NGCSU hosts Georgia Department of Community Health board meeting in July

DAHLONEGA – North Georgia College & State University will host the next Georgia Department of Community Health Board meeting on July 10 at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of the new Natural Health & Sciences Building.

In conjunction with July’s meeting, the board will hear public comment on the department’s 2003 and 2004 budgets.

“Every year millions of dollars are designated to health care in Georgia,” said Lynda Woodruff, professor at NGCSU. “This meeting allows for public input on the percentage of the budget that is open for discussion.”

The event will allow for discussion of items such as transportation for the handicapped and funding for the mentally retarded.

People from the nursing and physical therapy departments at NGCSU also serve on campus boards that are seeking funding for projects such as a clinic on the first floor of the new Natural Health & Sciences building at North Georgia.

“We encourage the public to take this excellent opportunity to come and be heard,” said Woodruff. “Last year’s meeting in Dahlonega at the Parks and Recreation Department was very well attended.”

Woodruff encourages elderly, hospital authorities, parents of the handicapped and mentally retarded and all citizens to come take advantage of the chance to speak about projects for Georgia health care funding.

NGCSU names valedictorians and salutatorians for 2002

DAHLONEGA - North Georgia College & State University named four valedictorians for the 2002 academic year. All four students graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.

The valedictorians, their hometowns and majors are Stephanie Keenum of Woodstock, Ga., Early Childhood Education; Rachel Thomas of Buford, Ga., Marketing; Jami Kinsey of Cleveland, Ga., Physical Education; and Jennifer Tucker of Gainesville, Ga., Early Childhood Education.

At NGCSU there are three salutatorians for the 2002 academic year. All three students graduated with a 3.97 grade point average.

 The salutatorians, their hometowns and majors are Kelli Boling of Cumming, Ga., Computer Science; Amy Brewster of Ringgold, Ga., Physical Education; and Pamela Meiklejohn of Flowery Branch, Ga., Accounting.

NGCSU professor selected to participate in Advanced Placement Reading

DAHLONEGA - Dr. Ahmad Ghafarian, a computer science professor at North Georgia College & State University, was selected to read and score the annual College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations in computer science during June 2002. The AP Program allows high school students to take college-level courses and examinations and, based on their exam performance, to receive credit and/or advanced placement when they enter college.  Over 600 faculty consultants are selected from high schools and universities across North America to evaluate the exams each year.

DAHLONEGA—Trustees of the North Georgia College & State University Foundation voted to name the newest building at North Georgia College & State University in honor of the 12th president of the university, John H. Owen.

The first apartment-style residence hall on campus will be dedicated as the John H. Owen Hall at a formal ceremony this fall. The large construction rising above campus off of the Morrison-Moore Parkway, across from the Dahlonega Post Office and near the NGCSU Alumni Center is the first privately funded building at North Georgia.

“The new residence hall is under the control of the NGCSU Foundation, and the Foundation arranged the construction funding and is the leaseholder of the property,” explained NGCSU President Nathaniel Hansford. “The Board of Trustees of the Foundation voted to name the new residence hall in honor of Dr. Owen, who served as president longer than any other president of this institution and who led the University during a period of significant progress.”

At age 47, Owen was among the youngest – if not the youngest – of the North Georgia presidents when, in 1970, he began his 22 years as president of what was then North Georgia College. He also was the first North Georgia president to serve with an earned Ph.D. degree.

The building that will bear his name is the tallest building on campus, with five stories, covering 118, 454 gross square feet. It will house 314 beds for North Georgia students. The building’s construction time is also a probable record-breaker for the university. The official groundbreaking ceremony took place on Nov. 2, 2001, and the building will be ready for occupancy by mid-August when students return for the fall semester. 

Owen, who retired in June 1992, saw student enrollment almost triple during his presidency, and the number of faculty members at North Georgia did triple. Other indications of the college’s dramatic growth during his administration were the addition of new departments and programs, including secondary education, nursing, fine arts, physical therapy and a master’s program in education. Several campus buildings underwent renovations while new buildings were constructed.

Owen is credited with re-establishing basketball programs at the college in 1971. Among other outstanding achievements, the cadet corps was recognized as “number one” in the nation during his presidency.

Along with his wife Margaret, Owen is still involved with the university and the community. They sponsor basketball scholarships for a male and female student each year. They provide cash awards to the highest ranking physical therapy graduate and to the best shooter on the rifle team and help provide a full scholarship to a high school graduate, along with the Dahlonega Women’s Club.

