Gainesville State College Press Releases


	Gainesville State College FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., January 28, 2010 – Is that money blowing in the wind? That is just what Gainesville State College Police Officer Ken Bennett asked himself on Monday, January 25 about 1 p.m. As he was preparing a report, Bennett noticed a piece of paper blow past his patrol car. With over 15 years experience as a police officer, Bennett did a double-take and realized that it was indeed a check that had positioned itself next to the base of a nearby tree in the Continuing Education/Performing Arts parking lot. He got out of his car, braced himself against the strong wind and picked up the check before the next gust of wind had a chance to take it farther away. Much to his surprise, the check was made out to Reynolds Skinner for a large a sum of money, and it was already endorsed. Bennett quickly contacted the individual who had written the check to try to locate Skinner. The connection was made, and Skinner came to the College to retrieve his check. Skinner explained the “check trail” to Bennett, which began with the check being loaded into a deposit drawer at a bank in close proximity to the College and it being swept out in a strong gust of wind. Skinner anxiously searched for the check at adjacent businesses and came up empty. Relieved and happy, Skinner thanked Bennett and offered him a reward for returning the check. Graciously declining Skinner’s offer, Bennett said, “It is reward enough for me to know that the check did not end up in the wrong hands.” He said with a smile, “I’m just doing my job.” Bennett is one of eight police officers who protect and serve Gainesville State College and its students, faculty and staff members on a 24-hour basis. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	Gainesville State College FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., January 13, 2010—Gainesville State College (GSC) is hosting its annual Chicken and the Egg Tournament on Friday and Saturday, January 15 and 16, 2010. This year’s event is expected to be the largest Intercollegiate Parliamentary Debate Tournament in the history of Georgia, according to the organizers. More than 150 students are scheduled to participate, and 30 faculty members will be involved from 15 colleges and universities. This is the second consecutive year that the GSC debate team has hosted the Chicken and the Egg Tournament. The Communication Department and Sigma Chi Eta are co-sponsoring this event. Schedules for particular events and rounds will be distributed on the main stage of the Student Center, which will serve as headquarters throughout the tournament. Debates are scheduled to take place in rooms throughout the Student Center, Academic II, and Academic III. The event will include both parliamentary debate with 38 teams and 12 individual speaking events with a total of over 250 entries. The individual events will include three limited preparatory events, four prepared speaking events, and five literature-performance events. The colleges that are scheduled to participate include GSC, Northwest Florida State College, Carson Newman College, Southern Polytechnic State University, University of Tennessee, Berry College, University of West Florida, Clemson University, Morehouse College, University of the Cumberlands, Bryan College, Piedmont College, Tennessee Tech University, Walter State College, and Georgia College and State University. This debate is free and open to the public. For more information or to participate, please contact Dr. Tom Preston at tpreston@gsc.edu or 678.717.3703. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	Gainesville State College FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., January 6, 2010 – Gainesville State College’s Roy C. Moore Art Gallery presents MOMENTS IN TIME: Paintings by Terry Rowlett, January 8 – February 11, 2010. “Moments In Time: Paintings by Terry Rowlett” is a historical look at the human occupation of the planet as seen in the paintings of Terry Rowlett, a late era artist (circa 21st Century). These paintings will be on display in the Roy C. Moore Art Gallery of Gainesville State College from January 8 to February 11, 2010. Rowlett’s paintings are highly representational images of contemporary figures in natural landscapes, with compositions informed by art historical references. Rowlett grew up in rural Arkansas. After graduating high school, he joined the Army and was stationed in West Germany, where his talent for drawing was brought to his attention by his fellow soldiers. After leaving the service, Rowlett earned his B.F.A. from the University of Arkansas in 1991 and his M.F.A. from the University of Georgia in 1995. He is currently represented by Jenkins Johnson Gallery in New York City and Zeitgeist Gallery in Nashville. The Roy C. Moore Art Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about this exhibit which is free and open to the public, contact Beth Sale, GSC’s Roy C. Moore Art Gallery Coordinator, at bsale@gsc.edu or 678.717.3438. The direct number to the Gallery is 678.717.3707. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	Gainesville State College FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 December 15, 2009 - Gainesville State College announces the winners of “An Artistic Discovery: 2010 Congressional Art Competition for the Honorable Nathan Deal's Georgia 9th District High Schools.” This juried competition is initiated annually by The Honorable Nathan Deal of Georgia’s 9th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives and is displayed in GSC’s Roy C. Moore Art Gallery, which is located in the Continuing Education/Performing Arts Center. All high school students in the 9th District were invited, and a total of 28 students from seven high schools participated. Eight teachers facilitated student involvement: Joe Emery and Clay Sayre, Gainesville High School; Nina Ford, West Hall High School; Carmen Gregg, Stephens County High School; Joe Hall, Brenau Academy; Marjorie Hinkley, North Hall High School; Clay Sayre, Gainesville High School; Linda Tilden, Heritage Academy; and Stephanie Turk, Johnson High School. A closing reception was held on December 3, and the winners of the competition were announced. The first-prize-winning artwork was submitted by Tikurete Grebremariam, a student at West Hall High School. He won a cash award and the honor of having his photograph on display in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill, as the representative of Nathan Deal’s Ninth Congressional District of Georgia. Grebremarium is the student of Nina Ford at West Hall High School. Ford is a graduate of Gainesville State College and West Hall High School. Second, third and honorable mention artists were also recognized. This year’s juror was Terry Rowlett. Rowlett grew up in rural Arkansas. After graduating high school, he joined the Army and was stationed in West Germany, where his talent for drawing was brought to his attention by his fellow soldiers. After leaving the service, Rowlett earned his B.F.A. from the University of Arkansas in 1991 and his M.F.A. from the University of Georgia in 1995. He is currently represented by Jenkins Johnson Gallery in New York City and Zeitgeist Gallery in Nashville. Caption for attached photo: Gainesville State College announces the winners of An Artistic Discovery: 2010 Congressional Art Competition for the Honorable Nathan Deal's Georgia 9th District High Schools at the Closing Reception on December 3. Gainesville State College President Martha T. Nesbitt (far right) posed with the winners (from left to right) Amy Lee, Brenau Academy, Honorable Mention; Krista Banda, West Hall High School, Third Place; Hali Steinmann, North Hall High School, Second Place; and Tikurete Grebremariam, West Hall High School, First Place Winner. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	Gainesville State College FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 December 9, 2009 - Gainesville State College faculty, staff and students joined forces to help our armed forces. The Gainesville State College Humanities and Fine Arts Division sponsored a drive for Troops from 310th PSYOP Company from Fort Gilliam, GA who are serving in Afghanistan. A total of 36 boxes filled with toiletries, snacks, magazines, books, and DVDs were sent to the soldiers via the United States Postal Service on December 1. They were also sent 373 holiday cards and letters. As expected, it is costly to mail these packages, and due to the overwhelming response for items, the postage was much more than originally anticipated. As a result, an additional drive had to be launched at the College to cover the cost of shipping, which was over $750. The faculty, staff and students answered the call, and their generosity will help ensure that everything reaches FOB Frontenac by Christmas. The drive was initiated in honor of the son of a GSC faculty member. Jacob Worthington, son of Dr. Leslie Worthington, Assistant Professor of English, is a soldier in the US Army and is attached to the unit in Afghanistan. Worthington sent an open letter of thanks to the GSC family once the packages were mailed. Part of her letter read, “I have been overwhelmed by the support, enthusiasm and concern. Thank you to everyone who donated snacks, toiletries, books, DVDs and other items and those who donated money for postage as well as all of the instructors who encouraged their students to send cards and write letters.” She went on to thank several of the key individuals in the drive: “I want to especially thank Monique Kluczykowski whose idea sparked this project, Sheree Gravenhorst who was our organizer, Heather Wilkie and Allison Martinez who packed most of the boxes and filled out LOTS of custom forms, Gail Emmett and the library staff for donating all those magazines, and the GSCWO for giving us such a generous donation to cover our postage needs. Most of all, I would like to thank Tony Phillips for going above and beyond the call of duty.” As luck would have it, the younger Worthington was on leave for Thanksgiving and was able to pay a visit to the College Mailroom where all the boxes were being packed and prepared for shipping. He expressed his enthusiasm and excitement and told the organizers just how special this would be for the soldiers in Afghanistan and how all the items would brighten their holiday as well as make them a bit more comfortable. Once the packages arrive in Afghanistan, Worthington will coordinate the distribution of the items to his fellow soldiers. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., October 15, 2008—Gainesville State College Welcomes Second Graders to College! On Friday, October 30, 2009 representatives from Gainesville State College, Elachee Nature Science Center and The Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University, along with community members, will gather at 1 p.m. for the Celebration program. The Celebration will be held on the GSC Quadrangle adjacent to the Dunlap/Mathis Building. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Continuing Education/Performing Arts Center. A reception will be held immediately following the program. Mathis touched countless lives and was instrumental in the establishment of then-Gainesville Junior College, The Chicopee Area Parks Commission and Elachee Nature Science Center, and The Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University. James Mathis, Jr., Frank Armstrong and Dr. John Burd will be among those who will speak of his many accomplishments and the impact he has had on our community. This Celebration is open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend. For more information, contact Sloan Jones, 678.717.3836 or sjones@gsc.edu. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., October 9, 2009—The Gainesville State College (GSC) Center for Research and Public Service, in partnership with Gateway Domestic Violence Center and United Way of Hall County, will be hosting a Symposium on Domestic Violence on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 from 8 – 9:15 a.m. October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this event is being organized to help develop an awareness of the nature, incidence, prevention and treatment of this hidden epidemic. The Symposium will feature five panelists who bring a variety of perspectives to the topic. They include: Stephanie Woodard, Hall County Solicitor General; Sgt. Bob Watterson, Hall County Sheriff’s Domestic Violence Unit; Jessica Butler, Executive Director of the Gateway Domestic Violence Center; and Dr. Robin Underwood, Occupational Therapist at Gateway Domestic Violence Shelter and Lecturer at Brenau University. Dr. Pamela Elfenbein, GSC Professor of Sociology and Social Work will chair the proceedings. The Symposium will be held in the GSC Continuing Education/Performing Arts Center Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. George K. Danns, GSC Professor of Sociology, at 678-717-3461 or gdanns@gsc.edu. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., September 30, 2009 – Gainesville State College Music Department presents two great nights of music. On Monday, October 5, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. the GSC Symphonic Band and Brass Ensemble will present the Fall Winds Concert. Under the direction of Mercer Crook and Donald Strand, respectively, the two groups will perform in the GSC Ed Cabell Theatre. On Tuesday, October 6, at 7:30 p.m. the GSC Jazz Ensemble, Combo and Chorale will present the Fall Music Concert. Under the direction of Andrew Santander and David Thomas, respectively, the groups will perform in the GSC Ed Cabell Theatre. The Chorale will be accompanied by Joanna Kim. Both nights are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Connie Esford at 678.717.3930 or cesford@gsc.edu. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., October 2, 2009 – Gainesville State College (GSC) Colloquium Series Continues with “Haider Hamza, Meet an Iraqi” on Monday, October 19, 12-1:15 p.m. in the GSC Continuing Education/Performing Arts Center Auditorium. Twenty-four year old Iraqi journalist Haider Hamza lived through the 2003 US-led invasion of his country with his family near Babylon, south of Baghdad. The son of a diplomat, Hamza was born in Germany and grew up in East Africa and Europe. When he turned twelve, he moved back with his family to their hometown, Baghdad. Hamza finished high school in Iraq and graduated from Baghdad University in 2006. One year later, he won a Fulbright scholarship and moved to the United States to obtain a master’s degree in global security and conflict resolution. When he was a teenager, Hamza worked with the Iraqi Ministry of Information, talking to visiting dignitaries and foreign reporters. A few days after the end of major combat operations in 2003, he decided to join the mainstream media covering the world’s focus on news of his country. At the age of nineteen he worked as a TV producer and photo editor for some of the world’s largest news agencies and networks, including Reuters, ABC News and others. Hamza has been committed to helping Iraqi widows and orphans who were displaced by violence. Through his family and a network of friends, he hands out 50% of his earnings as a speaker to those in urgent and imminent need. This presentation is being sponsored by the GSC Colloquium Committee and the GSC Campus Activities Board (CAB). For more information, contact Sloan Jones, 678.717.3836 or sjones@gsc.edu. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., October 1, 2009 – Joey Smith, Gainesville State College Instructor of Communications, has recently completed a memoir detailing his military service. While a freshman at Mississippi College in 1990, Smith’s National Guard unit (114th Military Police) was activated for service in the Middle East in support of Operation: Desert Storm. His unit served in the Arabian Peninsula for six months and returned to Clinton the following summer. “I will never forget our unit’s pre-dawn convoy out through Clinton. When we turned the corner in front of MC, I was amazed to see the turn-out. There must have been a thousand students and faculty there, cheering us on, sending us on our way,” Smith recalls. Smith’s book, entitled The Blender, focuses on his time during the active duty mission and his interaction with the various personalities he encounters during his short adventure. Central to the theme of the book is the idea of a diverse group of men “blending” together during wartime, as well as the forging of his own faith. At times poignant, at times wickedly funny, the book never fails to entertain. “I wanted to be authentic about my time on active duty. Not everything that goes on in a war is noble and heroic. And I think it’s ok to portray the goofy stuff along with the serious stuff,” said Smith. The book is available for purchase at www.joeblender.com. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678-717-3836 Gainesville, GA., September 23, 2009 – Gainesville State College Announces Fall Open House dates for both the Gainesville and Oconee Campuses! The Gainesville State College Admissions Office will host the Gainesville Campus Open House for prospective students on Saturday, October 3, 2009. On Saturday, October 24, the Oconee Campus will be the site of the Open House. Both Open House events will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 12 noon on the respective campuses. The morning will include opportunities for prospective students and family members to participate in tours and visit with faculty, staff and current students. There will also be sessions with Admission and Financial Aid representatives as well as information about academic majors. Light refreshments will be provided by the GSC Foundation. For more information or to register for the Open House event, visit www.gsc.edu and click the Open House icon. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE Division of Continuing Education Introduces New Online Medical Transcription Course [Gainesville, GA, September 23, 2009] – Gainesville State College Division of Continuing Education has a program that makes it easy to take high-quality, noncredit online courses. Gainesville State College has partnered with ed2go to offer hundreds of online, instructor-facilitated courses and is pleased to announce the launch of "Medical Transcription." Participants in this course will learn how to transcribe the medical reports most often used in healthcare today and find out how to get started and advance as a medical transcriptionist. "Medical Transcription" is part of Gainesville State College’s growing catalog of more than 300 instructor-facilitated online courses. Through well-crafted lessons, expert online instruction, and interaction with fellow students, participants in these courses gain valuable knowledge at their convenience. They have the flexibility to study at their own pace combined with enough structure and support to complete the course. And they can access the classroom 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet connection. New sessions of each course run every month. They last six weeks, with two new lessons being released weekly (for a total of 12). The courses are entirely Web-based with comprehensive lessons, quizzes, and assignments. A dedicated professional instructor facilitates every course; pacing learners, answering questions, giving feedback, and facilitating discussions. To learn more, call Gainesville State College, Division of Continuing Education at (678) 717-3605 or visit them online at www.gsc.edu/ce . Contact: Kim Savage, Program Coordinator ksavage@gsc.edu P. O. Box 1358 Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3700

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., September 17, 2009 – Gainesville State College (GSC) Awarded a $201,070 Grant from National Science Foundation The grant titled “Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI): Characterization of the Manganese Centers of Oxalate Oxidase from Ceriporipsis subvermispora, will integrate the excitement of laboratory-based scientific discovery into undergraduate education at GSC. The grant is under the direction of Dr. Ellen Moomaw, GSC Assistant Professor of Chemistry and will advance the understanding of the relationship between protein structure and function while promoting teaching, learning, and training at GSC. “This is the first major grant to fund laboratory research that GSC has received, and it brings GSC into a new relationship with the NSF,” said Moomaw, who