We are thrilled to announce that our energized Alumni Association Board has dedicated the month of April to a noble cause: raising awareness and resources. Our mission is to encourage fellow alumni like you to actively engage with our beloved institution.
Here’s how your involvement can make a significant impact:
Fueling Growth: Your membership directly contributes to our growth. With your support, we can expand events, establish enduring traditions, and create valuable mentoring and networking opportunities.
Connecting with the Community: Share your insights and experiences from your time on campus. Reminisce about the Lakeside days, or recall the sound of the Zell Bell ringing. Connect with current students and faculty to foster a sense of continuity and shared pride.
Mariner Pride: Your unwavering Mariner Pride has been instrumental in transforming Brunswick Junior College into the esteemed College of Coastal Georgia. Your legacy lives on through the generations of students who follow in your footsteps.
How to Get Involved:
• Give Back
• Be Active in the Alumni Association
Learn about Alumni Membership
• Update Your Contact Information
Fill out the Let’s Connect form and mark your level of membership
• Attend Alumni Events
Kick off Alumni April with Us!
Let’s continue to shape the future of our alma mater together.
HOMECOMING ‘25
RIBBON CUTTING ON THE TERRY THOMAS TEACHING KITCHEN IN DOWNTOWN BRUNSWICK FOR THE CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM.
ALUMNI PROFILE: MICHAELA BRAMBLETT ’19
“
Dedicating to Helping Others”
“Honestly, I ended up at the College of Coastal Georgia because I followed my best friend from my hometown!” Bramblett said. “Initially, I only planned to stay for a year before transferring, but my freshman year turned out to be such an incredible experience that I decided to stay and complete my degree there. Looking back, I’m so glad I made that decision it truly shaped my college journey and life in the best way.”
Bramblett was raised in Roswell, Georgia. Although she came to the College to be with her best friend, she left with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in human services. She is now using her degree to reshape and improve the lives of youth as a case manager at The Coffee Oasis Youth Shelter in Tacoma, Washington. Her career journey in advocacy first started at the College, but she knew from a young age that she wanted to dedicate her life to helping others.
“Growing up in a household impacted by domestic
By Tiffany King
My mom always believed I’d make a great lawyer, but I discovered my true calling in advocacy, where I could channel my strength and determination to empower others,” she said.
Through a work-study program, Bramblett worked as an administrative assistant at Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center. Safe Harbor serves victims of child abuse throughout the Brunswick Judicial Circuit, which includes Jeff Davis, Appling, Wayne, Glynn, and Camden counties. Safe Harbor provides rehabilitative care to more than 450 child victims of abuse every year, providing forensic interviews, forensic medical exams, counseling, and much more. Bramblett not only gained an invaluable experience, but also discovered her passion for helping others. That role then led to a position as a junior staff member at Sea Island Resort where she continued to develop her skills in service and hospitality. She also worked as a social services technician at Gateway Behavioral Health Services in Brunswick, where she aided in the addiction and recovery
space. Her experiences further deepened her commitment to supporting those in need.
After graduating from the College, Bramblett enlisted with Teach For America (TFA). TFA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “enlist, develop, and mobilize as many as possible of our nation’s most promising future leaders to grow and strengthen the movement for educational equity and excellence.” TFA recruits recent college graduates to serve as teachers. Selected members, known as “corps members” commit to teaching at least two years in a public or private charter K-12 school in one of the 52 lowincome communities that the organization serves. Bramblett learned about opportunities with Teach for America through a colleague from her time at Sea Island Resort Mi Danielle. She ran into her unexpectedly at Wake Up Coffee Co., and was introduced to the idea of joining the organization.
“As someone passionate about advocating for youth, making a meaningful impact in education, and exploring new places in the U.S., it felt like the perfect fit for me,” Bramblett said.
It turned out she was right. Bramblett was accepted into the TFA corps in October 2023 and participated in various forms of professional and personal development.
“Ultimately, the program has taught us that being an anti-racist teacher leader is extremely important in shaping the next generation of Americans which I can totally get behind,” she said. “Children spend the majority of their childhood in a classroom, so we, as teachers, have such a power and responsibility to uphold. Why not make it for the greater good of America and society as a whole? Why not be intentional about it?”
Overall, TFA focuses on learner variability, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the universal design for learning, Bramblett said, which is extremely important when it comes to education and representation within education today.
Read more about Michaela here.
CELEBRATING
By Mylynda Gill, Special Collections Librarian and College Archivist
D
id you know that this academic year (2024-2025) marks the 60th anniversary of classes occurring at this institution? The first day of classes occurred on September 25, 1964, with 266 students in attendance. However, it was a several year journey for this first day of classes to even occur.
It all started on the porch of the old Oglethorpe Hotel when the topic of a college first came up amongst Brunswick community leaders. One of these individuals was James D. Gould, Jr. and bringing a college to Brunswick became a passion for him. So much so, that a few years later he became a member of the Georgia Board of Regents to advocate for a college in Brunswick.
It was not until October 11, 1961, that the Board of Regents approved Brunswick, Georgia, as the location for a new junior college as part of a series of commuter junior colleges authorized by the state legislature in 1958. Brunswick College’s original mission was to provide prebaccalaureate degree programs that prepared students for transfer to four-year institutions.
