Issue 9: June 2021

New agreement between CGTC and GSW smooths transition for IT students

GSW and Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) are partnering to provide new educational opportunities to students in an essential career field in today’s workforce. On June 7, the two higher education institutions signed a transfer articulation agreement to give students in Computer Information Systems (CIST) at CGTC a seamless pathway into a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology (IT) at GSW.

GSW President Neal Weaver, Ph.D., and CGTC President Ivan H. Allen, Ph.D., signed the agreement which officially facilitates the transfer of coursework for associate degree graduates in CIST from CGTC to GSW. CGTC graduates who choose to pursue GSW’s Bachelor of Science degree in IT can transfer 18 hours of CIST coursework, in addition to the 40+ semester hours of transferable core coursework, shortening time to completion.

Learn more about the new agreement here.

Vaccines available to all USG students at 15 USG campuses in Georgia

All University System of Georgia (USG) students, including those from Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) and incoming students, can now get vaccinated at 15 USG campuses in Georgia, regardless of which institution they attend. This expanded vaccine access means that students can now get their first and second doses over the summer at a campus nearest them. This includes students who may have gotten their first dose at Georgia Southwestern or in Sumter County before heading home for the summer.

Find more information about how to schedule a vaccine appointment or find a vaccination site here.

GSW STEM helps organize Science on the Farm Day for local students

The Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Center of the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center (Regional Coordinator Emily Anne Strickland and Director of Strategic Initiatives Lynn Larson) partnered with GSW's STEM Program (Professor and STEM Coordinator Michele Smith, Ph.D.), the The Boyhood Farm at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park (Ranger Patty Kuehn), and South Georgia Technical College (Grants Coordinator Nancy Fitzgerald) to develop and present Science on the Farm Day. The event was held virtually on Friday, April 16 and was offered to teachers and students in grades K-5 in the Chattahoochee-Flint GYSTC area. Over 400 students participated in activities focusing on how science is used on a farm and the technology advancements of farming since the 1930s when President Carter was a boy on the farm. ;Students participated in activities such as: a virtual scavenger hunt, learning the life cycle of a butterfly, bees as pollinators, exploring UV light with UV sensitive beads, polymers and plastic recycling, and the importance of the water cycle and how water is recycled.

Canes Spotlight announced for June

Canes Spotlights highlight Georgia Southwestern students who hold leadership roles, are involved in extracurricular activities and/or excel academically in their degree programs.

The June Canes Spotlights were recent computer science graduate Neha Budhathoki and senior nursing major Chavis Dunbar.

As native of Nepal, affordability was a deciding factor for Neha when choosing an American university. "International students usually pay three times the amount in-state students pay, but GSW’s waiver program has helped me and my family tremendously when it came to paying for college," Neha said.

Neha was involved on campus as Vice President of the Computer Club, member of the International Student Association, GSW Drop intern, and Student Engagement Desk Assistant.

For Chavis, GSW's welcoming environment was one of the main reasons she was drawn to campus as an incoming freshman. "GSW is extremely special and unique because it provides an atmosphere where students are able to build intimate connections with many people on campus as well as have plenty of opportunities for growth," Chavis said. "Being a part of a tight-knit community really makes me comfortable calling GSW my home away from home."

Chavis is currently serving as one of three student director for Thunder Camp 2021. She has also been a Residential Leader, Storm Spotter, RCI Pope Fellow, and member of GSWANS.

Canes Spotlights are nominated by GSW faculty and staff.

Athletes named to PBC Teams of Academic Distinction

Twenty-six GSW student-athletes were named to the Peach Belt Conference’s Teams of Academic Distinction in mid-June. Team members must have 3.30 GPA or higher, be a sophomore or older and meet participation requirements.

