Georgia Highlands College will be hosting a screening of the award-winning documentary “To Kingdom Come” featuring GHC students and faculty members at 6PM on February 21 at Heritage Hall.

The event is free and open to the public.

“To Kingdom Come” follows the citizen investigation of environment concerns by examining the complexity of contamination from manufacturing in Floyd County.

It features GHC faculty, including Professor of Geology Billy Morris, Assistant Professor of English Jessica Lindberg, and music by Assistant Professor of Art Russell Cook. The film also includes a number of GHC students.

The film is directed by Berry College’s Brian Campbell, who teaches biology, and was named the Rome International Film Festival 2019 Audience Award winner.

The showing is co-sponsored by CRBI and the Berry College Environmental Studies program.

Georgia Highlands College will be hosting several information sessions throughout the year to help students interested in a degree in dental hygiene get started.

All of the information sessions are free and open to the public and will be held from 6PM to 7PM in room 272 at GHC’s Heritage Hall in downtown Rome.

In addition to learning more about the program, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the application process, take a tour of the facilities, and ask dental hygiene faculty questions about the program.

Recent attendance to one of the information sessions is required before students can apply to the program. Attendees will be given an attendance certificate at the end of their session to include with their application packet.

The information sessions planned for 2019 are:

• Thursday, February 7, 2019
  • (If students are interested in applying in 2019, please be aware this is the last information session before the application deadline.)
• Application Deadline March 1, 2019
• Tuesday April 23, 2019
• Thursday July 25, 2019
• Tuesday September 10, 2019
• Thursday November 14, 2019

For more information, please contact GHC’s dental hygiene office at (706) 295-6760.

Georgia Highlands College has announced students named to the fall 2018 President’s List and Dean’s List. To achieve President’s List status, students must earn a 4.0 grade point average and attain a minimum of nine semester hours of credit. To make Dean’s List students must complete a minimum of nine semester hours and achieve at least a 3.5 average.

The following students were named to the President’s List (by county):

