Wolves stun Saints in road battle

Carrollton, GA - In the final non-conference battle of the 2012 season, the UWG baseball team hit the road for an in-state contest with North Georgia. The Wolves used an early four-run outburst and held off a late rally from the Saints to pull out a 7-5 victory over the Saints.

The Wolves were able to take advantage of runners on base in this one, something that has plagued the team throughout the season. Just last night against Carson-Newman, UWG's hitters found the grass 12 times, but produced only one run. Tonight in northern Georgia, the Wolves scored seven runs on 13 hits.

The scoring started early for West Georgia, as senior Stuart Drew led off the game with a walk. Junior right fielder Brett Wright moved Drew to second with a sacrifice bunt, then back-to-back singles from Andy Marinelli and Evan Hester brought Drew home with the game's first run.

Freshman starter Marquis Vialet allowed a hit in the bottom half of the first, but kept the Saints of the board and let his offense do the work.

Tanner Drennen led off the bottom of the second with a double, followed by Adam Whitlock, who blasted his fourth home run of the season off the scoreboard in right-center to give the Wolves a 3-0 lead. The hit parade continued through the inning, asGarrett May and Wright each picked up a single, with Wright's single bringing home May after an error from North Georgia left fielder Terrell Jones.

That was the end of the scoring for the inning, but the Wolves held a 4-0 lead, but it wouldn't stay, as Vialet gave up a pair of doubles and a single, giving the Saints two runs in the bottom of the second, with all but one of the hits coming with two outs. Head coach Skip Fite gave the ball to Alex Wilson, who induced a flyout to NGSU cleanup hitter Matthew Black with the bases loaded to end the threat.

Wilson was just shy of perfect in his outing, throwing 4.1 hitless innings, allowing no runs while striking out two and walking three and earning the win.

The UWG offense added a single run in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings to seal the victory, but freshman Alex Allen came on in the bottom of the ninth, striking out North Georgia shortstop Dustin Carpenter looking to close out the game and the victory. The save was Allen's second of the season.

Whitlock led the UWG offense on the afternoon, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Evan Hester had a solid outing as well, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. May was the third UWG player with an RBI on the night, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Wolves will close out the regular season this weekend in Cleveland, MS, taking on the Delta State Statesmen in Gulf South Conference action.

Sign up for Finish Line

It's time again for Summer Orientation for New Students beginning in the fall! The Office of Orientation would like to extend to you the opportunity to reserve a table at our Finish Line, which is a departmental and student activities fair. This fair is held at the end of each residential and commuter Orientation Sessions.

To reserve a table at Finish Line please complete the sign-up form. The sign-up deadline is Friday, May 18. If you have any questions and/or concerns please feel free to contact Orientation via email or call 9-4739.

Harris adds to her 2012 recruiting class

Carrollton, GA – UWG Head Softball Coach Mandy Harris announced Wednesday the addition of one new player to the 2013 roster.
 
Harris added a young athlete named Jordan Corbin to the roster who brings a solid resume to UWG. Corbin comes from McDonough, GA and is the daughter of Andrew and Debra Corbin.
 
Corbin is a versatile 5-4 infielder who has spent time at each of the positions across the infield throughout her career. She comes from Union Grove High School where she played for Coach Rod Pipkin. She also plays club ball for the Georgia Elite Gold under Coach Daniel Caldwell.
 
During Corbin’s high school career she was the 2008 Rookie of the Year and the Offensive Player of the Year in 2009, 2010, and 2011. She won the 2011 Captains Award and the Hall of Fame Player, as well as the Southern Crest First Team for Henry County. She also went on to win the First Team All-Region and First Team All-State in 2011 and she led her high school team to the Region 3-AAAA Championship in 2011.

Yancey earns All-GSC honors

Carrollton, GA - For the second straight season, UWG third baseman Nicole Yancey has garnered All-Gulf South Conference honors, as announced this week by GSC officials in the annual coaches vote.

The sophomore from Carrollton had yet another stellar season at the plate under first year head coach Mandy Harris, as Yancey batted .368 on the season with 12 home runs and 40 RBI. That year earned her Second Team All-GSC honors in this year's vote. She was a First Team honoree in 2011 and was also named GSC Freshman of the Year. 