Baseball Team of Academic Distinction: Jared Donalson, Hunter Foster, Cole Garrett, Gunner George, Jacob Harrell, Matthew Mamatas, Jonathan Martin, Reid Ragsdale, and Tucker Smith

Softball Team of Academic Distinction: Katelyn Wood, Allyson Murdock, Chloe Zoeller, Shannon Gibson, and Kayla Kerr

Men’s Golf Team of Academic Distinction: Jaxson Daskalos and Chase McLain

Women’s Basketball Team of Academic Distinction: Yasmin Perez

Women’s Tennis Team of Academic Distinction: Hannah Hogg and Sophia Winters

Men’s Soccer Team of Academic Distinction: Grant Auer, Oneil Lewis, and Cole Davison

Women’s Soccer Team of Academic Distinction: Jenna Cuff, Emma Carter, Geraldine Alvarez, and Laura Duran Blanco

Tucker Smith named PBC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year

GSW’s Tucker Smith was named the 2020-21 Peach Belt Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the league office in early June 2021. The award is the highest individual honor given by the conference to student-athletes and is chosen by the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives.

The native of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., completed his collegiate baseball career at Georgia Southwestern in May and was named the Peach Belt Conference co-Pitcher of the Year. He's the third pitcher in Peach Belt history to repeat as Pitcher of the Year. Smith had the lowest opponents batting average (.184) in the league and led with 87 1/3 innings pitched. He ranked second in the conference in strikeouts (90). He recently signed with the Houston Apollos of the American Association of Professional Baseball and will make his third start for the Apollos this evening.

Read more here.

Kutzler continues local history series

Assistant Professor of history Evan Kutzler, Ph.D., has completed two more articles in his local history series with the Americus Times-Recorder. “What Makes a Place Historic?" was published on May 14 and explores the definition of “historic” in terms of the National Register of Historic Places, its criteria, and preservation.

Another article, “Billy Proctor’s Appeal,” was published June 19. Here, Kutzler examines an 1854 letter in which an enslaved man asked a powerful Americus enslaver to purchase him. This piece investigates what we know about Proctor from this letter and the few newspaper ads he placed in the 1850s.

Kutzler explores sensory experience of Andersonville in audio story

Assistant Professor of history Evan Kutzler, Ph.D., recorded an audio story for The American Civil War Museum titled “Sensing the Past: Nighttime at Andersonville Prison.” This piece takes a look at Andersonville Prison’s overcrowded conditions during the Civil War through the lens of prisoner of war John Hoster and his diary entries.

The audio story and full transcript are available here.

Moir presents paper at virtual Irish studies conference

Associate Professor of English Michael Moir, Ph.D., presented a paper titled “A Drowned Man in Donegal: J.M. Synge and the Anglo-Irish Weird” at the annual meeting of the American Conference for Irish Studies, hosted virtually by the University of Ulster from June 2-5.

Moir will present a related paper, “’...illusions that creep like maggots...’: Decadence and the Weird in Yeats's Rosicrucian Stories” at the Canadian Association for Irish Studies' annual conference, hosted virtually by the University of Saskatchewan from June 22-24.

Courtney Harmon joins FYE

Courtney Harmon recently joined the Office of First-Year Experience as the Assistant Director of First-Year Experience, following the retirement of former Assistant Director Linda Randall. Courtney is a GSW alumna, having earned a BS in Psychology in 2015 and an MBA in 2018. 

Courtney previously worked in GSW’s Admissions office and is returning to campus after several years working at Lanier Technical College in Oakwood, Ga. “I’m honored to serve the GSW student body and campus community,” Courtney said. “I’m located in Canes Central and look forward to seeing you around campus!”

Tissue celebrates 10 years in Public Safety

Donna Tissue, administrative services coordinator for the Office of Public Safety, recently celebrated ten years at GSW. Tissue was first hired as an officer on June 6, 2011, making her ten-year anniversary June 6, 2021.

Tissue took on the additional duties of administrative services coordinator in November 2014 and filled both positions until she left her officer position in November 2020.

Submit a thanks to other members of the GSW community for their outstanding dedication, commitment, or support. Email univrel@gsw.edu at any time or during the monthly call for Breeze submissions.

“The ladies (and gentleman) of University Relations would like to thank the hard-working folks in Physical Plant and IIT for getting us moved into our new location in the Wheatley Administration Building. The rain made for an interesting moving day, but they had a plan and were efficient with their time. We are so grateful for their help in getting us settled into our new office space!” 

– Chelsea Collins, Sydney Scott, Hailey Henderson, and Bryce Bass

• July 1: Storm Day
• July 5: Campus closed in observance of Fourth of July
• July 15: Storm Day
• July 23: Storm Day
• July 28: Last day of summer classes

Find more events on the GSW academic calendar and on CanesConnect.