has an extensive background as a research chemist. Moomaw worked in the private sector before returning to earn her PhD from the University of Florida and entering the teaching field. The grant will provide funding over the next three years to study manganese centers of the enzyme oxalate oxidase. The grant funds will provide for supplies and several pieces of advanced instrumentation. Additionally, three to four GSC students will take part in research internships during each semester (including summer) of the next three years. Students who work directly on the project will be positively impacted, and by threading themes from this project throughout the College’s Biology and Chemistry curriculum, a wide variety of science students at GSC will have their education enhanced by this work. GSC students will have an opportunity to perform standard molecular biological, biochemical, spectroscopic, and database utilization techniques at the College. They will also have the opportunity to travel and work with collaborators at the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, and the National High Magnetic Field Lab (NHMFL) in Tallahassee. “This grant is a wonderful recognition of the work that students have done with me in recent years,” said Moomaw. “This reflects the importance that the NSF places on providing undergraduate students with meaningful research opportunities. I am excited at the prospect of moving research to a new level at GSC.” Fewer than 20% of the proposals submitted to the NSF are funded. The panel of experts who reviewed the proposal thought funding Moomaw’s proposal would enhance the research infrastructure at GSC and provide high quality research opportunities at the interface of chemistry and biology to students at the undergraduate level. This funding initiates a long-term project to elucidate how protein environment modulates the chemistry of oxalate degradation in recombinant oxalate oxidase from Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. Oxalate oxidase is an enzyme that catalyzes the carbon-carbon bond cleavage of oxalate to yield carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide. Oxalate oxidase has actual and potential commercial significance with applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry. Transgenic plants have been engineered to express oxalate oxidase as a means of protection against pathogens and to reduce the amount of oxalate present. Other applications include the bioremediation of oxalate waste, the production of hydrogen peroxide, pulping in the paper industry, and clinical assays of oxalate in blood and urine. These uses and the desire to explain the novel chemistry that these enzymes catalyze make them worthy subjects of study. The specific objectives of this proposal are three fold: 1) to characterize the manganese-dependence of oxalate oxidase from C. subvermispora, 2) to identify the active site of the enzyme, and 3) to advance understanding of the relationship between protein structures and function while promoting teaching, learning, and training at Gainesville State College. The broader impacts of this course of study include transforming GSC from an institution that provides excellent coursework in the sciences into an institution that also provides students the opportunity to incorporate newly learned concepts into meaningful and important laboratory research. GSC is in good company, as other recent NSF grant recipients include Stanford, Cal State, Arizona State, and the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing Gainesville State College P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	Gainesville State College’s Division of Continuing Education offers the following Landscape Seminars with instructor Billy Skaggs, Hall County Extension agent and host of WDUN News Talk 550’s “Home-Grown.” With the current national trend of spending more time outside and investing more in our homes, this class will provide ideas and suggestions on how to make your landscape a year-round retreat. Discussion will focus on plant selection for year-round landscape interest. Made in the Shade October 19th, Monday, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Fee: $25 In this landscaping course you will learn what plants will thrive in the shade including annuals, perennials, ground covers, and shrubs. Sign up online at www.gsc.edu/ce or you may call Shannon or Lisa at 678-717-3605. Kim Savage Program Coordinator GSC Division of Continuing Education P. O. Box 1358 Gainesville, GA 30503

