engage magazine print fall 2015 proof

Office of Public Relations1000 University Center LaneLawrenceville, Georgia 30043

Georgia Gwinnett College is an accredited access institution offering targeted baccalaureate degrees meeting the economic development needs of the growing and diverse population of Gwinnett County and the northeast Atlanta metropolitan region. Visit www.ggc.edu.

Connect with us

GGC honored as gold-level Champions of Character

www.grizzlyathletics.comCongratulations Grizzlies!

The NAIA recently named Georgia Gwinnett Col-lege a gold-level Champions of Character Five-Star Institution. GGC earned silver level last year.

“I love national championship trophies, but that isn’t all that we’re about at GGC,” said Dr. Darin Wilson, director of Athletics. “Our office maintains a laser-like focus on our mission of

developing lifelong leaders of character through academic and athletic excellence.”

Athletically, both tennis teams have combined for three national championships over the past two seasons, and the baseball, softball and men’s soccer teams have each claimed conference titles and berths into their NAIA

national tournaments. Academically, nearly half of GGC’s student-athletes earned a spot on the Director of Athletics Honor Roll in 2014-15, which requires a grade point average greater than 3.0. In the community, the Grizzlies sup-port Special Olympics Georgia and Eagle Ranch in Flowery Branch.

Volume 2, Issue 3

Fall 2015

Gutierrez’sWhite house experience inspires future students Page 4

Founders Celebration

E D I T I O N

engage.ggc.edu i 1

contents

FALL 2 015

P r e s i d e n t ’ s m e s s A g e .............................................................. 2

c o L L e g e n e w sNotables ....................................................................................................... 3Gutierrez shares his White House experience with future students................ 4GGC begins major expansion of Building C ................................................ 8GGC featured in Junior Achievement BizTown ............................................ 9

GGC10: A TIME TO REFLECT AND CELEBRATE

•��Convocation�features�special�presentations ................................. 6

•��The�Georgia�Gwinnett�College�Mace .............................................. 7

•��Founders�Celebration�honors�GGC’s�many�supporters ........... 10

A d vA n c i n g g g cAlumni have more opportunities to connect with GGC .............................18Tom and Ethel Andersen: Encouraging a legacy of community service .......20

t h e g A L L e r y ...................................................................................... 21

B A c k c o v e rGGC honored as gold-level Champions of Character

On the cover: Jose Gutierrez, ’15, psychology, is shown with the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool in the nation’s capital. Gutierrez spent the 2015 spring semester as a White House intern.

It is said, “Build it and they will come.”�After decades of advocating for a four-year college in Gwinnett, local community leaders, elected officials and the University System of Georgia established Georgia Gwinnett College – and students came by the thousands. Today, only 10 years since its founding, the GGC campus bustles with 12,000 students and more than 1,000 faculty and staff members. Enrollment is expected to reach more than 13,000 next year. Here, students are hard at work in the Library and Learning Center’s Information Commons, while others are seen outside on the pedestrian-friendly campus.

Volume 2, Issue 3

Visit engage.ggc.edu to see the new ThIs Is GGC video.

Dr. Linda Mancillas, assistant professor of political science, is chair of the American Political Science Association’s Committee on the Status of Latinos and Latinas in the Profession.

Rigoberto Rivera, ’14, political science, is the high school program manager for the Latin American Association.

Jenny Storey, executive assistant to the senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs and provost, serves on the Inaugural Board of the Provost Assistant in Higher Education National Association.

Angela Burrow, ’14, biology, was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, which will fund three years of graduate study at the University of Georgia in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. She was a 2014 Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Scholarship recipient.

Dr. Mei Miranda Zhang, professor of finance and economics, received the GGC Outstanding Teaching Award.

The GGC Technology Ambassadors Program was honored as the “Best Student Leadership Corps” among 50

participating campuses in the National Science Foundation-funded STARS Alliance.

Santessa Young, ’17, political science, was accepted into the Law School Admission Council’s DiscoverLaw.org summer PLUS Program at the University of Arkansas.

President’s Message

WE ARE Gratefulto those who have made GGC possible

Dr. Stas Preczewski

The Georgia Gwinnett College Magazine

We Value Your InputSend your ideas and comments on Engage to [email protected] or call 678.407.5549.

