Georgia Highlands College’s nursing program was ranked as the “#1 Most Affordable Nursing Degree in Georgia” by College Choice.

This follows the program’s recent inclusion in GeriatricNursing.org’s article called ““30 Most Affordable Nursing Degree Programs,” and in 2015, being ranked second on a list of the 30 most affordable online RN-BSN degree programs in the nation put out by Great Value Colleges.

College Choice is a leading authority in college and university rankings and resources.

According to College Choice, the ranking was created based on the 30 nursing schools listed in the National Center for Education Statistics database. The schools that still have active programs were then ranked based on in-state tuition.

In its description of Georgia Highlands College, College Choice noted GHC’s special accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), its low cost and value, and the opportunity for students to earn both an Associate of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor in Science in Nursing.

The nursing program at GHC has full approval by the Georgia Board of Nursing, Agency member of the NLN Council of Associate Degree Programs, and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

For more information on GHC’s nursing program, please visit: https://sites.highlands.edu/nursing/

The full College Choice ranking is here: https://www.collegechoice.net/rankings/most-affordable-nursing-degrees-in-georgia/

Georgia Highlands College welcomed three new coaches over the summer for the men’s basketball team, the women’s basketball team and the softball team.

Greg Schiefen comes all the way from Corning, New York. He will serve as the assistant men’s and women’s basketball coach.

Schiefen is a graduate of the College at Brockport, State University of New York, where he was a four-year letterman in basketball and earned his degree in sports management and coaching. He holds an ISSA Strength and Condition Certification, as well.

Before GHC, he coached at Corning Community College, Alfred University and Misericordia University.

“I always knew I wanted to coach,” he said. “I enjoy being able to relate to the players and help them move on to the next level.”

For Shakierya McClendon and Karlie Worley being brought on to GHC’s coaching staff is just like coming home. Both of these new coaches are former GHC student athletes.

Shakierya McClendon is originally from Dooling, Georgia. She will serve as the assistant women’s basketball coach.

She graduated from GHC in 2014, and then went on to earn her bachelor’s in criminal justice from Shorter University in 2016.

McCelndon currently holds the record at GHC in women’s basketball for most assists in a single game (18), most steals in a single game (10), most points in a season (525), most 2FG made (194), most FT made (113), most steals in a season (151), steals per game (4.58), most assists in a season (232), assists per game (7.03), as well as a career record holder at for points.

“I am a witness that GHC helps players become better people, better students, and better athletes. I look forward to being a part of that and I will forever be grateful for this opportunity,” she said.

Karlie Worley is originally from Summerville, Georgia. She earned her associate in mathematics from GHC in 2015. She then graduated from Berry College in 2017 with a bachelor’s in mathematics.

She will serve as the assistant softball coach.

While at GHC, she was a member of the inaugural softball team, made All-Region First Team and was named the Offensive Player of the Year.

“It is so exciting to be back at GHC,” she said. “Playing for GHC was an awesome experience and I am excited to be a part of providing this experience to others.”

For more information on the teams and student athletes at GHC, please visit: http://ghcchargers.com/

PICTURE: Greg Schiefen, Karlie Worley, Shakierya McClendon

Georgia Highlands College kicked off another academic year by honoring its faculty and staff from each of its campuses for the 2016-2017 academic year at its annual in-service meeting.

GHC also welcomed 16 new full-time faculty from varying educational experiences and backgrounds.

The 2016-2017 awards and recipients were:

Outstanding Administrator Award — Jennifer Hicks

This award is designed for administrators who consistently project a positive image and who serve the college above and beyond the call of duty. This award recognizes an administrator who actively contributes to the success of the college and his or her staff. Hicks is the director of academic success.

Vivian Benton Award — Xinia Smith-Camacho

This award is designed for staff members who consistently project a positive image and who serve the college above and beyond the call of duty. This award recognizes a staff member who actively contributes to the success of the college. Smith-Camacho is a financial services accountant.

