CHARTING THE COURSE SINCE 1961
ON THE HORIZON
ANCHORED IN EXCELLENCE: ALUMNI NETWORKING MIXER, AT DON QUE’S SOUTHERN BBQ, STARTING AT 6. P.M. LOCATED AT 2700 PARKWOOD DR, BRUNSWICK, GA.
MAY FIRST FRIDAY IN DOWNTOWN BRUNSWICK, STARTING AT 5 P.M.
MARINER SOFTBALL AT THE SUN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT IN
SPRING 2025 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES AT THE JEKYLL ISLAND
CONVENTION CENTER. CEREMONIES AT 9:30 A.M. AND 1 P.M. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Alumni April 2026
Over the past three years, Alumni April has grown into an annual College of Coastal Georgia Alumni Association tradition. What began as a simple idea has evolved into a month filled with meaningful engagement, increased participation, and events that truly celebrate the spirit of our Mariner community.
FIRST
Each year, we’ve built momentum creating fun, memorable experiences that bring alumni back to campus for celebrations, networking, and career panels. This year, we were thrilled to welcome Mariners from across the decades, from the 1970s (including my mom!) to our most recent graduates. Seeing generations of alumni come together reminds us how far we’ve come and how much potential lies ahead.
There is still time to support the Giving Campaign and honor 60 years of excellence. We also encourage you to nominate outstanding Mariners for our Alumni Awards. Your involvement helps shape the future of our Association, and we can’t wait to see this tradition continue to grow.
60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE CAMPAIGN
FRIDAY: ALUMNI NIGHT ON UNION STREET
COASTAL LEGENDS MUSIC BINGO
Planting Pinwheels for Hope
April was National Child Abuse Prevention Month and to raise awareness, in recent years, Safe Harbor Center Inc. planted blue pinwheels in front of the main entrance of the College and the sign “No Excuse for Child Abuse.”
The representatives of Safe Harbor were not alone. Volunteers from Glynn County Schools, local law enforcement, Southeast Georgia Health System, and the College came together to plant pinwheels that represent children who were victims of abuse.
College Georgia alums Brooke Conley ‘16, Andrea Belton ‘15, Deja Lott ‘17, and Ta-Rhea Howard ‘24 all work and help run Safe Harbor Center Inc. in Glynn and nearby counties. We love to see our alumni not only helping the community, but being advocates for change as well.
College Hosts Ribbon Cutting for New Arts Center
The community got a chance to see its building Friday when the College of Coastal Georgia cut a ribbon at the new Center for the Arts and welcomed them inside the 32,328-square-foot building.
College of Coastal Georgia President Johnny Evans Jr. made it clear it is not as if the college was welcoming the public to a University System of Georgia building.
The Center for the Arts represents not just a vision but also a partnership, Evans said.
The building came in on time at two years and cost $20 million to build.
It is funded by an ESPLOST, a 1-percent sales tax for education that was voted on not just once but twice, Evans said.
It shows a commitment to education starting with public school pre-K programs all the way through college.
“This is not a College of Coastal Georgia facility,’’ Evans said. “It is a community asset.
It will have an immediate impact in exposing students and others to things they haven’t seen, he said.
He noted that some of the college’s students from Glynn County had never seen Jekyll Island until the college took them there. The center will help expand their horizons further, he said.
“We’ll take them to Jekyll Island and then bring them to a concert,’’ Evans said.
Jeff Dodgen, vice chairman of the Glynn County Board of Education, said it was the first ever collaboration on an ESPLOST.
“We again are so excited to be partners in this project,’’ he said.
“What stands behind us is so impressive,’’ said Jamie
Bessette, vice president of advancement for the college, “but what matters is what happens hereafter.”
He said the center would be a place where the community can gather to celebrate and connect.
It was a short ceremony for such a big building, but Evans noted the heat that hit 88 degrees and kept it to about 15 minutes before cutting the ribbon.