AL-CHEROKEE

Anna Holly, Cedar Bluff, AL

Heather Rogers, Centre, AL

AL-LEE

Stephanie Kemp, Opelika, AL

GA-BARTOW

Rylan Abernathy, Adairsville

Ozzy Andrade, Cartersville

Tius Baillio, Cartersville

Michael Bonds, Cartersville

Natalie Burrow, White

Avery Cissa, White

Stephen Clark, Taylorsville

Jesus De La Cruz, Cartersville

Morgan Deboard, Rydal

Brandy Folger, Adairsville

Jeanelle Garcia, Cartersville

Lizeth Garcia Perez, Cartersville

Hannah Garland, Cartersville

Bradley Gilmore, Cartersville

Charles Hardman, Cartersville

Anastasia Haynes, Cartersville

Antonio Hernandez, Cartersville

Karl Howell, Cartersville

Dalton Jackson, Cartersville

Megan Janisch, Cartersville

Stephanie Jordan-Cain, Cartersville

Brooke Kirby, White

Meredith Knox, Cartersville

William Lange, Cartersville

Moises Ledesma, Euharlee

Madeline Lee, Cartersville

Daniella Liley, White

Savannah Lively, Acworth

Leslie Lopez, Euharlee

Heather Lowe, Cartersville

Jenny Lowe, White

Johanna Maserjian, Taylorsville

Tara Mathis, Cartersville

Lauren McKaig, Cartersville

Austin Mccamy, Cartersville

Hunter Mccreary, Cartersville

Shelby Meatyard, Cartersville

Victoria Najarro, Cartersville

Tina Ogletree, Cartersville

Morgan Ong, Cartersville

Corbin Parker, White

Alexandria Payne, White

MacKenzie Payne, Cartersville

Marcus Porter, Taylorsville

Evan Rose, Euharlee

Haolat Sadiku, Cartersville

Sarah Schubert, White

Carlee Silvers, Cartersville

Abigail Smith, Euharlee

Megan Snyder, Cartersville

Cayce Tatum, White

Kaitlyn Taylor, Cartersville

Lauren Tew, Kingston

Jason Ughrin, Euharlee

Kimberly Veliz, Cartersville

Samantha Walker, Cartersville

Camryn Whatley, Cartersville

Chelsea Williams, Cartersville

Anna Wilson, Adairsville

Susan Wood, Cartersville

GA-CARROLL

Richard Bell, Winston

Martya Chapel Chambers, Vlla Rica

Joshua Davison, Villa Rica

GA-CHATTOOGA

Adriana Bautista-florentino, Summerville

Rhonda Brown, Trion

Tania Driggers, Summerville

Anna Herring, Summerville

Joel Mosqueda-Arreola, Trion

Sandra Poe, Menlo

Justin Stowe, Summerville

Levi Thomas, Trion

GA-CHEROKEE

Lauren Allen, Woodstock

Joshua Bennett, Ball Ground

Emily Bonner, Woodstock

Austin Brown, Canton

Emily Cash, Acworth

Rebecca Chandler, Canton

Mary Crosby, Canton

Laura Dearing, Waleska

Brandon Dobbs, Canton

Justin Dobbs, Canton

Emily Dominiak, Acworth

Meagan Doughty, Acworth

Michelle Filipova, Woodstock

Rebecca Fischer, Canton

Laurissa Gecowets, Canton

Emily Giardina, Waleska

Kayla Gravitt, Canton

Alexis Hampton, Nelson

Katie Hester, Canton

Catherine Illies, Woodstock

Brooke Johnson, Canton

Nichole Johnson, Acworth

Alexandra Kologe, Canton

Mark Magana, Canton

Natalie Myers, Woodstock

Briana Nerio, Canton

Lisa Rose, Canton

Kathryn Shortell, Canton

Hayley Sirmons, Acworth

Christina Ucci, Acworth

Ethan Underwood, Woodstock

Lauren Underwood, Canton

Harper Wall, Woodstock

Abbey Weaver, Canton

Madison Wheatley, White

GA-COBB

Jocelyn Alvarado, Acworth

Kimberly Amaya, Smyrna

Jada Armstrong, Acworth

Mark Arthen, Kennesaw

Theresa Arthen, Kennesaw

Charis Avery, Acworth

Allison Barden, Acworth

Anna Bean, Marietta

Ava Beasley, Powder Springs

Olga Boyarshynova, Marietta

Kathleen Brack, Kennesaw

Emma Bradley, Acworth

Ambria Burton, Marietta

Ana Cardenas, Atlanta

Suzanne Cheely, Kennesaw

Brianna Clark, Powder Springs

Florencio Collazo, Marietta

Brooke Costner, Powder Springs

Caleb Currier, Acworth

Elexus Daniels, Marietta

Peyton Darling, Powder Springs

Brian Davis, Marietta

Priya Dey, Kennesaw

Kieu Dorsey, Acworth

Lauren Eckman, Acworth

Talya English, Acworth

Zachary Ferer, Kennesaw

Leslie Fernandez, Marietta

Donavan Garcia, Marietta

Steven Garcia, Smyrna

Amanda Geiger, Marietta

Lauren Glenn, Marietta

Cydney Grayson, Atlanta

Payton Griffin, Kennesaw

Maria Hernandez, Kennesaw

Mayra Hernandez-Arroyo, Kennesaw

Grant Holton, Marietta

Nathan Janda, Kennesaw

Avery Johnson, Kennesaw

Jacquelyn Keeton, Acworth

Olivia Kidd, Marietta

Jose Lara, Atlanta

Margaret Lewis, Acworth

Maria Lopez, Powder Springs

Melissa Lopez, Powder Springs

Sarah Lowery, Marietta

Asminda Martinez, Marietta

Lizett Martinez, Kennesaw

Latoi Mercer, Powder Springs

Joshua Murphy, Powder Springs

Minh Nguyen, Marietta

Morgan Papageorge, Acworth

Jennifer Petty, Kennesaw

Scout Powell, Powder Springs

Emily Reynolds, Acworth

Zackary Schramm, Acworth

Tiffani Scott, Acworth

Kellie Shirie, Marietta

Jordan Southerland, Acworth

Caroline Southern, Powder Springs

Autumn Strange, Acworth

Yocelyn Suarez, Austell

Ileigh Trawick, Marietta

Clark Turner, Marietta

Cooper Uvena, Acworth

Christian Villarreal, Powder Springs

Zachariah Watson, Acworth

Sawyer Weaver, Kennesaw

Carson West, Acworth

Kristopher Wilson, Mableton

Stephanie Woodard, Mableton

Joseph Wynn, Smyrna

GA-COWETA

Susan Freeman, Newnan

Brooke Spratlin, Senoia

GA-DEKALB

Um-sajid Ahmad, Ellenwood

Kristen Wells, Decatur

GA-DODGE

Miriam Claudia Graham, Eastman

GA-DOUGLAS

Abigail Benedict, Douglasville

Joseph Bruce, Douglasville

Molli Brunsvold, Douglasville

Taylor Casino, Douglasville

Danielle Cook, Lithia Springs

Quinn Darkwa, Douglasville

Deena Dayal, Winston