After receiving the approval from the Board of Regents, the next step was determining a location for the new college. With support from the City Commission of Brunswick and the Glynn County Commissioners, approximately 100 acres by Altama Avenue and Fourth Street became the designated location for Brunswick College. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on July 30,1963.
Just a few months later Earl F. Hargett was named as the institution’s first president and Pope A. Duncan was named as the first dean on December 11, 1963, by the Board of Regents.
Robert Werner was the first student to ask for enrollment to Brunswick (even before Hargett and Duncan were appointed) but Anthony H. Armstrong was the first student to finish the application and be accepted by Brunswick College.
The academic programs offered during the first year were liberal arts, pre-nursing, pre-teacher curriculum, preengineering, pre-professional science, business administration and basic science curriculum. Only first-year students were admitted into these programs; therefore, no commencement ceremony was held during the first academic year.
On October 21, 1964, a formal dedication ceremony for
the college was held with Georgia Governor Carl Sanders as the main speaker. Members of the Board of Regents were also present as they had convened for a progress report from President Hargett in the Clara Wood Gould Memorial Library that same morning.
A lot of other firsts occurred during that first academic year of 1964 to 1965. For example, the first Student Government was formed on September 22, 1964. The first student newspaper, “The Lion’s Tale,” had its first issue published on October 9, 1964. An intermural bowling league was established on January 24, 1965, as the first intermural sport at our institution.
The first volume of the institution’s yearbook “The Crest” was presented during a ceremony held on April 2, 1965, and was dedicated to the Brunswick community.
Read more about this special anniversary
here.
2ND ANNUAL SALTY’S SHRIMP BOIL BENEFITS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROGRAM
The 2nd annual Salty’s Shrimp Boil & Shanties on the Roof fundraising event benefitting the College of Coastal Georgia’s Environmental Science program was a success, thanks to the generous support of campus and local community members. The proceeds from the event will go towards providing more learning experiences and professional development opportunities for students in the program.
Despite the cold weather, attendees gathered on February 21 on the rooftop of the Campus Center, at the Brunswick campus, for the fundraiser. Student research posters were on display, which gave students the opportunity to discuss their research and career aspirations with the community. Program faculty also introduced their various areas of expertise and hopes for the future of the program. Attendees enjoyed dinner catered by Catch 228, live music performed by Levi Moore, and a silent auction that featured
Student Nina Herter presents her research to community members at Salty’s Shrimp Boil & Shanties on the Roof event.
items such as artwork, photography, a two-night stay for two on Little St. Simons Island, a kayak tour, and more.
Approximately 160 people attended the fundraiser, including alumni of the program, who shared their careers and experiences with current students.
Last year’s Shrimp Boil raised enough to support learning experiences and activities for 64 students. For example, student fees for the Maymester travel course were removed for 18 students; 10 presented their research at national and international conferences; 22 went caving in Northeast Alabama while camping at Cloudland Canyon State Park; and 20 attended a trip to the Everglades.
Associate Professor of Environmental Science Dr. James Deemy shared that students from all levels and concentrations within the program including biology majors and one post-baccalaureate student went on that trip. Deemy described seeing the support from the community at the fundraiser, which surpassed last year’s event, as “incredible.”
“We had a great turnout on a cold night. For the community to come out and meet our students on a night that was 45 degrees and stay to interact with students it’s unbelievable,” Deemy said. “We’re still a somewhat young program and already have a lot of support and backing for our students.”
The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science degree program provides an interdisciplinary framework for understanding, analyzing, and managing the environment. The program has six concentrations: natural science, environmental studies, marine science, geology, chemistry, and sustainability, policy, and management.
For trips like to the Everglades, students not only get to interact with the environment firsthand, but also learn important leadership skills alongside their peers.
“It was really fun watching the seniors get the juniors ready to take over those leadership roles, and watching the juniors set an example for the sophomores and freshmen who were able to go on the trip,” Deemy said. “The underclassmen are important because they’re learning how to lead the program going forward. The students have a big role in generating program culture for one another. Year after year, we see more teamwork and more engagement with one another. It’s inspiring to see the way students are driving a lot of what we do.”
Read more about the Shrimp
Boil here.
By Tiffany King
We Are HIRING
Business Services:
Accountant
Faculty Positions:
Part Time Instructor of Chemistry
Lecturer of Mathematics and Data Science
Assistant Professor of English
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Chef Lecturer—Pastry
Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship:
Program Facilitator
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!
FOR MORE JOB OPENINGS, GO TO CCGA.EDU, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM, CLICK ON “EMPLOYMENT.”
FIRST FRIDAY ALUMNI APRIL KICKOFF, STARTING AT 5 P.M., AT THE THOMAS TEACHING KITCHEN, LOCATED AT 1407 UNION STREET IN DOWNTOWN
ALUMNI CAREER PANEL WITH COMPASS, 1 P.M. TO 3 P.M., AT THE SOUTHEAST GEORGIA CONFERENCE CENTER SCAN
HONORS DAY CEREMONY, STARTING AT 5:30 P.M., AT THE SOUTHEAST GEORGIA CONFERENCE CENTER