ProductionEditor in chief: Sally RameyPhotography: Rod Reilly, Victoria Thompson, Jennifer Stalcup, Jason BravermanArt direction: Mark BaranGraphic design: Libby LeBlancWriting: Sally Ramey, Sloan Jones, Clay TrainumEngage Online team: Rycca Blanton, Educational Technology Server Team, Valarie Reeves, Dan Cassavaugh, Hoang Huynh, Laurie Hudson, Sydney SmithOther support: Dawn Gadar, Barbara Lund

LeadershipRenée Byrd-Lewis, vice president of Strategic Communications and Positioning Dr. Jennifer Stephens, associate vice president of Public AffairsSloan Jones, director of Public Relations

Mailing ListTo be added to, or removed from, the Engage mailing list, contact [email protected] or call 678.407.5549.

Georgia Gwinnett College1000 University Center LaneLawrenceville, GA 30043678.407.5000www.ggc.edu

Georgia Gwinnett College is an accredited, four-year, degree-granting unit of the University System of Georgia.

engage.ggc.edu i 3

Notables

See more Notables at engage.ggc.edu

There was a time when Georgia

Gwinnett College wasn’t part of

this thriving community. For more

than 20 years, local leaders

advocated for a college in Gwinnett County. Their determined

efforts resulted in the 2005 founding of Georgia’s first four-year,

public college in more than 100 years.

Over the last decade, we shoveled dirt, leased cranes, cut

ribbons, welcomed new students, started traditions, cheered

graduates and enhanced our community with more than

$1 billion in economic impact.

With the support of the Gwinnett community, the University

System of Georgia and our state legislators, we built a modern,

full-service campus. More importantly, we created a unique

learning environment that welcomes all students

regardless of academic

preparation, work schedule, learning style or financial barrier.

We made college possible for students who need just a little extra

guidance to succeed, providing tools allowing them to reach their

full potential.

Today, GGC serves nearly 12,000 students – almost half the

first generation of their families to go to college. Retention rates

of nearly 70 percent make GGC a strong contributor to Governor

Nathan Deal’s Complete College Georgia initiative, and a

stand-out among access institutions. Our Advising Center

proactively targets students at the highest risk of dropping out,

and has retained them at an astounding 87 percent.

Why is retention important? Because going to college does

very little for the student or for the community. Graduating from

college is what makes the difference – in income, employability

and raising the standard of living. Student support,

mentorship and engagement are critical to retention

and that is why they are core to our mission and vision,

and why we do college differently here. And it works.

Gwinnett County is not your typical community,

and GGC is not your typical college. It was designed

to be different. To be a game-changer. To challenge

the conventions of higher education. In only 10 years,

we’ve done it – successfully – and it’s all because of

those community and state visionaries who continue

to make what we do at GGC possible.

However, we cannot rest on our laurels. And

though there may be challenges ahead, we pledge

to ensure the GGC model is recognized as “best

in class” and as a truly transformative model for

American higher education … to fully realize the

opportunity GGC holds for the future of higher

education in Gwinnett, in Georgia and beyond …

and to fulfill the amazing dream – the

community’s amazing dream – that is Georgia

Gwinnett College.

Stas Preczewski

Clockwise from top: Jackson Fleuranvil, ’16; General; Erin Lucier, ’17, and Esteban Gonzalez, ’16, celebrate GGC’s 10th anniversary. All three students are business majors.

2 i Georg ia Gwinnet t Co l lege

For the second year, Georgia Gwinnett College is the most ethnically diverse Southern regional college, both public and private, per U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 college rankings.

The oldest of four children, Jose Gutierrez is the first member

of his family to graduate from college. He chose GGC to be close

to his family. He majored in psychology, was active in the Honors

Program and tutored fifth graders in English, math, science and

social studies. He also found time to pursue two of his hobbies,

hiking and photography.

In late spring of 2014, Dr. C. Douglas Johnson, GGC professor

of leadership and management, suggested that Gutierrez apply

for a White House internship. Gutierrez didn’t take the idea

seriously at first because he was not a political science major.

However, he visited relatives in a small Mexican town that

summer and after realizing how few opportunities young people

had there, he changed his mind.

“I realized that this was a great opportunity, and that I

should take it,” Gutierrez said. Johnson, along with Dr.

Catherine Neiner, director of the Career Development and

Advising Center, and Dr. Jen Wunder, director of the Honors

Program, provided guidance as Gutierrez completed and

submitted his internship application that August. He was

notified of his selection as an alternate in October. As time went

by without an offer, he settled into enjoying a very light final

spring semester. He only had one class left – a Spanish course –

before graduating in May 2015.

Then suddenly in January, Gutierrez was contacted for a

phone interview. He was offered an internship in the Office of

Information Services, the White House’s communications hub …

and he had to report to work almost immediately.