Owen, who served as president of the Chamber of Commerce during his first year as president of North Georgia, today serves as chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Community Bank and is active in Rotary, the Lions Club, the Development Authority and his church, among other community service.

Because of his dedication to get Highway 400 completed from Cumming to Highway 60, an intersection on Highway 60 near the university is named in Owen’s honor.

His bachelor’s degree was from the University of Florida and his master’s and doctorate were from the University of Wisconsin. During World War II, he served as a naval officer and was a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1949 until 1969, when he retired as Lieutenant Commander. He taught at the University of Florida, headed the Plant Pathology Department at the University of Georgia and was director of Georgia Experiment Stations before coming to North Georgia.

DAHLONEGA - Some of the brightest high school students from seven Georgia counties are on the campus of North Georgia College & State University for the Summer Honors Program.

From June 16 to 28 the 42 students live in dorms and participate in academic seminars and special events at the university's recreation area at Pine Valley, field trips to the Fernbank Science Center and the Michael C. Carlos Museum.

The program for high school students is sponsored by the North Georgia Regional Educational Services Agency, local boards of education, private scholarships and NGCSU.

The goal of the program is to help students discover how enjoyable learning on the college level can be. During the first week, students had a choice of attending classes in drawing and painting, photography, theater, musical performance, women's studies, computer science, philosophy and other subjects.

"We've planned a program that provides students with good times both in the classroom and out," said Catherine Chastain, director of the program and NGCSU faculty member.

Listed below by their counties are the students who are attending.

New vice president coming to NGCSU in July

DAHLONEGA – Bruce L. Howerton will begin as vice president for Institutional Advancement at North Georgia College & State University in July.

After a nationwide search by an eight-member committee made up of faculty, alumni and representatives of the NGCSU Foundation, five finalists were brought to campus out of more than 50 applicants. NGCSU President Nathaniel Hansford announced the selection of Howerton for the position overseeing the university’s Alumni Affairs, Development and University Relations.

"Bruce Howerton was the clear first choice of everyone involved with the VPIA search, and I am very pleased he has accepted the position,” Hansford said. “Bruce is the right person for the vice president’s position and brings extensive experience with him that will be of great value at NGCSU. Bruce and his wife Barbara will be fine additions to the NGCSU community.”

Howerton, currently the interim vice president for University Advancement at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, said: "I can truly say that I am very exited about coming to Dahlonega and becoming part of this community. The opportunity at North Georgia is a very exciting challenge. In my work at MCG, it was very obvious that the alumni of North Georgia have a great a love for their alma mater. I look forward to being a part of the continued development of the university under the leadership of Dr. Hansford."

In his 22 years of experience at MCG, Howerton served as the accountant for the MCG Foundation for five years, and then moved up the advancement ladder to assistant director of Institutional Relations, interim vice president for University Advancement, director of Planned Giving and senior director of Development before again being named to the interim vice president position. 

North Georgia’s new vice president received his bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in 1972 from Augusta State University and his MBA in Accounting from the same university in 1980. He is married to Barbara K. Howerton, the chairman of the Science Department of Davidson Fine Arts School. They have three grown children.

DAHLONEGA – North Georgia College & State University’s observatory is open to the public every Friday during the summer. On a clear night when weather permits people are encouraged to visit the observatory to gaze at the stars.

“Observatory Public Education Nights” offers free public viewing of the skies with a 16-inch astronomical telescope beginning at 9:30 p.m. on Fridays through Aug. 2. The observatory will be closed on July 5.

“We would love for people to come out and take a look at what the natural world has to offer,” said Joseph Jones, associate professor of physics. “The observatory provides a resource that allows for public education about astronomy to be offered to visitors.”

Jones also says that with the construction of the new science building on campus comes a new planetarium as well. The new facility is expected to be ready in the fall semester.

The North Georgia Astronomical Observatory is located four miles from the NGCSU campus on Hwy. 9 south toward Dawsonville. The observatory is on the right on Day Drive.

For the latest opening or closing information due to inclement weather, the observatory information line is 706-864-1470. For more information call 706-864-1511. Groups of 20 or more should call for accommodations.

DAHLONEGA – Faculty and staff at North Georgia College & State University are welcoming hundreds of new students and introducing them to college life during four different sessions this summer.

