September 2016

Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars Fall 2016 Welcome Reception

September 13, 2016/by Emily Middleton

The University of Georgia’s newest cohort of Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars was introduced on Wednesday, September 7^th, at an on-campus welcome reception in the Miller Learning Center. These 12 first-year students proudly join 37 current Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars who each receive $5,000 annually in scholarship support from The Coca-Cola Foundation. Funding for this scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years, provided that the student maintains a 2.8 GPA during his or her first year of enrollment and a 3.0 GPA in subsequent years.

2016-2017 First year scholars

The Coca-Cola Foundation has provided $3 million and funded scholarships for 126 students since its inception at UGA in 2007. The program is housed in the Office of the Vice President for Instruction, and scholarship recipients are selected by the Office of Student Financial Aid and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Students selected for this scholarship have already been accepted to UGA and do not apply for the awards.

In addition to providing annual scholarship support to students, the program also connects the newest cohort of scholars with other Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars and to a UGA faculty or staff mentor. A total of 16 mentors are available this year for first-year scholars to choose from as they begin their college career. Many of these mentors were in attendance at the reception on Wednesday evening.

Two Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars, senior marketing major Shanteria Hines (Hinesville, Ga.) and sophomore international affairs major Gina Ford (Loganville, Ga.), provided brief remarks and “words of wisdom” to the newest class of scholars at the event. Ford encouraged students to take advantage of all opportunities and experiences in college, while Hines made a strong case for pushing outside of one’s comfort zone and befriending peers in areas all across campus.

“Being a Coca Cola First Generation Scholar has been a tremendous honor,” said Hines. “I have been able to explore opportunities on campus that I wouldn’t have even known about, like the Student Affairs Academic Advisory Board, thanks to the support and mentorship from this wonderful fellowship. From the fun socials to the informative workshops to an amazing cohort, I can definitely say that being a Coca-Cola First Generation Scholar has been an important and impactful part of my college career.”

All scholars

UGA strives to provide a program environment where Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars will experience support and encouragement in college which paves the way for a successful transition into post-graduate career plans. Previous UGA alumni of the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholars program have utilized their collegiate degrees to pursue careers in areas such as software engineering, research, certified public accounting, editing and blogging, and marketing. Alumni Scholars have also pursued post-graduate studies in law, engineering, international affairs, and clinical social work.

UGA jumps to 18th in U.S. News & World Report ranking

September 13, 2016/by Jamie Lewis

The University of Georgia moved up three spots to No. 18 in the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking of Best Public Universities, released on September 13.

“I am pleased that the University of Georgia continues to be recognized as one of the very best public research universities in the nation,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “I want to thank our outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters for this achievement. UGA’s upward trajectory is a testament-above all else-to their hard work and dedication to excellence.”

Outstanding performance on key measures of student success contributed to the university’s strong position in the national rankings: UGA’s first-year retention rate increased from 94 percent to a record 95 percent during the rating period, and its six-year graduation rate remained at an all-time high of 85 percent.

Increases in student selectivity measures also led to the top 20 ranking. UGA’s acceptance rate decreased from 56 percent to 53 percent during the rating period; the percentage of students in the top 10 percent of their high school class increased from 52 percent to 53 percent, and test scores for the 25th-75th SAT/ACT percentile increased as well.

These measures reflect the continuing rise in the quality of the student body at UGA as well as a steady increase in the number of applications for admission. This fall marked the fourth consecutive year in which the incoming class of first-year students set a record for academic quality, and applications for fall admission reached an all-time high this year at nearly 23,000, surpassing last year’s record total.

“It’s no surprise that demand for a UGA education continues to surge,” said Pamela Whitten, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Our long tradition of excellence and bold new academic initiatives have created an unparalleled learning environment that fosters the highest levels of student success.”

Read the rest of this story.

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UGA Alumni Association

Catching up with D.C. Dawgs president Maeve Szambelan (ABJ ’11)

September 9, 2016/by Kelundra Smith

While Maeve Szambelan (Connolly) was studying telecommunications at UGA, the most valuable lesson she learned was not about writing scripts or editing videos– it was about success. The Sandy Springs native attended Marist High School, and came to UGA with dreams of becoming a broadcast news anchor. But, toward the end of college, she realized that the passion for service that she developed through involvement with her sorority was pulling her in a different direction. Instead of resisting, she followed that urge, and today she works in Washington D.C. helping higher education institutions secure federal funding for scholarships and other initiatives. The lesson she learned– “You’re ultimately in charge of shaping your own future. Be proactive, be determined and get involved.”

Washington D.C. Maeve Connolly (1)

Describe UGA in three words.