	Gainesville State College’s Division of Continuing Education Introduces New Online Praxis I Preparation Course [Gainesville, GA, September 9] – Gainesville State College has a program that makes it easy to take high-quality, noncredit online courses. Gainesville State College has partnered with ed2go to offer hundreds of online, instructor-facilitated courses and is pleased to announce the launch of "Praxis I Preparation." This course will prepare prospective teachers to pass all three parts of Praxis I. They'll learn useful test-taking strategies, get plenty of practice test questions, and have the opportunity to take full-length practice tests. "Praxis I Preparation" is part of Gainesville State College's growing catalog of more than 300 instructor-facilitated online courses. Through well-crafted lessons, expert online instruction, and interaction with fellow students, participants in these courses gain valuable knowledge at their convenience. They have the flexibility to study at their own pace combined with enough structure and support to complete the course. And they can access the classroom 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet connection. New sessions of each course run every month. They last six weeks, with two new lessons being released weekly (for a total of 12). The courses are entirely Web-based with comprehensive lessons, quizzes, and assignments. A dedicated professional instructor facilitates every course; pacing learners, answering questions, giving feedback, and facilitating discussions. To learn more, call Gainesville State College, Division of Continuing Education at 678-717-3605 or visit them online at www.gsc.edu/ce. Contact: Kim Savage, Program Coordinator ksavage@gsc.edu 678-717-3605

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Gainesville State College Division of Continuing Education Introduces New Online "Spanish for the Classroom" Course Gainesville, GA, August 12, 2009 - Gainesville State College’s Division of Continuing Education has a program that makes it easy to take high-quality, noncredit online courses. Gainesville State College has partnered with ed2go to offer hundreds of online, instructor-facilitated courses and is pleased to announce the launch of "Spanish for the Classroom." "Spanish for the Classroom" is a course for teachers that covers the essential Spanish they need to know to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking students and parents. Unlike the high school foreign language classes we all remember, this course does not include long vocabulary lists or complex grammar rules. Instead it uses games and stories to make learning easy, painless, and even fun! "Spanish for the Classroom" is part of Gainesville State's growing catalog of more than 300 instructor-facilitated online courses. Through well-crafted lessons, expert online instruction, and interaction with fellow students, participants in these courses gain valuable knowledge at their convenience. They have the flexibility to study at their own pace combined with enough structure and support to complete the course. And they can access the classroom 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet connection. New sessions of each course run every month. They last six weeks, with two new lessons being released weekly (for a total of 12). The courses are entirely Web-based with comprehensive lessons, quizzes, and assignments. A dedicated professional instructor facilitates every course; pacing learners, answering questions, giving feedback, and facilitating discussions. To learn more, call Gainesville State College Division of Continuing Education at 678-717-3605 or visit them online at www.gsc.edu/ce. ### Contact: Kim Savage, Program Coordinator ksavage@gsc.edu GSC Continuing Education P. O. Box 1358, Gainesville, GA 678-717-3605

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., July 1, 2009 – Gainesville State College (GSC) restructures Development Office to create Office of Institutional Advancement. Since last fall, the College’s Development Office participated in an in-depth strategic planning process under direction of Consultant Mark Wilkinson, with Sinclair, Townes & Company Fund Raising Counsel. The assessment process involved staff members, and current and former trustees. After a thorough review of the assessment report, the decision was made to modify the current Development Office configuration and elevate it to a new level in the College’s administrative structure. The Development Office has been renamed the Office of Institutional Advancement (IA) and will include all the current components of Foundation, Development and Alumni Affairs with the addition of the Office of Public Relations and Marketing. The IA Office will be headed by a Vice President of Institutional Advancement. Mary Transue has been appointed as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement. Formerly the GSC Major Gifts Officer, Transue brings a wealth of experience to this position. Before coming to the College in 2007, Transue served as the Executive Director of the Community Helping Place (CHP) in Dahlonega and has over 17 years of experience in corporate health care and financial management. “Gainesville State College is an incredible institution,” begins Transue. “The educational opportunities for the students, the engaged and dedicated faculty and staff, and the smaller class sizes create an excellent learning environment. While I used to say that ‘GSC is the best kept secret in Northeast Georgia’, it is probably safe to say that with over 8,000 students between our two campuses the secret is getting out!” The creation of the Office of Institutional Advancement will enable the College to put the primary focus on fundraising by using the considerable strengths of the