A whirlwind of activity followed, as the college made arrange-

ments for Gutierrez to take his Spanish course online, and the

GGC Foundation provided financial assistance so he could take

advantage of the opportunity.

Gutierrez’s internship duties included helping with emails,

filing, updating manuals, running errands, taking notes and

other tasks. He also assisted with statistical analysis of daily

activities such as call volume and related measures. The responsi-

bility made these seemingly mundane tasks very important.

“Our work was necessary to produce required presidential re-

cords, as well as support ongoing analysis of office efficiencies,”

Gutierrez said. He described the office as very busy and the staff

as nurturing of the interns. He often worked more than 40 hours

a week and found that his GGC education paid off.

“My classes prepared me very well. At least one class from

almost every semester helped me with my work,” he said. He

observed that he “grew up a lot” and honed his skills related to

professionalism, adaptability, dedication and prioritization.

In addition to his regular tasks, Gutierrez gave weekly reports

to office staff, and he was required to complete a special project

near the end of his internship. He chose to do an analysis involv-

ing the efficiency of the office’s auditing process.

Most White House interns do not work in the White House

itself, but in a nearby office building. However, Gutierrez was

able to assist with tours of the White House’s East Wing, which

gave him the opportunity to experience the White House

environment and meet with guests from around the nation and

world. Like all White House interns, he was able to meet

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

During his free time, Gutierrez explored the city, spending a

lot of time in museums and taking photographs.

His internship led him to think more broadly about his future.

“The sky really is the limit,” he said. “I feel like I can attempt

to do anything because of the confidence I gained during this

experience.” He is considering applying for a Fulbright Scholar-

ship and to City Year, a domestic version of the Peace Corps. He

also is thinking about graduate school and pursuing a career in

the federal government.

As for now, he is spreading the word about GGC through

his position in the Office of Admissions, a living example of the

difference the college can make in the lives of its students.

4 i Georg ia Gwinnet t Co l lege4 i Georg ia Gwinnet t Co l lege

Gutierrez shares his White House experience with future students

engage.ggc.edu i 5

“I think my experiences should be encouraging to other first-generation students. You can make something of yourself no matter where you are from. I want to use my experiences to mentor and motivate others.”

– Jose Gutierrez, class of ’15

s an admissions counselor for Georgia Gwinnett College, Jose Gutierrez, ’15, speaks with prospective students from personal experience, especially about the many opportunities GGC provides for expanding one’s horizons.

In Gutierrez’s case, his horizons were expanded all the way to the White House.

Gutierrez�leaves�an�encouraging�note�for�future�White�House�interns�on�his�locker�door�in�Washington,�D.C.�

A

Jose�Guitierrez�greets�a�prospective�student�and�her�mother�as�they�arrive�at�the��Admissions�Office�in�Building�D.�

The Georgia Gwinnett College Mace

Mace design and art direction: Mark BaranProduction: 3D Solutions, Tyrone, Ga.6 i Georg ia Gwinnet t Co l lege

In addition to its annual recognition

of student and faculty awards and

the college’s reaffirmation of its

commitment to its mission and

vision, the fall 2015 academic

convocation ceremony included two

special presentations in honor of the

college’s 10th anniversary.

“By their very nature, anniversaries are

times of celebration. They also are times

for reflection – for remembering notable

events, outstanding accomplishments

and special people. In fact, special events

and accomplishments often are linked to

special people,” said Dr. Stas Preczewski,

president. “This morning, we recognize

and celebrate one individual who played

the key role in charting the course for

our institution and the success we enjoy

today. That special person is Dr. Daniel

J. Kaufman, Georgia Gwinnett College’s

charter president, chief visionary and

founding father.”

Kaufman served as GGC president

from 2005 to 2013, when he departed the

college to serve as president of the Gwin-

nett Chamber of Commerce. A former U.S.

Army brigadier general and chief academ-

ic officer for the U.S. Military Academy

at West Point, he took on the challenging

task of building the first four-year, public

college in Georgia in more than 100 years.

Before Kaufman presented the ceremo-

ny’s keynote address, he and Preczewski

unveiled Kaufman’s official presidential

portrait. The portrait will hang outside of

the President’s Office in Building B. The

portrait was created by Rod Reilly, GGC’s

staff photographer.

The event also included the introduction

of the college’s ceremonial mace. Derived

from ancient weaponry, maces became

adorned and adapted for ceremonial use

during the Middle Ages and are borne by

a designated official during processions

for parliamentary occasions or for formal

Shown with Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman’s official presidential portrait are Renée Byrd-Lewis, vice president for Strategic Communications and Positioning; Dr. Lois C. Richardson, interim senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs and provost; Luann Causland, executive assistant to the president; Dr. Stas Preczewski, president; Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman, charter president; Louise Archie, charter executive assistant to the president; Eddie Beauchamp, vice president for Operations and Dr. Mark Iken, vice president for Educational Technology.