Community Involvement Award — Jason Christian (Faculty), Seth Ingram (Staff)

This award is designed to recognize individuals who significantly impact our community. This award recognizes a faculty/staff member who demonstrates a passion for making a difference by sharing their spirit, positive attitude and time with others. Christian is a biology instructor. Ingram is an ITS regional operations manager.

Employee of the Year – Andrea Mathis

This award is designed to recognize individuals who consistently support the mission and goals of the institution by routinely demonstrating our shared values and supports an environment of excellence. Mathis is a client support specialist. 

Department of the Year — Division of Natural Science & Physical Education

This award is designed to recognize the department which consistently supports the mission and goals of the institution by routinely demonstrating our shared values and supports and supports an environment of excellence.

New full-time faculty include:

Zarle Williams is a graduate of Georgia State University and Vermont College, where he earned his master’s in English and master’s in writing respectively. He joins GHC as an instructor of English at the Marietta location.

Zachary Johnston earned his master’s in mathematics from the University of West Georgia. He joins GHC as an instructor of math at the Paulding location.

James Cady will be an instructor of history at the Cartersville location. He received his master’s for teachers in history from Indiana University.

Ki Song holds a master’s in secondary mathematics education and a specialist degree in secondary mathematics education from Kennesaw State University. Song joins GHC as an instructor of math at the Cartersville location.

Tracy Knight is an instructor of math at the Cartersville location. Knight earned a master’s in mathematics from Nova Southeastern University.

Kamisha DeCoudreaux holds a master’s in mathematics from the University of Texas, and will join GHC as an instructor of math at the Douglasville location.

Venkata Chaganti joins GHC as an instructor of physics at the Marietta location. Chaganti earned a doctorate in physics from Georgia State University.

Banhi Nandi will be at the Cartersville location as an instructor of biology. Nandi holds a master’s in teaching secondary biology from Mercer Univeristy and a master’s in zoology from Kalyani University in India.

Thomas Earp earned a master’s in communication from the University of South Florida. Earp will be an instructor of communication at the Floyd location.

Brandy Rogers earned a master’s in integrative biology from Kennesaw State University, and will be an instructor of biology at the Cartersville location.

Erica Simpson is an assistant professor of communication at the Floyd location. Simpson holds a master’s in communication from Ball State University.

Danny Bellinger will be an instructor of English at the Paulding location. Bellinger earned a master’s in writing from Goddard College.

Julia Reidy earned a master’s in professional writing from Kennesaw State University. Reidy will be an instructor of English at the Cartersville location.

Jocelyn Steward is an assistant professor of healthcare management at the Floyd location. Steward earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Alabama.

Amanda McFarland joins GHC as an instructor of dental hygiene at Heritage Hall. McFarland holds a master’s of health science from Nova Southeastern University.

Kristin Baumann is an instructor of dental hygiene at Heritage Hall. Baumann earned a master’s in public health from Augusta University.

Click here to see more photos from the event

The Wake Forest men’s basketball program announced Monday the addition of graduate transfer Terrence Thompson. A 6-7 forward, Thompson transfers to Wake Forest from Marshall, where he averaged 9.1 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Thundering Herd last season.

Thompson, a native of Durham, graduated from Marshall with a major in biology and a minor in psychology last year.

“Terrence is someone who comes in with a level of maturity and experience that will be very beneficial to our program,” said head coach Danny Manning. “He wants to have to have the best year he can possibly have and help our team do the same. We like having guys come in as fifth-year guys and bring that mindset. It is very beneficial to our team and helping our players develop.”

Thompson appeared in 23 games, starting 21 contests, at Marshall in 2016-17. He had three double-doubles and three 20-point games, including a 25-point, 10-rebound performance against UTEP. Thompson had nine double-figure scoring games and six double-figure rebound games while averaging 22.3 minutes per game.

In his first season at Marshall, in 2015-16, Thompson was the Thundering Herd’s sixth man, appearing in 32 games off the bench. He averaged 3.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while earning the team’s Most Improved Award from the coaching staff.