Brooklynn Jenkins, Douglasville

Spencer Johnson, Douglasville

Calil Palmer, Villa Rica

Paul Pieper, Douglasville

Jeremy Plattel, Douglasville

Angel Robbins, Douglasville

John Robbins, Douglasville

Aaron Roberts, Douglasville

Alexcia Salvant, Douglasville

Evan Shadix, Douglasville

Madison Signoret, Winston

Hailey Sosa, Villa Rica

Breanna Walker, Douglasville

Isabelle Wilkins, Douglasville

GA-FANNIN

Laura Falls, Mineral Bluff

Erick Rosas Rosas, Blue Ridge

GA-FAYETTE

Jacob Henley, Fayetteville

Madhavi Scharko, Tyrone

GA-FLOYD

Itzel Angeles, Rome

Elizabeth Beaver, Rome

Brian Beckman, Rome

Emily Blalock, Rome

Kayla Blanco, Rome

Joshua Bomer, Rome

Merilyn Bustos, Rome

Abigail Campos, Rome

Jessica Carrier, Rome

Laura Charlier, Rome

Kaylee Clayton, Cave Spring

Carly Comer, Rome

Sarah Corbitt, Rome

Andrew Dulaney, Cave Spring

Erin Dyer, Rome

Haley Epstein, Lindale

Elvia Escutia-Cruz, Rome

Olivia Fortner, Rome

Wilkins Getchell, Rome

Amelia Goble, Lindale

Grayson Grimes, Rome

Kaila Haynes, Rome

Stephanie Hill, Rome

Cailee Hix, Rome

Amber Hubbard, Rome

Natalie Hubbard, Rome

Sylvia Jones, Rome

Heather Keeney, Cave Spring

Rachael Keeney, Cave Spring

Ryan Keeney, Cave Spring

Kailey Kelley, Silver Creek

Noora Khateeb Jabara, Rome

Maha Khatib, Rome

Rebecca Lansdell, Rome

Jennifer Little, Rome

Sara Locklear, Rome

Anna Mcburnett, Rome

Jenna Mccollum, Aragon

Destiney Mcdaniel, Rome

Erika Morris, Rome

Bethany Mostella, Rome

Joanna Mullenax, Rome

Ansley Nicholson, Rome

Jessica Nunez, Rome

Tammy Parson, Rome

Dilan Patel, Rome

Michael Peters, Rome

Jordan Purser, Silver Creek

Brianna Roberson, Silver Creek

Vanity Romano, Shannon

Devon Salter, Rome

Yasmin Silvey, Lindale

Destiny Spates, Rome

Chelsealaurel Steuart-Allister, Rome

Jason Threadgill, Rome

Chloe Tilton, Rome

Haydn Turner, Aragon

Esther Van Steenberg, Rome

Larry Vaughn, Rome

Katie Wagner, Rome

Samantha Warner, Rome

Dicie Waters, Rome

Hannah White, Rome

Maria Winn, Rome

Marlee Wright, Silver Creek

John Yancey, Shannon

GA-FULTON

Travis Sands, Johns Creek

James Shepherd, Atlanta

GA-GORDON

Hannah Arthur, Calhoun

Kendall Bowman, Calhoun

Hannah Brookshire, Calhoun

Makenna Bryan, Calhoun

Madison Floyd, Calhoun

Kirsten Gordon, Calhoun

Casey Higginbotham, Calhoun

Addison Mealer, Fairmount

Kayleigh Milton, Calhoun

Maria Palmerin Palmerin, Calhoun

Sherri Vaughan, Fairmount

GA-GWINNETT

Danielle Romatz, Buford

GA-HARALSON

Kannon Madden, Buchanan

Brooke Walker, Buchanan

GA-HENRY

Elizabeth Fisher, Stockbridge

Shirgarlyn Haygood, Stockbridge

GA-JONES

Mori Bryant, Dallas

GA-LUMPKIN

Sheila Blevins, Dahlonega

GA-MERIWETHER

Sylvia Pearson, Greenville

GA-MURRAY

Taylor Shuman, Chatsworth

GA-PAULDING

Kelsey Adams, Dallas

Hope Allen, Dallas

Sierra Bastis, Dallas

Lauren Bergevine, Dallas

Elisa Borgese, Acworth

Kortney Bryant, Hiram

Hunter Bullard, Dallas

Courtney Bush, Dallas

Nathaniel Carr, Dallas

Ansley Clower, Dallas

Jacob Cook, Dallas

Ashlynn Copen, Dallas

Nicole Corrao, Acworth

Anna Craton, Dallas

Ashley Cronon, Dallas

Lauren Dello Joio, Dallas

Kara DiCarluccio, Hiram

Patrick Dolph, Dallas

Jessica Donahue, Acworth

Sarah Enwright, Dallas

Mariah Evans, Hiram

Kiley Freeman, Dallas

Alyssa Gilbert, Powder Springs

Erick Gonzalez, Hiram

Kristen Gravett, Dallas

Wesley Hales, Dallas

Victoria Hardy, Hiram

Susan Harrison, Dallas

Jesse Heger, Hiram

Sarah Hiers, Acworth

Linda Hill, Douglasville

Caitlynn Hudson, Dallas

Amylee Jeffries, Dallas

Hayden Johnson, Acworth

Sydney Keener, Dallas

Tyler Kropfelder, Dallas

Lamin Kuyateh, Hiram

Kayla Laukka, Dallas

Kayla Lenahan, Hiram

Gregory Manley, Douglasville

Spencer Martin, Dallas

Maeghan Mckean, Dallas

Elizabeth Mcknight, Douglasville

Ava Mickelson, Douglasville

Brandon Moore, Dallas

Carlos Morgan, Hiram

Emily Nails, Acworth

Madison Parham, Hiram

Erin Peterson, Dallas

Luke Andrew Queen, Dallas

Rileigh Rawson, Dallas

Hailey Riha, Douglasville

Carly Rodman, Dallas

Madison Runion, Dallas

Alyssa Ryan, Dallas

Hannah Sermersheim, Dallas

Joan Sheldt, Dallas

Madelyn Smith, Dallas

Taylor Thaxton, Dallas

Vasilena Foxy Vasileva, Dallas

Eldridge Waller, Acworth

Jordin Wells, Powder Springs

Dillon White, Temple

Barbara Wooley, Dallas

GA-PICKENS

Julie Hak, Talking Rock

GA-POLK

Ebrahem Abdul-rahman, Cedartown

Guillermo Aguilar, Cedartown

Rebecca Alexander, Cedartown

Maggie Blankenship, Cedartown

Briceyda Cortes-Leon, Cedartown

Alexis Folsom, Cedartown

Guessly Gonzalez, Cedartown

Misty Hamrick, Cedartown

Kathryn Hatmaker, Cedartown

Madison Hopper, Cedartown

Jodi Ingebrigtsen, Rockmart

Bonnie Ingram, Cedartown

Sarah Jimenez, Cedartown

Kaleb Johnston, Cedartown

Joseph Landrum, Rockmart

Benjamin Nash, Rockmart

Jason Parker, Cedartown

Jessie Pope, Cedartown

Katlyn Register, Rockmart

Karen Rogers, Rockmart

Ethan Runyon, Cedartown

Kimberly Sanchez, Cedartown

Emma Sheffield, Cedartown

Justin Smith, Rockmart

Jennifer Vaughn, Cedartown

Abigail Williams, Cedartown

Kiyani Woods, Rockmart

GA-UNION

Jodie Bennett, Blairsville

NY-NEW YORK

Lena Walter-Helk, New York, NY

The following students were named to the Dean’s List (by county):

