Archive for category: Uncategorized

UGA students row for hemophilia research

/by

In June 2016, UGA students and avid rowers Jacob Pope ’17 and Chris Lee ’16 will be rowing 2,400 more, from California to Hawaii, in the Great Pacific Race. The campaign is called Row for Hemophilia and is designed to raise money and awareness for Hemophilia of Georgia (HoG). The UGA Alumni Association invited Jacob to guest blog about his upcoming adventure.

HoG, a local-non-profit pharmacy, exists so people affected by bleeding disorders may live as normally and productively as possible. The only agency of its kind in Georgia, HoG sponsors outreach programs for the bleeding disorder community, such as Camp Wannaklot, leadership opportunities for those interested in community advocacy and legislative issues, as well as social support and services.

Jacob and Chris didn’t pick HoG simply because it was a good cause: they knew if they were going to take on a challenge as great as the Pacific Ocean, that they could also make lasting changes to a community that is close to their hearts. Jacob was born with hemophilia and has firsthand experience with the services HoG provides, like outreach nursing, attending Camp Wannaklot and participating in an exchange program to Germany to learn more about hemophilia across the globe.

L-R: Jacob Pope and Chris Lee 

Row for Hemophilia hopes to raise $125,000 in total, which would be enough to gain access to the safest rowing boats and navigational equipment necessary to make the journey, as well as enough to fully sponsor Camp Wannaklot in 2016 – an impact that would provide more than 100 young children with hemophilia the opportunity to experience a great adventure.

To learn more about Jacob and Chris, the Great Pacific Race and Row for Hemophilia, visit www.rowforhemophilia.com and follow the guys’ story on Facebook.

As always, Row Dawgs!

Welcome back, students!

/by

Today is the first day of the 2015-2016 academic year and the energy is palpable all over Athens! This past week:

–  Hunker Down for Housing moved in thousands of students into UGA residence halls

–  Sorority recruitment took place up and down Milledge Avenue

–  Moving vans were spotted across town as returning students moved into new apartments

–  Construction on downtown additions sped up to completion

–  The Class of 2019 Freshman Welcome took place in Sanford Stadium (more to come on that later)

President Jere W. Morehead (JD ’80) has a special message for the UGA community, including the university’s outstanding alumni and friends who help make all that UGA offers a reality. Check it out:

And don’t forget to follow along with the entire week’s action at welcome.uga.edu – you can even submit your own content using #welcomeUGA!

UGA alumnus honors wife’s memory through lung cancer awareness efforts

/by

Today’s guest blog is brought to you by alumnus Blake Varner (BBA ’06). Since losing his wife, Angela Varner (AB ’07), to lung cancer, Blake has dedicated his time to raising awareness and funds for lung cancer research.

One in 14 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You may be surprised to learn that anyone with lungs, regardless of age or smoking history, can get this disease. I’d have never guessed that my wife, Angela, who I met at UGA, would be one of them.

When Angela was diagnosed with cancer, she was an otherwise healthy 29-year-old and an avid tennis player (she played club tennis at UGA). We had no idea that she was sick until she went through testing after giving birth to our second child. What we originally thought was a bad case of bronchitis turned out to be lung cancer.

After four short months and one heck of a fight, we lost Angela to lung cancer last February.

Significant research advances in the past decade have led to better treatments and more options for patients. The earlier lung cancer is found, the more treatment options exist – and the more likely it is that the disease can be cured.

In honor of Angela, I’ve committed to raising awareness and funds for lung cancer research. One of the ways I’ll do this is by participating in the Atlanta Free to Breathe Run/Walk August 22. Free to Breathe is dedicated to doubling lung cancer survival by 2022.

I encourage the UGA community to get involved with a cause you are passionate about, and if you’re able, please consider supporting Free to Breathe. You can sign up for the Run/Walk event at freetobreathe.org as an individual or start a team. Additionally, come play in a memorial golf tournament for Angela on Friday, September 4, before UGA kicks off its football season. A portion of the proceeds will go to Free to Breathe.

Everyone at UGA is welcome to join my 5K team, Built Ange Tough, or participate in the golf tournament. Registration and additional information regarding the golf tournament can be found here. We’d love to have the Bulldog Nation join us in the fight against lung cancer.

UGA’s Scott Angle selected to lead international agricultural organization

/by

J. Scott Angle, who has served as dean and director of UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for the past decade, has announced that he will step down from his position to lead a global organization that works to alleviate hunger.

As president and CEO of the International Fertilizer Development Center, Angle will oversee an organization that has been active in nearly 100 countries and is focused on increasing food security and agricultural productivity through the development and transfer of effective and environmentally sound crop nutrient technology and agribusiness expertise.

“Over the past decade, Dean Angle has provided outstanding leadership to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,” President Morehead said. “He has been one of the strongest champions of UGA’s land-grant mission, working tirelessly to connect the vast resources of the college to the challenges and opportunities faced by the agriculture industry across the state. We are grateful for his many years of dedicated service and wish him well in this new endeavor.”

Continue reading this story.

© University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602
706-542-2251