Profiles Dantarius Wright BBA ’13 Finance Financial Analyst Kimberly-Clark Corporation Roswell, GA Currently reading… The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald In 10 years... I hope to have established a scholarship foundation for high school students looking to attend college. It is my hope to limit the amount in loans a high school student has to take on in order to pay for college. In addition, I hope to have a senior leadership position with best consumer goods company in the world: Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Favorite part of your job… Although I haven't started my job as of yet, the thing that I am looking forward to would be traveling across the country to different locations, and coming up with creative ideas on how the company can cut down on overall costs. The fact that I will have interactions with different executives is also a plus! Great UGA memory… Attending my first Georgia/Florida football game was my greatest UGA memory. It was a great time hanging with my friends, and taking a much needed break from classes for the weekend. To top it all off, upon winning the game, we participated in the greatest chant ever with other UGA students. It was truly an amazing moment.
Kacie Darden: Race Across America The first thing that one sees on the “Power, Pedals, and Ponytails” blog is this quote by Susan B. Anthony: “Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel. The picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.” How fitting, then, for Kacie Darden and Dani Grabol, a (literally) dynamic duo who participated in Race Across America in June. Darden, who graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS and MS in 2005, is a middle school science teacher who began competing in endurance events in 2008. Though she has completed four Ironman triathalons, one could argue that Race Across America is her most amazing feat. Nicknamed “The World’s Toughest Bicycle Race,” the Race Across America is a 3000-mile adventure that Darden and Grabol raced in a relay format, setting the new twoperson female record for this race in 8 days, 2 hours, and 35 minutes. The duo raced under the team name “Power, Pedals, and Ponytails” to raise money for Camp Twin Lakes, which is a network of camps in Georgia providing life-changing camp experiences each year to thousands of children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and other life challenges. Power, Pedals, and Ponytails has raised over $37,000 for Camp Twin Lakes.
Have any UGA traditions of your own? I love going to North Campus during the summer time. Every other weekend, I take a little time to go there as the sun is setting, to think. That part of the campus is so beautiful to me, and it is a great place to go if you need a little relaxation. I normally go there to reflect, read a book, or listen to music. I may take a nap from time-to-time, as well. Inspired by… my mother, Sherry Wright. She has been so instrumental in helping me succeed in school. Without her support, I do not think I would have attended college, period. She is truly the angel that watches over me, and I thank God for providing me with such a loving parent in her.
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