AL-CHEROKEE

Bailee Kerr, Piedmont, AL

FL-CALHOUN

Bryson Horne, Blountstown, FL

GA-BARTOW

Faith Affolder, Cartersville

Anthony Albertson, Cartersville

David Allen, Adairsville

Oskar Arnold, Cartersville

Elijah Bagley, Aragon

Sierra Baldwin, Taylorsville

Misty Bankston, Taylorsville

Stephen Barton, Cartersville

Shelby Bays, Euharlee

Andrew Belisle, Cartersville

Brandon Benham, Euharlee

Joria Brooks, Adairsville

Marissa Brooky, Cartersville

Carly Bucy, Cartersville

Ian Buttrum, Cartersville

Caroline Cantrell, Cartersville

Jose Cervantes-oporta, Cartersville

Carol Chapman, Acworth

Zachary Chastain, Cartersville

Linet Chege, Cartersville

Gavin Cissa, White

Justin Clark, Cartersville

Alyssa Cochran, Cartersville

Andrea Coheley, Kingston

Zachary Cowart, Cartersville

Rubi De La Rosa, Cartersville

Bryan Dittrich, Cartersville

Amanda Dougherty, Kingston

Natalie Eckert, Adairsville

Alexander Edwards, Cartersville

Vannesa Estrada, Cartersville

Dillan Frazier, Kingston

Ryan Frazier, Rydal

Catrina Gage, Euharlee

Sierrah Gani, Cartersville

Mikayla Goulding, Cartersville

Taryn Grant, Rydal

Aaron Green, Cartersville

Jocelyn Greene, Adairsville

Bridgett Hampton, Euharlee

Parker Hardin, Cartersville

Braden Harris, Cartersville

Daelen Harrison, Adairsville

Jessica Heath, Taylorsville

Kyle Heineman, Cartersville

Haleigh Holmes, Cartersville

Cheyenne Holt, Adairsville

Noah Holton, White

Erin Horgan, Cartersville

Jay Hornby, White

Rocio Huerta, Cartersville

Taylor Hutson, Cartersville

Kaitlin Irish, Cartersville

Kimberly Johnson, Cartersville

Ashlie Keith, Cartersville

Heather Kready, Cartersville

Brittany Layton, Cartersville

Kayla Lindsey, Rydal

Noah Little, Cartersville

Thacker Lively, Emerson

Karen Martin, Cartersville

Abigail Maryfield, Cartersville

Heather McDougle, Adairsville

Tabitha Mclendon, White

Adriana Mejia, Cartersville

David Mitchell, Euharlee

Vincent Myrick, Cartersville

Marissa Nash, Rydal

Fidelia Martha Omondi, Cartersville

Dylan Otting, Adairsville

Rebekah Owens, Cartersville

Oscar Paniagua, White

Jorita Perkinson, Cartersville

Kourtney Perry, Cartersville

Thomas Peters, Cartersville

Nicole Putz, Cartersville

Jacob Rawlinson, Euharlee

Katie Ray, Adairsville

Roger Redd, Adairsville

Brandi Rhodes, Cartersville

Victoria Roach, Cartersville

Kelli Rollins, Cartersville

Raisa Scott, Emerson

Kaitlyn Seagle, Cartersville

Alexis Sehorn, Cartersville

Caylee Silvers, Cartersville

Kalyn Simmons, Cartersville

Elijah Spencer, Adairsville

Sierrah Strange, Cartersville

Jorge Tinoco-Ramos, Cartersville

Megan Turner, Cartersville

Dalton Umphrey, Cartersville

Hennessy Valle, Cartersville

Harrison Vicknair, Cartersville

Jessica Wallace, Cartersville

Austin Weaver, Adairsville

Savannah Welch, Cartersville

Kayleigh Wheat, Cartersville

Donna Willis, Cartersville

Christina Wilson, Cartersville

Kristie Wood, Cartersville

Austin Yarborough, Cartersville

GA-CARROLL

Jessica Carney, Villa Rica

Alexander Carter, Villa Rica

Alexander Colas, Villa Rica

Abigail Michel, Villa Rica

Gregory Plagemann, Villa Rica

Robert Shipp, Villa Rica

Destiny West, Villa Rica

GA-CHATTOOGA

Autumn Bandy, Trion

Murphy Browning, Summerville

Jenifer Lopez, Summerville

MaCayla Mobley, Summerville

Jessica Smith, Summerville

Austin Southerland, Trion

William Woods, Summerville

GA-CHEROKEE

Savanna Adams, Canton

Jeton Aliu, Woodstock

Johan Avila, Woodstock

Hannah Bearden, Waleska

Stacie Broyles, Acworth

Yahna Butcher, Woodstock

Morgan Childers, Canton

Michele Clardy, Acworth

Amber Clark, Acworth

Jamie Covington, Canton

Jackie Croft, Canton

Mckenna Eidson, Acworth

Heather Gray, Canton

Morgan Hendrix, Ball Ground

Brittney Jenks, Cumming

Mackenzie Kendrick, Canton

Camila Lezcano, Canton

Hunter Moody, Acworth

Nykilah Page, Acworth

Maegan Payne, Woodstock

Areli Pineda, Acworth

Haley Prouty, Acworth

Virginia Ransom, Canton

Kindell Reeves, Canton

Ariel Rhue, Acworth

Emily Robertson, Canton

Noah Sanchez, Woodstock

Mark Spano, Acworth

Ashleigh Stafford, Canton

Haley Stooksbury, Woodstock

Jana Stubblefield, Woodstock

John Vaughan, Acworth

Calie Wargo, Canton

Logan White, Canton

Dorothy Wilson, Woodstock

Nina Wilson, Canton

Anna Winters, Acworth

Wesley Wyrick, Canton

GA-CLAYTON

Aniya Jackson, Riverdale

GA-COBB

Arturo Abarca, Marietta

Neveen Abaza, Marietta

Marshall Adams, Kennesaw

Michelle Alberto, Acworth

Madison Almond, Kennesaw

Danielle Anderson, Austell

Jerry Antwi, Acworth

Elisabeth Archer, Kennesaw

Ramsey Ashworth, Powder Springs

Ariana Atega, Kennesaw

Naida Athimattathil, Marietta

Jessica Avila, Acworth

Taylor Bates, Marietta

Kerri Beaton, Kennesaw

Karime Betancourt, Kennesaw

Preston Biddle, Kennesaw

Samantha Blei, Powder Springs

Vladislava Bodnariuc, Kennesaw

Ayanlah Brocks, Kennesaw

Charles Brown, Powder Springs

Tshiamala Buatu, Kennesaw

Judith Burns, Kennesaw

Natasha Cabarcas, Marietta

Victoria Calvert, Acworth

Lindsey Camp, Powder Springs

Clayton Capalbo, Acworth

Zed Carroll, Marietta

Lorenzo Caseiro, Kennesaw

Brent Chadwick, Kennesaw

Hien Chau, Austell

Julia Cianflone, Powder Springs

Catherine Cooper, Marietta

Andrea Covarrubias, Austell

Charles Crider, Smyrna

Hope Davis, Acworth

Nia Davis, Marietta

Anthony Delfavero, Acworth

Tania Diaz, Smyrna

Rachel Driver, Acworth

Sarah Duncan, Acworth

Quinn Dunlap, Marietta

Jordan Dunn, Kennesaw

Mackenzie Duvall, Kennesaw

Joseph Estep, Marietta

Jacqueline Fernandez, Marietta

Joseph Fitzpatrick, Acworth

Carsyn Gambrell, Acworth

Evelyn Garcia, Marietta

Amber Geiger, Marietta

Jessica Geiger, Acworth

Tracy Gentles, Acworth

