Bulldogs in Blazers: The History of the Arch Society

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If you have spent a large sum of time at the University of Georgia, you may have asked, “who are those students wearing matching black blazers?”

The Arch Society, one of the most recognizable student organizations on campus, provides service to the university as official hosts and goodwill ambassadors. Whether cheering on the Dawgs from the front row at home football games, checking in distinguished guests at university ceremonies, or giving tours to local elementary schools, members of the Arch Society—affectionately known as POTA, People of the Arch—serve the university in many contexts.

Arch Society students walk in the centennial homecoming parade

Arch Society students walk in the centennial homecoming parade

Founded in 1992 by Tom Cochran, former assistant vice president for finance and administration within the office of the vice president for student affairs, Arch Society comprises thirty-six members who provide “humble service”—a core concept outlined in the organization’s charter—to university partners.

“Humble service is both a core value and the mission of the Arch Society,” states Sarah Burnett, current Arch Society chair and fourth-year student in the College of Public Health. “For Arch Society members, humble service means honoring the opportunity to give back to your community without an expectation of recognition or credit. Whether serving on an assignment, attending our weekly meetings, or cheering the Dawgs on in Sanford Stadium, humble service is the foundation of all that we do.”

Selected for their dedication and servant-leadership approach to service, members are deeply engaged throughout various university departments and organizations aside from their involvement in Arch Society, from Student Government to University Housing to Multicultural Services and Programs. POTA show their commitment to UGA in and out of the blazer through their various passions around campus.

“Arch Society is unique as a student organization on our campus because our members accept and honor their commitment to humble service,” said advisor and UGA Vice President for Student Affairs, Victor K. Wilson (BSW ’82, MED ’87). “The amazing student leaders who serve as a part of the Arch Society always have a strong work ethic, positive mindset, and deep desire to be dedicated to every assignment they serve on. These leaders make me and so many others on campus proud by serving as role models through their stellar service to the UGA community and so many others.”

Along with working a wide range of assignments across departments, Arch Society maintains a strong culture of bonding both within and without. From gathering for annual Arch Society social traditions to welcoming faculty, alumni and student leaders to share a meal at “Archgiving,” Arch Society is committed to its community.

Arch Society students cheer on the Dawgs at Sanford Stadium

Arch Society students cheer on the Dawgs at Sanford Stadium

This tight-knit community comes with a strong foundation: Arch Society alumni who continue to stay engaged with the organization. Among the most engaged former POTA is Kim Metcalf (BSEH ’93, MS ’96). Kim was a charter member of Arch Society, one of the first to wear the blazer, and she remains engaged with the organization and the university as a whole. Kim serves annually on Arch Society’s selection committee, which is composed of outgoing Arch Society students, university faculty, and Arch alumni, all of whom help select new Arch Society classes.

“UGA gave me so much as a student and shaped me into the woman I am today,” Kim explains. “I decided as a student to forever stay involved with UGA and share my time and treasure as possible. I have always stayed connected to Arch Society—I wanted to make sure that all of our students had an amazing experience just like I did. I’ve been so honored to sit on the selection committee to help the organization continue to flourish.”

During Arch Society’s thirty-one years, tradition and values have remained at the forefront of the organization, and humble service is simultaneously the core value of the organization and its most enduring tradition. So, the next time you see the students in the black blazers cheering at the game or handing you a nametag at a reception, be sure to say hi. There are three decades of hospitality in those jackets, and they’d love to prove it to you.

The Jerry Tanner Show – 2022 SEC Championship: LSU

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Brian Kelly turned LSU into SEC West champs in year 1. And I guarantee you that man’s never even had Popeye’s before. Life’s crazy.

Your Georgia Bulldogs have rung the bell all season long, and they’re not slowing down any time soon! Ring the bell alongside your undefeated Dawgs by donating to your favorite school, college, department or campus resource! Give a gift of any amount and receive a spirited, limited-edition sticker sheet as a thank you: give.uga.edu/gloryglory.

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

The Jerry Tanner Show – Week 12, 2022: Georgia Tech

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Want to know why we have to always take Georgia Tech seriously? Find a Bulldog who was in Atlanta in 1999 and say the words “Jasper Sanks.”

Whether you’re a Bulldog in Butte or a Dawg in Dallas, you can show your state pride and Bulldog spirit with UGA state decals. These decals include all 50 states and D.C., so you can show off just how big the Bulldog family is. And when you buy, a portion of your purchase will go on to help students. Get yours today at alumni.uga.edu/statedecals!

