Nursing students offer message of hope to frontline workers: 鈥楬elp is coming鈥�

Troy Heidesch, director of the Mary Inez Grindle School of Nursing, said 雏鸟视频 is set to triple the number of nursing graduates by the beginning of 2023 from about 50 to 140. He also said it’s important that universities supply more nurses and make them more resilient.

Commissioners dedicate boardroom to Dr. David J. Miller

Miller, who died in May, was a professor of healthcare management at 雏鸟视频 and had served on the Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners since 2017.

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Gainesville teachers taking college courses at 雏鸟视频, UNG to help English-learning students

Through the new partnership, Gainesville City’s K-5 teachers will take three online courses 鈥� applied linguistics, cultural learning for bilingual ESOL, and methods and materials 鈥� at 雏鸟视频. Nearly a third of the district鈥檚 8,000 students are English-learners.

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Fieldpoint Private names directors of commercial banking

Emmitt Smith Jr.鈥�, a 雏鸟视频 MBA graduate, has been appointed to a new director role with Fieldpoint Private, a wealth advisory and private banking boutique serving families and institutions.

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Cincinnati swimming and diving announces 2021-22 coaching staff

Michelle (Billeaud) Hille, WC 鈥�15, was named assistant coach and director of recruiting for the University of Cincinnati’s women’s swim team. Hille earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at 雏鸟视频 and was a nine-time NAIA All-American swimmer for the Golden Tigers.

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Senior starting pitcher Cameron Dillard from Lawrenceville, Georgia, pitched a complete game while the 雏鸟视频 bats pounded out 12 hits to defeat Reinhardt University from Georgia 10-0 in five innings and capture the 2021 Appalachian Athletic Conference championship on Friday, April 30.

雏鸟视频 entered the tournament as the eight seed and went 5-1 en route to the title, including wins over all four of the top-seeded teams.

After Reinhardt survived elimination in the opening game of the championship earlier in the day, 雏鸟视频 started fast in the final game with two runs in the top of the first inning. Senior Faith Grooms opened the game with a double to right-center, then sophomore Morgan Tyler reached on a bunt to put two runners on early. Freshman Abigail Brown grounded out to score Grooms and then freshman Hannah Patridge singled to score Tyler for an early 2-0 lead.

In the top of the second, the Golden Tigers extended the lead to 5-0 as Tyler hit an RBI single to score senior Karly Smith. Brown continued the hit parade with a double down the right field line to score two more runs.

The offensive onslaught continued for 雏鸟视频 in the top of the third inning as the squad posted five more runs to chase Reinhardt starter Whitney Shepherd from the game and extend the lead to 10-0.

Dillard kept complete command during the title game, holding the Reinhardt lineup to only four hits to earn All-Tournament team honors. Dillard’s performance capped off an impressive run as she pitched over 36 innings in the tournament, earning five wins while posting a sterling 2.24 ERA.

The 雏鸟视频 offense backed Dillard throughout the tournament as the team hit .327 during the six-game stretch, including outscoring opponents 37-15.

Grooms earned Most Outstanding Player honors for her play as the senior hit .391 with two home runs with nine RBIs and two stolen bases.

Joining Grooms and Dillard on the All-Tournament team were Tyler and Patridge.

雏鸟视频 now advances to the 40th annual NAIA softball opening round, which will be played from May 17-19.

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The ceremony honors the top scholars of 雏鸟视频 across all disciplines and recognizes the hard work of all students throughout the year.

鈥淚 am so incredibly proud of each and every one of you,鈥� 雏鸟视频 President Anne Skleder said to the students. 鈥淚 know our students at 雏鸟视频 are talented. I knew that when I arrived here two years ago. But now I am positive that our students put in the effort. That is why you made it through the past year. And you didn’t just make it through 鈥� you thrived, and I know you will continue to do so as well.鈥�

Elysa Spinks, freshman English major from Oakwood, Georgia, received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Scholarship, and Sophia Casey, biology major from Flowery Branch, Georgia, was awarded the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award. The awards, each named in honor of husband and wife philanthropists, recognize students who have demonstrated humanitarian efforts and stewardship qualities in their communities.

The Baxter-Bryan Scholarship finalists were presented with their awards, which were previously announced on Tuesday, April 13. The Baxter-Bryan Scholarship is the highest academic honor and covers tuition and room and board to a junior for her senior year. This year鈥檚 recipient was Haley Bartoletta, mass communication major from Jefferson, Georgia. The runner-up and Sidney O. Smith Scholarship winner was Daphne Ramirez, biology major from Covington, Georgia. Provost Scholarships were awarded to the other finalists, including Annabelle Lee, finance major from Suwanee, Georgia; Emily Ashmead, theatre major from Duluth, Georgia; and Rebecca McDaniel, middle grades education major from Leesburg, Georgia.

Mirella Reily, recipient of the Presidential Senior Art Purchase award, congratulated students for their hard work and sacrifices made throughout the year.

鈥淗aving a school year during a pandemic is a truly unique experience that I think none of us thought we would ever have to deal with,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t’s really easy to fixate on the many other struggles we’ve had to deal with this year. But we should not let that keep us from seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. We shouldn’t let us keep us from knowing that all of the hard work that we’ve done is about to pay off, and that we can be satisfied with the many things we’ve accomplished this year. I am so proud of the students and faculty are making it to the end of this exhausting year. We’re almost there. Let’s finish strong.鈥�

The full list of winners can be found .

