*Editor’s Note: Riley Elkins recently graduated this May and is now an alum.
College of Coastal Georgia senior Riley Elkins ’25 was the only student in the state of Georgia to be accepted into the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis the most prestigious vet school in the nation for the Class of 2029. The graduate program only has approximately 140 seats 20 of which are allotted to out-of-state students Elkins now being one of them.
When Elkins received the call that she was accepted into UC Davis, she was in utter shock and wondered why they chose her out of thousands of applicants. However, Elkins was able to set herself up for success by taking advantage of her opportunities at the College and in the BrunswickGolden Isles area. By leveraging her resources and stepping out of her comfort zone, Elkins is headed to California to further her education and make her dream of becoming a vet a reality.
Elkins is originally from Powder Springs, Georgia, and while in high school at Hiram High School, she took dual enrollment courses at Kennesaw State University.
She thought her collegiate career would lead her to the University of Georgia, which has a very popular vet school, until she got a promotional email from the College of Coastal Georgia. She had never heard of the institution and visited the website to learn more. It was two weeks before Destination Coastal, an open house event hosted by the Office of Admissions for prospective students and their families. Destination Coastal gives students a glimpse into what life is like at the College, with an opportunity to meet students, professors, deans, housing staff, financial aid counselors, and learn about student services. She decided it was worth it to take a look.
“I came down here with my mom and just immediately fell in love,” Elkins said. “Just the atmosphere down here after talking with students and hearing their experiences, it really resonated with me and with what I thought I would be successful with.”
Elkins liked the smaller class sizes, being able to form connections with professors, and the Brunswick area. Both the College and region were prime locations for her career aspirations.
“I didn’t realize how many animal classes I would be able to take. I was fortunate enough to take coursework in my field, like animal physiology and zoology. Also, there’s a bunch of veterinarian clinics in the area, local farms, and the Jekyll Sea Turtle Center—where I volunteered,” she said. “It was everything that I was looking for in one. It felt like home. I had that love at first sight moment. I was walking around and said, ‘I can see myself here.’ I had been to UGA, but this is where I thought I could be most successful, and it’s proven to be true.”
The only vet school in the state is at UGA. This means that almost every aspiring veterinarian in the state has their mind set to attend UGA.
“They have 200 to 300 pre-vet students there and they only have one or two clinics in the area also a humane society and animal control. Trying to find a position at a clinic or some kind of experience there would be hard with all the competition,” she said. “After thinking about it, to set me up for this end goal, Coastal and the area could give me everything that I need, including coursework and one-on-one time with professors that can lead to great letters of recommendation. Doing research is another thing that I’ve been lucky to be able to do while here. At a bigger school, I may not have that opportunity because there are so many people and so much competition.”
By thinking outside of the box and choosing a different route, Elkins was still able to take the necessary courses and gain significant vet experiences.
The Kind of Vet She Wants to Be
Elkins has always loved animals and felt a special connection with them. She always wanted to do something with animals.
“I’ve been to zoos and aquariums, but as I got older, I wanted to be the person caring for them doing the diagnostics and surgeries. My local vet back home was the one who introduced me to that side. Growing up, we would bring in my dogs to him. He said, ‘When you’re 16, you can come and shadow me. I’ll let you watch the procedures.’ I was so happy that I could get in and see stuff, but then COVID hit.”
Read more about Riley here.
By Tiffany King
GATEWAY TO EXCELLENCE: FIVE STUDENTS COMPLETE THE HONORS PROGRAM
*Editor’s Note: All students recently graduated this May.
F
ive College of Coastal Georgia seniors will be graduating this May with not only a bachelor’s degree, but also with the distinction of successfully completing the Honors Program. The Honors Program at the College challenges students to engage in a dynamic and enriching academic experience. It requires students to seek connections among academic disciplines, collaborate on undergraduate research, and become leaders among their peers and in the community. To graduate from the Honors Program, students must earn a minimum of 12 honors credits by taking designated Honors level courses and/or working with a faculty member through an Honors contract, which could include a capstone project. Students Tea Autry, Kristen Darley, Precious De Jesus, William Ellis, and Izaiah Matthews will have the distinction of successfully meeting this challenge and completing the program.
Tea Autry will be graduating with a bachelor’s in environmental science with concentrations in marine science and natural sciences. She is originally from Sylvania, Georgia, and heard about Coastal Georgia from her visit to Jekyll Island. When she learned about the College’s Environmental Science program, she was sold.
“I loved the idea of learning about the unique coastal environment while in the classroom, but in the field as well,” Autry said. “When I graduate, I hope to find a career in environmental education or outreach with an organization such as the National Park Service or state parks. I am especially passionate about helping connect with nature and understanding the importance of conservation.”
While taking a Wetland Plant Taxonomy and Identification course, Autry fell in love with learning about different plant families and how to identify them. This led to exploring her interest further through the Honors Program. For her honors project, Autry curated a collection of wetland plants for the College’s herbarium. Autry sorted, selected, and identified more than 500 specimens, prepared and documented each specimen selected for the collection, and finalized the presentation of the specimens for long-term archival use.
She also created a digital catalogue of the specimens essentially creating a lasting educational resource for future students. Her faculty advisor, Associate Professor of Environmental Science Dr. James Deemy, described Autry as “an incredibly special student.”
“She arrived on campus in August 2021, which was approximately three weeks after she made the decision to pursue a college education. Tea’s impact on the Environmental Science program during the last four years can be measured in how she helps bring out the best in people around her,” Deemy said. “Her leadership on field trips and immersive travel courses has been absolutely profound. Tea is also a stellar peer mentor to her colleagues, and can be counted on for adding humor into any activity being completed under taxing field conditions.”