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

Don’t you hate missing out?

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Especially when you don’t have to.

This year’s Heritage Society Tailgate (on November 5 prior to the UGA vs. Tennessee game) was a tremendous success. More than 130 spirited Bulldogs braved the drizzly weather to enjoy food, drink and fun with their fellow Heritage Society Members. Check out the photo gallery from this year’s festivities. (And how ’bout that game? Truly a win for the ages! It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog!)

Want to attend the event next year? Simply become a member of the Heritage Society. Learn how you can help ensure UGA’s future, make a positive impact, cement your legacy and maybe even enjoy tax benefits. It’s easier than you might think! Contact the Office of Gift and Estate Planning for more information about joining the Heritage Society. As you can see from the photos, they’re a fun bunch.

CONTACT UGA PLANNED GIVING

 

The Jerry Tanner Show – Week 11, 2022: Kentucky

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Danny Nantahala, coach counselor, can help you rekindle the spark between you and your school. And if not, hey, Arizona State is open.

The postseason is starting to take shape, so it’s time to make sure you know where to go to watch Georgia’s biggest games of the season. Go to alumni.uga.edu/gamewatching to find a UGA Alumni game-watching party near you—the best places to Call The Dawgs outside of Sanford Stadium!

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

UGA seeking nominations for annual Footsteps Award

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The University of Georgia is accepting nominations for its Footsteps Award. This annual award recognizes a UGA graduate each year who is following in the pioneering footsteps of Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Hamilton Holmes and Mary Frances Early.

Members of the UGA community are invited to submit nominations for the Footsteps Award by completing a short form available online at alumni.uga.edu/footstepsnomination. The nomination period ends on Dec. 4, and the recipient will be announced on Jan. 9, the 62nd anniversary of the day Hunter-Gault and Holmes, the first African American students at UGA, enrolled in classes.

The honoree must be a UGA graduate who has made a significant positive impact in human rights, race relations or education in their community. Selected by a committee of UGA faculty, staff and students, the award recipient will be presented with the award during the 2023 Holmes-Hunter Lecture in February.

“This award reflects the pride we have in our alumni who are seeking to improve their communities both personally and professionally,” said Meredith Gurley Johnson, executive director of alumni relations at UGA. “They are an outstanding representation of a University of Georgia education, and the Footsteps Award is just one way for us to honor their tremendous work and commitment.”

In February 2022, the inaugural Footsteps Award was presented to Eugenia Harvey, chief diversity equity and inclusion officer for the WNET Group and a 1982 UGA graduate.

Submit a Nomination

Tasty Tailgating: Amanda Wilbanks’ Sloppy Joe Football Hand Pies

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Up next in our Tasty Tailgating series is Amanda Wilbanks (BBA ’09), founder and owner of Southern Baked Pies. She’s sharing her recipe for Sloppy Joe Football Hand Pies.

“These football hand pies are my favorite thing to make for tailgates! Not only are they delicious and sure to impress, they’re also easy as, you guessed it, pie! Talk about a dream team–the hardy, savory flavor of sloppy joes and flaky, buttery pie crust are a game-winning duo that’ll have everyone asking for the recipe,” says Amanda. “You can also check out the Southern Baked Pie blog for some other great tailgate recipes, including Pimento Cheese Pie Bites and Berry Slab Pie, or grab a copy of my cookbook Celebrating Life with Pie for an entire tailgate menu!”

Sloppy Joe Football Hand Pies

Ingredients

1 pound ground chuck

1 onion, chopped

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

½ cup ketchup

2 recipes Southern Baked Pie Dough (directions below)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the meat and onion in a large skillet. Cook, breaking up meat with a spoon until it is no longer pink and the onions are softened. Drain excess grease from meat. Add the mustard, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Roll out dough into 2 (12-inch) circles. Cut 5 hand-size football shapes out of each circle for a total of 10 footballs. Reroll the scraps if needed to get all the football shapes. Place 5 football shapes on parchment. Spoon Sloppy Joe mix evenly onto each shape. Place remaining 5 football shapes over the mixture and press around the edges to seal closed. Using a sharp knife, cut slits in the top of each football to look like the laces. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

 

Sloppy Joe Football Hand Pies

 

Southern Baked Pie Dough

Ingredients

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon granulated sugar

¼ cup water

Instructions

Makes dough for 1 single-crust 9-inch pie

Cut the butter into small cubes. Combine butter and flour in a mixing bowl. Using a pastry blender, work the butter into the flour. Add the salt and sugar. Continue to work the butter into the flour until the mixture has a consistency of coarse-ground cornmeal. The cubes of butter should now be smaller than the size of a green pea.