Tristin Gilliand, Powder Springs

Bethany Girard, Marietta

Ryan Griffin, Marietta

Sydnie Hand, Powder Springs

Jeremy Harris, Acworth

Jasmine Hernandez, Acworth

Lezli Herrera, Powder Springs

Greta Herron, Acworth

James Hillman, Kennesaw

Senna Houston, Marietta

Shelby Hughes, Acworth

Tejah Ironside, Powder Springs

Imani Jackson, Marietta

Jocelyn Jasso, Marietta

Julian Jenkins, Kennesaw

Rebekah Keenan, Powder Springs

Irfan Khan, Marietta

Lynn Kimwele, Kennesaw

Gregory Kruszka, Acworth

Felicha Laforest, Powder Springs

Julio Langarica, Marietta

John Lee, Marietta

Hannah Loccisano, Acworth

Niki Manandhar, Marietta

Carolina Martinez, Marietta

Sarvia Martinez, Kennesaw

Patrick Mcdonald, Acworth

Connor Mcminamin, Acworth

Sydney Meagher, Kennesaw

Larry Meisner, Powder Springs

Jeremiah Mendoza, Kennesaw

Sarah Miles, Marietta

Rocio Montealvo, Kennesaw

Madison Mosteller, Kennesaw

Zaynah Mualem, Acworth

Vivian Natasya, Marietta

Malaun Nelson, Kennesaw

Nia-Kali O’Brien, Marietta

Elizabeth Orrell, Marietta

Jose Pacas, Austell

Abigail Perez, Marietta

Jasmine Perez, Acworth

Bobby Pham, Kennesaw

Brooke Phillips, Acworth

Ashley Rabanales, Marietta

Juan Ramos, Smyrna

Jonathan Reynolds, Kennesaw

Samantha Riley, Acworth

Ramon Rivera, Marietta

Natalie Roe, Acworth

Jordan Rogers, Kennesaw

Tiesha Rogers, Marietta

Jeffrey Romero, Kennesaw

Jose Romero, Kennesaw

Patricia Rubacha, Kennesaw

Adrian Salinas, Austell

Jeniffer Salinas, Austell

Rosalba Sanchez, Marietta

Salmai Sanchez, Mableton

Morgan Scott, Marietta

Lilia Scott-Jones, Kennesaw

Jennifer Sebek, Acworth

Natia Shaw, Austell

Monica Silva, Marietta

Jackie Sims, Acworth

Zachary Sisk, Kennesaw

Rediet Sitotaw, Powder Springs

Kellyn Smith, Marietta

Georgia Southerland, Marietta

Allona Stanfield, Mableton

Brianna Taylor, Marietta

Oleg Tkachenko, Powder Springs

Karina Trujillo, Austell

Christofer Udave, Acworth

Deanna Villar, Marietta

Christen Wehunt, Marietta

Takiaya Wilson, Marietta

Lacy Wolfe, Powder Springs

Trinity Woodall, Kennesaw

Jesus Zamora, Marietta

Elizabeth Zapata, Marietta

Alejandro Zavala Tirado, Kennesaw

GA-DEKALB

Charisma Steele, Lithonia

GA-DOUGLAS

Allison Allen, Villa Rica

Dylan Allred, Douglasville

Maria Amaya, Douglasville

Ashley Anoh, Douglasville

Amber Antich, Douglasville

Jacob Battle, Douglasville

Kayla Berrios, Douglasville

Tiffany Berrios, Douglasville

Brenda Boyzo, Douglasville

Landen Brooks, Douglasville

Yaneila Camacho, Douglasville

Jorge Carbajal, Douglasville

Alexander Chukwuelue, Douglasville

Christopher Collins, Douglasville

Mahmod Deeb, Douglasville

Amanda Dorvelus, Douglasville

Megan Draper, Douglasville

Madelyn Edger, Douglasville

Anna Elliott, Douglasville

Patrick Hogan, Douglasville

Jelena Hooi, Douglasville

Kalee Kennedy, Douglasville

Ethan Lodge, Douglasville

Ibrahim MKadmi, Douglasville

Joshua McCrary, Douglasville

Daniel Melton, Douglasville

Robert Newborn, Lithia Springs

Ashton Reid, Douglasville

James Rusev, Douglasville

Jordan Scott, Douglasville

Payton Swann, Douglasville

Jordan Villafana, Douglasville

Porchia Williams, Douglasville

GA-FAYETTE

Angelina De Stefano, Fayetteville

GA-FLOYD

Kelsey Allred, Rome

Andani Angeles, Rome

Jeffrey Baker, Lindale

Lacey Baker, Silver Creek

Courtney Baron, Rome

Ethan Bartlett, Rome

Corey Bishop, Rome

Emily Brewer, Rome

Kaitlyn Broadaway, Rome

Jacob Brown, Rome

Allison Brumbelow, Rome

Stephanie Buitrago-Ariza, Rome

Miles Burton, Cave Spring

Paola Cano-Medrano, Rome

Alana Carroll, Shannon

Ashley Chapman, Rome

Lillian Chesnut, Rome

Davaughn Clayton, Lindale

Jackson Cosper, Rome

Tristan Cox, Rome

Russell Delaino, Rome

Jazmin Diego, Silver Creek

Rodney Dillard, Silver Creek

Michelle Douglas, Rome

Mason Edwards, Rome

Wesley Fednander, Rome

Alexandra Gonzalez, Rome

Maria Gonzalez Villeda, Rome

Cade Graham, Rome

Brandon Gray, Rome

Kenzie Green, Silver Creek

Grant Griffin, Rome

Cheyenne Hall, Rome

Peyton Hancock, Rome

Justin Hardin, Armuchee

Tori Hardy, Lindale

Blake Hunter, Rome

Kimberly Jenkins, Rome

Karleigh Jones, Armuchee

Lamya Khateeb Jabara, Rome

Mazen Khatib, Rome

Sidney Lacey, Cave Spring

David Legg, Silver Creek

Jeremy Linville, Rome

Christina Manuel, Rome

Ruby Martinez, Rome

Alexander McDermont, Rome

Kerri Mcclure, Rome

Justin Mcdonald, Silver Creek

Ansleigh Mclemore, Cave Spring

Angelina Mendez, Rome

Carmen Mijangos-melendez, Rome

Trent Mull, Rome

Lindsay Mullen, Rome

Yordi Orellana, Rome

Sarah Ozment, Rome

Kinsley Padgett, Rome

Ravena Patel, Rome

Cynthia Paz-calderon, Rome

Shehneez Pirani, Rome

Andrew Rainey, Rome

Ashleigh Ray, Cave Spring

Camrenn Reimschisel, Rome

Rachel Rentz, Rome

Luke Rhinehart, Rome

Shelby Rhinehart, Rome

Ethan Riggs, Rome

Kelsey Robinson, Rome

Robert Seymour, Rome

Elisabeth Shoemaker, Rome

Cassandra Smith, Rome

Olivia Smith, Rome

Brooklynn Stinchcomb, Rome

Illiyaan Sundrani, Rome

Ashlynn Sutton, Rome

Tristen Tolbert, Rome

Olivia Trammell, Rome

Samuel Traylor, Rome

Jazmine Vasquez, Rome

Skyler Vaughn, Rome

Julissa Vazquez, Rome

Kasey Williamon, Rome

Baylee Wright, Rome

GA-FULTON

Lauren Chapman, Atlanta

Marianne Kadamani, Alpharetta

Cooper Paschal, Atlanta

GA-GORDON

Marysue Adams, Ranger

Judith Anguiano Palmerin, Calhoun

Alicia Belcher, Calhoun

Michelle Carnahan, Fairmount

Sarah Carroll, Calhoun

Daniel Castillo-Matthews, Calhoun

Ann Marie Chastain, Adarisville

Harleigh Chastain, Fairmount

Lizeth Cornejo, Calhoun

Tanya Farmer, Calhoun

Summer Garland, Calhoun

Madison Garnett, Calhoun

Odai Garrido, Calhoun

Dalton Geary, Calhoun

Elizabeth Lee, Ranger

Miriam Lister, Calhoun