The main values of the Honors Program are critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, undergraduate research, and leadership and civic engagement. Deemy said that Autry’s academic career at the College is a manifestation of all these values.
Autry’s project was a massive undertaking, Deemy said, that deepened her understanding of wetland plant taxonomy, herbarium protocols, and long-term storage
of natural history specimens.
“Additionally, this project provided an incredible service to the Department of Natural Sciences because this plant collection will serve students in multiple courses each year,” he said. “Tea’s time as an undergraduate student at Coastal may be nearing completion, but her impact on the students that follow will last far beyond graduation.”
Autry shared that through the Honors Program, she not only learned a lot about project management and plant identification, but also developed skills in time management, public speaking, and science communication all of which are valuable in future careers. She highly encourages other students to join the Honors Program.
“With the Honors Program, you have the opportunity to dive further into what interests you, while also building future career skills,” she said.
Read more about the Honors Program graduates here.
The Honors Program revolves around four educational and intellectual pillars:
• Critical thinking
• Undergraduate research
• Interdisciplinary learning
• Civic engagement and leadership
Tea Autry
Kristen Darley
Precious De Jesus
William Ellis
Izaiah Matthews
ARCHIVIST’S LOG: CHARTING THE COLLEGE’S HISTORY “
The Journey from Bulletins to Catalogs”
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 issue of “Archivist’s Log: Charting the College's History,” I wanted to highlight an important collection we have within the college archives our catalog collection. The booklets that make up this collection have undergone various changes over time, but the content shared within them with our students has stayed the same.
From 1964 to 1976, the booklets were called “college bulletins.” Between 1976 and 1982, they became “college bulletin catalogues” and then in 1982, the word "bulletin" was dropped, transitioning to “college catalogues.” Then in 1996, when our institution became Coastal Georgia Community College, these items underwent a spelling change and finally became the “college catalogs.” However, while the name changes ceased, format changes began. In 2009, these booklets started being produced in digital format, becoming available through the College’s website. Current and past digitally formatted catalogs can be accessed online at https://www.ccga.edu/academics/current-catalog/.
For those alumni who want to study the physical catalogs printed from 1964 to 2008, please make an appointment with me at the college archives.
The information kept within these booklets has been expanded over the years, but our current catalog holds similar content as the first college bulletin. However, the growth of our institution during the past 60 years has required more information to be shared. For instance, our first college bulletin was a mere 48 pages compared to our 2024-2025 catalog which is over 350 pages long. This is one of the many reasons why it is no longer published in its physical format. These booklets were created so incoming and returning students could see what courses were available in the upcoming academic year, and to decide which of those courses they needed to take to eventually graduate. By studying these booklets from over the decades, they reveal what degrees and certificates have come and gone and how our institution has changed over the years. For example, in the 1987-1988 catalogue for Brunswick Junior College, it lists associate degrees in medical records sciences, pre -dentistry and forestry, along with certificates in automobile mechanics, law enforcement, and secretarial science. These programs no longer exist at the College of Coastal Georgia. However, certain programs do keep appearing throughout these booklets. For example, in the very first bulletin, which came out during the Spring of 1964, before the first academic year of classes, there was a Pre-Teacher Curriculum program, and a Pre-Nursing program listed. The College of Coastal Georgia still offers education and nursing programs today. Many of these booklets also include maps of the campus, a brief history of the institution, photographs, calendars and schedules, a list of faculty and staff, policies, along with other tidbits of helpful, and valuable information. This collection possesses so much information regarding our institution’s history and can be studied to help us learn about who we were, why we are, and who we are today. It is my honor to help preserve this collection and other items within the archives to help us all understand our institution’s journey.
Until next month, Hail the Sail, Mariners!
By Mylynda Gill, Special Collections Librarian and College Archivist
EARNED. HONORED. FRAMED.
College of Coastal Georgia alum Tammy Fields ‘20 recently framed her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the College of Coastal Georgia.
Fields was a non-traditional student and graduated at the age of 54. To help other nontraditional students like herself, she established the Fields NonTraditional Student Scholarship.
The scholarship benefits nontraditional students, with a preference given to students 50 years of age or older, who have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0. The recipient is awarded $1,000 at a rate of $500 per semester for one academic year.
“It takes off a lot of stress when you’re not worried about finances and can concentrate on what you’re learning,” Fields said about the scholarship.
Read more about Tammy Fields and how she’s wanted to pay it forward here.
ADVANCING NURSING AND HEALTHCARE EDUCATION
We’re excited to share that the College of Coastal Georgia will break ground on the $16,000,000 expansion of Miriam and Hugh Nunnally Hall on Tuesday, June 10 at 5:30 p.m.
This exciting growth reflects our dedication to advancing nursing and all healthcare professionals with enhanced facilities and innovation.
Please save the date and join us as we begin this exciting new chapter at Coastal Georgia.
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!
JUNE FIRST FRIDAY, STARTING AT 5 P.M., IN DOWNTOWN BRUNSWICK, LOCATED AT MACHEN SQUARE EAST, IN BETWEEN ARTE PIZZA AND CUNNINGHAM
MIRIAM AND HUGH NUNNALLY HALL EXPANSION GROUNDBREAKING, STARTING AT 5:30 P.M., LOCATED BEHIND NUNNALLY HALL, TOWARDS ALTAMA AVE
JUNETEENTH OBSERVANCE. NO CLASSES. CAMPUS CLOSED.
FOURTH OF JULY OBSERVANCE. NO CLASSES. CAMPUS CLOSED.
Check out the College of Coastal Georgia Calendar for
IN TOUCH We would love to stay in touch with you. Please tell us about yourself and what you’ve been up to after college. Update your contact information here. Questions? Contact alumni@ccga.edu.