“GGC’s success is a testament to Dr. Kaufman’s inspiring leadership, incredible vision and tireless dedication. We appreciate his continued service to Gwinnett County, the State of Georgia, our nation and world. Georgia Gwinnett College will forever stand as his legacy to higher education.”

– Dr. Stas Preczewski, President

academic ceremonies. Ceremonial maces

are usually all metal or wood, or some

combination of the two.

However, Georgia Gwinnett’s mace

contains a unique combination of materials

selected to represent the many parts of the

college community. While some materials

reflect traditional meanings, others

represent the modern, high-tech era in

which GGC was founded.

It is likely that GGC has the only mace

in the nation illuminated with an L.E.D.,

a feature that evoked an enthusiastic,

“Oooooh,” from the audience.

GGC’s senior faculty member, Dr. Sam

Peppas, professor of marketing and

international business and GGC’s first

faculty member, was the first to bear the

mace at the conclusion of the ceremony.

The GGC mace will be used for all

convocation and commencement

ceremonies, and at other events at the

discretion of the President’s Office.

Convocation features special presentations A ceremonial mace is a highly ornamented staff of metal or wood borne by a designated official during processions for formal academic ceremo-nies or parliamentary occasions. Derived from ancient weapons, maces became adorned and adapted for ceremonial use during the Middle Ages. Georgia Gwinnett College’s mace contains a unique combination of materials representing the components of the college community.

The torch represents the light of education and its promise of a brighter future for students, families, communities, nations and the world. Made from 3D-printed acrylic, it symbolizes GGC’s modern and innovative approach to higher education. Its green flame represents one of the college’s official colors, as well as life, growth and prosperity.

The cube represents the college as a whole and symbolizes permanence. It is adorned by the college seal and logo in its official colors.

Gold represents GGC’s leaders, and symbolizes their knowledge and authority in guiding the institution.

Stainless steel represents GGC’s staff members and symbolizes the stability and structure they provide the college.

Bronze represents GGC’s faculty members and symbolizes the education, inspiration and mentorship they provide their students.

Aluminum represents the educational process and symbolizes the transformation it offers not only for students, but everyone involved with the college.

Birch wood represents the students and symbolizes their growth and pioneering spirit as they embark on their educational journey, forever changing their lives. GGC’s four pillars of scholarship, creativity, leadership and service are inlaid in the birch, as these qualities are instilled in the college’s students. The letters are inlaid cherry wood.

Copper represents the connection between GGC and its communities, symbolizing positive relationships.

Iron represents the broader college community members and symbolizes the strength, courage and life-force its support means to the foundation and ongoing success of Georgia Gwinnett College.

Dr. Spero Peppas bears the GGC ceremonial mace in the 2015 convocation recessional for its historic first appearance.

engage.ggc.edu i 9

A construction crane will once again dominate the Georgia Gwinnett College campus as the institution begins a major expansion of Build-ing C, one of its main academic buildings.

Building C will more than double in size with the addition of classrooms and offices that will enable GGC to serve its an-ticipated fall 2016 enrollment of about 13,000.

The building was designed to be built in phases. The current building of about 52,300 sq. ft. was built in two phases and is two stories high. The three-story addition will add 54,300 sq. ft. It will include stairwells encased in glass windows, complementing other three-sto-ry glass features on other campus buildings facing its central lawn. The expansion will match the brick and metal style of the rest of the college’s structures.

“This is an important project for Georgia Gwinnett because we again find our ability to serve students limited by the capacity of our facilities,” said GGC President Stas Preczewski. “The Building C expansion will allow us to

accommodate our projected enrollment increase of more than 1,000 additional students. The

members of the Gwinnett legislative del-egation were instrumental in obtaining

the funds for the construction of the addition. Without their perse-

verance, we would be a year behind schedule. We owe a debt of gratitude to them.”

The college will waste no time putting the building to use. Construction is sched-

uled to be completed next summer, in time for the start

of fall semester in mid-August. GGC’s space utilization rate of

72 percent is the highest within the University System of Georgia and almost

double the system average.

Upper left: Guests at BizTown’s grand opening take photos of the GGC store front. Right: In this view of GGC’s Biztown storefront, one can see computers students will use for interactive exercises.

