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Georgia Gwinnett plans first graduation
Saturday, June 28
By
Jennifer Stephens
Special to GwinnettForum.com
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., June 24, 2008 -- Georgia's first new four-year
college in 100 years, Georgia
Gwinnett College, will send off its first-ever graduating class
Saturday, June 28. And, by the looks of their credentials and goals,
the 17 graduates are sure to leave "The Campus of Tomorrow"
and become "Leaders of Tomorrow."
Andrea Ide, a psychology major from Suwanee, will head to Harvard
University where she will pursue the master's of education in human
development and psychology. Andrea may seek further education after
that, but her ultimate dream is to teach at the high school level.
"Hopefully, I can go out and make a name for the college,"
she says. "Someday, I'll be able to take my grand-kids to the
GGC campus and tell them I was one of the very first students to
graduate."
Other GGC graduates will be running businesses, working with at-risk
youth, pursuing careers in corporate finance, and possibly even
working overseas.
Misty Chapman, a psychology major from Lawrenceville, says the
classroom experiences at GGC were much more challenging and rewarding
than she ever expected. "I felt more growth in my first semester
at GGC than in any semester or quarter at any of the other places
I've attended," Misty says. "They strive to help you do
your best, learn the information, and remember it." Misty plans
to enter graduate school, have her own private practice helping
people with severe mental disorders, and possibly teach college
psychology.
Rico Torres, a business major from Grayson, and a driving influence
behind many of the clubs started at GGC, came to the college after
earning an associate's degree from Georgia Perimeter College. "It's
incredibly exciting to know that my peers and I, as a small and
close-knit group, are finally finishing." Rico will pursue
his master's degree while continuing to work as a systems support
specialist at the Publix distribution center, where he has already
applied much of the knowledge he gained at GGC.
The graduating class is comprised of traditional-age students,
as well as non-traditional, like Sharon McGregor, a married mother
of two from Lawrenceville who will graduate with a degree in psychology.
With years of professional experience in IT and corporate personnel,
Sharon was ready for a change. "GGC was really flexible. I
got excellent classes at times that were conducive for me,"
says Sharon. "I don't think I could have done that at another
school. That's why GGC will always have a special place in my heart."
Sharon's coursework at GGC enabled her to intern with an organization
that provided counseling and mentoring services to homeless single
women. "I had never done that sort of volunteering before,
but I found that there is a need for people like me to go into those
situations and help." The experience changed her life, she
says.
Business graduate Daryouch Aziz of Lawrenceville insists GGC has
changed the way he does business. Aziz owns four Subway restaurants
in Gwinnett, Hall, and Forsyth counties, and is preparing to launch
a fifth. His classes at GGC helped him better track his accounting
and financial practices.
"The education has helped me run the businesses more efficiently
and with a real knowledge of what I'm doing," Aziz says. "I
was surprised how available the faculty and staff were. They were
always there to help us and it's something I will never forget.
GGC is working hard to bring leaders to our community and society."
Leaders of tomorrow!
Expensive gasoline brings changes in our driving
habits
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
JUNE 24, 2008 -- Having an appointment downtown, here I was asking
where to park to visit this office. "Best way is to take MARTA,
for there's a stop at our building," the person I was to visit
suggested.
Brack |
That got me to thinking. On most trips to downtown Atlanta, the
places we visit are seldom in a building with a MARTA station. So
we were more than a little intrigued immediately about this possibility,
and started putting the pencil to it.
After all, there was the gas, which I estimated would use about
three gallons for the trip. That's roughly $12 today, plus it'll
cost at least $3-4 to park, so the cost to drive is about $15-16.
We charged that off against the cost for MARTA. It would take me
less than a gallon to get to the MARTA Doraville station, so say
$3. And with the fare at $1.75 each way, that's another $3.50, but
still far less than driving. Hmmm. This sounds like it makes sense.
But how about the time? We figured we would have to allot at least
an hour for a one-way trip, which was a downside, since we could
normally drive in about 30 minutes, and perhaps have to allow 5-10
minutes for parking. So it was 40 minutes against an hour, one way.
For the 11 a.m. meeting, we left at 10 a.m. It took us until 10:22
to get to the Doraville station, and we boarded the train at 10:27.
A minute later, it left the station. As we rode, we figured we had
not allotted enough time for the trip.
At 10:50, we got off at the downtown transfer station, and then
had to take the east-west line one station to our destination. But
there was an eight minute wait for that train (we must just have
missed one). Time we got off at our destination, it was 11:02, and
once we found the office, it was 11:05. We missed being on time
by five minutes.
The return trip took a little less time, about 55 minutes. But
each trip was relatively easy, and of course, far less frustrating
than trying to drive. High price gas can change my driving; how
about yours?
* * * * *
Expensive gasoline has also changed my highway driving habits.
Driving at 60 mph on the interstate (or even back roads with little
traffic) is giving me a minimum of three miles per gallon better
mileage. But there is one problem.
Driving on Interstate 20 recently toward Augusta, on that long,
lonely stretch past Lake Oconee toward Thompson, we were minding
our driving at 60 mph when suddenly we saw in our rear-view mirror
this black sedan approaching at a high rate of speed. Just as we
saw that automobile, it swerved, and passed us.