With her second career postseason award for the Wolves; Yancey has become one of the most feared hitters in all of Division II in her first two seasons. She shattered the school single-season record for walks as a freshman last year with 40 free passes, then laid waste to her own record this season with 47 walks.

Her season ranks well in the single season record book, as her .368 batting average is good for fourth on that list, three points behind her freshman year total. Her 12 home runs were also good for fourth on the season list and also moves her to fourth in the career record book with 26.

Yancey had an on-base percentage of .521 in 2012, second on the single-season list to her .527 percentage last season. She also had a slugging percentage of .743, second to her freshman year percentage of .783.

The Wolves will hit the road Thursday afternoon, headed to Southaven, Miss., for the 2012 Gulf South Conference Touranment. at the Southaven Greenbrook Complex. The Wolves, seeded eighth in this year's tourney, will take on top-seeded Valdosta State on Friday at 11 a.m.

Simple Appliances Could Change the World

Blenders, stockpots and dryers have their separate uses in the home. But would you believe that the future of the environment and foreign oil dependency could be influenced by these simple appliances?

Dr. Ben de Mayo, physics professor at UWG, shows an example of his work with oil sands.

University of West Georgia professor Dr. Ben de Mayo received a patent from Canada for a new oil-acquiring system. He envisions the final product will resemble a blender spanning 60 feet across and standing several stories tall. It will function like a clothes dryer and utilize heat and rapid spinning to separate bitumen, an unrefined crude oil, from oil sands.

Currently bitumen is extracted from the sand through a method that de Mayo deems unclean and inefficient. Imagine a giant stockpot of boiling water. The oil-rich sand is dumped into the pot and then sinks to the bottom while the oil floats to the top.

Afterward, the oil is skimmed from the surface of the water like fat from boiled chicken, leaving behind a toxic broth that is dumped into man-made lakes. These highly polluted ponds have the unfortunate side effect of attracting wildlife.

Softball set for GSC tourney, top-ranked Blazers

Southaven, MS - The 2012 Gulf South Conference softball tournament is here, as the West Georgia Wolves, under the direction of head coach Mandy Harris, enter this year's tourney as the eighth seed. The Wolves will play in the first round on Friday at the Greenbrook Softball Complex against top-ranked Valdosta State.

This will mark the fifth meeting between the two teams this season, with the Blazers taking all four previous contests. Valdosta State enters the tournament with a record of 43-3 overall, going 26-1 in Gulf South Conference play. West Georgia is 14-38 with a 6-22 record in the GSC.

In the games in Carrollton, VSU outscored the Wolves 24-7 en route to a doubleheader sweep. In Valdosta, the Blazers stayed just as hot in the first game, winning 13-0. But in the nightcap, West Georgia pushed the VSU to the hilt, but the Blazers came out of top with a 2-1 victory.

Yancey Earns High Marks
West Georgia sophomore third baseman Nicole Yancey was the lone UWG player selected to the 2012 All-Gulf South Conference team, announced by conference officials earlier this week. Yancey had a fantastic year, leading the Wolves with a .368 batting average and setting the school single season record for walks for the second straight season with 47. She now has 87 total career walks, leaving her 18 shy of the career record.

Sullivan looks to finish on a high note
UWG senior infielder Kaley Sullivan has been on fire of late and raised her batting average to .325 last weekend for the season. She now has a .323 batting average for her career, one of the top averages in school history and she passed a milestone on senior weekend, collecting the 200th hit of her career.

Breakout season at the plate
Sophomore outfielder Imani Cabell had a breakout season this year and comes into the 2012 GSC tournament with a .310 batting average on the season. She is second on the team in home runs with five, is tied for second in doubles with 10 and has one triple on the year.

The Wolves will play at 11 a.m. against Valdosta State and the game will feature live stats. All teams will play two games on the opening day, and West Georgia will either play West Alabama or Delta State in the 1:30 time slot. All times listed onwww.uwgsports.com are EST.

Spring commencement ceremonies set for Saturday

The University of West Georgia's spring commencement ceremonies will be held on Saturday, April 28 at UWG's Coliseum.

There will be two ceremonies, at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The speaker for both will be Hank Huckaby, chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

Huckaby began serving as chancellor in July 2011. His career has focused on a long record of public service to the state of Georgia in many areas of government, including the University System, where he earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He has headed up at various times in his career the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and the Georgia Residential Finance Authority.

