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.
A University of West Georgia student has won a $5,000 scholarship from Arby’s Restaurant Group. Dana Towns, an aspiring journalist, competed against other Arby’s employees in the southeast for the college scholarship.
“This will put me ahead of my bills,” said Towns, who is scheduled to graduate in December. The 22-year-old juggles her studies and her Arby’s job with three others – at UWG’s Center for Student Involvement, UTV 13 and Atlanta Heights Charter School.
“I plan to give some of it to my mother. She’s the reason I am here,” said Towns, who lives across the street from campus and works at the Arby’s in Bremen. “I’ll pay some bills and put the rest in savings.”
For the scholarship, Towns wrote a 1,000-word essay about her goals. She wrote about wanting to be a reporter: when she was younger, she wrote and published the Family Tribune. She filled it with news and tidbits about her relatives for her family’s weekly gatherings.
“Dana is probably one of the most positive people I’ve ever met,” said Erin Mills, who was the general manager of the Bremen Arby’s and encouraged Towns to apply. “Whatever is going on in life, at school or at work, she can still come in to work with a smile. She has been the backbone of the store.
“She has that very rare and special quality – no one is a stranger to Dana. She will always talk to customers and employees, she’s very generous and caring,” said Mills, who is currently an area supervisor for Arby’s.
Towns was surprised with scholarship win during a recent annual meeting in Decatur. There was a festive atmosphere as awards were announced for various stores. But Towns didn’t know she had won the scholarship. She thought she was among the finalists. Mills and her general manager stood next to her as the vice president of operations described the winner.
“He said ‘This young lady joined us in 2009.’ I said, Ok, I’m still in it. Then he said ‘She’s a student at UWG.’ I broke down. I started crying immediately.”
Her mother and sister joined her onstage. “Everybody started cheering. I was crying and crying,” said Towns, who graduated from South Gwinnett High School in Snellville. “I was preparing myself to lose. It was very emotional for me. It was one of my proudest moments.”
The local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution has given the University of West Georgia a $27,000 gift to establish an annual scholarship for history students.
March, the Casimir Pulaski chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution started a scholarship fund. Shortly afterward, the chapter received anonymous donations for the fund, including one for $5,000 and another for $20,000, said George Wheeless, the chapter president.
“We wanted to support the university,” said Wheeless, who earned his master of education and specialist in education degrees at UWG.
“The university has been a great source for speakers,” Wheeless said. “If they have anything to do with American history, they’ve come and spoken to us at least once, if not more.”
The first $1,200 scholarship will be awarded in 2012-13 academic year to an undergraduate or graduate student in history. The student should have a 3.5 GPA. Preference will be given to students whose research focus is American history and who have a demonstrated financial need.
“This will help students for generations to come. We are very grateful to the chapter for facilitating this gift and, obviously, to the anonymous donors,” said Randy Hendricks, the dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.
“But I think it’s also a sign of the good work that our history department has done for decades,” Hendricks said.
Pulaski was a Polish count fighting Russian and Prussian influence in Poland. He fled to Paris where he met Benjamin Franklin and volunteered to fight in the American Revolution. He is considered the “Father of the American Cavalry.” Pulaski was mortally wounded in the Battle of Savannah in October 1779.
The University of West Georgia has received a $25,000 gift to create an endowment for education students and to support the school from a long-time friend.
The Bill Cummings Scholarship establishes $20,000 to provide an annual award to a College of Education undergraduate student who is most deserving as determined by a committee within the college.
Affectionately known as “Goat” on the UWG campus, Cummings is a tireless supporter of the university. He served on the UWG Foundation Board of Trustees from 1982 to 1994 and was instrumental in securing state support for several building projects on campus.
“I am very grateful to Bill and Jenna Lee Cummings for their gift to the University of West Georgia,” said Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna, UWG president and a professor of business administration.
“They have been friends of UWG for many years, and I have much appreciated their personal friendship as well. Their gift will be well used.” Sethna said.
The endowment will award a $500 scholarship for the 2011-2012 academic year and a $1000 scholarship beginning in 2012-2013. It was established in December 2010.
In addition to establishing the scholarship endowment, Cummings and his wife made a $5,000 contribution to support the University Stadium and the Thomas B. Murphy Reading Room.
Cummings retired after a 30-year career as an educator with the Polk School District. He was very active in educator organizations and served twice as the president of the Georgia Association of Educators. He also served in several education leadership positions on the local, state and national levels.
For 26 years, Cummings served in the Georgia House of Representatives, where he represented Polk County and parts of Bartow and Floyd counties. He served in the United States Army in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Cummings was born in Chester, S. C. and raised in Rockmart, Ga. He is married to the former Jenna Lee Wilson, whom he met at West Georgia College. She is also a retired Polk County educator and alumna of West Georgia College. They attend Rockmart Church of Christ.
They have three children, David, Julie, and Tommy, six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Cummings graduated from Rockmart High School and received a junior college degree from West Georgia College. He received an AB degree from Atlanta Christian College. He also received an AB degree from Oglethorpe University. He earned his Masters degree from West Georgia College.
