, a stroke shy of being the top program in Georgia.
On the individual side, PBC All-Conference selection senior Chris Low tied for first at the North Georgia event and fellow All-Conference selection sophomore Nick Ward took third at North Georgia and the Rock Barn Collegiate. Ward garnered additional post-season accolades with PING All-Region honors and All-America honorable mention.
The men’s basketball team also made its fair share of history. Coach Leeder and company rallied from a 0-5 start in conference play to eventually win five of their final six games and qualify for the PBC Tournament, marking their third straight appearance in the post-season. The Blue & Gold finished the season ranked 10th in the Southeast region and a pair of school records were shattered along the way. All-Conference selection Deric Rudolph drained 108 from beyond the arc for the GSW single season record and he led NCAA Division II in 3-point field games per game with 4.0. Darius Redding dished out a GSW record-setting 129 assists.
Left fo right: Shuron Hall with SunTrust Banks; Mike Leeder, director of athletics at GSW; Charles Patterson, GSW’s interim president and David Camden with SunTrust BanksEgo ego porum ad in Etrum
Nick Ward took third at two golf events and received multiple post-season recognitions.
The men’s soccer team produced their most wins in a season since joining the NCAA in 2006. Sophomore Isaac Avila became the first soccer player in GSW history named All-PBC First Team and the first forward to receive post-season honors. Behind Avila’s contributions, GSW made marked improvement in its offensive output in 2014 as the squad accounted for the second-most goals scored in a season in program history, two shy of the record.
Softball senior Keri Tompkins etched her name in the GSW record books when she belted her 14th home run of the season on April 20 in front of the home fans as the Lady Hurricanes took on Albany State. The GSW single season home run record entering the spring was 12. Rachel McElroy earned her second All-Conference award in three years to put a bow on her
collegiate career.
The women’s cross country team has reason to be optimistic about its future as the squad, with no upperclassmen, won the 2014 Darton State College Mid-Season run and was runner-up at the GSW Remembrance Run. Freshman Ashleigh Owens ran the fifthfastest 5K and fourth-fastest 6K in program history during the fall campaign.
Women’s basketball saw a five-win improvement from 2013-14 and churned out the second-most PBC victories in program history.
GSW Athletics, as a whole, earned a Peach Belt weekly honor, five All-Conference selections, 21 PBC All-Academic selections and placed a school-record 83 athletes on the PBC Presidential Honor Roll.
Peach Belt Conference, Regional and National Award Recipients in 2014-15
Men’s Soccer
Isaac Avila First Team All-Conference
Brennan Bauschka All-Academic
Jon-Luke Cannada All-Academic
Women’s Soccer
Kristi Sheridan All-Academic
Elyse Gowen All-Academic
Taylor Herron All-Academic
Women’s Tennis
Carly Cangelosi All-Academic
Victoria Ondo All-Academic
Anna Kate Shaw All-Academic
Men’s Basketball
Deric Rudolph Second Team All-Conference
Baseball
Earl Dupree All-Academic
Will Redding All-Academic
Josh Tatnall All-Academic
Men’s Golf
Chris Low
PBC Golfer of the Week Second Team All-Conference
Anders Olsson All-Academic
Cesar Espinoza All-Academic
Jason Getreu All-Academic
Caleb Graves All-Academic
Men’s Tennis
Abel Acuna Moreno All-Academic
Jamie Thomas All-Academic
Sydnee Smith All-Academic
Women’s Basketball
Tiara Thompson All-Academic
Softball
Rachel McElroy Second Team All-Conference
Erin Steele All-Academic
Nick Ward
All America Honorable Mention All Region (Southeast) Second Team All-Conference All-Academic
Keri Tompkins broke the GSW home run record with a total of 14 home runs in a season.
Always on Guard
Southwestern alumnus leads Georgia’s Army National Guard
By Stephen Snyder
“Soldiers, when they join the armed forces, sign a blank check to give everything up to their life to preserve and defend freedom and the constitution.”
