Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georgia Film Academy’s new director to focus on emerging industries
By Amy Wenk – Staff Reporter
C. Scott Votaw has spent 25 years working for top production companies and another decade educating the next generation of entertainment workers. Now, he will serve as executive director of the Georgia Film Academy, which was established in 2015 to develop the workforce for the state’s booming film and television industry. “I feel like all my life’s work has led me to this position,” Votaw told Atlanta Business Chronicle. Votaw replaces Jeffrey Stepakoff, who stepped down last year as founding executive director. Stepakoff went on to start Content Talent South, a management company for writers and content creators. The Georgia Film Academy is a collaboration between the University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia and Georgia Board of Education, Votaw said.
The Georgia Sun
These are the 25 best colleges in Georgia
Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles. While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on. While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider. Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in Georgia using rankings from Niche. …#25. University of West Georgia: #23. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College; #22. Clayton State University; #16. University of North Georgia; #14. Kennesaw State University; #13. Georgia Southern University; #11. Georgia College & State University; #10. Georgia State University; #6. Augusta University; #3. University of Georgia; #1. Georgia Institute of Technology
Athens CEO
UGA Named No. 1 Military Friendly Institution in Nation
Amber George
For the third time in six years, Viqtory Media has named the University of Georgia the No. 1 Military Friendly tier 1 research institution. UGA was previously recognized as the top-ranked Military Friendly school in 2017 and 2021, and has been recognized as a Military Friendly school since the Student Veterans Resource Center’s inception in 2013. Jon Segars, director of the SVRC, said that the hard work of students and the excellent support of donors and alumni are the keys to UGA’s success.
Patch
“These awards embody USG’s dedication to academic excellence and our gratitude for these outstanding faculty and programs,” said USG Director of Teaching and Learning Excellence Denise Domizi, Ph.D., in the announcement. Beulah Narendrapurapu began teaching chemistry at Georgia Southern in 2013. Along with those classes, she has concentrated on STEM education research. In particular, she focuses on two things: designing animations for chemistry concepts and designing and studying intervention programs for increasing success in chemistry courses. “This recognition belongs to all those who encouraged me in my growth as an educator,” said Narendrapurapu. “My special thanks to the Faculty Center, Library liaisons, colleagues and all my educator friends who supported me and shared their valuable wisdom that led to this award.” Narendrapurapu will be honored at the annual Regents’ Scholarship Gala on September 8.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over $100K raised to transport UGA student on life support in Mexico
By Henri Hollis
College senior suffered brain hemorrhage while on spring break, friends say
After a University of Georgia student on spring break in Mexico suffered a serious medical emergency, a fundraiser to help transport her back to the United States raised more than $100,000 in less than 24 hours. Friends of UGA senior Liza Burke started the GoFundMe page Sunday, two days after she fell ill. According to the page, Burke was on a trip to Cabo San Lucas with a group of friends when she complained of a headache at breakfast Friday morning. She went back to her room to rest, and when her friends later found her there, they couldn’t wake her, the GoFundMe said.
Savannah CEO
Plug and Play Savannah to Host Series of Innovative Events to Transform Logistics
Staff Report
Plug and Play Savannah is proud to announce a series of events designed to showcase innovative technologies in the supply chain and logistics space. The first event, Innovation Alley, will take place on March 8th at the Savannah Convention Center from 3-5 PM and will serve as a reception immediately following the Georgia Logistics Summit. With 30 startups presenting new solutions focused on maritime, trucking, warehousing, and advanced manufacturing, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the logistics industry. Plug and Play Savannah is partnering with the Georgia Port Authority, Maersk, Georgia Power, SEDA, Foram Group, SLIC (Savannah Logistics Innovation Council), Savannah State University, Savannah Technical College, and Georgia Southern University to ensure a successful event. These partnerships demonstrate the dedication of Plug and Play Savannah to bring about positive change to the logistics industry.
The Times Georgian
UWG Newnan cuts ribbon on newly renovated north wing with student-centered spaces
Special To The Times Georgian
UWG Newnan cuts ribbon on newly renovated north wing with student-centered spaces
University of West Georgia and community leaders gather at the ribbon-cutting of the newly renovated north wing of UWG’s Newnan Campus on Thursday. The University of West Georgia officially opened the newly renovated North Wing of its Newnan Campus on Thursday, responding to the needs and expectations of students who take classes at UWG Newnan.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Students tackle “ethical hacking”
By H.M. Cauley
For 233 teens at Arabia Mountain High, playing video games may be a path to gainful employment. The Stonecrest school is one of top 10 in the metro area where students are vying for scholarships, prizes and potential jobs in the cybersecurity field. By playing the free CyberStart game, they’re putting their skills to use to work through levels of security problems that aren’t just fun and challenging: They’re an introduction to the industry. The game is part of a program overseen by the CyberStart America in Georgia Task Force, led by the University of North Georgia. The goal is to recruit more people to the field where the jobs are plentiful, said UNG’s Lindsay Linsky.