Georgia Gwinnett College has partnered with Junior Achievement (JA) to establish a presence in Discovery Center at Gwinnett by sponsoring a “store front” in JA BizTown.

This unique learning environment creates an opportunity where all Gwinnett County sixth graders are able to apply classroom lessons to a simulated macro-economy in which they take on the roles of employee, taxpayer and consumer.

During a visit to JA BizTown, students receive unique job assignments and work in teams at their assigned businesses. By the end of each simulation, students complete a day’s work, develop personal budgets and make purchasing decisions.

GGC was recognized as a founding partner during the recent grand opening event. Corporate, civic and educational leaders toured the facility and learned about the anticipated impact on the thousands of students who will participate in the program.

GGC featured in Junior aChievement

Biztown

On hand for a recent groundbreaking ceremony were (front row) GGC President Stas Preczewski, Ph.D.; General; Rep. Dewey McClain; GGC Associate Vice President of Facilities Frank Covington; Sen. Renee Unterman; University System of Georgia Vice Chancellor for Real Estate and Facilities Jim James; Rep. Tom Rice; Rep. Brooks Coleman; Georgia House of Representatives Chairman for Higher Education Carl Rogers, (back row) Lawrenceville Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson; Rep. Tim Barr; Rep. Valerie Clark; Rep. David Clark; Sen. P.K. Martin; GGC Foundation Chairman Tommy Hughes; GGC Interim Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs/Provost Lois C. Richardson, Ph.D.; GGC Vice President of Business and Facilities/Chief Financial Officer Laura Maxwell; Rep. Tom Kirby; Gwinnett County Commission Chair Charlotte Nash and Sen. Curt Thompson.


GGC BeGins maJor

expansion of

BuildinGC Interim Senior Vice

President for Academic and Student Affairs/Provost Lois C. Richardson and President Stas Preczewski stand in front of the college’s BizTown store front.

engage.ggc.edu i 1110 i Georg ia Gwinnet t Co l lege

Dr. Stas Preczewski, GGC president, and several student representatives end the Founders Celebration with a final message of gratitude for the community and state leaders who were instrumental in making the college possible. Shown are Candice Coulter, Shay Bradley, Cedric Mukinay, Melly Hiciano, Katherine Copas, Aizaz Shaick, Kareem Adekunle, Jonathan Charles, Hannah Cooper, Seth Elam, Matias Hatem, Lorena Sanchez-Rubio and Santessa Young. Visit engage.ggc.edu to learn more about these impressive students.

Senator; Glenn White, charter chair of the GGC Foundation and Tommy Hughes, current chair of the GGC Foundation. These individuals discussed the Gwinnett community’s efforts to establish the college, as well as GGC’s success and its importance to Gwinnett, Georgia and the nation.

The event concluded with a moving presentation by Candice Coulter, class of ’15, who discussed how GGC made a difference in her life, inspiring six other members of her family to go to college and to choose GGC. Several other students highlighted during the evening held up signs spelling, “We thank you!” to end the program in rousing applause.

“Many special people began advocating for a bachelor’s degree- granting college in Gwinnett County decades ago and have since provided significant support for GGC,” Preczewski said. “We would not be where we are today without them. This event honored everything they have done and continue to do for Georgia Gwinnett College.”

The following pages feature photos and comments from the evening.

Tommy�and�Gina�Hughes,�Charlotte�

�Nash,�Glenn�White�and�Marsha�Bomar��

��have�some�fun�with�General�during��

��the�Founders�Celebration�reception.

“Gwinnett County is not your typical

community. And GGC is not your typical

college. We were designed to be different.

To be a game-changer. To challenge the

conventions of higher education. And in only

10 years, we’ve done it – successfully – and

it’s all because of you. But our work is not

done and we cannot rest on our laurels. And

though there may be challenges ahead, we

pledge ... to ensure the GGC model becomes

recognized as the best in class and as a truly

transformative model for American higher

education ... to fully realize the opportunity

GGC holds for the future of higher education

in Gwinnett, in Georgia and beyond … and

to fulfill the amazing dream – your amazing

dream – that is Georgia Gwinnett College.”

– Dr. Stas Preczewski, President

Founders Celebrationh O N O r s G G C ’ s m a N y s u p p O rT E r s

While Georgia Gwinnett College is marking its 10th anniversary year throughout 2015, it held several GGC10-themed events in mid-September, highlighted by GGC10 Day on Sept. 17. The day culminated in a formal Founders Celebration reception and dinner, held in the Student Center.

The event’s more than 300 guests included Gwinnett community members and local and state officials, who were honored for their contributions in establishing and supporting the college.

