| 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Tanner Medical Center-Carrollton Site: Tanner Medical Center 705 Dixie St. Carrollton, GA 30117 |
Gas station lines, looting and the discovery of smashed heirlooms sapped survivors' energy Friday around Alabama cities shattered by the deadliest tornado outbreak in nearly four decades. President Barack Obama arrived in devastated Alabama to console victims, while authorities worked to overcome damaged infrastructure and even a shortage of body bags in one town.
As Obama stepped off a plane at the airport in hard-hit Tuscaloosa, rescuers and survivors combed the remains of neighborhoods pulverized by Wednesday's outbreak that killed at least 297 across six states. In one of its first official assessments of the tornadoes' strength, the National Weather Service gave the worst possible rating to one that raked Mississippi and said it was the strongest to hit the state since 1966.
The president's arrival drew a muted response from Tuscaloosa resident Derek Harris, who was pushing a grocery buggy down a street where virtually every home was heavily damaged. The 47-year-old and his wife hoped to use the cart to salvage a few belongings from his home.
"Hopefully he'll give us some money to start over," Harris said of Obama. "Is FEMA here? The only place I'm hearing anything is at the Red Cross center."
Some were more upbeat about the president's visit, including 21-year-old Turner Woods, who watched Obama's motorcade pass on its way to tour damaged areas. "It's just really special having the president come here," she said. "It will bring more attention to this disaster and help get more help here."
After witnessing the damage in storm-wracked neighborhoods, Obama said he's "never seen devastation like this."
He promised residents: "We're going to make sure you're not forgotten."
The situation was dire about 90 miles to the north in the demolished town of Hackleburg, Ala., where officials were keeping the dead in a refrigerated truck amid a body bag shortage. At least 27 were killed there, the search for missing people continues.
-Associated Press
The University of West Georgia held its spring Faculty and Staff Service Awards ceremony Thursday, April 28, 2011, recognizing long-time employees of the school.
Among the honorees was Dr. Karl T. Steinen, professor of anthropology, who has been with the university for 35 years.
“It’s been a very good place to work,” Dr. Steinen said after the ceremony. “The community at the university has always been very nice. Good friends.”
While the school has grown immensely during his tenure – in the 1970s class sizes were about 15 students. Today, there are often 100 students in classes.
“It makes it a very different teach environment,” he said.
Still students are students, he said. “There’s a bunch of good ones.”
Other long-timers recognized were:
Sandra R. Jones, 35 years, (Physical Plant Administration)
30 years:
John R. Fuller (Sociology)
Jonathan Goldstein, (History)
Curtis Hollabaugh (Geosciences)
Laura H. Lamb (Advanced Academy)
Cathy D. Osborne (Internal Audit)
Jeanette S. Pollard (Sponsored Operations)
Randy J. Robinson (Custodial Services)
Sherry L. Robinson (Enrollment Service Center)
Grady E. Rogers Jr. (Publications & Printing)
Francesca B. Taylor (Learning Support and Testing)
Paulette H. Ward (Learning Support and Testing)
Karen West (Information Technology)
25 years:
William S. Arrington (Building Maintenance)
Maurice A. Freer (Landscape & Ground Maintenance)
Chris A. Geiger (Student Involvement)
Anita G. Immele' (Political Science & Planning),
Charles K. Marlar (University Police)
Joseph H. McCraw (Accounting/Finance)
Johnnie E. Vaughn (Building Maintenance)
20 years:
Cherree Almon (Custodial Services)
Margaret A. Cooper (Special Ed & Speech Lang.)
Joseph H. Douglas (Biology)
John A. Frevert (Student Development)
Pauline D. Gagnon (Theatre Arts)
Geisler,Victoria J. Geisler (Chemistry)
Carol F. Goodson (Library)
Jean M. Harris (Special Ed & Speech Lang.)
Javier E. Hasbun (Physics)
Elaine Heath-Ward (COE Student Services)
Deborah B. Holcombe (Publications & Printing)
Mary F. King (Learning Support)
Kathleen R. Kral (Information Technology)
Richard S. Lester (Athletics Administration)
Kareen R. Malone (Psychology)
David E. Manuel (Townsend Center)
Sheryl Marlar (UCM)
N. Janes McCandless (COSS Dean's Office)
Patricia A. Munn (Financial Aid)
Patresa L. Murphy (Bursar)
Linda C. Painter (Counseling/Ed Psy.)