Thompson began his collegiate career at Charlotte in 2013-14, where he redshirted. In 2014-15, he played his redshirt freshman season at Georgia Highlands College, where he averaged 9.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game at the team reached the NJCAA D-I Final Four.

Thompson has also been a standout in the classroom during his undergraduate career, being named to the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times (once at Charlotte and twice at Marshall).

“Wake Forest is a prestigious university with a great coaching staff that will help me develop my game,” said Thompson. “I have the opportunity to maximize my growth, both on and off the court, by coming here. The opportunity to play at the highest level of college basketball, in the ACC, will allow me to reach my potential as a player.”

Thompson played his high school basketball at Riverside High School in Durham, earning Durham Herald All-Area honors. He also played one year at Gray Military Academy, helping the prep school to a 31-3 record in its inaugural season.

AS SEEN IN: http://www.wralsportsfan.com/durham-native-terrence-thompson-a-graduate-transfer-to-demon-deacons/16911463/

The University System of Georgia recently released the USG’s total economic impact on the state of Georgia. Of the more than $16 billion reported by the USG as a whole, Georgia Highlands College’s contribution was over $149 million.

The USG report is for Fiscal Year 2016 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: $149,423,968.

This represents an increase of nearly $17 million from the Fiscal Year 2015 report, which means the college has increased its impact by more than $30 million since the Fiscal Year 2013 report.

The University System’s economic impact grew $1.3 billion, an increase of 8 percent, from fiscal year 2015 to 2016. The increase is attributed to “spending by the institution and spending by the students who attend that particular college or university.” On average, for every dollar spent by the university, an additional 52 cents is generated for that institution’s region.

“The University System is committed to its role in supporting and advancing the economic growth of the State of Georgia,” said Chancellor Steve Wrigley. “These numbers reflect the hard work and support of Georgians across the state, and we hope to continue to drive innovation, workforce development and job creation for years to come.”

The economic impact of the USG is a measure of direct and indirect spending that contributes to the regions served by the System’s colleges and universities.

To calculate the economic impact for FY16, the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business analyzed data collected between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016. The annual study is conducted on behalf of the Board of Regents by Jeffrey M. Humphreys, Ph.D., director of the Selig Center.

The full study with data for all USG institutions is available at: https://www.usg.edu/assets/usg/docs/USG_Impact_2016.pdf

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

Georgia Highlands College has announced students named to the 2017 summer 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 for summer semester (by county):