Community, football and excellence.

What was your most memorable college experience?

In general, it was the opportunity to be involved in leadership positions. I was president of Phi Mu and president of the Panhellenic Council. My UGA experience was the most memorable four years of my life. My husband also went to Georgia, and when I got married on July 30, we got married in Athens. We wanted to show our family and friends our favorite place.

What are you up to now?

I am the managing director at McAllister & Quinn, a government relations consulting firm in Washington D.C. that helps colleges and universities secure federal funding for a variety of scholarships, research projects and programming. I recently worked with a college to apply for, and secure, a $2 million grant through the Department of Education that will be used to implement a five-year plan to strengthen the institution, with a focus on improving retention of at-risk students.

What is your favorite thing to do in D.C.?

I feel like I should say something related to politics or history, but in my spare time I like to explore new restaurants. New neighborhoods are popping up all over D.C., and Bon Appetit named D.C. “Restaurant City of the Year.” I also love walking past the White House on my way to work everyday, and exploring the city on foot.

How did you get involved with your local chapter?

I started meeting up with other grads to watch football games and then I started asking how I could get involved. I started small with philanthropic events, and then eventually stepped into my current role as president. There are so many grads here that I didn’t know when I went to Georgia.

The D.C. Chapter leadership attended the annual Alumni Leadership Assembly in Athens last spring.

What is your favorite event that you have done with the D.C. chapter?

That’s a hard one. I would probably say an event that we did with the Terry grads called Bowling with Veterans. We did it at the Armed Forces Retirement Home. About 30 people came, and it was really fun. We got to spend time with older veterans. It was a great day, a lot of fun and a nice way to feel like we were making an impact.

What advice would you give to recent graduates?

Everything happens for a reason. Do your best. Show up and try hard. Have a strong work ethic and produce solid work product, and things will happen for you in your career. I didn’t know that I would end up where I am– I showed up as an intern. The grunt work pays off in the end.

40 Under 40 Highlights: Political Figures and Non-Profits

September 8, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today we are highlighting members of Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are political figures or work for non-profits. The members highlighted are Allison Alexander, Andres Villegas, Brendan Buck, Brittany Brown, Christina Swoope, Derick Corbertt, Jehan Zweig, Jennie Blake, Katie Childers, and Meredith Seacrest.

Allison Alexander graduated from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1999 with a degree in broadcast news. Mrs. Alexander now lives in Silver Spring, Maryland and serves as the vice president for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. While the 1996 Olympics were held in Atlanta, some events were held in Athens, Georgia at UGA venues. “I was a flower and medal bearer in the 1996 Olympics for the soccer and rhythmic gymnastics events held in Athens,” said Mrs. Alexander, “I was interning at the County Executive’s office in New Castle County, Delaware, and the local news misreported that I was competing in the Olympics!”

Allison Hoke Alexander

Andres Villegas is the president of the Georgia Forestry Association. Mr. Villegas graduated in 1998 from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Mr. Villegas now lives in Macon, Georgia. After Mr. Villegas graduated, his first job was with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. He led several trade missions with Cuba during his time there. During these missions, Mr. Villegas and nine other people had the opportunity to have dinner with President Castro. “I still have a couple of cigar boxes that he signed,” said Mr. Villegas.

Andres Villegas

Brendan Buck graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2004 with a degree in economics. Mr. Buck now lives and works in Washington, D.C. as the chief communications advisor for the Office of the U.S. Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan. Mr. Buck never imagined he would have a job in politics after graduated; he expected to work in finance. He is also a strong proponent of the oxford comma.

Brendan Buck

Brittany Brown graduated with her first degree in speech communications from UGA in 2007. In 2015, Ms. Brown returned to UGA for her master’s in communication. Ms. Brown now lives in Jacksonville, Florida and works as a combat stress recovery specialist for the Wounded Warrior Project. Did you know Ms. Brown was a Braves girl during her time as undergraduate at UGA? Ms. Brown is also the mother of a Cabbage Patch Kid named Lana and has dabbled in standup comedy.

Brittany Brown

Christina Swoope works in the Office of the President of the United States of America as a Medicare program examiner. Ms. Swoope received her degree from UGA in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. She now lives in Hanover, Maryland. “Even though I was a science major, I chose an undergraduate institution based on the band. Words cannot express how excited I was that UGA also had my major,” Said Ms. Swoope.

Christina Swoope

Derick Corbett graduated for a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2000. Mr. Corbett lives in Atlanta and works as the Chief of Staff for the Office of U.S. Congressman Rob Woodall. Mr. Corbett has a secret fear of flying, even though his job requires multiple weekly flights. “It’s ironic that I chose a profession that requires weekly plane rides,” said Mr. Corbett.