These are the words of Col. Thomas Carden, Jr., Commander of the Georgia Army National Guard, as he gave the keynote address at Andersonville National Cemetery’s annual Memorial Day Observance earlier this year. Appointed by Governor Nathan Deal on Jan. 8, 2015, Carden is a 1992 graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University. Whenever he gets the opportunity, Carden communicates why the sacrifices of service members – full or part-time – are so important.
A D Ay in the L ife
“I call it a 15-7-2 rotation,” said Carden, Commander of the Georgia Army National Guard. “That’s 15 hours of work, seven hours of sleep and two hours of PT (physical training)… every day. If you can log seven hours of sleep in one night, you’re knocking it out of the park.”
For someone who worked 48-hour weeks as a 20-year-old, married college student, this regimen is not all that alarming. And each minute is invested with the purpose of assuring that the Georgia Army National Guard is ready to respond when necessary.
“There is a competition for resources,” Carden said, “and we want to bring those resources, those jobs, those capabilities to the state. When our state Commander-in-Chief – the governor – calls on us, we want to have what he needs. Our best case for getting what we need to Georgia is having quality soldiers in formation.”
G rowin G up in S umter C ounty
Carden enlisted in the Guard as an infantryman in 1986. He was a senior in high school at the time. He was raised on a farm on the county line where faith, family and work ethic were paramount. Serving in the Guard provided a way for him to advance his education and, ultimately, his career.
“Growing up on a farm in southwest Georgia was not a ‘Fortune 500’ upbringing,” he quipped. “So, to put myself in a position to go to college, I needed a mechanism to do that. Coming out of high school, academics were not my strong suit. Essentially, it came down to the military and the GI Bill.”
Because of proximity, cost-of-living and similar factors, Carden chose Georgia Southwestern to earn a Bachelor of Science in history.
“If I wanted a college education, the military offered me - like it does so many young people – an opportunity to serve a purpose much larger than myself,” the Colonel
added. “In addition, I was always a non-traditional student. It was not ‘in vogue’ in 1986 to cater to the non-traditional students, but Southwestern had so many of them that it had to. The faculty and staff – who understood nontraditional students – made accommodations for not only my military service but my work schedule.
“I worked 48 hours per week guarding prisoners at the Sumter County Correctional Institute at night. There were times when I would get off work at 5 a.m. and have an 8 a.m. class,” he said.
Carden recalls many examples of faculty helping him succeed as a student while at GSW. Dr. Harold Isaacs, professor emeritus of history, particularly stands out. They visited briefly this year.
“I was fortunate enough to run into Dr. Harold Isaacs when I was on campus earlier this year,” Carden said. “He was a huge influence not only for me but for countless students that attended Southwestern. I was a history major, so I had a number of classes under his leadership. He was just a tremendous educator and leader.”
Governor Nathan Deal administered the oath of office to Col. Thomas Carden who replaced Brig. Gen. Joseph Jarrard as the commander of the Georgia Army National Guard on Jan. 8, 2015 in Marietta, Ga. (Georgia Department of Defense photo by Staff Sgt. Tracy J. Smith)
p erm A nent Ly o n G uA r D
Carden continued guarding prisoners after graduating from Georgia Southwestern in 1992 when he transitioned into a role as a probation officer, still serving the National Guard part-time. He joined the Guard full-time in 1996.
“For the 11,000 plus soldiers in the Guard, about 14 percent of us are full-time,” he said. “The other 86 percent are what we call ‘traditional Guardsmen.’ I was part of the 86 percent for a long time.”
“While I was at Southwestern, I didn’t have an opportunity to participate in the ROTC program they had at that time because of my work schedule, but I went to officers candidate school (OCS), and that is where I achieved my commission in ’89.”
After joining the Guard full-time, Carden went on to earn a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. and a master’s in human resource management from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo.
L e AD er S hip D eve Lopment
What is the secret to success as a leader?