Athens CEO
UGA CyberArch Students Play Crucial Role in Making Cybersecurity Impact
Roy Parry
Local governments, K-12 school systems and rural hospitals looking to strengthen their cybersecurity are working with University of Georgia students to get a more comprehensive picture of how equipped their organization is to deal with online threats. Through CyberArch, UGA is addressing the challenges of cybersecurity for Georgia’s communities and businesses by helping these organizations build a broader awareness about cybersecurity threats and strengthen their cyber preparation and response actions. Student interns, working in teams of four, conduct a cybersecurity risk review through a series of assessment questions, then make a site visit before creating a final report that includes recommendations to enhance the organization’s cybersecurity posture.
Patch
Youth across the U.S. are increasingly at risk for mental health issues, and Georgia Southern University is directly responding to the needs of local youth. The University’s National Youth Advocacy and Resilience (NYAR) Research Center, which promotes scholarly and collaborative research with community partners to assist young people in overcoming conditions that may threaten their safety, health, emotional needs or intellectual development, recently awarded three seed grants to faculty for research that support youth advocacy and resiliency.
Athens CEO
Nonprofit Looks to Strengthen Growing Organization with UGA Support
Charlie Bauder
An Athens-based, multi-county nonprofit aims to prepare itself for growth by working with the University of Georgia to develop leaders within its organization. The UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development has developed a leadership skills and mentoring program for Brightpaths Athens, an organization that works to build stronger families through education, connection and support in Clarke, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, Oconee, Oglethorpe and Walton counties.
13WMAZ
Central Georgia economist breaks down California bank failures
The FDIC insures any deposit under $250,000. Its only “high wealth individuals,” that may have more than $250,000 in their checking account, that risk losing money.
Author: Caleesha Moore
Georgians are taking an increased interest in the state budgeting plans after two large California banks failed. President Biden on Monday told Americans that the nation’s banking system is safe and their deposits are secure. With issues surrounding those banks, many people are concerned about what it means for their own financial situation. To answer some of those questions Caleesha Moore sat down with Middle Georgia State University economist Greg George.
Augusta CEO
Augusta University Announces 2023 Distinguished Alumni, Outstanding Young Alumni
Valerie Emerick
Augusta University has announced the recipients of the institution’s 2023 Distinguished Alumni and Outstanding Young Alumni awards. The winners will be formally recognized at their college events during the university’s Alumni Weekend from April 28-30.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Damon Stoudamire hired as Georgia Tech’s next head coach
By Ken Sugiura
Georgia Tech moved quickly to chart its new course in men’s basketball. Boston Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudamire was hired Monday as the new coach of the Yellow Jackets. Following reports of the 13-year NBA veteran emerging as a candidate in the morning, the hire was finalized in the afternoon. The move comes three days after athletic director J Batt dismissed coach Josh Pastner after seven seasons.
Savannah Morning News
How Savannah’s Bowles twins closed out their college basketball journey at Savannah State
Dennis Knight
Eleik and Elavian Bowles are Savannah natives who grew up with basketball in their blood. They developed their games at the Delaware Community Center, showed their potential as youngsters at East Broad Middle School and became prep stars playing for Utaff Gordon at Johnson. The identical twins are never far apart — and its was a package deal when they decided to play at Gordon State College in Barnesville, a junior college program. After two years there — they decided to come back home to play for Horace Broadnax at Savannah State. Their college basketball experience ended on March 2, when the Tigers lost to Benedict College in the SIAC Tournament hosted by Savannah State. …Elavian Bowles is also a supervisor in the UPS warehouse in Garden City, working about 25 hours a week. He also takes his studies seriously, and has a 3.45 GPA at SSU, where he is majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with scientific concentration, just like his brother. They are both set to graduate in May.
WRDW
7-foot center making his mark on Augusta University basketball
By Daniel Booth
Athletes can be in a unique position to inspire others and give people someone to look up to. Being that person to look up to is even more likely. Sometimes an athlete comes along that helps change the trajectory of a program. For the Augusta University men’s basketball team, that player is seven-foot-one center Tyshaun Crawford. …Crawford started his college career at Georgia Southern, but after his freshman year, he transferred to Augusta looking for a new start.