Cambria Manning, Plainville

Kami Martin, Calhoun

Yesenia Palmerin, Calhoun

Ivie Parker, Calhoun

Riley Rule, Calhoun

Johan Santizo, Calhoun

Johnathan Torres, Calhoun

Joshua Walls, Plainville

GA-GWINNETT

Haley Ellis, Sugar Hill

Joelle Gregory, Duluth

Caroline Musco, Suwanee

GA-HARALSON

April Smith, Bremen

Georgia Steele, Felton

GA-HENRY

Nonjabulo Ncwaba, Mcdonough

GA-PAULDING

Jolie Ahrens, Powder Springs

Justin Anderson, Dallas

Cassidy Autenrieth, Dallas

Majalay Batiste, Dallas

Erin Beasley, Hiram

Joshua Beatty, Dallas

Weeldy Benjamin, Dallas

Albina Beqiri, Dallas

Matias Bernat Fuks, Hiram

Morgan Bishop, Hiram

Grace Blain, Dallas

Jordan Bowzard, Douglasville

Brianna Brewer, Dallas

Kathryn Bullard, Acworth

Andjelo Chopov, Dallas

Andrew Colbert, Dallas

Lizeth Cortes Alcaraz, Dallas

Hunter Crosswhite, Hiram

Katherine Cuellar, Dallas

Deja Davis, Dallas

Hannah Davis, Hiram

Emily Dowse, Acworth

Alexandra Figueroa, Dallas

John Finch, Dallas

Kaitlyn Fiori, Dallas

Madison Foster, Dallas

Nina Franklin, Dallas

Jason Frederick, Dallas

Shelby Glosson, Dallas

Kenzie Hagerty, Hiram

Kirsten Hall, Hiram

Kristen Handberry, Powder Springs

Haley Hardin, Hiram

Ryleigh Harris, Dallas

Jessica Haskell, Hiram

Taryn Hitchcock, Hiram

Parker Hobbs, Dallas

Ashlee Horne, Dallas

Caitlyn Ingram, Hiram

Melvin Irvin, Dallas

David Jerome, Dallas

Jason Johnson, Dallas

Makiah Jordan, Hiram

Kyndall King, Dallas

Kara Ledbetter, Dallas

Matthew Lewis, Dallas

Mikayla Lewis, Hiram

John Lucas, Dallas

Aiden Maddux, Dallas

Sherell Mahadeo, Rockmart

Andrew Marks, Dallas

Leila McDaniel, Hiram

Rhiannon McPherson, Dallas

Kamryn Mckinley, Powder Springs

Lauren Mcrae, Acworth

London Mitchell, Acworth

Breanna Moore, Dallas

Katherine Moore, Dallas

Jackson Morris, Dallas

Derek Pazmino, Dallas

Lakeshia Pendleton, Dallas

Avery Penegar, Dallas

Rachel Pettigrew, Dallas

Joshua Pitts, Dallas

Brian Powell, Douglasville

Eden Reynolds, Hiram

Madison Samples, Dallas

Kirstan Sharp, Dallas

Meghan Shelton, Dallas

Taylor Shipp, Dallas

Brooke Smith, Temple

Cason Smith, Dallas

Tayler Smith, Dallas

Kari Soeder, Hiram

Charles Sprayberry, Dallas

Bailey Stilwell, Dallas

Donna Tempelman, Dallas

Dwight Thomas, Dallas

Madisyn Tonkin, Dallas

Andrew Vahanian, Dallas

Hannah Vande Zande, Dallas

Sarah Vanek, Dallas

Emily Varvel, Rockmart

Loren Walker, Dallas

Tatumn Walters, Dallas

Laci Weaver, Hiram

Madison Winters, Dallas

Briana Woullard, Dallas

Joshua Zacharewicz, Dallas

GA-PICKENS

Lisa Donohue, Jasper

Autumn Young, Jasper

GA-PIKE

Breanna Normandy, Williamson

GA-POLK

Sameeh Abdul-Rahman, Cedartown

Zachary Banks, Cedartown

Jessica Barber, Rockmart

Caleb Bennett, Aragon

Hannah Brown, Rockmart

Shirley Bryant, Aragon

Kaila Chivers, Cedartown

Collin Coleman, Cedartown

Veronica Cordero, Cedartown

Nancy Cruz, Cedartown

Latoya Davis, Cedartown

Aakayla Dudley, Cedartown

Lillian Hayes, Cedartown

Gabrielle Haynes, Rockmart

Abraham Hodgins, Cedartown

Madison Hulsey, Rockmart

Erick Infante, Cedartown

Arely Infante Cortes, Cedartown

Cameron Johnson, Rockmart

Avery Lawrence, Cedartown

Camden Lorys, Cedartown

Logan Maddox, Cedartown

Maggie Marchbanks, Cedartown

Keiyana Mccombs, Cedartown

Abigail Montgomery, Rockmart

Jaqueline Nunez-cruz, Cedartown

Dawson Sanders, Taylorsville

Juan Sibrian, Cedartown

Melody Skonieczny, Rockmart

Zachary Thaxton, Rockmart

Hannah West, Rockamart

Kera Wynn, Aragon

GA-SPALDING

Marissa Hendrix, Griffin

NC-ONSLOW

Rachel Clemons, Tarawa Terrace, NC

Georgia Highlands College will be holding a Career Expo highlighting a number of open positions on January 24 at Cartersville in the new GHC academic building from 1 PM to 3 PM.  The event is open to the public.

GHC is looking to fill a variety of positions in areas like admissions, the business office and more, including a number of part-time and full-time faculty positions.

“GHC is a growing and progressive institution with opportunities for great employees to grow with us,” Vice President for Human Resources Virginia Siler said. “With a focus on employee wellness and development, the culture is warm and embracing, while the work is fast paced and challenging.”

If interested, please bring your C.V. or resume to the event.

To learn more about the open positions and what it’s like to work at GHC, please visit: jobs.highlands.edu

Additionally, LakePoint Sporting Community will be joining the expo with a variety of positions open for spring and summer. LakePoint features state-of-the-art sports venues with a number of amenities, including onsite hotels, restaurants, themed retail, bowling, ziplines, water parks and much, much more.

To learn more about LakePoint, please visit: http: lakepointsports.com

Susan Claxton shows off a tattoo of an anklet with a starfish pendant as she explains the story of the starfish.

It goes something like this: a boy is frantically throwing starfish on the shore back into the ocean when a man walks up and asks him what he is doing. The boy explains the tide is receding, and if the starfish don’t make it out with the tide, they’ll die. The man tells the boy he’ll never be able to save them all and points out the miles of beach littered with starfish. The boy replied by picking up one, throwing it, and saying, “I made a difference to that one.”

If you ask Susan, nothing embodies her life and mission more than this story. She has made it her personal goal to help as many people as she can and to help people learn how to help others.

She wants to be a light to those in dark moments… because she was alone when it happened to her.

In 1983, her son was stillborn.