15 years
Jane Elizabeth K. Bennett (Media & Instructional Tech.)
Janet S . Barden (Building Maintenance)
Susan R. Boes (Counseling/Ed Psy.)
David M. Bush (Geosciences)
Melanie N. Clay (Distance Learning)
Bruce R. Daniel (Mass Comm/Theatre Arts)
Sharmistha B. Dutt (Chemistry)
Morgen M. East (Psychology)
Rolanda L. Farmer (Information Technology)
William L. Gates Jr. (Custodial Services)
Howard S. Goodson (History)
Michael D. Hester (Honors Program)
Louis E. Howe (Political Science & Planning)
Robert B. Jennings (Townsend Center)
Randal L. Kath (Geosciences)
Elaine M. Mackinnon (History)
James R. Mayer (Geosciences)
Kathryn J. Owens (Custodial Services)
Teresa H. Pyron (UCM)
Cheryl A. Rice (Excel Center)
Branden D. Smith (University Police)
10 years:
Margie L. Almon (Custodial Services)
Tura D. Anthony (Health Services)
Janice Balte (Financial Aid)
James F. Bellon (Mathematics)
Keith Bohannon (History)
Amin Boumenir (Mathematics)
Mary Calhoun (Custodial Services)
Li Cao (Counseling/Ed Psy)
Anuradha Chandran (ITS)
Charles W. Clark III (Graduate School)
Luke Cornelius (Leadership and Applied Instruc.)
Ellis Crean-Wojcik (Art)
Debra L. Dugan (Health Services)
Rosalind A. Duplechain (Contemporary Teaching & Lrng.)
Susan E Fishman-Armstrong (Antonio J Waring Lab)
Lucretia T. Gubbs (Academic Affairs)
Opal G. Grizzard (Health Services)
Hollis T. Hall (Design & Construction)
Loretta J. Hite (Nursing)
Tina Hudgins (Alumni Services)
Theresa L Jablecki-Kriel (Risk Management)
Evelyn Johnson (Custodial Services)
Euwell Lee Jones Jr. (AEC Project Services)
Kathy A. Jones (COE Student Services)
Amy M. Kent (Career Services)
Greta Lynne Kirby (Mail Services)
Bruce M. Landman (COSM Dean's Office)
Salvador Lopez (Economics)
Deborah S. Lovvorn (Design & Construction)
Perran I. Makulu (Contemporary Teaching & Lrng.)
S. Swamy Mruthinti (Biology)
Katherine Moffeit (Accounting/Finance)
Stacey A. Morin (English)
Abbot L. Packard (Leadership and Applied Instruc.)
W. Alan Pope (Psychology)
Gail G. Reid (Mass Comm/Theatre Arts)
Anja Remshagen (Computer Science)
Larry D. Robinson (Landscape & Ground Maintenance)
J. Randall Rollins (Design & Construction)
Justin Sellers (Information Technology)
Ronald L. Shepherd (Contemporary Teaching & Lrng.)
Lorraine W. Snaith (English)
Lorraine D. Sposato-Allen (Townsend Center)
Erika L. Swanson (Athletics Administration)
Christy Talley Smith (eCore Service)
Rita Tekippe (Art)
Gerald W. Walker (Building Maintenance)
Ricky Dale Walls (University Police)
Dale S. Ward (Health Services)
Laurie J. Ware (Nursing)
Julie S. Williard (Nursing)
Jane K. Wood (Computer Science)
Chean Teong Yeong (Theatre Arts)
UWG President Beheruz N. Sethna addresses Preview Day visitors at the coliseum.
The University of West Georgia has named its Student Employee of the Year for 2010-2011. Brett Kimbrell, a junior, received the honor recently.
A committee of faculty, staff and a student representative selected Kimbrell from among 16 nominees. The nominees were nominated this year from departments across campus -- from the Townsend Center to Campus Police to the Nursing Department.
The selection process consisted of nomination letters submitted by the students’ supervisors. The committee interviewed all candidates.