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The 雏鸟视频 community gathered recently for a series of Diversity Week discussions on topics including class, poverty and perceptions; gender and sexuality; and cultural understanding and environmental justice.

The event, titled 鈥淥pen Spaces: My Voice, Your Voice, Our Voices,鈥� was the first of several events 雏鸟视频鈥檚 Working Group on Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Excellence hopes to hold in its first year.

鈥淚t was a good time to focus the campus community on the ideas around Diversity Week,鈥� said Didi Cassell, coordinator for special projects with the Provost鈥檚 Office and instructor in the Ivester College of Health Sciences. 鈥淭his was kind of the major introduction into all of that. The feedback we received was all really positive, and people enjoyed the conversations we had. I think it also helped that we focused on more than just what people are used to hearing. We made it a little broader to consider the environmental and cultural factors.鈥�

Cassell also helped coordinate between the International Committee and the Working Group on Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Excellence to bring all the ideas together and do all the technical planning.

Madia Cooper-Ashirifi, 雏鸟视频 dance department chair and working group member, co-led the day dedicated to class, poverty and perceptions. She has been working with 雏鸟视频鈥檚 International Committee over the past year to help make the 雏鸟视频 community more aware of what is happening around the world related to race, culture and sexual orientation.

Faculty members involved paired up for discussions each day that included videos and activities for the participants. One activity challenged participants to suggest non-gender-specific names for occupations such as 鈥減ostman,鈥� 鈥渃raftsman鈥� and 鈥渕ailman.鈥�

During the discussion on race, stereotypes and how biases are shaped were shared. Those on the video call learned how poverty, power and environment intersect, along with how clean water and other needs are scarce in countries. On the last day, the discussions focused on what changes have been made in the Gainesville and Hall County communities and how 雏鸟视频 has been encouraging students to be informed leaders to create their own change. Participants also learned about local civil rights and education groundbreaker Beulah Rucker Oliver, who established the Industrial School in Gainesville in the early 1900s.

鈥淭here were a lot of people joining every day,鈥� Cooper-Ashirifi said. 鈥淲e had faculty constantly joining. We thought it was great because I think we faculty don鈥檛 know much about each other and our own experiences besides what we know as a specialty of what the faculty teaches versus who we identify as and who we are personally. I think it opened a lot of people鈥檚 eyes.鈥�

Sage Magness, WC鈥� 07, is part of 雏鸟视频’s Diversity Equity and Inclusive Excellence working group and attended each virtual event during the week. Magness, who lives in Baltimore, Maryland, was glad this event was held and they were able to attend.

鈥淚t is so important to challenge our biases and assumptions and to hear perspectives and experiences different from our own,鈥� Magness said. 鈥湷袷悠� women often hear the phrase 鈥榓s gold refined鈥� to describe them. But I’ve had many conversations with alums recently about the element that refines us: fire. Growth doesn’t happen without discomfort, and if we never listen to other perspectives, we will never truly grow, understand and appreciate everyone’s identities and gifts. Every person at 雏鸟视频 should be seen, acknowledged and celebrated for who they are, and it’s events like Diversity Week that can help shape that understanding.鈥�

Diversity Week was the first event of several that the working group hopes to hold in its first year. In addition, Cooper-Ashirifi, who is also part of the Black Faculty and Staff Association, said that the association wants to partner with the working group in the future to bring more awareness to the 雏鸟视频 community.

Despite having to hold Diversity Week virtually, attendees were able to learn and open up to one another, even after time was up.

鈥淥n Thursday, the last night of the event, there was a group or probably 10 or 12 people who stayed on the meeting after the session ended,鈥� Cassell said. 鈥淚t was mostly faculty and staff, but there was an alum and a student as well. It was just to chit chat and say how much we all enjoyed everything and have some community time. That was a lot of fun, too.鈥�

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The food drive for the Salvation Army collected 10 bins full of canned goods, along with $300 in cash donations. Most of the collected food goes to the local bilingual pantry. Greek Life and the athletics department partnered with The Women鈥檚 College for the effort.

The GOLDen Grams pen pal project workshop resulted in over 150 postcards designed and written by students. Debra Dobkins, dean of The Women鈥檚 College, said the cards will be delivered to The Phoenix at Lake Lanier, a senior living center, where they will be used as therapeutic aids for residents in the memory care unit. For example, she said, Phoenix will throw parties focused on the cards to help seniors recall their days of writing vacation and holiday cards. The Women鈥檚 College intends on expanding the pen pal program as other senior facilities are eager to partner.

鈥淭he therapeutic uses our partners at Phoenix have imagined for our first batch of postcards is inspiring and humbling,鈥� Dobkins said. 鈥淚’d thought we might be sending cheery notes that could be pinned on a bulletin board, but instead they have envisioned many ways in which the cards can be used. It is really exciting that we can bring this sunshine into their lives and serve practical purposes to help improve their functionality.鈥�

Annabelle Lee, a junior finance major in The Women鈥檚 College, said she had a lot of fun making the postcards.

鈥淚 was so impressed with the easy set up, fun options and clear COVID procedures,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 felt very safe while making them. I’m not a very crafty person, but sitting at a round table with some of my friends and enjoying the time seeing other people on campus made it a blast. I loved drawing and writing letters. It was very relaxing before finals week.鈥�

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When Sheena Weghorn, assistant professor of psychology, found out she won the award for Outstanding Part-Time Faculty, she tried her best to fight back tears.

