Get ready for a summer of color, creativity, and fun! The Hudgens Center’s Summer Art Camp invites kids to dream big, create boldly, and take home artwork they’ll be proud to share.
Art Camp is for Kids (Ages 5–12). Throughout June and July, each week features a brand-new theme packed with hands-on crafts and creative projects, all leading up to our Friday Art Show where campers can showcase their work.
Campers enjoy three engaging classes, Clay, Mixed Media, and Drawing and Painting, led by local instructors, plus a daily Creative Recess and lunch break to recharge, play, and a chance to make new friends. To register, go to this link.
Hajduk is new chairman of SW Gwinnett Chamber
Andrew Hajduk is the new chairman of the board of the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds Bill Diehl of Norcross in the role as chair. Hajduk is founder and president of Vox-pop-uli, a 30-year-old marketing production company based in Peachtree Corners. He is active in the Peachtree Corners Rotary and serves on the Downtown Development Authority for Peachtree Corners. He and his company are active in the efforts to grow Town Center and the Summer Concert Series. He and his wife, Cindy, live in Peachtree Corners with their dogs. Cindy works in the business as well, running the apparel division. They have three adult children: Megan and Daniel, who are both involved in the business, and Steven, who is currently serving in the U.S. Navy and stationed in California.
For many students, math is a puzzle waiting to be solved
For many students, math isn’t just about numbers, it’s a puzzle waiting to be solved. The thrill of finding the right answer, recognizing patterns and making sense of complex problems can turn math into a favorite subject.
For Habib Rahman, a Lawrenceville resident and 2012 graduate of Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), that love of math is something he now shares with his son. “I had amazing professors who really cared about students,” he says.
Although Rahman enjoyed his finance and business courses, it was two classes in U.S. history that left a lasting impression. “They helped me truly understand America after I moved here to be closer to family,” he says.
A native of Bangladesh, Rahman earned his bachelor’s degree in finance in under four years while working full time. Today, he works in financial planning for a pharmaceutical company.
That appreciation for learning, and for math in particular, has been passed down to his son, Ayman, a seventh-grade student at Creekland Middle School. “Math is interesting once you get into it,” Ayman said. “I’d like to be a neurosurgeon someday.” This year marked Ayman’s third time participating in GGC’s Olifer Math Competition, held Saturday on the college’s campus.
For Josie Nunez, a GGC sophomore majoring in biology, volunteering at the event was an easy decision. “I’m a people person, and I love working with kids,” she said. After graduating, she plans to continue her education with the goal of becoming a veterinarian.
Caleb Polk, a freshman from Loganville studying systems and cybersecurity, also saw the competition as an opportunity to give back. “I like seeing younger kids showing an interest in math and maybe a career in IT,” he said. “One thing I tell them is to study hard and review things before class.”
Now in its ninth year, the Olifer Math Competition gives students in grades 1–8 a chance not only to compete, but also to connect with others who share their enthusiasm for math. This year, there were 166 students from around Gwinnett County and the surrounding areas participating. The annual event honors GGC mathematics professor Dr. Andrei Olifer, who founded and organized the competition before his passing in 2019.
Dr. Ekaterina Nathanson, associate professor of mathematics in GGC’s School of Science and Technology, says: “This is for the kids and the community. Parents are always looking for opportunities like this. We want to encourage students to pursue careers in math and science.”
Several math professors were also on hand before and after the competition, demonstrating how math and science play a role in everyday life.
For Habib Rahman, the lesson goes beyond winning. “Win or lose, it’s about taking the initiative and being willing to learn,” he says.