“Our 10th year was an appropriate time to gather all of these individuals together to celebrate what they have achieved in the creation of the college,” said Dr. Stas Preczewski, president. “GGC has been in existence long enough to prove that its unique model for higher education works and that these individuals can be very proud of the impact their efforts will make for generations.”

The event included remarks by Hank Huckaby, chancellor of the University System of Georgia; Charlotte Nash, chair of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners; Don Balfour, Georgia


School�of��Business�Board�of�Visitors�Chair�Henry�Hardin�and�his�wife,�Linda�(far�right),�

pause�for�a��photo�with�three�of�the�students�highlighted�during�the�Founders��

Celebration��dinner,�Lorena�Sanchez-Rubio,�Shay�Bradley�and�Hannah�Cooper.

Representatives�David�Clark,�Tom�Kirby�and�Dewey�McClain�show�off�the�hard�

hats�they�received�during�the�groundbreaking�ceremony�for�Building�C,��

which�was�held�just�before�the�Founders�Celebration�dinner.

Dr.�Marty�Carr�and�Miranda�Biddlecomb�enjoy�the�

Founders�Celebration�reception.

Renée�Byrd-Lewis,�vice�president�for�Strategic�Communications�

and�Positioning�is�shown�with�Glenn�Stephens,�Gwinnett�County�

Administrator,�and�Hannah�Cooper,�GGC�student.

Clyde�Strickland�pauses�for�a�photo�with�GGC�2010�

alumna�Lawana�Haynes�and�student�Melly�Hiciano.

Rep.�Brooks�Coleman,�Linda�Rogers�and�Georgia�House�of��

Representatives�Chairman�for�Higher�Education�Carl�Rogers�arrive�

for�the�Founders�Celebration�reception�and�dinner.

“We’re about students. There’s no school in our system that exemplifies that goal better than Georgia Gwinnett. … The university system is very proud that we have a school like GGC amongst our institu-tions. … GGC is a great stew-ard of the resources that the state has provided to them and utilizes them more effectively and more efficiently than any school in our system.” – Hank Huckaby, Chancellor University System of Georgia

GGC FOuNDaTION BOarD spONsOrs

Founders Celebration Reception

Founders Celebration Dinner

Additional support provided by

Mrs. Debra Smithart-Oglesby and Mr. Charles R. Oglesby

The support and service of these Board Sponsors and theGeorgia Gwinnett College Foundation Board of Trustees is critical to advancing the margin of excellence at GGC and

continuing the college’s commitment to becoming a premier and innovative model for 21st century higher education.

Founders Celebration“We knew there was a huge

demand for a four-year

college here, but I could not

have imagined how things

have exploded on this campus.

It’s now impossible to

imagine Gwinnett County

without Georgia Gwinnett

College. The college means

so much to our county’s

continued economic growth.”

– Charlotte Nash, Chair

Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners

engage.ggc.edu i 13


Shown�are�Associate�Vice�President�for�Development�Lori�Buckheister,��

��GGC�Foundation�Trustee�David�Bowen,�Melissa�Bowen,�Renita�Hayes��

��and�GGC�Foundation�Trustee�Greg�Hayes.�

Guests�enjoyed�two�video�presentations�during�the�evening’s�program.�

Charles�Oglesby�greets�Kareem�Adekunle,�an�inter-national�student�from�Nigeria�who�was�recognized�during�the�Founders�Celebration�dinner.

continued from page 10

Phil�Coker�and�Sen.�Renee�Unterman�catch�a�golf�cart�ride�

to�their�car�after�the�dinner.

Dariush�Aziz,�’08,�School�of�Business�Board�of�Visitors�member,�

talks�with�Tom�and�Connie�Wiggins,�GGC�Foundation�Trustee,�

before�dinner�begins.

GGC10 CELEBraTION spONsOrs

GGC would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of Georgia Gwinnett College and the GGC10 Celebration.

Founders Celebration “It is very rare for a

community to come to-

gether to create anything

that matches the magni-

tude of this college. The

results of our collective

efforts will be felt long

after we are gone. We are

transforming this commu-

nity each and every day,

and I hope you see this

as a part of your lasting

legacy, as I do.”

– Glenn White, Charter Chair

GGC Foundation

GGC is better than anyone could have ever dreamed. … If we couldn’t dream of where it is today, I have a hard time dreaming of where it’s going to be in 10 or 20 years. So I want to make a toast to the leaders who helped GGC get to where it is today and to the leaders who will continue to advance GGC into the future.”

– Don Balfour Georgia Senate, 1993-2015

engage.ggc.edu i 15


Photo�cutline�here.