The faculty awards, usually announced during spring commencement, were awarded to four professors during the faculty meeting held Friday, Oct. 9. The Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award is given to two members of the faculty whose teaching and service to the university are exemplary. In addition to a plaque, the award recipients each receive a $500 honorarium.

Weghorn said she was surprised but grateful that her hard work led to this accomplishment.

鈥淚t was wonderful to hear that what I do daily and feel so passionately about is actually making a difference to students and my colleagues,鈥� Weghorn said. 鈥淚 was fighting pretty hard not to cry during receipt of the award, especially when Dr. Eck read a student’s comment about my being the 鈥榖rightest person in any room.鈥欌��

Students described Weghorn as a great professor, fun to be around, influential, selfless, caring and compassionate.

Humnath Panta, professor in the College of Business and Communication, received the other part-time award. Students said Panta was exceptionally knowledgeable, encouraging, understanding, genuine and helpful.

Panta became part-time after leaving 雏鸟视频 last fall as a full-time faculty member and does all he can to help his students. He said he鈥檚 always available to his students, even in the summertime.

鈥淚 could not believe I won it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was so happy. Even though I鈥檓 part-time, I still feel like I鈥檓 part of 雏鸟视频. I always think of 雏鸟视频 as my home.鈥�

Kelley Brock-Simmons, chair of graduate education programs and assistant professor of education, received this year鈥檚 Vulcan Teaching Award. The award is given to a faculty member for outstanding leadership, exceptional commitment to teaching and academic advising and who provides leadership and support in preparing students for their professional lives. Brock-Simmons was selected for this award by faculty and students, and the award includes a plaque along with a $1,000 honorarium.

Brock-Simmons was said to model excellence, empower others and has a heart that lifts up others.

鈥淩eceiving an honor like this is amazing when you work alongside people who inspire you every day,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hen, when I read some of my nominating remarks, it just made the whole experience so rich. Representing the College of Education and serving our students, working with our faculty and also collaborating with 雏鸟视频’s faculty across the campus is the spirit of leadership, and I am thrilled to be named this year’s winner.鈥�

The final award given was the Ann Austin Johnston Outstanding Faculty award, made possible by Donald C. Johnston in honor of his wife and 雏鸟视频 alum, Ann Austin Johnston. This award carries the highest honors, along with a plaque and a $2,500 honorarium. The recipient of this award was Brandi Worsham, associate professor of education.

In order to receive this award, the faculty member must demonstrate excellence in all areas of responsibility including consistency, respect, concern for students and the ability to communicate effectively. Worsham accomplished this by creating an atmosphere conducive to learning, providing constructive feedback, remaining positive and pushing her students to do their best to become better writers and scholars.

鈥淚 was very surprised and delighted to be the recipient of the 2020 Ann Austin Johnston Faculty Award,鈥� Worsham said. 鈥淚 was honored to receive such a prestigious award for teaching, especially knowing that so many of my colleagues are equally deserving. I’ll definitely appreciate and cherish this award throughout my teaching career.鈥�

Provost Jim Eck had high praises for the four award winners.

鈥湷袷悠� celebrates the recognition of these four exemplary faculty members that teach undergraduate and graduate students on-ground and remotely,鈥� he said.

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雏鸟视频 jumped the rankings on each of the lists it was on compared to last year in U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 2021 Best Colleges including The Best Regional Universities South, Best Value Schools, Campus Ethnic Diversity, Social Mobility, Economic Diversity and Best Colleges for Veterans.

Specifically, 雏鸟视频 was top in the state and second in the region in Economic Diversity, as well as tying for first in Georgia in Best Colleges for Veterans. The university also ranked No. 2 in Georgia in Social Mobility and was the top university in the state and tied for sixth overall in Campus Ethnic Diversity. Finally, 雏鸟视频 was ranked the No. 3 Best Regional University and No. 3 Best Value Schools in Georgia.

鈥淲hile the transformative impact of a 雏鸟视频 education is extremely important for our students and their families, it鈥檚 also valuable to have third party external validation that ranks us among our peers,鈥� said 雏鸟视频 President Anne Skleder. 鈥淚 am especially proud of our rankings in Campus Ethnic Diversity, Social Mobility and Economic Diversity. Many 雏鸟视频 students are the first in their families to attend college, and many come from underrepresented groups. We know that a college degree transforms the trajectory of the lives of our graduates and their families, and these rankings attest to our commitment to these students. And as the rankings indicate, a 雏鸟视频 degree also is considered a high value investment.鈥� Skleder added that it鈥檚 many of these same attributes that make a 雏鸟视频 degree so appealing to veterans.

U.S. News uses detailed methodology to create its lists based on years of research, user feedback, literature reviews, data trends and more. There are 17 indicators of academic quality that determine each school鈥檚 overall score within each category, including measures 雏鸟视频 is known to value such as student excellence, small class sizes, reasonable costs and personal attention to individual students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, 雏鸟视频 is on par with some of the nation鈥檚 top universities, including the University of Notre Dame, Cornell University and New York University, to name a few. The university also has a higher percentage of small classes with 84% of its undergraduate classes having fewer than 20 students 鈥� and therefore opportunities for meaningful faculty-student interaction 鈥� which puts 雏鸟视频 above Princeton University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Stanford University and Yale University in individual class size.