Derrick Corbett

Jenah Zweig received her law degree from UGA in 2011. Ms. Zweig lies in Washington, D.C. and serves as the supervisor of policy and technical assistance for the U.S. Department of Energy. “At 12-years-old, I made more than $12,000 buying and selling Beanie Babies. This profit was invested, and helped to fund my UGA Law education,” said Ms. Zweig, “I am the first woman in my family to graduate from a four-year university and the first person in my family to attend graduate school.”

Jennifer “Jenah” Zweig

Jennie Blake began her education at UGA with a bachelor’s degree in social work and graduated in 1999. Ms. Blake continued her education at Georgia State in pursuing a master’s degree in social work. Ms. Blake now lives and works in Atlanta, where she is the director for the Cox Foundation. Her fun fact? Ms. Blake has met and had a conversation with the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. Sarah Ferguson was the ground breaking ceremony for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, where Ms. Blake was attending as a guest of the Ronald McDonald House, one of her clients.

Jennie Blake

Katie Childers graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the Terry College of Business in 2007. Ms. Childers lives in Atlanta and works as the deputy chief of staff of policy for the State of Georgia Governor’s Office. “My interest in healthcare started when I would spend the night at Athens Regional with my mom while she was on call. I grew up at the nurses’ station on Labor and Delivery, and became fascinated with the healthcare delivery system,” said Ms. Childers, “I knew from an early age that I wanted to be deeply involved in how the healthcare system as a whole functioned.”

Katie Childers

Meredith Seacrest lives in West Hollywood, California and is the executive director and COO of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. Ms. Seacrest graduated from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. Ms. Seacrest has traveled to 25 different countries and is always wanting to learn more about the world. “I believe some of the best self-growth and insight can be achieved from traveling, “said Ms. Seacrest.

Meredith Seacrest

Meet the rest of this year’s 40 Under 40 class at alumni.uga.edu/40u40.

40 Under 40 Highlights: Agriculture

September 7, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today, we are highlighting members of Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are work in field of agricultire. The members highlighted are Adam Miller, Amanda Lang, Elliot Marsh, and Will Witherspoon.

Adam Miller graduated from the College of Environment and Design with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture in 2005. Mr. Miller lives in Chicago and is the design principal of Chicago Roof Deck and Garden. As a young adult, Mr. Miller has had almost every job imaginable. “The list includes: Mailboxes etc, Taco Bell, Abercrombie, a plant nursery, J.Crew, phone book delivery, waiter, busboy, host, and disher,” said Mr. Miller.

Adam Miller

Amanda Lang received her undergraduate degree in 2005 from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and her master’s degree in forestry resources in 2008. She lives in Bishop, Georgia and is a partner and senior consultant at Forisk Consulting. At home, Mrs. Lang and her husband recently started raising chickens. At their house, they have one hen and one rooster. The couple looks forward to raising baby chicks in the future.

Amanda Lang

Elliot Marsh received both his master’s degree and his bachelor’s degree from UGA. Mr. Marsh graduated in 2002 with his first degree in agricultural economics and then returned in 2011 for his master’s in agricultural leadership. Mr. Marsh lives in Statesboro, Georgia and is the precision ag coordinator for the Southern States Cooperative. Mr. Marsh does not know if he has a fact people do not already know about him. “I’ve found that as I got older and grew in my leadership opportunities that I needed to discuss things and situations with others both good and bad. I found it as a way to relate and could often help in situations that others may not be as comfortable to discuss things,” said Mr. Marsh.

Elliot Marsh

Will Witherspoon graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in housing form the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Mr. Witherspoon is the owner of Shire Gate Farm in Chesterfield, Missouri. While running a sustainable cattle ranch, Mr. Witherspoon said that his closet hobby is making music. Before owning his farm, Mr. Witherspoon was a linebacker for the NFL.

Will Witherspoon

Meet the rest of this year’s 40 Under 40 class at alumni.uga.edu/40u40.

40 Under 40 Highlights: Public Figures and Technology

September 6, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today we are highlighting members of Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are notable public figures or work in technology. The members highlighted are Benjamin Watson, Dave Haywood, Julie Smith. Lauren Pittenger, Mandy Edwards, Thomas Davis, and Travis Johnson.

Benjamin Watson is from Metairie, Louisiana and now lives in Baltimore. Mr. Watson graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2003 with a degree in finance. Today, Mr. Watson plays tight-end for the Baltimore Ravens. Some fun facts about Mr. Watson? He is the oldest of six, soccer is his favorite sport and he loves to write.