The “INTRO” sessions will take place June 9 – 11, June 23 – 25, July 21 – 23 and Aug. 11 – 13. Two additional sessions are designed for students who are returning to school as older adults and transfer students on July 2 and July 30. Some sessions are designed for the parents of new students.

“We are expecting around 800 participants for the summer INTRO sessions,” said Judith Bryant, vice president for Student Affairs. “The purpose for these sessions is to introduce and familiarize newcomers to the college, rules, facilities and services that NGCSU has to offer.”

“Most importantly, INTRO lets students meet other students,” she added.

Information sessions and registration for fall classes will be mixed with social activities, such as a picnic at Pine Valley with sports, tubing, games and a watermelon eating contest.

“INTRO is fun,” said Mary Hand, INTRO coordinator. “It also provides students with a gateway to NGCSU, the opportunity to meet other incoming freshmen and familiarize themselves with the transition to college, whether they are residents or commuters.”

“This social activity will be headed up by INTRO leaders who are current NGCSU students in a variety of different majors and interests,” said Bryant. “This lets the newcomers have the opportunity to speak with students who are involved in a specific field of interest.”

DAHLONEGA – Linda August, a resident of Duluth, Ga. and an associate professor of sociology at North Georgia College & State University, was selected an Outstanding Advising Certificate of Merit recipient in the Faculty Academic Advising category as part of the 2002 National Academic Advising Association’s National Awards Program. August is one of 13 faculty advisors who received this award in this year’s national competition.

This award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding ability with the academic advising of students. The Faculty Academic Advising category includes individuals whose primary responsibility is teaching and who spend a portion of their time providing academic advising services to students.

Every year since 1983, the National Academic Advising Association, NACADA, in connection with ACT, Inc., has honored individuals for their contributions in academic advising at institutions across the nation.

The award will be presented to August in Salt Lake City, Utah at the annual NACADA National Conference in October. 

DAHLONEGA - North Georgia College & State University will host a variety of sports camps this summer in Dahlonega for young children in the surrounding area.

NGCSU coaches and players from the university's intercollegiate sports programs will coach children ages 7-18 in different sports throughout the summer, beginning June 16.

Included are softball, baseball, girls and boys tennis, basketball and soccer camps. Interested parents should register for the individual camps at least two weeks before they start. A complete listing of the camp dates and registration fees are on the NGCSU Continuing Education link on the university's website at www.ngcsu.edu or telephone 706/864-1918 for more information.

Charitable event comes to Dahlonega June 2

DAHLONEGA – The Ride for Kids coming to Dahlonega and North Georgia College & State University on June 2 will bring more than 2,000 motorcyclists and other visitors to the area. The Owen Drill Field on the NGCSU campus will be the culmination site of the cycle ride benefiting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States

"Through events such as Ride For Kids, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation makes a genuine difference in the lives of those affected by pediatric brain tumors,” said Kim Foster, NGCSU’s director of Public Service & the Georgia Appalachian Development Center. “The university is happy to participate in the Atlanta-to-Dahlonega Ride For Kids by opening our campus for the ‘Celebration of Life,’ which takes place at the end of the ride.”

Mike Traynor, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s president, said the ride would begin at the North Point Mall, off of Ga. 400, and will culminate on campus, after a journey up Hwy 9, with a police escort. Registration opens at 7 a.m., and the ride begins at 9:30 a.m.

For 15 years the annual event began in Atlanta and ended in Helen, Ga. Because the previous space in that community is no longer available, organizers turned to Dahlonega as a place pitch a large tent, which will house the Celebration of Life. University administrators granted permission to use the drill field for the charitable event, which will include helicopter landings and a public television crew videotaping part of the activities to include in a program segment about brain tumors.

Motorcycle riders pay entry fees and help raise additional contributions for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The riders earn chances to win a Honda motorcycle through their fund raising.

The charity, which began in Atlanta in 1984 and contributes 87 percent of all donations to brain tumor research, has become the target of thousands of caring motorcyclists across the country. More than 12,000 motorcyclists participated in 20 Ride for Kids events across the U.S.A. in 2001 and raised more than $2.8 million to help support the search for the cause and cure of children’s brain tumors, the most deadly of all childhood cancers. 

This page last modified on: Friday, 05 November 2004 15:42:34 -0500 by University Relations    

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