Huckaby also served in the Georgia House of Representatives in 2011, prior to taking the helm at the USG, representing Georgia House District 113 as a Republican. His legislative experience also includes a stint as the director of the Georgia State Senate Research Office.

UWG also proudly announces that it will award an honorary doctorate to Bob Stone, a former faculty member who is founder and chairman of Systems and Methods Inc., a data processing firm.

Stone, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology, began his career at Lockheed Aircraft – Georgia Division, followed by stints at Southern Railway and Georgia State University. In 1969, Stone came to West Georgia as an assistant professor of business, where he would become chairman of the computer center committee and director of the business internship program.

In 1971, while still at West Georgia, he founded SMI, a computer service bureau that offered payroll, accounting and consulting servicing. His company automated a food stamp process and donated it to Carroll County. Shortly thereafter, SMI was serving all 159 counties in Georgia. The company would grow to deliver over $1 billion in food stamp services to 15 states. In the 1980s and 1990s, SMI was the largest private issuance provider of food stamps in the nation. SMI has since developed and supported information systems for tracking data for Health and Human Services agencies and processing child support payments and check imaging.

Here are the approved order and times for University of West Georgia Spring Commencement on Saturday:

9:30 a.m.
College of Arts and Humanities
College of Education
School of Nursing

2 p.m.
Richards College of Business
College of Science and Mathematics
College of Social Sciences 

UWG students take NSSA first place

Victoria Martin and Maria Dong of the University of West Georgia took scholarship to a higher level in early April, taking home the top prize for undergraduate research at this year’s National Social Sciences Association Conference in Las Vegas.

Their project was a comparative study on American Pie Pizzeria in Carrollton and Papa John’s Pizza. Their research provided detailed analysis of the data, and provided recommendations to both restaurants as to how better to cater to the student market.

Their study was based on a sample size of 400 respondents. In submitting their report to the NSSA, the two were charged with the task of condensing their 99-page study to 20 pages. After their abstract proposal was accepted, Martin and Dong decided to attend the conference, win or lose.

Their hours of arduous labor paid off as the two were rewarded with the top prize: a $100 award and their paper being invited to be published in the National Social Science Journal.  They were notified of their award during a luncheon on the second day of the conference.

“They were outstanding students in my class last fall, and I believed in their ultimate success when we were working on their research for the course,” said Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna, UWG president and professor of business.

Both Dong and Martin attribute their success to the guidance of Sethna and his challenging yet rewarding course.

Three UWG students awarded scholarships

L-R: Orlando Barnes, Joshua Boatright, Dr. Kathy Moffeit, Brittni Henson

The West Georgia Chapter of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA) recently awarded scholarships to three University of West Georgia accounting students.  Those receiving scholarships are Orlando Barnes of Lithia Springs, Joshua Boatright of Carrollton, and Brittni Henson of Sharpsburg.   Chapter member and UWG Professor Dr. Kathy Moffeit, CPA,  presented the awards at the annual Accounting Club banquet held at the university.  The scholarships are made possible by the GSCPA Educational Foundation and contributions by local CPAs in the west Georgia area.

"The West Georgia Chapter is pleased to support the education of these exceptional students.  They represent the future leadership of the accounting profession," says William Studdard, CPA, chairman of the chapter scholarship committee.

Sock Drive Ends April 27th

 Socks, socks and more socks! Please join the Office of Institutional Diversity and our co-sponsors, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Pan Hellenic Council, and SGA in celebrating Older Americans Month by participating in our annual Sock Drive. Older Americans Month’s (celebrated in May since 1963) 2012 theme is “Never to Old to Play!” Did you know that one in every eight or 13.1% of the population (or 40.4 million in 2010) is an older American (65+)? Or that 485,000 grandparents, aged 65 or older, had the primary responsibility for their grandchildren who live with them? Or that almost half of older women (47%) age 75+ live alone. Our office will be collecting new socks until April 27. Please help us reach our goal of 500 new pairs of socks! Bring all new socks to Room 217 (Row Hall, East Wing) or place them in campus mail. All socks will be donated to local nursing homes in Carroll County during the month of May. If you have any questions, call 9-5400. For additional information on Older Americans Month, visit this website.