Benjamin Watson

Dave Haywood graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in management information systems. Mr. Haywood lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is a singer/song writer with the country group Lady Antebellum. “Most people don’t know that my father, Dr. Van B. Haywood (BS ’71), helped invent teeth whitening,” said Mr. Haywood, “Or what I look like without a beard.”

Dave Haywood

Julie Smith serves as the vice president of external affairs for Verizon in Atlanta. Ms. Smith graduated from UGA in 2000 with a degree in political science. Ms. Smith is a stickler about returning her shopping cart. ““I always put shopping carts back where they belong, I even push mine together with the rest making it easier for the next person to grab it or for the employee to push them back inside,” said Ms. Smith, “No one is ever around when I do this, but I just view it as the right thing to do. My philosophy is character is who you really are when no one is looking.”

Julie Smith

Lauren Pittenger currently has four degrees from UGA. She started with a bachelor’s in ecology in 2001. Dr. Pittenger continued her education by pursuing a master’s in veterinary medicine in 2003, followed by a doctorate in food science in 2007. Dr. Pittenger returned to UGA in 2008 to pursue her MBA from the Terry College of Business. Dr. Pittenger now lives in Atlanta and is a senior associate with Booz Allen Hamilton. Dr. Pittenger is passionate about raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “I have led my corporate team in raising nearly $60K for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society over the last five years,” said Dr. Pittenger.

Lauren Pittenger

Mandy Edwards lives in Statesboro, Georgia and is the owner and founder of ME Marketing Services. She graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2001 with a degree in marketing. Ms. Edwards is a fan of ESPN’s College Game Day and has even made it on camera four times, most recently in 2013 on Myers Quad for the LSU v UGA game.

Mandy Edwards

Thomas Davis graduated in 2011 from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in consumer economics. Mr. Davis is a NFL linebacker for the Carolina Panthers. Mr. Davis’ guilty addiction is watching Pawn Stars and Storage Wars. If Mr. Davis wasn’t playing for the Carolina Panthers, he might have been a truck driver, even after receiving his degree in consumer economics. “It would be fun to be on the road and meet new people all over,” said Mr. Davis.

Thomas Davis

Travis Johnson received his degree in economics in 2011 from UGA. He now lives in Atlanta and is the assistant commissioner for external affairs and facilities for the Technical College System of Georgia. Mr. Johnson does not use any social media outlets. “I feel as though the interpersonal element, and the ability to connect with others one-on-one, has been eroded by the growing presence of social media,” said Mr. Johnson. “True relationships are best measured by personal interaction, not web-based.”

Travis Johnson

Meet the rest of this year’s 40 Under 40 class at alumni.uga.edu/40u40.

40 Under 40 Highlights: Real Estate

September 5, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today we are highlighting members of Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are involved with real estate. The members highlighted are Chase Lawrence, Kevin Aycock, Lana Chumachenko, Ryan Irvine, and Wes Rogers.

Chase Lawrence graduated from the College of Family and Consumer Science in 2005 with a degree in housing. Mr. Lawrence lives in Athens, Georgia and is the founder and principle of College Town Properties, LLC. Mr. Lawrence says he is always looking to the next endeavor and challenge. “I think it’s important to recognize that life is precious, and that you have to truly enjoy the time you have, rather than being so focused on particular goals,” said Mr. Lawrence.

Chase Lawrence

Kevin Aycock lives in Atlanta and is the president of Kevin Aycock Homes. Mr. Aycock graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and then returned to UGA for his master’s MBA in 2015. Did you know Mr. Aycock used to be a competitive boxer? “I was the 2012 Golden Glove Heavy Weight Champion of Georgia. I won at the age of 34 which is the oldest you can be to compete in the regular division,” said Mr. Aycock, “I have retired from competitive boxing but still very much enjoy the sport.”

Kevin Aycock

Lana Chumachenko graduated from UGA in 2006 with a degree in business. Mrs. Chumachenko is a senior real estate representative for Chick-fil-a and currently lives in Grayson, Georgia. Mrs. Chumachenko is originally from Moldova, one of the poorest Eastern European countries. “During our first year in the United States, we ate at the soup kitchen due to the lack of funds for the family of five,” said Mrs. Chumachenko, “Today, I mentor four business owners overseas in Kiev, Ukraine and Minsk, Belarus. I have come full circle and it feels great to serve others!”

Svetlana Chumachenko

Ryan Irvine graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2004 with a degree in finance. Mr. Irvine is senior vice president of CBRE. Mr. Irvine has lived in Atlanta for 23 years now, but does not see himself leaving any time soon. During his childhood, he moved five times in the first eleven years of his life. “The longest I’ve ever lived in one place was my family’s first home that I purchased right after graduation,” said Mr. Irvine.