She remembers being rushed down the hospital hall to an ultrasound room. It was her, the doctor, and a nurse. She felt alone in the cold room as the doctor pointed out the baby’s organs on the screen.

“So, I asked him, ‘Is everything okay?’ and he said, ‘No, there’s no heartbeat.’ I remember a tear rolling down my cheek and nobody said anything. I didn’t feel like anybody cared… it was so sterile… it was just unreal.”

The hospital staff attempted to call her family, but no one answered. Everyone was on their way to the hospital expecting she would deliver soon.

“I went into shock. I remember lying in bed and saying, ‘I need Steven. It’s time to feed him,’ because I had already named him, and they told me, ‘Susan, he’s not here.’”

Later, they brought Steven to her, so she could hold him a while.

“After all that happened, I literally shut down.”

But one day while Susan was at church, she learned that one of the girls who was attending was deaf. The choir director explained that the girl couldn’t hear anything and was praying that someone might start attending the church who knew how to sign.

“This was right after my son died, and it felt like this was what I was meant to do.”

Susan’s church paid for her to attend GHC (then Floyd Junior College) to take classes on sign language. But after she learned and started helping, she wanted to do more. It was helping her to help others. So, she went on to graduate from GHC and then transferred to Georgia State where she earned her master’s in human services.

Shortly after she graduated, she returned to work at GHC (Floyd College) and eventually became the director of human services. She wanted to make sure she could teach others how to effectively help others going through dark moments like she had been through with her son.

“I cannot appreciate this college as a student or as a faculty member more. I can remember the first graduation I attended. I sat there and watched my human service students cross that stage and I cried,” she said. “It’s amazing to me, if I had not started here, I don’t know where I’d be today.”

While working at GHC, Susan’s daughter, Felicia, contracted a rare heart virus at 13 and had to have a heart transplant. Although the procedure went as planned, her body eventually rejected the new heart. In 1999, shortly after graduating high school, Susan’s daughter died at 18.

She said the college supported her in a way she can’t describe, and she wasn’t alone when her second child died like she had felt with her first.

“This is the kind of climate GHC has,” she said. “We truly care about one another. That’s the kind of place this is. I felt like as soon as I walked through the doors here, I knew I was home. This place has my heart.”

Soon after, human services students worked to put together the Felicia Claxton Memorial Scholarship, which is an ongoing Foundation scholarship for human services students at GHC. Susan proudly continues to give to the GHC Foundation and plans to for the rest of her life.

“I truly believe that everyone at GHC genuinely wants our students to succeed,” she said. “I want to put my money here to help support that effort. GHC is the place where I want my money to go. I give to GHC because my heart lives here. This is an amazing place. I can’t imagine being anywhere else or supporting any other cause. This is my home. It truly is.”

Susan, who goes by Dr. C to her students, recently completed her suicide prevention specialist course and passed her exam for the American Association of Suicidology. She is now the college and university suicide prevention specialist for GHC.

A crate late model race car bullets into the curve of a dirt race track in Georgia. Over 2,000 pounds of chassis, shocks, springs, tires, and sheet metal body careen at over 100 mph. The turn is so sharp, the car drifts sideways with its front toward the interior of the track and its bumper hissing inches from the wall. Over 6,800 rpms let the driver know he’s getting every bit of the 475 horsepower his engine has been fine-tuned to reach…

This is a typical Saturday for Georgia Highlands College student Logan Palmer.

When Logan was young, he raced karts on a pro circuit throughout the South. When he turned 15, he took a seat behind the wheel of a crate late model race car at a dirt track racing event at the Dixie Speedway in Woodstock… and he hasn’t stopped since.

“To be a driver, it’s an honor and a blessing to get to perform and race and have the ability to go out and do something not everyone gets the opportunity to do,” he said. “When you strap in and hear the engine roar, you feel like you’re a part of the car.”

Logan has been travelling across Georgia racing for several years now.

“It’s fun travelling around racing on different tracks. Every track feels different. You feel a lot of g-force. This car accelerates instantly, and your reaction time has to be perfect,” he said. “You have all these emotions going, but the actual feeling is indescribable.”

Logan snagged his first win in 2018. He said winning is all about seconds and the driver’s precision.

“Time is key. Time goes down to the hundredths, tenths of hundredths of a second. Time is critical.”

Despite how much skill it takes to race and win as a driver, Logan doesn’t take all the credit. He points out the car’s nose, body, tires, springs, shocks, and engine in his garage near Resaca, Georgia.

“There is no part of this car somebody did not put their hands on. Everything is custom, completely custom. There’s a lot of geometry and math that goes into making this car go,” he said. “Everything is made, adjusted, and customized to handle the speed and turns, and it all makes a huge difference. It takes everyone to make this car run.”

Logan stressed the importance of his crew and the preparation needed to make it into the victory lane.

“You have to trust your car. You have to trust the people setting up your car. And you have to trust yourself, because when a driver goes into the corner of a track hitting 100 mph, they have to trust all of it to get out of that corner. You can’t drive your car without that trust. That trust is going to help you take the car to the extreme and get the job done.”

Logan currently takes classes at GHC’s Cartersville location. He is working on his business degree and is glad he chose to start at GHC.

“I chose to go to GHC because it’s close to home. I can still go to school, I can still work, and it also gives me the ability to work on my car and be close to our shop,” he said. “I also have time to do what has to be done to maintain the car and get it ready to go to the race track each week.”

Logan said GHC’s caring faculty has really resonated with him.

“I was struggling in one class and my professor met with me after the class and that really helped me,” he said. “With me, that’s how I learn, having that one-on-one connection with my teacher.”

To follow Logan or attend one of his races, you can follow him on Facebook at Logan Palmer Racing.

Students at Georgia Highlands College (GHC) are now able to earn a bachelor’s in criminal justice entirely online. The new Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice comes from a partnership between GHC, Dalton State College and Georgia Southwestern State University.

Applications are currently being accepted with classes beginning in January.

The new area of study will be offered completely online at Georgia Highlands College, as a part of the University System of Georgia (USG) eMajor initiative.

The USG eMajor program has delivered flexible, online degree programs through multiple USG institutions since 2012. The purpose of eMajor is to provide affordable, quality, innovative, high-demand programs through traditional institutions, such as GHC.

“eMajor degrees are designed specifically for non-traditional students and include several benefits and student success resources in addition to those already available through GHC,” said Dana Nichols, GHC Vice President for Academic Affairs. “eMajor programs are ideal for those who need to balance work and family responsibilities with their pursuit of higher education.”

