SoCPS March News Brief

Welcome to the March news brief for the School of Continuing & Professional Studies.

We have been engaged in programs that include student success, production services, literacy initiatives, educational programs on and off campus, and outreach to alumni.

February was a busy month for planning our summer programs. This year, we will welcome two new summer camps and a workforce development program.

Discover what we have accomplished and take note of our upcoming events and programs!

Also, follow us on our social media channels for updates on upcoming events and how you can get involved:

• Instagram - @gc.socps
• Facebook - @GCSchoolofContinuingandProfessionalStudies

Angela Criscoe, Executive Director

Defining success, being successful, and being in support of family and friends - Mr. Michael Clear

To support the Imagine 2030 Strategic Plan, Afterschool Achievement is seeking to partner with the College of Business & Technology, the College of Education, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Health Sciences to support GCSU Service learning students and to provide supplemental programs to youth during afterschool times 3:30-6:30 pm. If you are interested in partnering, please contact Sequena Stanton, Director of Afterschool Achievement at 478-445-5613.

The High Achievers Program

The High Achievers will participate in two upcoming programs:

• March 8 - Call Me Mister summit in partnership with Dr. Whitaker at KSU
• March 23 - Youth leadership summit in Athens at the Classic Center. in partnership with GUIDE, INC.

Program Coordinator, Kenneth Daniels, solicited the support of the following guests to participate in the HAP speaker series: AAIM Speaker - Anthony Dodson and J. Thomas.

The HAP also collaborated with the following GCSU departments and community businesses to provide activities for the High Achievers Program:

• GCSU Academic Outreach
• GCSU African-American Initiative for Males
• GCSU Communications Department
• Provision Counseling
• Tree Top Training

More of the HAP activities this month can be viewed on the newsletter tab in the High Achievers Newsletter.

To sign up as a guest speaker for the High Achievers Program, please email Program Coordinator, Mr. Kenneth Daniels at kenneth.daniels@gcsu.edu or contact Mr. Daniels at 478-445-8509.

The YES Program at Lakeview Academy and Oak Hill Middle School
The YES Programs at LVA and OHMS continue to support the district-wide literacy initiative using iReady. The newly created Baldwin Reads - Literacy Academy Afterschool Program provides additional academic support in the areas of ELA to students in grades 3-6 who are struggling in reading.

More about YES at LVA can be viewed in the LVA newsletter, and more about YES at OHMS can be viewed in the OHMS newsletter.

Sequena.Stanton@gcsu.edu

Registration is now open for our Science and Creature camps! These camps fill quickly, so register today online in the CPE catalog.

Follow us on Instagram @gcacademicoutreach and Facebook @GCCATS

Ruth.Eilers@gcsu.edu

We partnered with the Baldwin County School District and funding from the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center to place a strong emphasis on early literacy at the Early Learning Center.

Sophie Walters, Communities in Schools of Milledgeville/Baldwin County, Inc. Site Coordinator, isn't just reading stories at Baldwin County Early Learning Center - she's igniting a passion for language!

By bringing Communities in Schools' support, story times and the Ferst Readers Program to Head Start preschoolers, she's unlocking the powerful benefits of early literacy:

• Brainpower Boost: Reading exposes young minds to new words, ideas, and concepts, building a strong foundation for future learning.
• Imagination Soars: Stories spark creativity, allowing children to explore different worlds and perspectives, fostering empathy and emotional intelligence.
• School Readiness: Early literacy skills like phonemic awareness and vocabulary predict later reading success, giving these Head Start students a head start!
• Community Connection: Sophie isn't just a teacher; she's a community partner, bridging the gap between school and home, encouraging family engagement in literacy.

Through engaging story times and community support, Sophie is nurturing a love of reading that will bloom for years to come!

So, the next time you hear a group of giggles erupting from Baldwin Early Learning Center, remember – it's more than just fun and games. It's the sound of young minds taking flight, fueled by the magic of books and the caring support of their community.

Janet.Cavin@gcsu.edu

Summer camp registration is open!

We've got Kids' U and Specialty camps for kids' 3rd grade and up.

Athletic camps are coming too, so check out our new summer camp catalog online.

We're hiring summer camp counselors! Interested candidates, age 18+, can learn more on our site.

Angie.Woodham@gcsu.edu

Learn more about how Georgia College & State University's Workforce Development programs can be customized for your needs and help you acquire, retain, and upskill your workforce to gain a competitive advantage.