Top ten reasons to Live West

1. Live Smart

National studies show that students who live on campus tend to earn better
grades, are more satisfied with their college experience, and are more
likely to graduate than those who live off campus.

2. Live Close

When students live on campus they don't have to waste time sitting in
traffic, searching for parking, or filling up on gas. Facilities such as
Dining Services, the Campus Center, Coliseum, Athletic Complex, and Health
Services are all within walking distance from on-campus housing. Time is
money! Sleep more, drive less.

3. Live Safe

Safety and security are emphasized on-campus. The UWG Police Department and
Housing staff are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

4. Live Cheaper

At first glance it might seem less expensive to live off campus in
Carrollton. But, when you consider all the costs (deposits, rent, food, gas,
electricity, water, phone, cable, Internet, furniture, etc), living off
campus can be very expensive. This does not take into account the time
involved in driving, pumping gas, purchasing food, etc. Is it really worth
all the hassle and disconnection just to save a few dollars?

5. Live Connected

There is a real disconnection for students who live off campus. Campus
housing costs include cable TV and high-speed data connectivity. In
addition, Ingram Library also contains everything you need to get your work
done, including copiers, printers, computers, study labs, etc.

6. Live Supported

Dedicated, professional staff living in the residence halls are specially
trained to help you realize your academic success and personal goals.

7. Live with Community

Living on campus gives students more opportunity to join clubs, go to
activities, meet new people and make friends. It's an experience unlike any
other.

8. Live and Dine West

UWG offers a wide array of dining choices which include Real Food on campus
at the Z-6 all you care to eat buffets, your daily cup of Starbucks, to a
late night Subway sandwich snack. Best of all you don't have to clean up a
messy kitchen or do the dishes!

9. Live How You Choose

UWG has many housing options to choose from to accommodate our student's
varying needs. Live with your friends! Choose your roommate.

10. Live WEST!

Don't just go to school. Experience the whole package of college life by
living on campus. Enjoy your college experience. Make memories, friendships,
and lasting relationships. Why the rush? You have the rest of your life to
live off campus.



Visit http://www.westga.edu/reslife/
today and sign up to LIVE WEST Fall 2012.

Furry friends for finals

The end of the semester can be a stressful time for everyone on campus-
students, faculty and staff.

This is why PREVENT@UWG is helping you to fight stress by bringing a few
furry friends to campus with "Furry Friends For Finals!"

During "Furry Friends For Finals," students, faculty and staff will have
a chance to play with puppies/dogs, provided by the staff of the
Counseling & Career Development Center as a method of alleviating stress
and anxiety.

*Date:* Wednesday, April 25, 2012
*Time:* 11a-1p
*Location:* Outside the UCC

Please come and support and pass on this information to your friends!

-The PREVENT@UWG Team-

Scholarship opportunity

Mr. & Mrs. Jacob McGavock Dickinson Scholarship


Recipient must be a full time student with a 3.0 GPA and possess strong Christian beliefs. The recipient must maintain a 3.0 GPA while enrolled at the University of West Georgia.

Please complete the application and provide 1-2 paragraphs explaining your Christian beliefs. Please return the application to the Enrollment Services Center (first floor of Parker Hall). 

Application can be found at: http://www.westga.edu/esc/index_19816.php

DEADLINE TO APPLY
June 1, 2012

Graduation

The University of West Georgia will hold its spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, April 28 at 9:30 AM and 2 PM in the coliseum on the Carrollton campus. 

The morning ceremony will include graduates from the College of Arts & Humanities, College of Education, and School of Nursing. The afternoon ceremony will consist of graduates from the Richards College of Business, College of Science and Mathematics, and College of Social Sciences.

Jay Ungar & Molly Mason

Jay Ungar and Molly Mason

Playing fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar and piano, Ungar and Mason delight audiences wherever they roam.  Their concerts are often a musical travelogue featuring fiddle music from a variety of traditions including Appalachian, Bluegrass, Cajun, Irish and Scottish Highland.  Ungar and Mason won international acclaim after The Civil War series aired on PBS featuring Jay's haunting composition, Ashokan Farewell.  Ken Burns, the producer, described the husband and wife duo perfectly, "Jay and Molly play music from the heart, which reminds us of the best in all of us."