鈥淚t has been encouraging to see 雏鸟视频’s steady progression upwards in the U.S. News & World Report ranking from 57 to 36 over the past four years in The Best Regional Universities South,鈥� said 雏鸟视频 Provost Jim Eck. 鈥湷袷悠� is one of the leading comprehensive universities within the region, and now our peers are taking greater recognition of our outstanding academic programs in business and communication, education, fine arts and humanities, and health sciences.鈥�

In addition to 雏鸟视频鈥檚 success on the U.S. News list, the university was named to The Princeton Review鈥檚 鈥淏est in the Southeast鈥� section of its 2021 Best Colleges: Region by Region for the 16th consecutive year. The feature placed 雏鸟视频 in the top 22% of the nation鈥檚 four-year colleges throughout the Southeast, Midwest, Northeast, West and internationally.

The methodology for the rankings includes building scores on a scale from 60-99. 雏鸟视频 excelled due to its high-quality academics with a score of 87. 雏鸟视频鈥檚 professors also received high praise with an interesting rating of 83 and an accessibility score of 80, while student quality of life scored an 83. Factors in these ratings included how many hours students study outside of the classroom, the quality of students the school attracts, how happy students are with their lives outside of the classroom and more.

鈥淚 am delighted, but not surprised, that The Princeton Review recognizes our high-quality academics and that our students rank our faculty accessibility outside of class as high. This is third-party validation of the commitment of our fine 雏鸟视频 faculty to challenge and support each student,鈥� Skleder said.

Robert Franek, The Princeton Review鈥檚 editor-in-chief, noted that the company considered data from its survey of administrators at several hundred colleges in each region, information from staff visits to schools over the years, and the opinions of college counselors and advisors whose perspectives the company solicits.

“We chose 雏鸟视频 and the other outstanding institutions on this list primarily for their academics,” Franek said. “We also consider what students enrolled at the schools reported to us on our student survey about their campus experiences.鈥�

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This year鈥檚 President鈥檚 Summer Arts Series 鈥� Ed Schrader鈥檚 eighth and last as 雏鸟视频 president 鈥� is a retrospective of work by seven artists previously featured in the engaging annual summer exhibition.

鈥淭hese artists were selected for their continued participation in and support of various university events and efforts over the last 14 years,鈥� said Schrader, who developed the series highlighting artists with ties to the university in 2012 and has sponsored it each year since.

鈥淎s this is the last summer art series that I am sponsoring, I am especially gratified that this fine group is participating.鈥�

President鈥檚 Summer Series: A Retrospective runs through July 11 and showcases the work of Judy Black, Christie Gregory, Jane Reynolds Hemmer, John Hemmer, Joyce Hornor, Gregory Johnson and Sara Oakley. An opening reception was held Thursday, June 6, in the Sellars Gallery of the Simmons Visual Arts Center.

鈥淭he series was initiated by Dr. Schrader in 2012 because he had a deep interest in supporting the arts and our local artist community. 雏鸟视频 is lucky to have many talented alumni, faculty, staff and friends to draw from for the series,鈥� said 雏鸟视频鈥檚 Gallery Director Nichole Rawlings. 鈥淭he series has also provided a wonderful way for the Gallery to be connected into the community. We鈥檙e working with local artists and often times the reception brings new people into the gallery who become frequent visitors.鈥�

Black moved to Gainesville, Georgia, nearly five decades ago and is now a resident artist at the Blue Angel Studio. Prior to her career as an artist, Black, from Reading, Pennsylvania, attended nursing school and worked as a flight nurse for the National Guard in hospitals in Pennsylvania, Texas and Georgia. Her paintings were displayed in the governor of Georgia鈥檚 office from 2015-16.

Gregory鈥檚 interest in advertising and design brought her to Atlanta, where she received numerous awards throughout her career as an art director, including nine years as the design director at 雏鸟视频. The Nashville, Tennessee, native began painting full-time in 2016 and has had art exhibited in group shows in Georgia at the Quinlan Arts Center in Gainesville and the Trinity School in Atlanta.
鈥淚 like the variety of artists that participate,鈥� Gregory said. 鈥淲e all have different styles. You have sculptures, abstract and still life, but it all works together. And I like the fact that everyone has a connection to 雏鸟视频.鈥�

Jane Reynolds Hemmer, Gainesville resident, became intrigued by the three-dimensional shape once she began working as a forensic artist where she had to recreate muscle and skin on top of bone. She started exploring the human form in depth as a graduate student in anthropology. Jane has studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design, the Florence Academy of Art in Italy and the Stuart-Parks Forensic Associates in Idaho. She has also traveled to Liberia, where she helped law enforcement with forensic re-creation.

Jane鈥檚 husband, John, is an avid woodworker. Born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and raised in Smyrna, Georgia, he earned a Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia in 1970 and became a certified orthopedic surgeon in 1981. His formal woodturning education began in 1999.

Hornor started her art career as a crafty child in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She began painting when she moved to Gainesville, Georgia, more than 30 years ago and eventually moved to oils. Hornor is active in the community and has participated in the Arts in School program and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for The Arts Council. Some of her work is included in the 雏鸟视频 Permanent Art Collection.