Had it not swerved, it would have rear-ended us, for that car was
traveling at least at 80 mph, as once it passed, it disappeared
quickly. We say this to point out the dangers of driving at a reduced
speed on the Interstate. Everyone driving fast does not stay in
the left lane, we suddenly found out.
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Wheeler/Kolb
Management Co. The company evolved from the name change of Hudgens
Management Company in November, 1991. Tom Wheeler and Tom Kolb have
been principal owners since 1985. Wheeler/Kolb has offices in Duluth
and has 28 employees. More: www.wheelerkolb.com
Hudgens
Early Education Center picked for stop on tour
The D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Early Education Center on the campus
of Gwinnett Technical College has been selected by the Georgia Partnership
for Excellence in Education (GPEE) as a stop on the 16th Annual
Bus Trip Across Georgia.
The Hudgens Center is one of only 12 schools - at all grade levels
- in the state to be featured and was chosen from a pool of 100.
The bus tour began in 1993 and has been a fixture in state education
circles ever since.
The tour showcases achieving public schools, innovative learning
techniques and shares best practices with educators, business, government
and community leaders from around the state. Schools selected as
stops have a proven track record of academic excellence, educational
innovation and sustained performance.
Body Snatchers first
movie June 28 In Suwanee film series
The 1956 sci-fi classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers will
open the 2008 Movies on Main Street film series on June 28. This
free, outdoor movie will be shown at the Burnette-Rogers Pavilion
in historic Old Town beginning at dusk Saturday, June 28.
Invasion, starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Winter, recounts
the story of a doctor who returns to his hometown only to discover
that insatiable, malevolent beings have taken over the townspeoples'
bodies and souls.
The Movies on Main Street selections are intended for adults and
teens. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic suppers or snacks, and
(non-alcoholic) beverages to the Burnette-Rogers Pavilion. Snacks,
soda, and water will be available on-site.
Other movies featured in this summer's classic sci-fi series include:
- Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love
the Bomb on July 26
- Young Frankenstein and Oedipus Wrecks on August
23.
Quality Growth council
to recognize Tom Cousins with award
The Council for Quality Growth will give its prestigious Four Pillar
Award to Tom Cousins, founder and chairman emeritus of Cousins Properties
Incorporated. The event will take place in the Tom Murphy Ball Room
of the Georgia World Congress Center on October 2, 2008.
Cousins |
The Four Pillar Award is given annually to an individual who has
made significant contributions to the Atlanta region's growth, economic
development and quality of life. The Four Pillars of 'Quality, Responsibility,
Vision and Integrity' are the very principles on which the Council
for Quality Growth was founded.
"The Atlanta skyline would not be the same without Cousins
Properties. Couple that with Tom's humanitarian spirit and he is
the perfect recipient of the Four Pillar Award," states David
Seago, Four Pillar Committee chairman and region manager of Georgia
Power.
Cousins Properties is one of the most respected equity Real Estate
Investment Trusts in the country. Cousins Properties has developed
such Atlanta landmarks as the CNN Center, the Omni Coliseum, 191
Peachtree Tower, Bank of America Plaza, and Wildwood Office Park
in Cobb County. The company donated the land, provided the preliminary
architectural drawings and guaranteed the construction cost for
the first stage of the World Congress Center. Current corporate
projects include office buildings and shopping centers in Atlanta,
Georgia, as well as Alabama, California, Florida, North Carolina,
Texas and Tennessee.
Aside from his business ventures, Mr. Cousins is also known for
his philanthropic endeavors, especially the revitalization of East
Lake. In 1995, the community surrounding East Lake Golf Club had
fallen into disrepair and was ravaged with violence and crime. Tom's
commitment to the redevelopment of East Lake transformed it into
a thriving, mixed-income community with an acclaimed charter school.
The 2007 Four Pillar Award winner was John Williams.
LTTA hands out Golden
Hammers to 20 recipients
The Lawrenceville Tourism and Trade Association (LTTA) has announced
winners of its second annual Golden Hammer Awards. Over 20 projects
by individuals and firms invested $10.6 million in Lawrenceville
in 2007-2008, and were presented with recognition for their achievements
recently.
Golden Hammer Awards recognize individuals or businesses for renovations,
remodeling, and new construction projects in the Lawrenceville area
as well as significant contributions to the promotion and revitalization
of historic downtown Lawrenceville.