BARTOW

Shawn Bunyard, Euharlee

Morgan Callari, Cartersville

Jesse Chupp, Cartersville

Rachel Craig, Adairsville

Kristyn Digiovanni, Cartersville

Kelsie Dobson, Cartersville

Anna Furrow, Cartersville

Milisa Gallardo, Cartersville

Mallory Jackson, Cartersville

Kristy Lee, Cartersville

Marissa Nash, Rydal

Dana Rieske, Kingston

Jennifer Ringenberg, Euharlee

Madison Rogers, Cartersville

Sarah Scanlon, Cartersville

Patricia Spivey, Cartersville

CHATHAM

Renata Berni, Pooler

CHATTOOGA

Austin Fordham, Summerville

CHEROKEE

Alexandra Deaton, Canton

Amy Holley, Canton

Carol Kendrick, Canton

Rebecca Newton, Canton

Hannah Ransom, Canton

Macy Williams, Canton

COBB

Aaron Anderson, Acworth

Chloe Avery, Acworth

Chelsea Baasch, Powder Springs

Diana Clarke, Kennesaw

Etsegenet Endale, Powder Springs

Rabia Paracha, Acworth

Kelly Pereira, Kennesaw

Mary Powell, Dallas

Shannon Roberts, Marietta

Nachell Sanfilippo, Smyrna

Tonya Smith, Acworth

Rachel Taylor, Acworth

Margaret Wright, Powder Springs

COWETA

Kassie Hite, Newman

DEKALB

Kyle Keas, Atlanta

DOUGLAS

Cortavius Byrd, Douglasville

Abigail L’hoste, Douglasville

Kathleen Stone, Winston

FLOYD

Joshua Dempsey, Rome

Jazmin Diego, Silver Creek

Veronica Escutia, Rome

Courtney Hann, Lindale

Jamie Heyward, Rome

Sadiq Huda, Rome

Dylan Nelson, Lindale

Katelen Oakes, Rome

FORSYTH

April Powell, Cumming

GILMER

Ashley Barr, Ellijay

GORDON

Maria Martinez, Calhoun

GWINNETT

Lashavia Person, Duluth

HARALSON

James Adams, Bremen

Layton Pope, Tallapoosa

PAULDING

Kerry Benjamin, Dallas

Isaiah Carson, Dallas

Tiffany Cory, Dallas

William Evans, Dallas

Ashleigh Freeman, Powder Springs

David Maulding, Temple

Erica Molohon, Dallas

Christina Samples, Dallas

Ariel Skinner, Hiram

Sabrina St.Martin, Dallas

PICKENS

Sasha Milks, Jasper

POLK

Anna Bowman, Silver Creek

Maddison Hamrick, Cedartown

Jessica Harris, Taylorsville

Lisa Tracy, Rockmart

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

BARTOW

Alex Ayers, Cartersville

Beau Benefield, Cartersville

Tabitha Cantrell, Cartersville

Emma Hartley, Cartersville

David Kindred, Cartersville

Tori Pritchett, Kingston

Kaylee Shelton, Cartersville

Jaeda Smith, Cartersville

Kristen Summey, White

Jacelyn Wells, Cartersville

Karon Willingham, Rydal

CARROLL

Krista Adams, Temple

CHEROKEE

Andrea Crabb, Woodstock

Leah Ruff, Canton

COBB

Catherine Antonuccio, Kennesaw

Heather Carlock, Marietta

Sabrina Harding, Powder Springs

Danielle Mecum, Marietta

Himaanshu Puri, Kennesaw

Myrna Rios, Powder Springs

Alexander Rogers, Marietta

Shanna Salcedo, Austell

Tiffiany Stewart, Smyrna

Lasharria Taylor, Marietta

Carson West, Acworth

COWETA

Alex Neal, Senoia

DEKALB

Julia Hart, Stone Mountain

DOUGLAS

Crystal Amadi, Douglasville

Ashly Reynolds, Douglasville

Melissa Romero, Douglasville

Sara Schulmeister, Douglasville

FLOYD

Payton Carter, Calhoun

Kinslee Clevenger, Rome

Areeba Farooq, Rome

Justin Hardin, Armuchee

Giselle Luna, Rome

Joy Mendoza, Armuchee

Jade Pilcher, Cave Spring

Dorothy Vanderford, Rome

Teresa Weaver, Rome

FORSYTH

Jocelyn Shaw, Cumming

GORDON

Tiffany Chastain, Fairmount

Sarah Ferguson, Calhoun

Katelin West, Calhoun

Alexis Young, Calhoun

GWINNETT

Noah Magner, Stone Mountain

HARALSON

Ashlan Richardson, Bremen

MADISON

Emily Poston, Commerce

NEWTON

Madison Orr, Oxford

Kerry Watson, Covington

PAULDING

Madelyn Appleby, Douglasville

Daniel Batchelor, Dallas

David Burgos, Dallas

Trevor Downs, Douglasville

Amanda Friend, Rockmart

Kyle Kelley, Dallas

Katyna Knapton, Dallas

Rachel Ratke, Dallas

Kantra Rivers, Douglasville

Logan Seville, Dallas

Victoria Tudor, Dallas

Melissa Williams, Dallas

POLK

Kaley Callicott, Aragon

Margaret Gardner, Cedartown

Kaitlin Horne, Aragon

Joy McCulley, Cedartown

Kristen Prejean, Rockmart

Melissa Streetman, Cedartown

Jennifer Tomlinson, Aragon

STEPHENS

Feather Holbrook, Toccoa

Luca Alonzo is well on his way to college, even though he just turned 1 on Monday.