The Student Employee of the Year Award is given every academic year to a student who has documented outstanding reliability, quality of work, initiative, attitude, professionalism and uniqueness of contribution. Kimbrell is currently working as a super-workshop leader for the Chemistry Department. He has been a part of the department for the past two years and this semester is serving two different workshops, one for Dr. Timothy Ayers’ CHEM 1211 and the other for Dr. Anne Gaquere Parker’s CHEM 1152.
As a super-leader Kimbrell is responsible for other workshop leaders in both courses. He meets with not only his proud supervisor, Lucille Garmon, on a constant basis, but also meets with other instructors, workshop leaders and students.
Garmon, professor emeritus and workshop coordinator, reported that 100% of the students in his workshops last fall agreed (87% strongly agreed) that they would recommend him as a leader to other students.
Besides representing the Chemistry Department on a local level among students and faculty, last summer Kimbrell presented his philosophies and experience as a workshop leader at a national conference.
It goes without saying that Kimbrell has made an impact on the Chemistry Department and the student body that passes through.
“Without the work of super-leaders like Brett, the peer-led workshop program at the Department of Chemistry could not continue,” Garmon said.
We congratulate Jacob Brett Kimbrell for the impression he has made during his term of employment and honor him as the 2010-2011 Student Employee of the Year. Kimbrell was named at luncheon in March.
On behalf of Student Employment we honor all nominees for their hard work and contributions to their department and to the University of West Georgia.
Barbie Klimaszewski is among the finalists in the 2011 AJC Peachtree Road Race T-shirt Design Contest. Two of her classmates are also finalists.
Here's a snapshot of Barbie and her design.
Follow the link to hear her talk about her work on YouTube.
Also, follow the link below to see all of the designs and to vote for your favorite.
The last day to vote is Saturday, April 30.
http://ajc.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=27651.
You will have to register with the site before you can vote, but you will be able to vote more than once.
Barbie Klimaszewski, 47.
Hometown: Grew up in Lithia Springs, lives in Newnan.
High School: Lithia Springs High School, 1982.
Major: Interior Design.
Design: She runs the Peachtree and used the numbered bibs the runners wear as her inspiration.
Quote: “The two things that you treasure the most when you run in the Peachtree are your t-shirt and your number.”
To hear Barbie talk about her design:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyYSY4--_74&feature=related
Jessica Ferguson is among the finalists in the 2011 AJC Peachtree Road Race T-shirt Design Contest. Two of her classmates are also finalists.
Here's a snapshot of Jessica and her design.
Follow the link to hear her talk about her work on YouTube.
Also, follow the link below to see all of the designs and to vote for your favorite.
The last day to vote is Saturday, April 30.
http://ajc.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=27651.
You will have to register with the site before you can vote, but you will be able to vote more than once.
Jessica Ferguson, 21.
Hometown: Originally from Staten Island, N.Y., moved to Kennesaw in her freshman year of high school.
High School: Harrison High School, 2007.
Major: Pre-medical illustration.
Design: Loaded her palette knife with red, orange, yellow and white paint and mixed them all together. Each letter of the word “Peachtree” was scanned into the computer to make the final image. The “C” is partial peach with a leaf on top.
Quote: “I just played around with it until I liked it.”
To hear Jessica talk about her design: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipKu6TrtThs
Clint Samples beamed when he walked into his “Digital Media for Artists” course just after spring break. The classroom was packed with students. Some chatted; others were already working on their projects.
Samples came with good news. But a few already knew: three of their classmates were among the five finalists in the 2011 AJC Peachtree Road Race T-shirt Design Contest.
Alyssa Chitwood, Jessica Ferguson and Barbie Klimaszewski sat quietly as the students whooped, clapped and cheered their approval.
“I’m proud of you guys,” Samples said. “This is great. It’s a big achievement.”
Big achievement indeed: this is the third straight year Samples’ students have placed in the contest.
In 2010, four of Samples’ students were among the five finalists. The winner was Allison Bennett, who is now a senior. Two of Samples students were finalists in 2009.
Twenty of the students in the class submitted 30 designs for this year’s contest.