“The secret to success is that there is no secret,” said Carden. “To lead, you’ve got to be willing to serve a purpose larger than yourself. If you help people around
you achieve their full potential in the context of your organization’s mission, it’s very hard not to move forward.”
That is exactly what Carden has done.
In his nearly 30-year rise within the Georgia Army National Guard, Carden has held many key positions. Most recently, he served as the chief of staff and previously worked as the deputy chief of staff for operations. He also commanded the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade and the Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion, to name a few. Some of Carden’s military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Parachutist Badge and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Though impressive, Carden makes clear that his list of accolades and successes are not his own doing. “I have been fortunate to have a family that has supported me throughout my career,” he said.
Carden and his wife, Charlene, have been married 26 years. She has been his greatest supporter. Attributing his work ethic and personal ethos mostly to the strong foundation his family provided, Carden also credits coaches in high school and spiritual leaders for character building.
“My family, close friends and pastors have challenged and
On Sept. 29, 2012, Col. Tom Carden presented Kpt. Nur Fathi bin Abdullah, Malaysian Military Intelligence, with an award for outstanding service during the Keris Strike – an annual joint U.S.-Malaysian training exercise. (Photo by Capt. William Carraway, Public Affairs Office, Georgia Department of Defense)
continue to challenge me to be a better person,” added Carden. “As humans, we have got to be in the ‘get better every day’ business.”
t he m i SS ion for G eor G i A
Readiness, relevancy and global engagement are Carden’s primary objectives for the Guard.
“The National Guard is unique in that it has two missions. One mission is what we call Defense Support to Civil Authorities,” he said. Carden explained that when a disaster exceeds the response capacity of civil emergency agencies, emergency management directors may request Guard assistance. “The governor, at that point, could engage National Guard assets to augment the local emergency management director…to alleviate suffering, save lives or restore order. That is a mission the Georgia National Guard can do, and we do it often.”
Carden added that the Guard’s other mission has been out in front for nearly a decade and a half.
“We have deployed every unit in this formation, with the exception of the 116th Army Band, overseas in support of our Federal mission to fight and win America’s Wars,” he said. And while the services of the National Guard are essential for American citizens to experience many of the freedoms we enjoy, leaders like Col. Carden do not take their duties for granted.
“In terms of being relevant, America is in a financially constrained situation, so we have to prove our worth every day to make sure that the American tax dollar is spent and used as efficiently as possible,” added Carden.
“We’ve got to have the best soldiers our state has to offer. We have to train them on cutting edge equipment. And, to a large extent, they have to be ready to be deployed at home or abroad with little or no notice.”
At one point last year, the 48th Brigade – headquartered out of Macon – had soldiers deployed in four countries (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Afghanistan) all at the same time. In all, the Army National Guard has six major subordinate commands in Georgia. Among Georgia’s units are aviation, infantry, intelligence, engineering, artillery, combat service support, water purification and now cyber protection. Georgia was picked as one of the first three National Guard states to field a cyber protection team. “This was very competitive process,” Carden said, “and it is a testament to the kind of soldiers that we have in our organization.”
In Carden’s view, there is not a finer group in the U.S.
“I know I’m a little biased, but I think we are the best Army National Guard in the country,” he said. “We are the most ready, the most relevant and the most globally engaged unit out there and it’s important to note that it’s not because of me. It’s because of the quality people in our communities that support us and join the Guard.
“It’s a solemn profession, and it’s serious business,” he added. “We take it seriously.” A
Georgia’s Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Joseph Jarrard; Georgia Army National Guard Commander, Col. Thomas Carden; and Georgia Army National Guard Chief of Staff Col. Randall Simmons lead a pack of runners at the Georgia National Guard Half Marathon in Canton, Ga. on March 28, 2015. Proceeds from the run benefited The Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation and Homes for Heroes Foundation. (Georgia Army National Guard Photo by Capt. William Carraway / released)
Georgia Army National Guard Private Travis Weekes, a member of Company B, 348th Brigade Support Battalion is recognized for excellence by Col. Thomas Carden. (Georgia Army National Guard photo by Capt. William Carraway / released)
Blending Agriculture and Technology
By Alison Cantrell
Georgia Southwestern State University strives to produce driven and successful graduates. One such GSW alum, Travis Kelley, worked hard throughout his time at Southwestern and continues to do so today.
