Destination Graduation: Making the Most of Your Journey

TRiO CONNECTIONS

Connecting TRiO to our Campus and Community

GSW TRiO’s Theme for 2013-2014:

Destination:Graduation

4

“Quite the Cultural Experience” TRiO participants attend 2 cultural events during the Fall of 2013

6

“3G Formula for Success” Success simplified in a 3-point plan

8

“Graduate Spotlight”

SSS highlights 2 Fall 2013 graduates

10

“Staff Spotlight” SSS highlights staff achievements

12

“TRiO Achievements” SSS highlights TRiO Achievements for Academic Year 2013-14

Each academic year, Student Support Services sponsors cultural trips to enhance each student’s edu-

cational experience. This year, the participants attended a Brave’s game and visited the King Center

and historical Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Participants also attended a 50th Anniversary Gala

of the civil rights movement in which they met former U.S. president Jimmy Carter.

Culturally Speaking...

Quite the Cultural Experience

SSS meets the President

Wh

at

is C

oll

eg

e a

ll A

bo

ut?

During your college experience, there will be challenges and triumphs on your journey to reach your ultimate destination of graduation. However, what will you leave college with? If you leave with a degree in hand, congratulations! You have achieved your ultimate goal. However, along the path to graduation, you should consider activities that help you maintain constant personal and academic growth and development and improve your overall grades and GPA. What you learn outside the classroom coupled with the knowledge you gain in-side the classroom could be an indicator of your future success. Col-lege is a community that fosters both personal and academic growth by providing social activities, tutoring, workshops, resources for writing and research, and major-related clubs and activities. Take ad-vantage of the full college experience by utilizing the resources avail-able to you. TRiO/Student Support Services is a resource on campus that can help you make it to graduation. Visit us in Collum Hall.

The 3-G Formula for Success

“What will you leave college with?”

GROWTH

“Higher education strengthens citizens,

families and communities as well as the

economy. Economic benefits to both

graduates and the community are, of

course, one of the most important rea-

sons for public higher education. But

two recent studies by Utah Valley Uni-

versity (UVU) Institutional Research &

Information show that higher educa-

tion contributes much to graduates’

personal growth as well. The 2010

Graduating Student Survey shows that

for every two students who went to

UVU primarily to improve their employ-

ment circumstances, one comes to im-

prove personally in some way. Personal

development was the most commonly

stated personal primary goal, with 24

percent of graduates identifying it as

their goal in pursuing a UVU degree.”

—Jeffrey Alan Johnson, Senior Re-

search Analyst, UVU Institutional Re-search & Information

GRADES

“Employers care about grades. Stu-

dents shouldn’t think that just because

they’ve mounted the admissions hur-

dle, they can slack off in class. To be

sure, many small employers won’t ex-

pect to see a GPA on a résumé, but

most large companies will. According to

a survey of more than 200 employers

conducted in Aug. and Sept. of this year

by the National Association of Colleges

and Employers, 67% of companies said

they screened candidates by their GPA.

NACE, A Bethlehem, PA non-profit,

links college placement offices with

employers. Its members tend to be big

companies with an average of 7,500

people on the payroll, including Kellog,

Proctor and Gamble and Bank of Ameri-

ca.”

—Susan Adams, Forbes Magazine

GRADUATION

What difference will graduation make?

1. You'll make more money: figures

range from several hundred thou-

sand to a million dollars or more

over your lifetime.

2. You'll have a lifetime of increased

opportunities. More job openings,

more chances at promotions, and

more flexibility with which jobs you

take (and keep) are just a few of

the doors that will be opened when

you have your degree in hand.

3. You'll be more empowered as an

agent in your own life. You'll be

better educated about the things

that have an impact on your day-to-

day existence:. A college education

can empower you in all kinds of

ways to be more in control of your

life's logistics.

—Kelci Lynn Lucier, Author

What the Experts Say...

Gra

du

ate S

po

tlig

ht:

Sha

ron T

arver

SSS: Tell us a little about yourself. ST: My name is Sharon Tarver. I will be 43 years old on the 23rd of January. I am a single mother to a 14-year old son, Lamari Edwards. I am a native of Americus, Georgia. I have two sisters, Mona and Cynthia. I work for The Fuller Center for Housing as the executive assistant to the President. I worked for the founder of Habitat for Humanity, Millard Fuller, for 15 years before his passing in 2009. I am a very compassionate person who loves to share so that I can put joy in the heart of others.