Several individuals who have played important roles in the college’s early years

gathered for a group photo. Shown are Norwood Davis, Glenn White, Alan

Najjar, Don Balfour, Wayne Mason, Bill Russell and Wayne Hill. Davis, White,

Najjar, Mason and Russell are GGC Foundation Trustees.

GGC�Foundation�Trustee�Ron�Garrard�and�Dana�

Garrard�pause�for�a�portrait.

“Look what we’ve

done. Everybody in

this room here to-

night deserves a pat

on the back. ... I’m

just honored that

people associate my

name with this place.

… I never dreamed

we’d be sitting here

tonight with what

we’ve got.”

– Tommy Hughes, Chair

GGC Foundation

Rep.�Valerie�Clark,�GGC�President�Stas�Preczewski�

and�GGC�Foundation�Chair�Tommy�Hughes�share�a�

moment�before�the�dinner�program�begins.

Anne�and�Johnny�Crist,�mayor�of�Lilburn,�show�some�GGC10�spirit.

Founders Celebration

Watch the presentation that brought guests to tears.

engage.ggc.eduDeborah�Fancher,�business�development�representative,�Peach�State�Federal�

Credit�Union,�Dr.�Chris�Brandon,�Paige�Brandon,�Virgil�Fancher,�Lesley�Hawk�and�

Ryan�Hawk,�associate�vice�president-business�development,�Peach�State�Federal�

Credit�Union,�visit�during�the�reception.GGC�Foundation�Trustees�Glenn�White�and�Terri�Jondahl�

talk�during�the�reception.�

GGC�Foundation�Trustee�Greg�Shumate�and�Tammy�Shumate�are�shown�with�Richard�Fairey,�president/chief�operating�officer,�BrandBank,�and�Kim�Fairey.

Alumni hAve more opportunities to connect with


and they were instrumental in Homecom-ing’s huge success.

This year’s Homecoming, held Oct. 24, was highlighted by a family-friendly fall festival with games and inflatables for chil-dren and GGC students. A crowd of almost 100 alumni, guests and family members attended a pre-game barbeque dinner and program featuring remarks by college leaders and women’s soccer coach Chris Kouns. The night was capped off with a 5-0 win for Grizzly women’s soccer over Tennessee Wesleyan of Athens, Tenn.

“We are very pleased with the increasing participation by alumni in the many events we have planned for them,” Greer said. “It is

important for alumni to realize that, like with the college itself, they can help create new traditions and meaningful programs that will build an outstanding program designed to serve alumni for decades to come.”

Alumni should mark their calendars for Dec. 12’s annual Alumni Holiday Party. Details will be forthcoming. Alumni are reminded to update their contact information with the Office of Alumni Relations so they can receive news and event invitations from the college. Contact the office at 678-407-5073 or [email protected] or connect with the Alumni Association on Facebook.

Right: Kat Ihlenburg, head coach of the women’s softball team, and her two year-old daughter, Elizabeth, enjoy an inflatable slide.

The 2015-2016 year has been full of exciting events for alumni, students and college

faculty and staff thanks to the efforts of the Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Relations. GGC also welcomed a new director of Annual Giving and Alumni

Relations, Brian Greer, in August.

The summer kicked off with three events for students and alumni to mix and mingle. Senior Sendoff in July welcomed summer GGC graduates into the Alumni Association with a mixer at a nearby restaurant owned and managed by a GGC parent.

In August, alumni participated in the annual March Through the Arch ceremony alongside faculty, staff, parents and new students. Afterward, they enjoyed refreshments at a reception on the Building B second floor balcony.

Alumni were invited to a private soccer game reception on Sept. 15 in honor of GGC’s 10th anniversary and featuring

special guest speaker Henry Hardin III, GGC parent, Gwinnett business leader and chair of the School of Business Board of Visitors. Hardin delivered an inspirational pre-game speech about leadership.

Later that week, several GGC alumni and their guests attended the GGC10 Found-er’s Celebration dinner and reception (see story beginning page 10).

The Office of Alumni Relations contin-ued its brisk pace of activity during the fall, hosting the October meeting of the Alumni Association Board and the 2nd Annual Homecoming Celebration. The board works on behalf of GGC alumni to strengthen ties with the college and promote opportunities for alumni to grow professionally and personally. They also plan events for alumni throughout the year

Sharing fun times at Homecoming were Elease Dillard, ’15; Michael Jamison, ’11; General; Cesar Puerto, ’12 and Ashley Allen, ’12.