The purpose of the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is to prepare students for employment within the criminal justice system in the areas of local, state and federal law enforcement; corrections; juvenile justice, probation, etc. by providing students with a foundation of the knowledge, principles, theories and functions common to the American Criminal Justice system.

Upon completion of the new bachelor’s, students will demonstrate mastery of the essential content of the criminology core curriculum, demonstrate the ability to critically analyze major concepts and theoretical perspectives in criminal justice.

Students will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of essential elements of academic and professional writing; research; scholarship; and ethical values in the criminal justice field.

“The Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice is excellent preparation for a career in criminal justice, as well as graduate or law school,” Nichols said. “Once you obtain a bachelor’s degree, you have achieved a significant milestone for any criminal justice career that requires a degree.”

Highlights of the bachelor’s in criminal justice eMajor at GHC include:

• Affordable Tuition – eMajor tuition is $199/credit hour and is the same for both in-state and out-of-state residents.
• Student Success Coaches – outreach and support from the USG eMajor student success team.
• Free Online Tutoring – through Smarthinking and embedded librarians.
• Online and Accelerated Delivery – eMajor courses are offered entirely online in accelerated eight-week terms.
• POST Credit Accepted – Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) participation may provide officers with credit that can be directly applied to the Criminal Justice degree program, reducing time to degree completion. Over 30 credit hours have been identified from Georgia POST which could result in earned credit. In addition to POST credit possibilities, eMajor has identified several courses for which Credit for Prior Learning can be granted through challenge exams, portfolio submissions, or a hybrid of both.

To learn more about the bachelor’s in criminal justice or to apply, please visit: https://sites.highlands.edu/criminal-justice/

Questions about the bachelor’s in criminal justice can be sent to emajor@highlands.edu

The University System of Georgia (USG) recently released the USG’s total economic impact on the state of Georgia. Of the more than $16.8 billion reported by the USG as a whole, Georgia Highlands College’s contribution was over $168 million.

The USG report is for Fiscal Year 2017 and is conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.

GHC’s economic impact was exactly: $168,656,120

This represents an increase of over $19 million from the Fiscal Year 2016 report.

The report found these economic impacts demonstrate that continued emphasis on colleges and universities as a pillar of the state’s economy translates into jobs, higher incomes and greater production of goods and services.

“As we strive to graduate more students, keep college affordable and increase the efficiency in delivering education, it’s important to keep in mind that higher education is an investment, and from these numbers it’s a smart one,” Chancellor Steve Wrigley said. “Communities across our state and the state as a whole are benefiting from the economic engine that is the USG and its 26 institutions.”

The annual study is conducted on behalf of the Board of Regents by Jeffrey M. Humphreys, Ph.D., director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.

The full report, including impact by institution, is available here

Current and past economic impact studies can be found at: http://www.usg.edu/news/archive/category/economic_development

Instructor of Physical Education Jonathan Howard climbs onto the tables at the front of his class. He is about to demonstrate to his students how to measure the intensity of exercise by how easy it is to talk while increasing the speed of activity. He runs along the tables in front of the class as he lectures.

The students are laughing… but more importantly, says Howard, they are learning.

Howard was honored as the 2018 Cobb County Chamber of Commerce teacher of the year for Georgia Highlands College for his devotion to students and his unique approach to teaching.

“The biggest thing is I make sure that students can relax while they learn by trying to make sure they can laugh throughout class,” Howard said. “Students can ask questions at any time and I will always do my best to answer them, even if we have to find that answer together in class. If students are interested in something, we will make class about those topics instead of what the textbook may be trying to have us cover that day.”

Howard started at GHC in 2016. He holds a Master of Science in Applied Exercise and Health Science with a concentration in Exercise Physiology from Kennesaw State University.

He was drawn to work at GHC because he “saw how much the institution cared about the students and how closely they work with them to help them succeed.”

Howard’s own formula for student success is to be as interactive as possible.

“The best part of teaching is coaching students to answer questions that they have no clue on how to answer,” he said. “You start by letting them tell you what they know and then guide them with small questions that they can connect to answer complex question. When you see the face of student when everything connects and they can fully explain it, it is a worthwhile experience.”

Howard teaches a variety of courses, including physical education courses and science labs. He stated that he “loves to teach these courses” because the content “directly relates” to students and can be explained through “examples all students have gone through.”

Howard said he was honored to represent GHC and be chosen as the 2018 Cobb County Chamber of Commerce teacher of the year for the college.

“This honor is very meaningful,” he said. “When I won this award, many people showed me how much influence you can have on those around you. This award also reaffirmed that I am doing what is right to help this institution and my students.”

The Student Government Association (SGA) at Georgia Highlands College collected nearly 300 pounds of relief items and travelled to Panama City, Florida, to aid Gulf Coast State College in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael.

Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida on October 10. It was one of the most intense hurricanes to hit the United States in recent years. To date, over 60 deaths and almost $15 billion in damages have been attributed to the storm.

Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) was one of many places affected by the hurricane.

Shortly after the storm in October, GHC’s SGA started a relief drive to collect items for those at GCSC, a college comparable in size and structure to GHC. By the end of the drive on November 16, students had collected items from all GHC’s locations.

The SGA packed and loaded nearly 300 pounds of relief items, including boxes of assorted clothing, over 60 pounds of nonperishable food, cases of water, tarps, various toiletries and hygiene products, sleeping bags and an assortment of other items like cleaning supplies, flashlights, bungee cords and storage tubs.

Just before Thanksgiving, SGA drove all the supplies down to Panama City. It took nearly six hours to reach their destination.

“When we were about an hour away from GCSC, the damage and destruction from the storm started to appear along the side of the highway as entire wooded areas were flattened in all directions,” Student Life Director John Spranza said. “Once we arrived in the city limits of Panama City, the vast amount of damage was heartbreaking. Very few buildings were not damaged or covered in tarps, debris still lined the roads and it seemed every tree had been snapped in half.”

Once the SGA students arrived at GCSC, they learned the college had lost one building and the rest of the campus was damaged by flooding and broken windows. GCSC’s SGA students even reported that half a dozen boats had been displaced from the nearby bay and were blown onto their campus, which had to be removed before they could re-open.

GCSC was closed for three weeks after the storm. Currently, the college has opened its library for 24-hours a day so students have access to a place with wi-fi. Additionally, GCSC is providing one free meal a day to all students, faculty and staff.

“I was able to meet the SGA president at Gulf Coast State College. He was extremely grateful for our contributions to their relief efforts,” GHC SGA President Danielle Griesemer said. “Overall this trip was productive and heartwarming. It felt nice to do good and give back. I hope this serves as inspiration for SGA and GHC as a whole to focus on more humanitarian efforts.”