SSS: Expound upon the challenges that you have had to face and how you were able to overcome them. ST: The challenges that I faced is being a two time cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and colon cancer in 2012, having to undergo chemotherapy both times. I've had several surgeries in the last five years. While battling breast cancer, I lost my fiancé, who was also my child's father to sarcoma, cancer that forms in the tissues. In that same year, my mother was diagnosed with the same type of cancer that my fiancé succumbed to. She had to endure 7 weeks of radiation and is still alive today! It was a very stressful time for me just two years after enrolling at GSW. What helped me to overcome my challenges, was the great faith I have in God and I stood on His promises that "He sent His word to heal our disease"--Psalm 107. I read my Bible and prayed a lot and learned that a positive attitude would take me a long way. I realized that doubt and worrying would only bring about stress that I did not need. SSS: To what or whom do you attribute your success in completing a college degree? ST: I attribute my success to God, my son and my family. The word of God really helped me to hold out and reach my goal. He made a way out of no way. I look back on the things that I had to endure to accomplish this goal, i.e., the sleepless nights due to studying and stress. I know it was the Lord that granted me favor to be able to get the grades that I did and bringing everything back to my remembrance when needed. My parents and oth-er family members were a great support system with my son and they pushed me to succeed. They never doubted that I could do it and they encouraged me on a regular basis. My son was my biggest motivation be-cause I knew that this would make a brighter future for us. I also wanted to be an example for him to see that you can accomplish what you set out to do if you push and put your mind to it. SSS: What are your future plans? ST: I really love my job with The Fuller Center and between Habitat for Humanity and TFC, I have put in almost 20 years. I do not work in my field right now, but I know that everything I have learned will certainly enhance the job duties that I have currently. I really don't know what the future holds right now as far as working in my field, but it's good to have the leverage in the event that I decide to make a career move. SSS: How has the SSS program helped you in your pursuit of a college degree? ST: The SSS program helped me through the tutoring program. When the times got hard, the tutors helped to enlighten me on some things that I did not understand. The staff was always available when needed and full of compassion. SSS: Please add any other information about your college experience or your life that you would like to share. ST: Receiving my college degree and traveling to Jamaica, among others things, were two things on my "bucket list". Fortunately, I have been able to accomplish these two things while attending GSW. I feel very confident since receiving my degree. Attending GSW was not easy at all. The professors were challenging and really push the students to strive for the best, and that is what I have done and I do not have any regrets.

Sharon Tarver, a 43-year old mother of one son has achieved her goal of

becoming a college graduate; and she did so while maintaining a “B” aver-

age. On December 14, 2013, she donned her cap and gown and walked

across the stage at Georgia Southwestern State University in front family,

friends and fellow classmates. On this momentous occasion, those who

were close to her could smile and savor the moment because they knew

her journey was not without challenges. As she stood on this day to re-

ceive her degree, she stood as a woman who had endured and successful-

ly passed the test. Not only had she passed the tests put to her by the

university to become a college graduate, she passed the rigorous testing

of the school of life. We asked Sharon a few questions about her college

experience. Here is her response:

Gra

du

ate S

po

tligh

t: Devon K

ester Devon Kester culminated four years as a Fine Arts major with

her Senior Exhibition. Here, she was able to display her talent and accumulated knowledge to all in attendance. The title of her exhi-bition was “Conceptual Introspection”. She used the theme “Eating Alone”. Via a description of her works of art, she ex-plained that “eating alone” was symbolic of events stemming from her childhood. Below are some examples of her work which in-cluded iron sculptures, glass and wood, mixed media and glass, oil on canvas, and a video portrayal of her theme in which she used a fellow classmate as the sole actor. Devon’s exhibition was well-attended. Approximately 150 attendees packed GSW’s Carter Library exhibition room to view Devon’s display.

SSS Staff Spotlight

On April 21, 2014, Miranda Thomas, Assis-

tant Director of TRiO/Student Support Ser-

vices receives the Black Girls Rock Award for

being a positive role model. She received

the award from S.U.A.V.E., a GSW student

organization .

On April 10, 2014, Brandi Charbonneau,

TRiO/SSS Graduate Assistant, received the

Student of Excellence Award from Columbus

State University, for maintaining a 4.0 aver-

age in her graduate courses. She will be

graduating on May 12, 2014 with a Master’s

of Education in Higher Education Leadership.

She received the TRiO “Tutor of the Semes-

ter” award for Fall 2013.

On, February 2-5, Aisha Alaman, Academic

Coordinator for TRiO/Student Support Ser-

vices, attended the SAEOPP 42nd Annual

Conference in New Orleans. SAEOPP is the

Southeastern Association of Educational Op-

portunity Program Personnel.