Above: The Alumni Association Board includes (front row) Liz Peacock, ’14; Valerie Allen, ’11; Lawana Haynes, ’10; Sean George, ’14; Whitney Durrah, ’14; Blair Sanders, ’13; Sasha Ruiz, ’11; (back row) Chad Miller, ’08; Dariush Aziz, ’08; Brittany Dertz Oakley, ’11; Tyler Henry, ’12; Brian Greer, director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations; Homero Gonzalez, ’11; Sandrine Irankunda, ’12 and Tim Foster, ’11. Not pictured are Greg Aliff, ’09; David Horton, ’12; Taylor Isenberg, ’11; Harrison Priestly, ’14 and Brittany Sharp, ’12. For alumni news and board member bios, visit www.ggc.edu/alumni. Below: Almost 100 alumni and guests enjoyed a private reception at Homecoming.

Above: Blair Sanders, ’13, seated, represented the Alumni Association board at the summer Senior Sendoff event, where she and other alumni met with excited graduating seniors at a local restaurant. Below: Alumni and guests are greeted at the Homecoming registration table.

Left: GGC alumni and students cheer on the women’s soccer team at Homecoming.

Tom and Ethel Andersen

A�student�harvests�vegetables�from�the�GGC�Community�Garden,�which�has��produced�more�than�100�pounds�of�produce�for�the�Lawrenceville�Cooperative��Food�Bank.�GGC�student-grown�red�tomatoes�and�eggplants�won�ribbons�at��the�2015�Gwinnett�County�Fair.


For an extended gallery,visit engage.ggc.edu

Tom and Ethel Andersen have made community involvement the hallmark of their personal and professional lives.

Both have impressive records of community service, participating in leadership positions for many civic and professional organizations. Co-founders of Gwinnett County’s largest law firm, Andersen, Tate & Carr, PC, they also expect their colleagues to uphold a commit-ment to service and success both in the practice of law and in the community – a commitment prominently

highlighted on the front page of the firm’s Web site.

With this dedication to community service, it is no wonder that service is an important consideration in se-lecting GGC recipients of The Andersen Family Endowed Scholarship Fund, established in 2014.

“Giving to GGC is very personal to us,” said Ethel Andersen. “We both benefitted from scholarships our-selves. Scholarships are life-changing and affect the way a person sees the world. They allow students to pursue their dreams.”

The fund provides scholarship support to full-time students with financial need and at least a 2.5 GGC grade point average. Preference is given to entering freshmen with a high school grade point average of at least 2.8, who represent the first generation in their family to attend col-lege, and who have a history of participation and ongoing interest in service activities.

While the overall intent is to provide resources for stu-dents to attend GGC who otherwise would not be able to enter college, the Andersens hope to encourage and sup-port students who share their commitment to community.

“College graduates can make 75 percent more money than non-college graduates and have stable lives and relationships,” Tom Andersen said. “They are more likely to be well-rounded citizens who are engaged with their communities.”

The Andersens explained during the GGC Foundation’s spring scholarship reception that they established their scholarship fund in recognition that levels of state support have decreased for higher education. They also cited the fact that many GGC students are the first generation of their families to go to college, but because the college is new, it does not have a large alumni base from which to obtain private support.

“We believe in the idea of education,” Tom Andersen said. “We believe in the mission of GGC. We want to help break the cycle of stopping at high school and start the cycle of going to college. We want to make a lasting difference.”

Right: Students�try�a�challenging��balancing�exercise�during�the�Sept.�15�GGC10�Day�activities.

Go to

www.ggc.edu/give

to support GGC

A�student�greets�Lt.�Dan�Choi�after�his�Grizzly�Growl�presentation.�Choi�is��a�West�Point�graduate,�Iraq�veteran�and�LGBT�advocate.�Student�Affairs’��Grizzly�Growl�speaker�series�invites�individuals�to�speak�to�students�on��a�variety�of�topics�related�to�the�college’s�four�pillars�of�leadership,��scholarship,�service�and�creativity.

Below: In less than 12 minutes, D. Westry, known as the world’s fastest speed-painter, created two GGC10 commemorative works during the Founder’s Celebration dinner – a grizzly and celebrating graduates. These pieces will permanently be displayed on campus.

Above: As�first-year�students�await�the�beginning�of�remarks�at�the�fall�2015�March�Through�the�Arch�ceremony,�these�two�young�men�display�a�banner�commemorating�GGC10.

Watch this speed-painting performance at engage.ggc.edu.

Encouraging aLegacy of community

service

Tom and Ethel Andersen The Gallery

engage magazine print fall 2015 proof

Documents