“It makes us all look good. It makes you as a student look good. It makes this class look good,” Samples said.
“It makes West Georgia look good. It makes the department look good. It says a lot about you guys.”
Samples, who describes his teaching style as “friendly yet firm,” uses the Peachtree assignment to give the students a taste of the real world.
“They have to compete with professionals in the Atlanta area,” Samples said.
The design contest is the first assignment he gives and he uses it to teach his students how to use Adobe Illustrator.
He also wants them to understand the creative process. “One of the things I really try to stress is process and understanding – that students can’t just settle for the first idea that they come up with,” he said.
The students critiqued each other’s work. Several revisions and final touches followed.
There were 122 entries in the contest this year, said Tracy Lott, the director of marketing and communications for the Atlanta Track Club, the organizer of the Independence Day race.
The race is a premier event and a July 4th tradition in Atlanta. The winning designer receives $1,000. The victor will be unveiled the day of the race, when some 60,000 t-shirts will bear the design, Lott said. Another 2,500 to 3,000 t-shirts will be given out at the overseas editions of the Peachtree in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, where most of the runners are U.S. military personnel.
The other finalists are: Matt Ankerich, 33, a graphic designer from Atlanta; and Adam Houston, 35, a graphic designer and marketing consultant from Cumming.
The Peachtree Road Race draws the most entrants among running events of any distance in the United States and is among the most prestigious events in the sport.
Members of the public have until April 30th to vote for their favorite designs.
To view all of the designs and to vote go to: http://ajc.upickem.net/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=27651.
You will have to register with the site before you can vote, but you will be able to vote more than once.
Hear Clint Samples talk about his class:
http://www.youtube.com/user/uwgucm?feature=mhum#p/u/10/OwNkW1SDcrU
Rosalynn Carter, Donald Leebern Honored
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter and Board of Regents member Donald M. Leebern Jr. were among the University System of Georgia (USG) faculty, alumni and supporters honored recently at the Seventh Annual Regents’ Awards for Excellence in Education Celebration.
The event, held at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel, served as a fundraiser for need-based and merit-based scholarship programs for USG students. A project of the University System’s non-profit foundation, the Awards for Excellence attracted approximately 900 of Georgia’s higher education leaders and supporters and elected officials, including Gov. Nathan Deal.
“This event served two powerful purposes: one, to recognize and celebrate excellence in our students, faculty and alumni,” said the event's host Regent Kenneth Bernard. “And two, to raise much needed resources that help keep some of Georgia’s brightest in some of the nation’s best public colleges – all of Georgia’s 35 public higher education institutions. But in the end, this is really about people and ensuring a stronger and more prosperous future.”
Each of Georgia’s 35 public institutions receives up to $10,000 annually to fund the President’s Choice Scholarship, which is based on academic merit. The Regents’ Foundation Scholarships pay full tuition and fees for students who face financial obstacles to attend college. The number and amount of awards available in any given year is based upon the success of that year’s fundraising. The institution, through the president, determines the recipients for both types of awards.
Bernard announced that the USG Foundation has raised more than $1 million this year, and 73 students are attending USG institutions with the aid of foundation scholarships. Two of these students, Adam Jeb Dills of Gordon College and Jessica Hicks of Kennesaw State University, brought greetings during the celebration.
Leebern was selected as the 7th recipient of the Elridge McMillan Lifetime Achievement Award, named for the longest serving regent and USG Foundation trustee Elridge McMillan.
“Donald M. Leebern Jr. has spent much of his life serving the citizens of Georgia and the last 20 years devoting his time, energy and financial resources to support a cause he truly believes in–higher education,” said Bernard. “When institutions had unmet needs, Don brought his business acumen and concern for people to the table to meet the need. His passion led him to help establish this very foundation that benefits students and faculty. And his company has been a presenting sponsor of this celebration since the first in 2004. Don is humble, but that kind of devotion deserves recognition.”
This year, five faculty and four alumni were recognized for their contributions to Georgia public higher education. Each year, each System campus is asked to nominate faculty and alumni to be honored. A panel of University System officials evaluates the faculty nominations, and an external panel named by the Foundation evaluates alumni nominations. Each faculty recipient each receives a $5,000 award from the USG Foundation.