The duo will perform Thursday, April 26, starting at 7:30 pm in the Townsend Center. Adult tickets are $20; seniors/military $18; children $15. You can order your tickets at www.townsendcenter.org. 


For more information about the performance, contact the Townsend Center at 678-839-4722.


For more information on the duo, visit their site. 

Finals week snacks @ the library

The library will be supporting students as they study and prepare for final exams!  Coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided at the library 8-11pm on Sunday through Thursday, April 22-26.

Sponsors:
Sunday - UWG Housing
Monday - School of Nursing
Tuesday - Student Government Association (SGA)
Wednesday - UWG Online & USG eCore
Thursday - UWG Housing

Honoring a 'giant' in Georgia history: Dedicating Tom Murphy office replica

by Winston Jones/Times-Georgian

(Photo by Cliff Williams/Times-Georgian)

Former governors, legislators, friends and family came to University of West Georgia Thursday afternoon to share remembrances of the late Georgia Speaker of the House Tom Murphy.

The occasion was a 2 p.m. ceremony to officially dedicate a replica of Murphy’s State Capitol office, built at the UWG Irvine S. Ingram Library on the Carrollton campus.

Murphy, who served 29 years as speaker, donated his political papers and office memorabilia to UWG in 2003 when he left office. The university staff sorted through more than 1,500 items to assemble a replica office as part of a major library renovation.

Read more:Times-Georgian - Honoring a giant in Georgia history Dedicating Tom Murphy office replica

The Band Perry performing this Sunday!

The Band Perry will perform live at the University of West Georgia Coliseum on Sunday, April 22 as part of its Purveyors of Performance Tour 2012. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m.

The show will also feature a performance by special guest The Lost Trailers.

The Band Perry is a Grammy-nominated country act — featuring siblings Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry — that saw its debut album go platinum, selling more than one million copies.

The group is best known for its two No. 1 singles, “If I Die Young” and “All Your Life,” as well as the gold-certified “You Lie.” The group is nominated this year for ACM Vocal Group of the year to be announced at the 2012 ACM Awards in Las Vegas on April 1.

Ticket sales begin March 5 for those with a UWG ID, and March 12 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased at the Coliseum box office, the Townsend Center box office, by calling            678-839-4722       or by visiting townsendcenter.org.  

Prices are $10 in advance or $15 on the day of the show for those with a UWG ID, and $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the show for the general public.

All tickets are subject to sales tax.

The Townsend Center and The Coliseum box offices are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Cash, Visa or MasterCard are accepted.

West Fest is tomorrow!

West Fest is an annual Music Festival sponsored by Greenway Medical Technologies and others in the community to raise funds for our local Carroll County Chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Our local chapter here in Carroll County houses more than 100 children daily in after school and summer programs. West Fest will raise money for the Carroll County Boys & Girls Club to support them with needs like transportation, facilities, teachers, technology and a safe and healthy learning environment for kids ages 6 to 18 years of age. The Boys & Girls Clubs teach life applicable skills while having fun and preparing kids for their future!   


For more information, email Danielle Tackett at dtackett@westga.edu. You can also visit the West Fest GA Facebook or the West Fest GA website. 

West Georgia Football Classic announced

(L-R) Allen Lane (Haralson County), Matt Combs (Alexander), Ricky Tolleson (Bremen), Grant Chesnut (Central)

Carrollton, GA - On Saturday, August 25, University Stadium will become the site of the First Annual West Georgia Football Classic, the regular season kickoff of high school football action in the West Georgia area.

The first game of the day will take place at 4 p.m. and will feature Bremen and Alexander in a battle between AA and AAAA opponents. The nightcap will begin at 8 p.m. and features Haralson County against Central.

"We are excited to be able to host this event in University Stadium," said UWG athletic director Daryl Dickey. "We look forward to being able to serve the local community in this way."

The formation of the West Georgia Football Classic was a unified effort among coaches Ricky Tolleson of Bremen, Alan Lane of Haralson County, Grant Chesnut of Central and Matt Combs of Alexander. This group worked diligently to secure the inaugural event.

"This series allows these communities to experience their season opener in a collegiate style atmosphere," UWG Senior Associate Athletic Director Eddie Duffey said. "We couldn't be happier the way this has turned out."

All tickets for the event are general admission and can be purchased from each of the participating schools involved at a cost of $10 per ticket.