Ryan Irvine

Wes Rogers graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2005 and then returned to UGA for his master’s in 2004. Mr. Rogers lives in Athens, Georgia and is the president and CEO of Landmark Properties. Mr. Rogers was born and raised in Athens, Georgia and has never left. “Most people probably don’t realize that I have lived all but about four years of my life in Athens—- with almost all of it within a one mile radius,” said Mr. Rogers, “As we grew Landmark, I often feared we might need to relocate the business to attract the talent we would need to successfully grow the company, but that has fortunately not been the case.”

Wes Rogers

Class of 2016 40 Under 40 Highlights: Medical

September 2, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today we are highlighting members of Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are involved with the medical field. The members highlighted are Erica Parks, Hammad Aslam, Lance Boles, Mark Schaeffer, Sarah Smith, Stephan Schaefbauer, Steve Herndon, and Thai-An Nguyen.

Erica Parks graduated from the College of Public Health in 2011 with a Master’s in public health. Ms. Parks now lives in Elgin, South Carolina and is a health promotion officer and ORISE fellow for the United States Army Training Center at Fort Jackson. In 2003, Ms. Parks was deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan. “I was responsible for supervising soldiers and distributing medical supplies to over 61 units,” said Ms. Parks, “Following my outstanding performance overseas, I received the Army Commendation Medal and the Overseas Service Bar.”

Erica Parks

Hammad Aslam graduated in 2008 from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry then continued his education at Augusta University. In 2014, Mr. Aslam graduate from Augusta University with his Doctor of Medicine degree. Mr. Aslam now works as a doctor at the University of Alabama Birmingham hospital. While in college, Mr. Aslam started breakdancing. While he admits he was never very good, Mr. Aslam still occasionally dreams about breakdancing and walking on his hands while he sleeps.

Hammad Aslam

Lance Boles graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in pharmacy in 1999 then completed his master’s degree in business administration in 2003. Mr. Boles now lives in Hartwell, Georgia. Mr. Boles is the owner of Independent Pharmacy Stores in Hartwell, Georgia and Hartwell, South Carolina. A little unknown fact about Mr. Boles is he completed all thirteen years of schooling, prior to college, with perfect attendance. Mr. Boles attributes his perfect attendance, “to both the values of dependability and accountability instilled in me during my childhood and youth by my parents– and the blessing of good health.”

Lance Boles

Mark Schaeffer graduated from UGA in 2006 with a degree in marketing from the Terry College of Business. Mr. Schaeffer now lives in Birmingham, Alabama, where he is an optometrist at Schaeffer Eye Center. While his singing voice might be less than impressive, Mr. Schaffaer has a hidden passion for karaoke. “I thoroughly enjoy the excitement and entertainment that comes with it,” said Mr. Schaeffer.

Mark Schaeffer

Sarah Smith came to UGA to continue her education and earn her Masters of Public Administration in 2001. Ms. Smith lives in Atlanta and is a management officer for the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While Ms. Smith now works in public health, she almost became a vet student at UGA due to her love and passion for animals.

Sarah Smith

Stephan Schaefbauer began her education at Claflin College with a Bachelor’s of Science degree. Mrs. Schaefbauer then came to UGA to study veterinary medicine and graduated in 2006. Mrs. Schaefbauer now lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where she works as an epidemiology officer for the United Sates Department of Agriculture in Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Did you know that Mrs. Schaefbauer is a first degree black belt? She began training in 2010 then had a son in 2012. After a six-month break, Mrs. Schaefbauer returned to her training and received her black belt.

Stephan Schaefbauer

Steve Herndon graduated from the College of Education in 1999. He now lives in Alpharetta, Georgia and is the president of Safety Net Recovery. “Most people are unaware that I have a seat on the Board of Directors at the University of Georgia’s Fontaine Center, said Mr. Herndon, “Our goal is to promote an environment that supports responsible decision-making regarding alcohol and other drug use, on campus and in the community, and to create a center for alcohol awareness and education. I am honored to make a difference at my alma mater.”

Steven Herndon

Thai-An Nguyen currently lives and works in Atlanta, where she is an epidemiologist for the Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch inside of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ms. Nguyen graduated from UGA with a Bachelor of Science in microbiology. Ms. Nguyen is also a trained marksman in shooting rifles and pistols. She learned this skill from a former Russian Olympian as an exchange student in Russia. “We would set up targets in their apartment hallway,” said Ms. Nguyen.

Thai-an Nguyen

Archive for month: September, 2016