staff members who are already in place. One of the keys to the success of this restructuring is the appointment of Pat Guthrie as the Director of Donor Relations. She will use her eight years of experience with the College to build upon the strong history of support the College and the Foundation have benefitted from in our community. The ultimate goal of the restructuring is to provide the necessary financial assistance to assure that all students have the opportunity for a college education in light of the College’s phenomenal growth in enrollment. It is also important to continue raising funds for academic enhancements and opportunities for faculty in such ways as establishing endowed professorships and providing Teaching Excellence Grants. It is also anticipated that the Office of Institutional Advancement will launch additional capital projects in the future. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax www.gsc.edu

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678-717-3836 Gainesville, GA., June 29, 2009 – Gainesville State College 2009 Summer Scholars Institute enters its 19th year. From Monday, June 29 through July 24 area middle and high schools students will be Summer Scholars. After wrapping up the first week, they will have established a routine, but this experience will prove to be anything but routine. The Summer Scholars Institute, an early intervention program, is a three-year cohort program for rising 8th-10th grade students. These very fortunate teens will have a rewarding and eventful summer as they improve their academic skills, learn from positive role models and improve their chances of attending college. The College’s commitment to those students who complete the program and who graduate from high school is to help them gain entrance to a postsecondary institution and, if needed, assist them in obtaining financial aid. While the students who participate in the SSI do not pay, the cost per student is approximately $850 and covers teaching supplies, student supplies, two meals per day for 19 days, transportation to and from the College, educational field trips, teacher and staff salaries, and uniforms and books. Gainesville State College reaches out to the community to continue this program, which has been proven by pre- and post-tests to increase student academic achievement in math and language arts. The United Way of Hall County along with private donors through the Gainesville State College Foundation have stepped forward to ensure that this program can continue to serve students from low-income families, under-represented minorities, ESL (English as a Second Language) students and other at-risk middle and high school students in the Gainesville, Hall, Habersham and Barrow County areas. Gainesville State College President Martha T. Nesbitt, who is one of the program’s strongest advocates, states, “We are so pleased to continue offering the Summer Scholars Institute to the young people in our area. I am very grateful that the community has again shown its support for this exemplary program and generously contributed to help cover the costs. Summer Scholars not only benefits the participating students, but it also has the long-term effect of raising the educational level in our region.” During the month-long program, students arrive at the GSC campus at about 8 a.m. wearing matching program t-shirts, have breakfast, and then begin a full day of studies , concentrating on history, science, career exploration, mathematics and language arts (reading and writing). All subjects are in line with the Georgia Performance Standards for students attending Georgia schools. The program is designed to make postsecondary education accessible to a population group that has traditionally been under-represented in higher education. Under V.P. of Student Development Dr. Tom Walter’s professional guidance, Robin Anyanwu has assumed the role of Program Director for the SSI and is excited about the opportunity to be a part of such an outstanding program. According to Anyanwu, “We have approximately 122 students in this year’s class, which includes students from Hall, Habersham and Barrow Counties, as well as students from Gainesville City schools. The ethnic breakdown includes Latino, African-American, Anglo, and Asian populations.” She went on to say, “I am very pleased that Michelle Garcia, Barbara Harkins, and all of our excellent staff members have agreed to work yet another year. Their contribution to the continued success of the program is indisputable”. Professional staff for the program includes two language arts teachers, three math teachers, one history, one science, one Junior Achievement and one physical education teacher, along with a Lead-Teacher, a Program Coordinator, and several current GSC students, who are serving as tutors. In addition to enhancing academic skills, students will have fun as they plan to attend some trips and adventures, including Six Flags and a Job Shadow day organized by Junior Achievement. The 2009 Summer Scholars Institute will conclude with a ceremony for the approximately 30 graduating students on July 23 at 10 a.m., with a luncheon for students, family members, and staff. If more information is needed about the Summer Scholars Institute, please call 678-717-3994. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEIDATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678-717-3836 Gainesville, GA., June 5, 2009 – The Gainesville State College Students In Free Enterprise Team Wins Big Again! The GSC Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Team has been named one of five SIFE Teams from the USA as winners of the Goldman Sachs Foundation Teaching Capital Markets Special Competition! GSC’s SIFE team and the four other USA teams, along with five teams from China, and five from France, will attend the 2009 SIFE Capital Markets Summit which will be held in conjunction with the SIFE World Cup in Berlin, Germany, October 3-7, 2009. The SIFE teams were challenged to create and implement a project designed to teach capital markets to high school students. The GSC SIFE team created a 40 page student workbook, PowerPoint presentation, and pre-post tests for an eight module program covering everything from CD's to Real Estate. The contest was judged by officials from SIFE HQ and SIFE USA. As part of the awards package, the GSC SIFE Team will received an all expense paid trip to Berlin for two students from the SIFE Team and $1,000 in prize money to be used for the continuation and expansion of Team projects. The names of the two Team members who are chosen to attend the Summit in Germany will be announced at a later date. The SIFE World Cup is a showcase of the impact that SIFE teams are achieving around the world and brings together an international network of student, academic and business leaders. In addition to the competition, events such as the culture fair provide an exhibit of the rich diversity of cultures represented within SIFE. Multiple receptions, lunches and dinners, along with special events such as the CEO roundtable and Top to Future Top Forums further enhance the opportunities for participants to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another. The GSC SIFE team members who planned, created, and implemented GSC’s award winning capital markets program were: Juan Llanes, Cumming; Brian Beard, Lawrenceville; Stephanie Martin, Flowery Branch; Jerry "JJ" Johnson, Franklin; Katie Taylor, Lawrenceville; Ismael "Jr." Navarro, Gainesville; Clayton Dowdy, Buford; Jenny Syhapanha, Cornelia; Scott Sims, Clarkesville ; and, Steven Swing, Demorest. This award comes on the heels of a 2009 SIFE USA Atlanta Regional Championship in April and a top eight finish at the SIFE USA Nationals in May which was held Philadelphia, PA. The SIFE Team advisors are Katie Simmons, Kelly Manley, Garfield Anderson and Penelope Lyman. Students from both the Gainesville and Oconee Campuses participate in the SIFE Team. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax

	GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: SLOAN JONES, 678.717.3836 Gainesville, GA., May 21, 2009 – Gainesville State College (GSC) student earns second place at the Georgia Urban and Regional Information System Association (URISA) statewide paper competition. Johnny Reed, a GSC Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis student from Oakwood, GA, placed second in URISA’s statewide GIS paper competition. He competed against both undergraduate and graduate students, and placed second behind a student from Georgia Institute of Technology. Reed earned the second place Thomas Mettille Student Achievement Award for his paper entitled “A Probability Model for Prehistoric Archaeology Sites in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.” The 17 page paper was based on a project Reed decided to undertake based on the fact that, “the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests contain many known prehistoric and historic archaeological sites at which evidence of human activity has been found.” Reed’s abstract for the paper stated: “The purpose of this project was to produce a computer model based on binary logistic regression to aid in the identification of areas with a high probability for finding additional prehistoric sites within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Using data from a set of points including both known prehistoric archaeological sites and random points, Minitab statistical software was used to produce a regression equation for the natural log of the odds of a point being a prehistoric site. Raster calculation was then performed to produce a probability surface for the area of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.” Reed presented his paper at the Georgia URISA Annual Student Achievement Award/Career Day on April 14 at DeKalb Technical College in Clarkston, GA. Reed also presented a paper titled “A Suitability Analysis Model for Potential Blueberry Production in Georgia Using Geospatial Technology” at the 2009 annual meeting of the Georgia Academy of Science on April 3 at Spelman College in Atlanta. ### Sloan W. Jones Director of Public Relations and Marketing P O Box 1358 - Gainesville, GA 30503 678-717-3836 office, 678-717-3618 fax

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