Chicago native Johnson studied at the Art Institute of Chicago when he was younger and was able to go to Bowling Green State University in Ohio and Illinois State University with art scholarships. He also toured major art museums in Europe and the Mediterranean for a summer through an international studies program and graduated from ISU with a Master of Science in Art. Some of his works are in the 雏鸟视频 Permanent Art Collection. He created Lucile, the world鈥檚 largest bronze sculpture of a golden tiger, which is located on 雏鸟视频鈥檚 campus, and a sculpture of Jake, President Schrader鈥檚 dog.

Johnson said he was excited to be asked back to display his art for a second time.

鈥淭he series is a fun time to pool some local talent and see what happens,鈥� he said.

Oakley is the founder of Art Colony Georgia, an organization that provides a group studio for local artists as well as art classes, and is also an instructor for the 雏鸟视频 Learning & Leisure Institute (BULLI). The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native has traveled all over the country and moved to Georgia in 2015 to be closer to her family.

Oakley shares a special connection with one of her fellow art series participants. After Gregory retired from 雏鸟视频, she went over to the Art Colony, where she shared a studio with Oakley. Now Oakley and Gregory are just next door. Oakley said that her favorite part of this year鈥檚 exhibition was seeing Gregory鈥檚 work.

鈥淪he is my hero,鈥� Oakley said of Gregory. 鈥淚 consider her as a person and artist to be a league or two up there.鈥�

The President鈥檚 Summer Art Series is on display in the Simmons Visual Arts Center at 200 Boulevard on 雏鸟视频鈥檚 Gainesville campus. Call 770-534-6263 or visit for more information.

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Awarded annually to incoming freshmen through a rigorous selection process, the scholarship grants full residential tuition. It is renewable each year under the stipulation that the student keeps at least a 3.2 grade-point average and maintains her involvement in the university and community.

Emily Ashmead

Hometown: Flowery Branch, Georgia
Major: Theater
雏鸟视频 clubs and activities: Phi Mu
Her career goals: 鈥淚 want to perform for as long as possible and then hopefully get certified to do hair and makeup on a production crew, or take the GACE and teach theater. I have been involved in theater and chorus for many years, and it is what makes me happy. I couldn鈥檛 imagine studying anything else. 雏鸟视频 has such a high-quality theater program, and I couldn鈥檛 pass up the opportunity to study under such talented people.鈥�
Her inspiration: 鈥淚 look up to my elders who have been successful in the field I want to end up in, like my directors and vocal coaches. They inspire and encourage me to keep trying, even when it may feel like I鈥檝e failed. My family has also been a great support to me. They always believe in my abilities and trust my decisions.鈥�
Favorite part of her 雏鸟视频 experience: 鈥淢y favorite thing about 雏鸟视频 is the sense of community that a student can feel here. It鈥檚 a small campus which helps freshman, like myself, feel more included and at home.鈥�

Haley Bernardo

Hometown: Duluth, Georgia
Major: Pre-nursing
雏鸟视频 clubs and activities: Golden Tigers swim team, Alpha Chi Omega
Her career goals: 鈥淚 find it exhilarating to know that I鈥檒l be making a change in people鈥檚 lives by becoming a nurse. 雏鸟视频 is one of the top nursing schools in the Southeast, so I knew that I had to go to 雏鸟视频 to achieve my career goals and more.鈥�
Her inspiration: 鈥淢y little sister has given me the motivation to become the best role model I can be. My parents encourage my growth and have provided unwavering support. My grandpa encouraged me to pursue my highest calling. My swim coaches have also taught me that I can overcome any obstacle because I鈥檓 stronger than I think I am.鈥�
Favorite part of her 雏鸟视频 experience: 鈥淭he unity on campus is, by far, my favorite aspect of 雏鸟视频. Students and faculty hold different beliefs and values, and we come from all over the world. Yet, at 雏鸟视频, we are a powerful, unifying force 鈥� everyone destined to become the best person they can be.鈥�

Annabelle Lee

Hometown: Suwanee, Georgia
Majors: Special education and business
雏鸟视频 clubs and activities: Golden Tigers competitive cheer
Her career goals: 鈥淢y ultimate goal is to start a company to tutor children with learning disabilities. I want to open a location in Sugar Hill or Suwanee and work after school teaching students who just need a little extra help.鈥�
Her inspiration: 鈥淚 went to a small hybrid school, Artios Academies of Sugar Hill. We met just two days a week, allowing for plenty of time the other weekdays. The teachers had time to meet with us one-on-one and were able to help, specifically, students with learning disabilities. I saw dyslexic students earn As on English finals, students with Asperger’s make friends more easily and feel connected, and ADHD students figure out which study habits work for them. Our public schools don鈥檛 have opportunities like this, so when I saw the need, I wanted to fill it.鈥�
Favorite part of her 雏鸟视频 experience: 鈥淚t was important to me that I go to a school with small class sizes. I love being able to talk to my professors individually and really get to know my classmates. This makes for a supportive campus environment and a connected student body.鈥�

Rachel Hodges

Hometown: Buford, Georgia
Major: Business
雏鸟视频 clubs and activities: Golden Tigers volleyball team, Rotaract Club
Her major: 鈥淚 have had interests in every occupation imaginable, from veterinary medicine to interior design. So I wanted to find a major that may allow me to dive into all of my interests in some way. With a business degree, I could work in a variety of different settings and businesses, opening my eyes to many different business styles and atmospheres.鈥�
Her inspiration: 鈥淢y parents are the most hardworking and loving people that I know, and they have always taught me to strive to be the best I can. My father owns his own business, is dedicated to every task thrown his way, and my mother has taught me to love unconditionally no matter the circumstances. These traits have allowed me to mold my work ethic and my passion into one and be in control of my own future.鈥�
Favorite part of her 雏鸟视频 experience: 鈥淗ow tight-knit the community is. Everyone knows everyone, and it is amazing to know that around every corner there is a friend willing to be there for you and to help you with anything.鈥�

Erin Magner

Hometown: Stone Mountain, Georgia
Majors: Acting and costume design and technology
雏鸟视频 clubs and activities: Gainesville Theatre Alliance
Her career goals: 鈥淚 want to move to Chicago and design and create costumes for upcoming shows that preview there before they are taken to Broadway.鈥�
Her inspiration: 鈥淚鈥檝e always loved the feeling the theater gave me, whether I was on the crew, performing or just sitting in the audience. There鈥檚 something beautiful about a room full of people feeling together. My parents always made sure I was brought up surrounded by art, and that upbringing developed into a dependence on it; I crave connection. It could be to my fellow artists, an audience of people, or even a connection to the past through my research in costume design, I need to be entangled in the web of humanity, of empathy, of life. That is what drives me.鈥�
Favorite part of her 雏鸟视频 experience: 鈥淕enuinely, it is the small class size. I could not imagine walking into a lecture hall with hundreds of students. There鈥檚 something so personal about your professor knowing you by name, which is a small thing, but it matters. I think the relationships I am able to create because of this really allow me to flourish as a student.鈥�

Sarah Owens

Hometown: St. Augustine, Florida
Majors: Dance and pre-occupational therapy
雏鸟视频 clubs and activities: Gainesville Ballet Company, Gather Bible Study and College Republicans
Her career goals: 鈥淢y goal is to help people live healthy and full lives. I love to dance more than I can explain. It is challenging at times, but it has a way of bringing people together and filling the room with joy.鈥�
Her inspiration: 鈥淚 am inspired by Jesus Christ, who was a healer and an artist. He created the masterpiece that we know as creation, and he healed those who were sick spiritually and physically. I want to follow his example and use my art form to heal people.鈥�
Favorite part of her 雏鸟视频 experience: 鈥淢y favorite thing about 雏鸟视频 is that I can pursue my love of dance while gaining the experience that I need to be successful in graduate school. I do not have to sacrifice one thing in order to gain the other.鈥�

Ashley Sciandra

Hometown: Cumming, Georgia
Major: Pre-occupational therapy
雏鸟视频 clubs and activities: Alpha Chi Omega, 雏鸟视频 Occupational Therapy Students Association
Her career goals: 鈥淚 want to become a licensed occupational therapist and work to help people in their everyday lives. My grandma had a stroke a few years ago, and I saw her struggle and wanted to help her. Seeing how it affected her daily life, I realized I wanted to help people in similar situations. This is why I am pursuing a health science major with a concentration in occupational therapy and a minor in gerontology.鈥�
Her inspiration: 鈥淢y inspiration is my mom and dad, who worked their way through college, came from poor families and worked hard to provide for me and my sisters. They inspire me to work as hard as I can and that anything is possible.鈥�
Favorite part of her 雏鸟视频 experience: 鈥淢y favorite thing about 雏鸟视频 is Greek life on campus.鈥�

Michelle Vu

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia
Major: Nursing
雏鸟视频 clubs and activities: Golden Tigers soccer team
Her career goals: 鈥淚 want to become a RN and get my master鈥檚 to become a nurse anesthetist. I love being able to help others, so nursing was the way to go for me. I also wanted to get a master鈥檚 degree, and with nursing, there were so many options to what I could do after I got my BSN.鈥�
Her inspiration: 鈥淢y family is made of refugees and immigrants from Vietnam. They risked their lives to move to a different country with no money and no English-speaking ability to make a new life for the next generations to come. My parents have sacrificed so much of their time and money to make sure that I had the best life that I could have. They made sure I got a good education and are making sure that I continue my education. Their unconditional love for me motivates me to do the best that I can in everything that I do.鈥�
Favorite part of her 雏鸟视频 experience: 鈥淭here is such a tight-knit community here at 雏鸟视频. Everybody looks out for everybody else, and it is such an encouragement, especially during stressful times.鈥�

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Nine 雏鸟视频 swimmers were named 2018 All-Americans and Women鈥檚 Swimming Scholar-Athletes by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics after their team鈥檚 No. 8 overall finish at the 2018 NAIA Swimming and Diving Championships.

Nikoletta Alvanou, a freshman from Thessaloniki, Greece, received All-America honors for the 800 free relay and 400 individual medley; Maggie Davis, freshman from Thomasville, Georgia, was All-American for the 800 free relay, 400 medley relay and 200 fly; Lindsay Dowling, junior from Winston, Georgia, received All-America honors in the 400 medley relay, 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke; Ella Kleinschmidt, senior from Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia, received the honors in the 800 free relay, 400 medley relay and 1650 freestyle; and Yanne Toussaint, sophomore from Varsseveld, The Netherlands, received All-America honors in the 800 free relay and 400 medley relay.

Kleinschmidt was also named a 2017-18 NAIA-Daktronics Women’s Swimming Scholar-Athlete along with four of her teammates: Sarah Frey, senior from Snellville, Georgia; Alisha Hodgetts, senior from Perth, Australia; Devin Horan, junior from Savannah, Georgia; and Emma Jaczko, junior from Peachtree City, Georgia.