For more information contact:

Sheryl Melton, Workforce Development Program Coordinator

sheryl.melton@gcsu.edu

478-445-5278

SAVE THE DATES!

Flannery’s 99th birthday celebration at Andalusia

Thursday, March 21

6:00 p.m.

Performance by Colin Cutler

Andalusia Storytelling court

Saturday, March 23

Flannery O'Connor's 99th Birthday celebration!

Birthday Cake & Singing

Free Tours

Andalusia

Opening of new exhibition in the Andalusia Interpretive Center:

Flannery O’Connor’s miniature collection

Monday, March 25

Virtual Event

Time - TBD

Louis Cline and members of O'Connor family

Matt.Davis@gcsu.edu

Our team has provided production services to a variety of programs on and off campus. We were proud to support and see the success from the students in the Department of Theatre and Dance as they showcased their spring musical, "We Will Rock You!"

Remember, if you need help from production services, please Start here for our support.

Keith.Bergeron@gcsu.edu

Innovate, Distinguish, Empower, Engage, Advance

Imagine 2030 Strategic Plan

Join me in accomplishing the goals that will fullfill the mission of GCSU through a commitment to an expansive educational experience; highly intentional engagement; diversity and inclusive excellence; and preparation for leadership.

Angela.Criscoe@gcsu.edu

Dr. Melanie Devore, Professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, shared her expertise on "Beyond Dian Fossey’s 'Gorillas in the Mist,' Connecting Gorillas, Plants, and People" with the members of Reynold's Lake Oconee at the Linger Longer Living lecture series.

The year 2024 marks the 40th Anniversary of Dian Fossey’s publication of Gorillas in the Mist, a story of Fossey’s study of mountain gorillas that were vanishing in Africa. Dr. Melanie DeVore led a discussion exploring how gorillas, plants, and people all connect. The mountain gorillas are the largest primates and the biggest botanists, and they have much to teach us about ourselves and the world we share. In March of 2024, Dr. Melanie DeVore made her 11th journey to Rwanda to collaborate in mentoring undergraduate research with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGF) and the University of Rwanda.

Angela Criscoe was awarded a grant for $21,500 from the University System of Georgia for the development and implementation of a summer precollegiate workforce readiness program for youth experiencing foster care in Georgia.

The program will be developed and implemented through the expertise of Program Coordinator in Communities in Schools, Courtney Bentley, Director of CTAE and Assistant Principal, Natalie Stowe, and GCSU Employee Relations Specialist, Kayla Brownlow.

Seventeen other institutions are participating in this initiative and registration for these programs are open.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

TO BE ELIGIBLE, A STUDENT MUST:

• Be in foster care, a ward of the state, or emancipated
• Have the desire to go to a college or a university
• Complete all forms

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 5/17/2024

• Students, caseworkers, legal representatives, and individual who assisted in the completion of this application will receive an email containing a record of the answers submitted here.
• Once submitted, your application will be reviewed by staff at The J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development and forwarded to the available program(s) of your choosing.

FOR MORE PROGRAM INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Dawn Cooper – 404-962-3123; Dawn.Cooper@usg.edu or visit the program landing page.

GCSU Alumni Lifelong Learning Series is a collaboration between the Office of Alumni Relations and the School of Continuing & Professional Studies. Our goal is to share the talent and knowledge of our alumni and encourage lifelong learning in an ever-changing world.

REGISTER for our next FREE GCSU ALLS virtual lunch and learn event.

Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities that Come with Career Changes with Adam Hammond, Class of 2008.

April 17

12:00 p.m.

ZOOM

Join us at the 6th annual Leading Change Women’s Leadership Conference as we Flourish Forward and explore how this idea of leadership can shape lives, organizations, and communities for a brighter, more purposeful future.

REGISTER TODAY to PARTICIPATE in the CONFERENCE!

March 29, 2024

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Peabody Auditorium, Georgia College & State University

A collaboration among the Women's Center & LGBTQ+ Programs, Alumni Association, J. Whitney Bunting College of Business, The Office of Inclusive Excellence, Office of Community Engagement & Service, and the School of Continuing & Professional Studies.

Our mission is to enrich the economic, cultural, personal, and professional lives of Georgians through high-quality educational programs and comprehensive conference and academic support services.

We invite you to reach out with your ideas and suggestions as we continue to elevate our school, the university, our community partners, and families.