He said he stood on the shoulders of giants who came before him and recognized Valerie Hepburn, the fourth president of the college, who oversaw its becoming a four-year institution and who ushered in an astonishing building program that brought several new instructional buildings, a student center and improved athletic facilities.
As soon as the Mariner blue ribbon settled to the concrete, Evans welcomed everyone into the airconditioned building. The visitors toured every floor as a grand piano played on its own in the lobby.
Story and Photos by Terry Dickson of The Brunswick News
Presidential Investiture of Dr. Johnny L. Evans Jr.
The investiture of Dr. Johnny L. Evans Jr. as the College’s seventh president marked a historic and meaningful occasion. The ceremony brought together faculty, students, alumni, and community partners to formally recognize his leadership and shared commitment to advancing academic excellence and expanding opportunity.
College of Coastal Georgia is focused on impact. Dr. Evans’ vision emphasizes access to education and the belief that when students succeed, the entire community benefits.
“At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to our students, making sure they have the opportunity, support, and resources to succeed,” Evans said.
This same spirit carried into the evening’s Transforming Lives Scholarship Gala, an event designed not just to celebrate leadership, but to invest directly in the future of Coastal Georgia’s students. The gala highlighted the power of philanthropy to open doors, supporting scholarships that remove barriers and create pathways for success. Held in honor of the day’s investiture, the evening reflected a simple but powerful idea: education transforms lives, and access transforms futures.
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Celebrating Commencements!”
By Mylynda Gill,
Special Collections Librarian and College Archivist
Hello everyone! My name is Mylynda Gill, and I serve as the Special Collections Librarian and College Archivist for the Clara Wood Gould Memorial Library at the College of Coastal Georgia. For this month’s edition of “Archivist’s Log: Charting the College's History,” I wanted to highlight two incredibly special anniversaries involving our commencements ceremonies this year. The first is the 60th anniversary of the very first commencement for our institution, and the second is the 15th anniversary of the commencement when baccalaureate degrees were awarded for the first time.
When our institution started providing instruction on campus during the Fall Semester of 1964, only associate degrees could be earned by students, and it took two years for students to complete their required classes. This led to the first commencement ceremony for our institution taking place on June 3, 1966. At this time, the academic calendar was structured in quarters rather than a semester, which is why the commencement ceremony took place in June rather than in May, which is when commencement ceremonies occur now.
It was not until our institution became the College of Coastal Georgia that students could start taking classes to earn a bachelor's degree. The first commencement ceremony that baccalaureate degrees were awarded to our students took place on May 7, 2011.
Over the years, thousands of students who are now alum, have earned associate degrees and bachelor's degrees from our institution. Some students have earned both associate and bachelor’s degrees. However, many members within our alumni community attended this institution before it became the College of Coastal Georgia. These individuals are valued members of our alumni community as they knew our institution during a different time and as a different name. However, their experiences here are still important and I personally love hearing from alumni who knew our institution from before we were the College of Coastal Georgia. I love to hear what degrees they earned and what classes they
took as our institution has gone through so many changes over the course of our institution’s history. However, some things never changed. Our institution has always valued our students, and we have always been proud to celebrate their achievements during our commencement ceremonies.
Do you remember your commencement ceremony? Do you have photos of that day that you would like to share with the college archives? If you do, feel free to send me an email at archives@ccga.edu.
Until next time Mariners, Hail the Sail!
THE LION’S TALE 1966
MARINERS’ LOG
JUNE 2011
We Are HIRING
Staff Positions:
Business Intelligence Analyst
Temporary Full Time Testing Coordinator
Campus Police Officer Faculty Positions:
Assistant Professor of Communication
Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education
Part Time Instructor of English
Alumni,
We are excited to invite you to consider joining our team at your alma mater! As a valued member of our alumni community, you bring a unique perspective and deep understanding of the College’s values and culture. By returning to work here, you have the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of the place that helped shape your future. Your experience and insights can inspire current students and help drive innovative initiatives. We believe that your passion for our Coastal Georgia, combined with your professional skills, will make a significant impact.
Come back and be a part of our journey towards excellence once again!
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
-Nelson Mandela