Earlier this year, Regent Felton Jenkins Jr. died, and to honor his educational service, the Regents’ Hall of Fame Faculty Award was renamed “The Felton Jenkins Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award.”
The following USG faculty members were honored with The Felton Jenkins Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award in two categories, the Regents’ Teaching Excellence Awards and the Regents’ Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award.
Regents’ Teaching Excellence Awards
Dr. Thomas Hugh Crawford, associate professor in the School of Literature, Communication, and Culture at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Crawford’s nomination noted his ability to design his courses to adapt to students. As one example, he and his students built a replica of Henry Thoreau’s house on campus, which resulted in many students volunteering to work on the house who weren’t even enrolled in his course. The nomination noted Crawfords’ lifelong impact on his students, who have given a legacy title of their own to his courses: “a Crawford course.”
Dr. Melanie A. Partlow, assistant professor of Mathematics at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC). Partlow’s colleagues praise her use of creative teaching techniques and technology to enhance her students’ learning. They note she is especially adept at reaching students with diverse learning styles and in helping students overcome math anxiety. ABAC also called upon her to lead its Quality Enhancement Plan, a campus-wide initiative to improve student success in college algebra. One of her students credited Partlow with helping her successfully complete her algebra requirement after she had repeatedly dropped several algebra courses.
Dr. Sabine Smith, associate professor of German at Kennesaw State University (KSU). The nomination for Smith noted that she provided impressive leadership and dedication to building a successful German Studies program at KSU. The nomination noted her talent in building not only a strong curriculum for students but also providing learning experiences outside the classroom and across disciplines. Smith’s abilities as a teacher are best measured by the growth in student enrollment in German Studies at KSU, especially given today’s typical student interest in more popular languages.
Regents’ Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award
Dr. Trent Maurer, associate professor of Family Science at Georgia Southern University. According to Georgia Southern officials, Maurer’s work clearly demonstrates his teaching approach and its impact on student learning using a systematic process to question, measure and improve his teaching. Maurer has a long and consistent record of professional presentations and publications that disseminate his findings broadly so that teachers well beyond Georgia Southern can benefit from his work.
Dr. Sheryne Southard, assistant professor of Legal/Paralegal Studies at Clayton State University. Southard’s colleagues note that she not only researches the effectiveness of her teaching techniques, but also has an excellent record of using her findings to enhance student learning. Southard then shares her results to improve and benefit teaching and learning in the field of legal studies on a national level, including the realm of online teaching.
The following USG alumni were acknowledged at the event:
Rosalynn Carter, an alumna of Georgia Southwestern University. Former First Lady Carter is an internationally renowned public servant who has worked to improve the quality of life of individuals worldwide. Currently, Carter works as an advocate for mental health, early childhood immunization, human rights and conflict resolution through The Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, which was founded by the Carters in 1982 as a private, not-for-profit institution. Outside The Carter Center, she is president of the board of directors of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI), which is housed on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, established in her honor in 1987.
Nancy Buntin, an alumna of Columbus State University. Buntin’s involvement and service to Columbus State University began as a student and have continued into her post-retirement years, the nomination form noted. She was educated and trained to be a teacher, but pursued a career in banking at Synovus Financial Corporation for more than 30 years. Now retired, Buntin is an extremely active volunteer for many civic, social and religious organizations. The nomination noted that Buntin has served both as an official and unofficial teacher, mentor, friend, career coach and confidante to a large number of women.
Anthony E. Parr, an alumnus of Darton College. An Albany native, Parr also received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and served in the U.S. Navy before returning to live and work in Albany. Several years ago Parr returned to college to seek a Master’s degree in Education and today is a professor of mathematics at Darton College.
Parker H. “Pete” Petit, an alumnus of both Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University. His nomination form noted that Petit is a leader in the healthcare and biomedical industries who has tirelessly served his community through volunteer leadership and philanthropy at his alma maters. Petit is the chairman, president and CEO of MiMedx Group, which develops biomaterial-based products for use in the musculoskeletal specialties. He is also president of The Petit Group, an investment management company. Petit’s volunteer service, leadership and philanthropic investments have been integral to the growth and success of Georgia Tech and Georgia State.