As a child, Kelley enjoyed experimenting with computers to learn how they worked so it’s no surprise that he decided to pursue a degree in information technology at Georgia Southwestern.
“I’ve always just been drawn to working on computers, mainly hardware,” said Kelley. “Since I was little, I had to take all of my computers apart and try to put them back together just because.”
Kelley, originally from Vienna, Ga., started at GSW in 2001 while also working a full time job in systems support. Though his time was stretched, he was managing his work and school schedules until the fall of 2004 when his brother, Brian Kelley, approached him with an opportunity that would take up even more of his time.
Kelley’s brother asked him to take part in establishing a new business called AgTechnologies. Because of his background in working with computers, Kelley was immediately drawn to this opportunity.
“It consisted of installing smart devices, global positioning systems and other technologies on tractors, and this seemed pretty interesting to me,” Kelley said.
Kelley’s brother knew he was choosing the right person for the job.
“We are in a highly technical industry, and I needed someone with really strong work ethics and extremely high aptitude for technology,” said Brian Kelley, who also attended Georgia Southwestern. “He fit both of those requirements, and I felt as though I could build around him due to his ability to work well with other like-minded people.”
Kelley agreed to join his brother but also continued to pursue his degree, scaling back to evening and online classes to make room for his new work schedule.
“It was definitely different learning how to be a college student and work, but I was always accommodated by my advisor, Karen Cook, to find the best fit for my schedule,” Kelley said.
For Kelley and his brother, starting up the company was no easy task.
“It was a struggle having a very new technology and very little staff to start,” Kelley explained. “We covered a broad region, so this presented successes and challenges with supporting customers, hiring regional technicians and then managing all of that to give the customer the best experience.”
Once he and his brother had built the business up
GSW alum helps brother build company and make it thrive
enough to allow for more flexibility in his schedule, Kelley visited with his advisor to devise a plan for completing his degree.
In the fall of 2009, Kelley graduated with his Bachelor of Science in information technology. He is now the executive vice president of technology at AgTechnologies, where he manages a team of technicians, supports different sections of the company’s IT requirements, supports current and newly developed offerings, such as troubleshooting manuals, and develops new products for the company.
Headquartered in Cordele, Ga., AgTechnologies specializes in precision agriculture, a set of technologies that allows farmers to gather information that enables them to better manage their farm operations.
“Our company is focused on providing farmers all the tools they need to be as efficient as possible and get the most out of the efforts they put into their fields,” said Kelley, “whether it be through driving a tractor straight; placing the right amount of seed fertilizer or chemicals in the right place; or now even controlling their irrigation systems remotely as well as where and when they water.”
AgTechnologies is an authorized dealer for Trimble Navigation, Ltd., a company well known for its positioning technologies. Trimble develops many products for the agricultural industry as well as other industries including construction and transportation.
In addition to being a reseller for Trimble, AgTechnologies develops its own products when there is a need, which Kelley oversees.
“We specialize in some different areas of precision agriculture and sometimes we run into issues or needs that require a specialized solution,” Kelley explained.
“If we see that it makes sense to develop something, we will either do it all internally or work with one of our main manufacturers to partner in developing a product,” he continued. “Last year, we developed a remote control and monitoring system for agriculture irrigation. This has been a favorite of mine since it’s the first product that we built completely from the ground up.”
Though Kelley has worked hard to help get the company where it is today, he attributes much of his success to his time at GSW, his advisor and his professors.
“While at GSW, I learned a lot about how to manage my time, research issues and how to analyze systems to get the best out of them,” said Kelley. “I also learned some levels of project management that have helped me in recent years during development of new products.