In order to be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.5, appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended two full years as a nontransfer or one full year as a transfer.

The NAIA 2018 Swimming and Diving Championships were held March 1-3 in Columbus, Georgia. On the first day of the championship, the Golden Tigers placed two relay teams in the top eight, including the 800 freestyle relay team of Toussaint, Davis, Alvanou and Kleinschmidt and the 400 medley relay team of Toussaint, Davis, Kleinschmidt and Dowling.

On the final day of competition, 雏鸟视频 earned two top-five finishes with several other strong performances to round out a solid meet.

Dowling continued her strong championship with a fifth-place finish in the 200 backstroke on Saturday. It was her second top-five of the weekend after placing second in the 100 backstroke on Friday.

鈥淚 trained a lot harder than last year, so I felt like it went well,鈥� Dowling said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 definitely going to try to win 100 backstroke and place top three in the 200 backstroke next year.鈥�

Alvanou added a strong individual showing Friday, placing sixth in the 400 individual medley.

Kleinschmidt topped off a stellar career with a fifth-place finish in the 1,650 freestyle. The senior also joined teammates Yanne Toussaint, Maria Soledad Morrell Quiroga and Kamryn Carter on the 400 freestyle relay team, which placed 10th overall. Toussaint was 11th in the 200 breaststroke.

Kleinschmidt said it was bittersweet completing her final individual swim as a collegiate athlete.

鈥淚鈥檒l miss literally everything. I think the thing I鈥檒l miss the most is being part of an amazing team. I was able to thrive around amazing people. I got to spend four years as a college swimmer, and I鈥檓 going to miss every aspect of it.鈥�

Fellow senior Hodgetts, a star of the team for four years, was diagnosed with appendicitis and had her appendix removed a week before the last meet of her career. A difficult moment, but Hodgetts said she will always be grateful for the support she found in her team. 鈥淲e get through everything together,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are always there for each other.鈥�

Davis marked the third individual top-10 finish for the Golden Tigers on Saturday as she finished seventh in the 200 butterfly.

鈥淚 was really nervous coming in because I鈥檓 just a freshman and I have never gone to a big meet like this as a college swimmer, but I felt like we really pulled together as a team and we did something really great,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淚 think I did surprise myself, and I鈥檓 really happy with that.鈥�

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The Women鈥檚 Leadership Colloquium on Friday, March 16, hosted by the Women鈥檚 College at 雏鸟视频, brought together Carole Ann Daniel, a family-owned business executive, Deborah Mack, a community activist, Lydia Sartain, a legal leader in the state of Georgia, and Linda Nelson, a president of a $61 billion company to share their stories, advice and insights at the annual event.

鈥淎s I often say to my students, there is nothing more powerful than when a group of women come together over a shared purpose,鈥� said Debra Dobkins, dean of the Women鈥檚 College and emcee for the colloquium.

Dobkins introduced Nelson, UPS president of customer experience, who began her career with the $61 billion company as a part-time package handler in 1986. Nelson addressed the theme of the event, which was 鈥淒efining Moments,鈥� saying she was 鈥渟truck by the simplicity of that theme.鈥�

鈥淚 remember thinking about my life and my career in terms of those moments,鈥� Nelson said. 鈥淭he more I sat and thought about those moments, what occurred to me was that defining moments, for the most part, aren鈥檛 recognizable in the moment. It鈥檚 often only when you look back on events, those seemingly inconsequential moments, that you understand how that moment would shape our present circumstances.鈥�

In her 31 years with UPS, Nelson has served in a number of assignments in human resources and operations. This included key operational assignments in Minnesota, California and Kansas before being promoted to and serving as president in the Ohio, Alabama and Illinois districts. In her current role, Nelson is responsible for leading a corporate team in the creation of a culture at UPS that focuses on improving the overall experience of customers globally.

She shared her highs and lows, including a 2011 breast cancer diagnosis that she was proud to have faced head-on and without fear. But said the most poignant and painful defining moment for her was in 2014, while she was assigned to a UPS facility in Birmingham, Alabama.

A disgruntled former employee entered the facility and shot and killed two men 鈥� both on Nelson鈥檚 team.

鈥淚t was a moment unlike any other I have experienced in my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was both personal and professional, all wrapped up in one horrible event.鈥�

She said nothing in her education, experience or training could have prepared her for that day, which is never far from her thoughts.

Daniel is a 1968 graduate of the 雏鸟视频 Women鈥檚 College and the business development executive of the more than 70-year-old family business, Carroll Daniel Construction Company, based in Gainesville, Georgia. Mack is a well-known activist and servant leader in her native Gainesville and a retiree after 31 years with the Georgia Department of Labor. Sartain, a partner at Stewart, Melvin & Frost, directs the family law practice of the firm. She and Daniel both serve on the 雏鸟视频 Board of Trustees.

Sartain was in 1986 elected the first female and then-youngest solicitor in Georgia for the State Court of Hall County. She subsequently won re-election without opposition and served until then-Gov. Zell Miller selected her as director of the Office of Children and Youth. In 1993, she was appointed district attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit and was re-elected twice. She served as president of the Gainesville-Northeastern Bar Association and was named by Chief Justice Norman Fletcher to the State Bar Disciplinary Committee, where she served two terms. She was in 1999 appointed to serve on the State Board of Public Safety by then-Gov. Roy Barnes.