The 2008 Golden Hammer Award winners are:
- City of Lawrenceville(Calaboose Alley);
- Cindy & Cindy Sutt (Two Awards, for
Honest Alley Exchange & Garden and Rock Paper Scissors);
- Lee & Meg Earhart (Sparkle!);
- Dorothy Riddle (Hair Riddles);
- Scott McCray and Henry Vara (McCray's
Tavern);
- Morsberger Group (three awards, for McCray's
Tavern, The 200 Crogan House and 162 East Crogan Dance Studio);
- Lawrence Design Group (162 E. Crogan St.,
Suite T);
- Rozalie & Robert Hollis (two awards,
for Pike St. Parking Lot, Landscaping and
Entrance Wall and The Church Stone Wall);
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- Lindsay, Pope, Brayfield & Associates
(LPB Building);
- Professional Equities, Inc. (two awards,
for Clayton Commerce Center and the 485 Perry St. Building);
- Marshall Boutwell (Gwinnett Federal Credit
Union);
- Katie Platt (The Paper Fairy);
- Shannon & Joe Braley (Fleet Feet Sports);
- Redpepper (Main Perry Street office);
- Gwinnett Facilities Management/Parks and
Recreation (Historic Courthouse Lighting and Grounds);
- Eileen and Bob Barrow (The Barrow Group,
LLC);
- Maggie Walls and Stephanie Cushing (Studio
Dance and Fitness/Delphi Dance and Yoga)
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In addition, Georgia Gwinnett College was recognized with an award
for a separate investment of over $60 million.
Gwinnett Tech students
can transfer course work to St. Leo
Gwinnett Technical College and Saint Leo University, which recently
established a presence in Duluth, have signed an agreement which
enables Gwinnett Tech graduates with an associate of applied science
degree to matriculate into Saint Leo's baccalaureate of art and
baccalaureate of science degree programs.
The agreement encompasses four degree programs at Gwinnett Tech,
including the associate of applied science degrees in:
- Criminal Justice;
- Business Management (General Management Concentration);
- Accounting Technology;
- Computer Programming
Sharon Bartels, president of Gwinnett Tech, says: "This partnership
will provide many of our associate degree graduates a seamless transition
into Saint Leo University for those who wish to continue their education.
We're delighted to work with Saint Leo to expand the educational
opportunities in our community and for our students."
Gwinnett Tech graduates with these associate degrees will be able
to enter Saint Leo University, which operates a regional education
office in Gwinnett County, as juniors and begin earning the upper-level
academic credits required for a bachelor's degree. The agreement
also covers a number of general education courses taken by Gwinnett
Tech students in these programs.
Which
Wich? Norcross
The new Which Wich? at the Forum in Norcross is a cute concept
and a fun sandwich shop. For $5, you grab a bag based on the main
ingredient you want (seafood, turkey, etc). Then choose your bread,
cheese, toppings, etc, which you fill out on your bag with your
name, and they make it for you. The service is friendly and they
also have good cookies, etc. The wall is also decorated in a fun
way and provides an original outlet for customer feedback. Website:
www.whichwich.com.
They are located in the Forum at 4880 Peachtree Corners Circle,
Suite 1120C, Norcross.
-- Cindy Evans, Duluth
- An invitation: What
Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have
read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus
what book you plan to read next. --eeb
Historical
Society publishes to tell Georgia information
Publishing has been the Georgia
Historical Society's major avenue of disseminating Georgia's
history. Issued intermittently, the series Collections of the Georgia
Historical Society began publication in 1840, and the 22nd volume
was published in 1996. The society has commissioned and published
books, from William Bacon Stevens's History of Georgia (two vols.,
1847, 1859) to Buddy Sullivan's Georgia: A State History (2003),
with the assistance of various publishing houses.
In 1917 the society began publishing its own journal, the Georgia
Historical Quarterly, which features scholarly articles and book
reviews. An index to the journal (1917-76) was published in 1991.
Though the Quarterly originally contained news on society activities
and information on accessions, those subjects have been covered
since 1972 by the society's newsletter, the GHS Footnotes.
By the 1990s the society also boasted a Web site offering information
on publications, outreach, and events. During the same period a
more traditional brand of dissemination, the historical lecture,
was revived and presented to audiences beyond Savannah by society
representatives in a form of outreach that had been initiated by
William Bacon Stevens in the 1840s.
Over the years the society's partners, who have assisted with various
expenses, have included the Savannah Public Library, Armstrong College
(now Armstrong Atlantic State University), and most notably, the
Georgia State Archives. From 1966 until 1997 the society's library
served as a branch depository of the archives, resulting in considerable
funding assistance. In 1997 this relationship was transformed with
the privatization of the library. Though the library's depository
status continues, funding has been cut in half, and the society
today operates independently of the state.
In 1971 an endowment was established, and two years later a permanent
board, the Georgia Historical Society Endowment Trust, was created
to administer the funds. By spring 2002 the endowment had increased
to $5 million. In 2003 the society began another endowment campaign
involving a $750,000 National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge
Grant.
W. Todd Groce became executive director in 1995. Groce led the
society in raising nearly $13 million for operations and endowment.
Shortly after his appointment, Groce also presented "Initiative
2000," a five-year plan for a redirection of the society. Its
salient feature was the Affiliate Chapter Program, which sought
to enhance further the society's statewide character by adding regional
vice presidents to the board of curators, along with creating a
network open to Georgia's historical and genealogical societies,
museums, foundations, archives, preservation organizations, churches,
and patriotic organizations. In 2006 Groce was named president and
chief executive officer of the society, and affiliate chapters numbered
more than 165.
English essayist lists
three grand essentials to happiness
"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something
to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
-- English Essayist and Politician Joseph Addison (1672-1719),
via Roy McCreary, Dacula.
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
or comments on any issue to Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
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