“I owe my success to the patience and persistence of my advisor and professors. They always were aware of my situation and helped me in any way they could,” he added. “I will always be thankful for my time spent and the knowledge gained at GSW.”
Since its inception in 2004, AgTechnologies has grown to cover Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and eastern Alabama with a team of over 30 employees. It was recognized by the Cordele-Crisp Chamber of Commerce as “Medium Business of the Year” and was also named 2014 Top Performer and Reseller of the Year for the eastern United States at a worldwide Trimble meeting.
Kelley has certainly held a large role in helping AgTechnologies achieve this level of success.
“The company would not be where it is today without his past efforts,” Brian asserted. “I always say people make the company, and people like Travis have made this company bigger than I ever could have dreamed.
“He has a strong ability to motivate everyone around him with the way he approaches every task he is confronted with in a working day,” Brian continued. “I see our guys in the company look to him and trust his leadership because he has done what he is asking them to do.”
Kelley and his wife, Victoria (also a GSW alumna who received her bachelor’s and master’s from GSW), now live in Americus, Ga. with their four sons, Max, Samuel, Howell
Kelley and AgTech employee Cecil McGraw contruct a device that will be mounted to a tower and communicate with farmers’ irrigation systems
A and Thomas.
Class Notes
1951
W illiam C happell was named the 2015 Distinguished Citizen Award nominee by the Northwest Georgia Council Boy Scouts of America on March 18, 2015. He coached 33 years at Dalton High School. He won the award for his contributions to the lives of so many youth.
1965
h ugh “B ut C h ” W atts was elected into the GSW Athletic Hall of Fame during the 2015 homecoming game. He was nominated for this honor by his Class of ‘65 basketball teammates, who were in attendance for the celebration, as it was their 50th Class Reunion.
1968
D r . D arrell W el D on has been appointed as chairman of the board for Hutcheson Medical Center, Inc. He will also serve as chairman of Hutcheson Health Enterprises, Inc. and will continue his duties as chairman of the Hospital Authority of Walker, Dade and Catoosa Counties.
1971
n eil m C g ahee worked as an international photojournalist for 30 years and has won several awards during his career, including the 1982 Barnack Prize and the 1980 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. He was also nominated for the 1978, ’82 and ’91 Pulitzer Prizes. He began teaching photojournalism in 1998 and retired in 2013 to Cartersville, Ga.
1973
D arryl B ollinger is a novelist and just recently released his fourth novel, “The Care Card,” which is a medical thriller.
1974
r anny a Dams is head of safety, security and environmental at Region North America.
1975
l ure J enkins was selected for the Southern Rural Black Women’s Hall of Fame. She was inducted in a ceremony at Albany State University on April 17, 2015.
1978
D essie ( r ussell ) p er D ue is retired from Georgia State University. She and her husband, Timothy, have two adult sons, Timothy and Matthew, and two grandchildren, Camille and Matthew, Jr.
1985
C hristopher m it C hell is the president and program chair of the Historic Florida Chautaugua Assembly in DeFuniak Springs, Fla. He will welcome Jerry “The Beave” Mathers to the Assembly in January 2016.
1993
m i C hele m oulton is a certified group fitness, boot camp, TRX and spinning instructor with more than 23 years of experience in the health and fitness industry.
1995
J aney g oo D in is a registered nurse at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center operating room.
1998
s haron p ilkinton was recently hired as manager of Ruth’s Cottage Emergency Shelter for survivors of family violence.
2003
t omekia r ee D was was chosen as the new head women’s basketball coach at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss.
2004
F ran C iso p are D es s an C hez was recently hired as the bilingual admissions and international recruiter for Fort Valley State University.
a my r e B e CCa (C lark ) B lalo C k was married in June to Ronnie Keith Blalock.