Co

llum

Ha

ll H

ap

pe

nin

gs

SSS Staff Spotlight

26 Years

Dianne Allison Celebrates

1st

Leadership Workshop Series

Above: Mark Roberts, Director of TRiO/Student Support Services, conducts the very first three-part Leadership Series for

TRiO. Students who participated in all three workshops received a certificate of completion.

Below: Dianne Allison, Senior Administrative Assistant/Tutor Coordinator for TRiO/Student Support Services celebrates 26

years of service with GSW’s TRiO Program. Colleagues from various departments on campus attended her reception in Collum

Hall.

Students and staff participate

in the SSS End-of-the-Year

ice cream social. SSS partici-

pants were recognized for

their achievements.

We at TRiO, Student Support Services would like to take

a moment to reflect upon the accomplishments of our

students and staff during the past academic year.

TRiO Achievements

Special points of

interest:

C

O

N

G

R

A

T

U

L

A

T

I

O

N

S

!

Fall 2013 - Spring 2014

TRiO Participants/Tutors elected to Homecoming Court 2014:

Deonte Wilkerson—Mr. Sophomore

Sara Allen—Ms. Freshman

Jack Toliver and Alexis Young --Mr. and Ms. Junior

TRiO participants elected to SGA:

Kyra Brown, Jessica Collins, Anthony Hand, Jr., Deonte Wilkerson

TRiO Candidates for Graduation, Spring 2014:

Angela Marie Baisden , Rachel Louise Butler, Ceounte Carithers,

Tishawnda Cohen, Felipe Howell, Adrian Johnson, Iye Kargbo, Nakora

Mackey, Michael Van Ham, Savelia Wallace, Shaquila Washington

SPRING 2014 TRiO Campus Participation

Alpha Lambda Delta

(First Year Honor

Society), RA of Oaks

I ,Vice President of

Suave

TRiO Highest GPA

Sarah Allen Anna Isaac

Judy Fajardo Ashton Goff

Kyra Brown Xavier Cammon Brandi Charbonneau

RA of Mag I,

Elected SGA Senator

TRiO Achievements

Sigma Alpha Pi

Honor Society,

Alpha Lambda

Delta (First Year

Honor Society),

Trio Tutee of

Semester for Fall

2013, Deans

List —Fall 2013,

TRiO’s Highest

GPA

Trio Tutor of

Semester —Fall

2013, Outstanding

Graduate Student

Award in

Educational

Leadership (M.Ed.)

Dean’s List Fall

2013, Competed with

Enactus team

(formerly SIFE) in

quarterfinal round of

national competition

in Ohio.

Student Government

Association Apprecia-

tion Award, RA for

Oaks I, SGA Senator,

Sigma Alpha Pi Honor

Society, Alpha Phi

Omega Honor Society,

LS Scholarship Recipi-

ent

Ashton Goff

Sarah Allen and Anna Isaac

TRiO Highest GPA, Psi

Chi Honor Society

Induction Spring 2014

President SABU, RA

Oaks 1,Trio Tutor of Se-

mester Spring 2014,

Elected SGA Senator

Rebecca Greenslade Trenisha Hallmon

Deontae Wilkerson Savannah McCullough

Demetrius Lewis Marchelle McCrae Reginald Miles

Vice President of SAAB,

Member of the GSW

Racquetball Team

Eddie Terry

LS Scholarship

Recipient

Psi Chi Honor Society,

Elected Chapter President of

Delta Sigma Theta, Recipi-

ent of Trio Book Voucher,

Vice President of Psycholo-

gy/Sociology Club, Dean’s

List Fall 2013, Member of

Order of Omega, RA-Oaks 1

Tutee of Semester

Spring 2014 Danni Thason

TRiO Participant

for Study Abroad

Sigma Alpha Pi Honor

Society

Miranda Thomas

Black Girls Rock Award

Accepted into GSW School

of Nursing

Deonte Wilkerson

Trenisha Hallmon (4th from rt), Rebecca Greenslade (2nd from rt)

TRiO Participants Inducted into Alpha Phi Omega:

Leadership Series Certifications: CRLA Certified Tutors:

Anthony Hand, Jr. and Wayndaysha Stanbury (3rd and 4th pictured) Member: Xavier Cammon (not pictured)

Eddie Terry, Jayda Jackson, Gwen

Harris, Candera King Sarah Allen, Vivek Ballrapu, Cait-

lyn Bowman, Brandi Charbonneau,

Kiara Green, Reginald Miles, Jo-

seph Myler, Jack Toliver, Deontae

Wilkerson

2014 Georgia

Undergraduate

Research in Psychology:

Felipe Howell (center) was

a presenter and Chelsea

Hooks & Trenisha Hallmon

attended

Picture Source (A. Goff, T. Hallmon, P. Greenslade, F Howell): www.gsw.edu