鈥淥ne of the things I found for women getting into positions of authority, if you were in a position that was not quite as much authority, you were kind of OK,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut as you move into move authoritative areas, it becomes a little more difficult. I noticed a big difference in how I was treated in this male-dominated world as I moved up in it 鈥�. But I could handle it.鈥�

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Proceeds from the race benefit the Wayne W. Dempsey Endowed Scholarship Fund, established to provide assistance for students seeking a better life through a 雏鸟视频 education in the College of Education or the College of Health Sciences.

Dempsey was born and raised in Rome, Georgia, where he met his wife Marsha, and came to 雏鸟视频 in 2005 with the university鈥檚 new president, Ed Schrader. Although he was a science teacher early in his career, Dempsey鈥檚 forte became institutional management, and Schrader credits Dempsey for putting 雏鸟视频鈥檚 financial house in order. As the duo joined 雏鸟视频 shortly before the ensuing economic crisis now known as the Great Recession, Women鈥檚 College enrollment was dropping and Dempsey鈥檚 financial expertise was greatly needed.

His focus on decreased spending, cash flow and a developed endowment formula allowed the Women鈥檚 College enrollment to skyrocket despite the challenging financial times. The financial stability he afforded 雏鸟视频 allowed the university to expand its Augusta and North Atlanta campuses and to open a new campus in Fairburn in 2009. As well as its footprint in Gainesville with 雏鸟视频 East Campus at Featherbone Communiversity and the 雏鸟视频 Downtown Center.

But Dempsey鈥檚 legacy at 雏鸟视频 is greater even than the campuses he left behind. His great love of music and his cheerfulness, even to the end, is remembered. His friends at 雏鸟视频 aspire to honor Dempsey with the annual Dempsey Dash 5K.

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The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges acknowledged that the new program does not require a protracted approval process and can begin operations as planned because it is built around courses that already exist in the BFA curriculum in theater technology and design, as well as in the BFA in fashion design.

Pamela Workman, assistant professor of theater and resident costume designer, said there will also be some new courses added.

鈥淲e鈥檝e opened a computer lab that is solely for fashion and costume students, and the computers have software that is only relevant to pattern making and how to construct costumes through a specific program,鈥� Workman said. 鈥淲e also have a huge scanner and printer in there that we鈥檒l be able to print the patterns off so they are lifesize. We can then use those to build a garment.鈥�

The new design laboratory was made possible by 雏鸟视频 alumna and trustee Antonina Grib Lerch. Lerch is well known for her career in costuming in Hollywood, involving work on TV shows like “Mad Men,” “Dexter” and “True Blood,” as well as movies such as “Night at the Museum II” (2009) and “Star Trek” (2009). During her collegiate years at 雏鸟视频, she worked with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance as a costumer. She often returns to teach master classes in costuming and shares what she has learned with 雏鸟视频 students.

Lerch is not the only notable 雏鸟视频 alumna turned costume designer. Janie Bryant, a 1985 雏鸟视频 Academy graduate who attended the Women鈥檚 College for a year, is an Emmy Award-winning costume designer for the celebrated HBO television series “Deadwood.” She is best known for her highly acclaimed work on “Mad Men,” which led her to design a line of clothing inspired by the series for Banana Republic. She most recently worked on the highly anticipated remake of Stephen King鈥檚 “It.”

Workman said 雏鸟视频 also plans to add a course specifically in costuming for film, given the university鈥檚 proximity to Atlanta, which has become a national hub for the film industry.

鈥淚 like seeing the way the costumes are going to look on the actor,鈥� said Mae Allison, a theater major with an emphasis in musical theater. 鈥淎s an actor myself, I love to see the way a garment has been constructed before I perform in it. Our costumes are honestly amazing. The quality is professional. These are costumes that really stay together and look great on stage.鈥�

Workman agreed, saying 雏鸟视频 has 鈥渙ne of the best-stocked costume shops in Georgia.鈥�

鈥淥ur equipment is modern and up-to-date. We have the latest technology, and now we have the new computer lab with that software,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen my costumers go out into the industry, they are above the bar as far as their skill level.鈥�

Sophomore theater major Alyssa Eblen said her grandmother first taught her to sew, but she has learned advanced techniques in two years at 雏鸟视频.

鈥淚 really like learning learning about the construction,鈥� Eblen said. 鈥淚 always liked to sew when I was a kid, but coming here and learning how to really do it properly is wonderful. My emphasis in my major is directing, which means I need to have a little know-how in everything. And costumes are definitely what I understand best. I think that鈥檚 really going to help me in the long run.鈥�

Workman said her current students in the Gainesville Theatre Alliance 鈥� a collaboration with the University of North Georgia 鈥� have a lot of interest in the new program, including those students currently enrolled at UNG. 鈥淪ome of the courses in this new degree program will also be open to them as current costume students,鈥� she said.

Workman has big hopes for the growth of the new program. Ideally she would like to expand the shop鈥檚 storage on campus, enabling the program to operate a costume rental program.

鈥淲e could rent out to other theater companies and departments, because we do have such great stock here,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ince I arrived and our new costume shop supervisor Aimee Johnson came on board in 2016, our students鈥� skill level has grown greatly and their work is truly credible.鈥�

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