2006
a D rianne h arris was a finalist for 201516 Dougherty County Teacher of the Year.
a llison ( h ear D ) s ahl has earned both a masters and doctoral degree in sociology since graduating Georgia Southwestern. She maintains two appointments at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. One is as an adjunct sociology professor, and the other is as a research associate with the Public Lands Institute.
2007
B rann D on t urner is chief parole officer with the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles.
2009
r onal D D aniels earned his law degree from Mercer University and is now practicing law in Warner Robins.
2010
B ar Bara n e W ton taught for three years as a preschool teacher and is currently a middle school special education teacher in Moultrie, Ga. This year Barbara plans to pursue her master’s in education.
2012
l t . l ogan C lemons is in his second year of medical school at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) in Bethesda, Md. He is a second lieutenant in the Active Duty Air Force and pursuing a career in Aviation Medicine and Critical Care Evacuation.
2013
r yan t u C ker is employed as an accountant with Gym HQ.
Life’s Transitions
Weddings
a shley ( h ous Worth ), ’07, an D u J ustin B eau C hamp were married on Aug. 16, 2014 in Athens, Ga. Ashley is from Commerce, Ga. and she graduated with a degree in exercise science/wellness. Ashley and Justin currently live in Athens, Ga.
t a shley (B rat C her ), ’14, an D g eo FF h ouser , ‘14, were married on March 28, 2015 in their hometown of Cordele, Ga. Ashley graduated with a degree in English, and Geoff graduated with a degree in accounting. Both are both currently pursuing graduate degrees in the MBA program at GSW. Ashley and Geoff live in Cordele, Ga.
e than , ’11, an D J essi Ca (W illis ) v i C k u were married on Dec. 31, 2014 in Thomasville, Ga. Ethan graduated with a degree in accounting and now works for Rowell Auctions, Inc. in Moultrie, Ga. Ethan and Jessica reside in Pavo, Ga.
Births
t stephen r. m. moreno v May 19, 2015
Son of of Stephen R.M. Moreno IV (‘06) and Libby Wiggins Moreno Now living in Brunswick, Ga.
* Send us your wedding and baby announcements to aeolian@gsw.edu
p eggy (C ris W ell ) l u Cas , ’42 Conyers, Ga.
Feb. 15, 2015
e leanor (F ort ) s hike , ’45
New York, N.Y.
Dec. 29, 2014
e lton W right , ’50 Social Circle, Ga.
April 14, 2015
s ylvia ( s mith ) l anier , ’52
Albany, Ga.
April 10, 2015
W ilkes B anks , ’55 Orange Park, Fla.
Jan. 14, 2015
v ernon C lements , ’56 Brunswick, Ga.
Feb. 20, 2015
C arol (D ukes ) s tone , ’60 Hazlehurst, Ga.
Feb. 17, 2015
s amuel l aW , ’63 Albany, Ga.
Dec. 23, 2014
m ary J ane ( t e DD er ) a rrington , ’68 Ellaville, Ga.
June 3, 2015
h elen (D re W ) h ers C hell , ’68 Thomasville, Ga.
Feb. 20, 2015
C armen ( t ole D o ) C one , ’70 Albany, Ga.
Dec. 8, 2015
s tephen W oolar D , ’73 Albany, Ga.
Feb. 27, 2015
m ary ( p itts ) B aC on , ’82 Albany, Ga.
May 4, 2015
g regory l aCy , ’92 Baton Rouge, La. March 4, 2015
k im r o B ins , ’05 Americus, Ga.
Jan. 20, 2015
georgiA southWestern stAte university
800 georgiA southWestern stAte university drive AmeriCus, georgiA 31709 gsW.edu
Surge photobombs WALB News 10 at their live broadcast of News on the Road in Americus on May 21, 2015.
Each Thursday for five weeks, WALB News 10 of Albany broadcasted live from a different city. They visted Moultrie, Fitzgerald, Camilla, Adel and Americus. The news team went on to win a Best Newscast award from the Georgia Associated Press Media Editors for their News on the Road broadcasts.