Add the water all at once. Continue to work the dough until the dough begins to come together. Form the dough into a ball, wrap with plastic wrap, and press into the shape of a disk. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours to chill.

Remove dough from refrigerator and roll out to desired size on a lightly floured surface.

If you’re looking for more Tasty Tailgating recipes, be sure to check out Ivy Odom’s recipe for Bacon Jam.

 

Bacon Jam

The Jerry Tanner Show – Week 10, 2022: Mississippi State

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MSU’s season: a little good (Arkansas 😄), a little bad (LSU 😩), but definite improvement! (beat Memphis 😐)

We want to know what you’re up to! Keep UGA Alumni updated on the latest with you, and we’ll make sure you’re in the know on everything happening at UGA. Go to alumni.uga.edu/update to fill us in.

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

The Jerry Tanner Show – Week 9, 2022: Tennessee

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The Vols are still figuring out how to be winners. Case in point: the Bama goal post is sitting at the bottom of the Tennessee River.

Whether you’re loading up for the holidays or you want to get yourself something nice, Alumni Night at the Bookstore is the perfect time to grab some new UGA gear. On Friday, November 4 from 5 to 7 PM, UGA alumni receive an additional 10% off on top of their usual 10% off of bookstore purchases. Check alumni.uga.edu/football for more.

Jerry Tanner is everyone you’ve ever met at a UGA tailgate, everyone who’s ever talked about Georgia football by your cubicle, and every message board poster who claims to have a cousin who cut Vince Dooley’s grass. He’s a UGA alumnus, he’s a college football fanatic with a Twitter addiction, and he’s definitely a real person and not a character played by Clarke Schwabe.

UGA career fairs host record number of students, employers

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This story was originally published on UGA Today on Oct. 20, 2022.

The University of Georgia Career Center hosted a record number of students and employers during its annual Fall Career & Internship Fair and Fall Engineering & Computer Science Career & Internship Fair held on Sept. 28 and 29.

Over those two days, 526 employers and more than 3,900 students passed through the doors of The Classic Center in downtown Athens where the events were held. The day after the fairs concluded, more than 60 employers hosted individual interviews with 388 students.

“The increase in attendance by companies this year signals that the appetite for recruiting UGA students has never been greater,” says Scott Williams, executive director of the UGA Career Center. “We’ve seen uncertainty and upheaval in labor markets, and it’s really exciting to help additional employers actively engage our pipeline of well-prepared students.”

A bevy of companies from a wide array of fields attended the events. Among those recruiting during the career fairs were The Home Depot, Google, Deloitte, AT&T, Delta Air Lines, FedEx, General Electric, Peace Corps, Siemens, BMW, Lockheed Martin, and Oracle. They were seeking to fill both full- and part-time positions, as well as internships in a variety of industries.

Successful events like these are one of the ways UGA has achieved a reputation for securing successful futures for its graduates. For the past ten years, over 90% of each year’s graduating class gained employment, entered graduate school or engaged in post-grad internships within six months of graduation. The fields these graduates entered—as reflected in the career fairs’ attending businesses—run the gamut, but engineering and computer science are rapidly growing interests among UGA graduates and students. Growth in those areas figures to continue with the establishment of the UGA School of Computing and the recent completion of the UGA College of Engineering’s renovation of the Driftmier Engineering Center.

“We were also pleased at the impressive number of UGA alumni who were back on campus representing their employer during the fairs,” says Williams.  “They proudly wore their ‘alumni’ ribbon on their nametag and were able to more directly connect with students who may share a major or extracurricular activity with the recruiter.”

To prepare students for the fairs, the Career Center holds Resume Review Days. This year’s four-day event attracted 738 students for individual meetings with a Career Center staff member or volunteer employer representative.

“We knew that such strong student interest in our Resume Review Days was a harbinger for successful career fairs,” says Williams.  “But watching a record number of students walking into the hall, realizing all the opportunities open to them and making personal connections that will improve their future was tremendously fulfilling for our team.”