The dark-haired, dark-eyed infant with a shy smile was the winner of the 2016 Path2College 529 Plan Newborn Sweepstakes and now has $5,529 stashed away in a college savings account.

Born Aug. 14, 2016, at Cartersville Medical Center, Luca was randomly selected to receive the college fund from more than 2,800 babies born in Georgia last year who were entered by their parents or grandparents in the seventh annual statewide sweepstakes.

“We are thrilled to learn that a Cartersville Medical Center baby was selected to receive the Path2College Newborn Sweepstakes award this year,” CMC Director of Marketing and Public Relations Ginger Tyra said. “We’re proud to partner with Path2College and congratulate Luca and his family for receiving a great start to his future.”

Mitch Seabaugh, executive director of the Path2College 529 Plan, said he was “just thrilled to be here at Cartersville to recognize the winner.”

Luca, along with his mom, Sarah Kraft of Kennesaw, and grandparents John and Toni Kraft of Acworth, was presented a ceremonial check Wednesday morning at the hospital.

“529 plans have been a great tool for our kids to do college so we were hoping we could get something started for Luca, and this is a great way to kick it off,” said John Kraft, who entered his grandson in the sweepstakes. “My parents, our children’s grandparents, had made use of the 529 plan, and it’s been very helpful in their college, so when he was born, I started looking around, doing some research, and saw the sweepstakes. Just kind of signed up just on a passing thought and very, very excited to have won.”

He also said he was surprised when he was notified a few months ago that his first grandchild had won.

“When you enter these things, you don’t really think you’re going to win, but every now and then when it works out, it’s just great,” he said. “We’re glad to give Luca a good head start on a college fund.”

Toni Kraft also was surprised because she didn’t know her husband had entered.

“Total surprise, and we were a little skeptical at first that it was real,” she said. “Just really thrilled. We never win anything.”

Asked if it was a relief knowing her grandson has some money put back for college already, she said, “yes, very much, because we’re still trying to put our own two [daughters] through.”

“We’re working on that, so it’s great to know he’s got a little padding there,” she said. “And now that we’ve got the account, we can tell other people, instead of buying toys [for gifts], they can just add a little bit to that.”

Sarah Kraft, 23, was excited to win a college fund for her son.

“I think it’s awesome because we didn’t have a big savings for him yet so we’re excited to get something started for him,” she said. “It’s a good first-birthday present.”

The Georgia Highlands College nursing major didn’t know her dad had entered the sweepstakes and wasn’t convinced they had won when he told her.

“Well, I didn’t believe him at first, but I was super-excited because I know that’s how we get a lot of our money for college,” she said. “I’m just excited about it.”

John Kraft said his family is divided between Georgia Tech and Georgia so Luca will be “getting lots of advice about potential schools over the years,” but Sarah Kraft said she doesn’t have a preference.

“Whatever he wants,” she said. “As long as he’s going to school, I’m happy.”

As part of the sweepstakes, the hospital also received a check for $1,529 that it can use in whatever way it sees fit.

“We have designated the Path2College 529 Plan award money to be used specifically for a future project or patient resources in our mother/baby department,” Tyra said.

Seabaugh said his job is to make parents, grandparents and guardians aware of the state-sponsored plan and to encourage them to start thinking about the future of the children in their lives.

“Our task is to try to raise awareness in the state of Georgia [that] you need to start saving for college,” he said. “One of the things we want to emphasize is that the earlier you start, that gives you the opportunity to be able to save money so that when they make the decision about where it is they want to go to school, then they will have had some money saved.”

College funds also can help persuade young people to continue their education past high school.

“Studies have shown that children who have a college savings account are seven times more likely to actually go to college, so we feel like it’s very important that parents start saving,” Seabaugh said.

And it’s never too late to start.

“The thing we like to tell people is every dollar saved is one less dollar you’ve got to come up with in time to go to school or one less dollar in student debt,” Seabaugh said.

Luca is the first winner born at Cartersville Medical Center. Four of the past winners were born at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, and one was born at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.

On Jan. 1, the Path2College 529 Plan kicked off this year’s Newborn Sweepstakes.