WRBL
by: Chuck Williams
A frank discussion about the Iraq War is happening this weekend at the National Infantry Museum just off the Fort Benning gates. A symposium is co-sponsored by Columbus State University and started Friday morning. This symposium resumes Saturday morning at 9 and concludes at about 4 in the afternoon at the National Infantry Museum off of South Lumpkin Road. The event is open to the public at no cost. At this point – the 20th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War – the conflict is passing from a current event into the history books. And this two-day conference has brought scholars and warriors to the same room to discuss the war and the lessons learned.
See also:
Savannah CEO
Staff Report
TEDxSavannah has selected 15 speakers for the 12th Annual TEDxSavannah event, which will take place on Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Fine Arts Auditorium at Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus, located at 11935 Abercorn St. The TEDxSavannah theme for 2023 is Connection. Speakers will address the theme from a wide range of perspectives that will resonate deeply with the greater Savannah community.
Dalton Daily Citizen
Local robotics teams advance to district playoffs
By Charles Oliver
Three teams from the Greater Dalton area excelled in the 2023 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics competition at the Peachtree District Qualifier at the Dalton Convention Center over the weekend. The Fighting Mongooses from the Northwest Georgia College & Career Academy received the Imagery Award for robotic and team appearance and were part of an alliance of teams that finished fourth in the playoff tournament. The Mountaineers from North Murray High School received the Autonomous Award for the most consistent and reliable robot. The Mountaineers and the Dalton High School Catabots were part of alliances that tied for fifth place in the playoff tournament. The next competition for the local teams will be at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, March 23-25. The district championship will be held in Emerson at the LakePoint Champions Center, April 6-8.
Higher Education News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New rift over HOPE funding divides Georgia leaders
By Greg Bluestein
Gov. Kemp presses for full funding of popular scholarship
A few weeks ago, Gov. Brian Kemp tucked a surprise into his spending proposal for the upcoming fiscal year: A budget item that would boost funding for the HOPE scholarship and at least temporarily end the two-tier award system that many lawmakers long hoped to eliminate. The plan won plaudits from Democrats who otherwise oppose Kemp’s agenda, pledges of support from GOP lawmakers and hoorahs from student groups. But now the extra funding is at the center of a rift over higher education funding. The Georgia House voted for a version of the budget last week that rejected Kemp’s proposal to fund the scholarships at 100% of tuition. Instead, it would boost the awards from 90% to 95% and reserve full funding to a smaller group of high-achieving students.
Inside Higher Ed
Bay State College Facing Eviction Over Unpaid Rent
By Josh Moody
Bay State College, an embattled for-profit institution in Massachusetts, is facing eviction over what its landlord claims is $720,000 in unpaid rent, WBUR reported. Bay State officials have disputed the amount owed, claiming the landlord, OMV Park Square, didn’t follow through on its promise to lower the rent in exchange for the college vacating part of the occupied premises. The matter will head to court in April if a settlement is not reached. The looming eviction comes amid other troubles at Bay State College, which was stripped of accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education in January, a move that will become official at the end of the current academic year. Bay State College appeared before a panel last week to appeal the decision.
Inside Higher Ed
The Myth of Education as Equalizer
A professor argues that the main purpose of higher education is not simply to prepare students for the workforce but to help solve society’s ills.
By Susan H. Greenberg
In his new book, The Education Myth: How Human Capital Trumped Social Democracy (Cornell University Press), Jon Shelton, a professor of democracy and justice studies at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay, traces how the predominant American view of education evolved from an instrument of democratic instruction to the primary path to a good job. Shelton spoke with Inside Higher Ed via Zoom. Excerpts of the conversation follow, edited for length and clarity.
Q: You call your book “the political history of an idea.” What is that idea and why do we need to know its political history?
A: The idea really, is how Americans think about education—what we want it to do. When the American education system was constructed in the 19th century—and that includes public higher education in places like Wisconsin, where I teach—the purpose was not to train future students for jobs; it was about training citizens for democracy. And so when massive inequality emerged from industrialization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the primary way that working people dealt with that wasn’t through arguing for more education; it was through forming labor unions, pushing for reforms that would do everything from reduce child labor to establish workers’ compensation.
Inside Higher Ed
Former Wisconsin Grad Student Arrested for Violent Threats
By Johanna Alonso
A former University of Wisconsin at Madison anthropology graduate student, Arvin Raj Mathur, was arrested for sending numerous violent and threatening emails to students, faculty and staff members at the university, The Detroit News reported. Threats included telling an anthropology professor that he would “murder every single person that you have ever been close to.” In the same email, he threatened to kill the children of a fellow in the anthropology department as well as of a former UW Madison staff member and “hide their flesh inside of their burger meat.” At least one victim said he had been receiving threatening WhatsApp messages from Mathur for months. …Mathur was arrested by federal agents upon arriving at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport Friday.