Parents, grandparents and guardians of Georgia babies born in 2017 have until April 14, 2018, to enter the sweepstakes at www.Path2College529.com. Entrants must be legal residents of or taxpayers in Georgia and at least 18 years old.

The winner will be selected April 15, 2018.

Since the plan was established in 2002, more than $590 million has been withdrawn to pay for qualified higher education expenses for almost 36,000 students, and $2.3 billion has been invested to pay future education-related expenses, as of June 30, according to a press release.

“We want to continue to see these numbers rise, ensuring that more Georgia children have a solid financial plan to help them continue their education and achieve their dreams,” Seabaugh said.

AS SEEN IN THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS

UPDATED: As of (8/10/2017), GHC has harvested over 327 pounds of produce to donate to the Charger Food Pantry.

A humble 160-square-foot plot of grow space split between a greenhouse and raised beds at Georgia Highlands College’s Cartersville location is responsible for 260 pounds of produce being donated to GHC’s Charger Food Pantry.

The Charger Food Pantry was started in 2016 to meet the needs of food insecurity among college students.

“The problem of food insecurity is increasingly on the radar of many college administrators,” GHC Director of Student Support Services Angela Wheelus said. “Students are sometimes finding it difficult to focus or even stay in class, so if we can remove one of those barriers by providing access to food, then that’s what we need to do here at GHC. Many of our students are non-traditional, supporting families and working full-time while attending college. Food insecurity cuts across all demographics. That’s where GHC’s Charger Food Pantry comes in.”

Although the pantry is stocked with staple items like peanut butter, tuna, spaghetti sauce and other non-perishable food items, as well as personal items, students in need were unable to get fresh produce.

And that’s where the faculty and staff of GHC’s Natural Science and Physical Education division stepped in.

“Once we determined the ideal location, we started the design and construction process,” Dean of Natural Science and Physical Education Greg Ford said. “The goals of the project were always to support academic research opportunities for faculty and students as well as to address food insecurities and the needs of the Charger Food Pantry.”

Ford plans to expand the produce program from the Cartersville location to each of GHC’s locations. They are currently working with students in GHC’s student group Green Highlands to determine the best locations for additional gardens. The next one is planned for the Floyd campus.

The effort to grow produce for the pantry has been a labor of love for those at GHC.

“The greenhouse is managed by Joseph Collins, our laboratory coordinator in Cartersville, and several members of the faculty and staff work with Joseph to plan the planting season, maintain the greenhouse and harvest the produce,” Ford said. “We have also had student volunteers from Green Highlands working alongside us throughout the entire process, as well.”

Collins stated he hopes the produce inside the greenhouse will eventually be year-round, giving the pantry a steady supply at all times.

“We have donated 260.49 pounds of produce for the food pantry,” he said. “We try to grow produce that we think people will enjoy and will also provide a good value. This season we have grown potatoes, tomatoes, snap peas, summer squash, green beans, okra, carrots, cucumbers, peppers and watermelon.”

Collins explained that now that they are able to provide the fresh produce, they are looking for ways to provide students with simple recipes for easy-to-prepare meals using these fresh ingredients.

The GHC greenhouse is supported by a number of other individuals, as well, including Instructor of Biology Jason Christian, who has managed the engineering and construction of the greenhouse and raised beds; Associate Professor of Biology Jackie Belwood and Laboratory Coordinator Devan Rediger, who were involved in the early planning stages, have helped maintain the facility and worked to get the produce in the food pantry; and Professor of Biology Sharryse Henderson, who has provided additional resources for the project.

GHC’s Charger Food Pantry currently spans across all five of GHC’s locations across Northwest Georgia. Should you wish to donate to GHC’s Charger Food Pantry, please make monetary donations at any GHC business office in Rome, Cartersville, Marietta, Paulding or Douglasville. To make non-perishable food donations, please contact Student Support Services at: sss@highlands.edu

PHOTO: GHC Laboratory Coordinator Joseph Collins weighs this week’s intake of fresh produce grown at GHC for the Charger Food Pantry.