Georgia Southern University This Week

Vol. 16 No. 14

April 14, 2008

TOP STORIES

President Bush nominates Georgia Southern University alumnus to SEC
President George W. Bush recently nominated Georgia Southern University alumnus and well-known Atlanta attorney Luis Aguilar, 54, to fill one of two open seats on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Aguilar graduated from Georgia Southern in 1976 with a bachelor of science degree in political science. He is a partner in the Atlanta office of the McKenna, Long & Aldridge law firm. If confirmed, he would fill a term that expires in June 2010.
Aguilar is a former staff attorney at the SEC. Atlanta Magazine named him one of the most influential foreign-born Atlantans, and in 2006, Hispanic Business Magazine called him one of the "100 Influential Hispanics” in the United States. In 2005, he was named "Member of the Year" by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber for his contributions to economic development in the Hispanic community, as well as for his community and charitable efforts.
Aguilar, a native of Cuba, has been active in the Latin American Association in Atlanta and Hispanic National Bar Association. He served at least seven years on the board of the nonprofit Latin American Association, and was chairman from 2005 to 2007.
After graduating from Georgia Southern, Aguilar earned a law degree at the University of Georgia. He also holds a master of laws degree in taxation from Emory University.

Cawthorn named professor of the year at 2008 Honors Day Convocation
Michelle Cawthorn was presented with the Wells/Warren Professor of the Year Award at the Georgia Southern University 2008 Honors Day Convocation held at the Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, April 2.
Cawthorn is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology. She was hired as a temporary faculty member in 1995 and received a tenure-track position in 2006.
“I am thrilled to win this award,” Cawthorn said. “It is especially gratifying to me because it comes from students. They are, after all, the primary reason I am here.”
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Cawthorn is conducting research on the effectiveness of specific classroom activities on scientific literacy.
“I love teaching, and I especially enjoy teaching non-majors and getting to know a diverse group of students,” she said. “I work hard to make the classes I teach relevant, interesting and memorable.”
Cawthorn was awarded the Outstanding First-Year Advocate by Georgia Southern’s First-Year Experience program in 2007. That same year, she was recognized by the University’s Student Disability Resource Center for her efforts on behalf of disabled students. In 2004, she received the Gamma Beta Phi Award for Outstanding Service as Temporary Faculty Member.
The winner of the Wells/Warren Professor of the Year Award is selected annually by the University’s students. Members of the Gamma Beta Phi honor society interview the department heads of the finalists and look at student evaluations of the professors.
The group then conducts a blind interview of the finalists before selecting the winner of the award, which is endowed by former Gamma Beta Phi advisors J. Norman and Rosalyn Wells. The award is named in honor of their parents, Nolan and Audrey Wells and Hartwell and Lucile Warren.

Hall, Anderson take top student awards at annual Honors Day Convocation
Catherine Annette Hall and Zechariah David Anderson captured the top student awards at the Georgia Southern University 2008 Honors Day Convocation held at the Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, April 2.
A senior biology major from Douglasville, Ga., Hall received the Georgia Southern University Alumni Association Award.
A senior justice studies major from Swainsboro, Ga., Anderson received the University System Academic Recognition Award.
The Alumni Association Award is presented annually to the graduating senior or seniors who have applied for graduation, completed all course work in residence and attained the highest grade point average.
The University System Academic Recognition Award is presented annually to a Georgia resident at each system institution on the basis of outstanding academic achievement.
Anderson also received the Lee and Rebecca Davis Pre-Law Scholarship, the Richard J. Waugh Justice Studies Award, and the Excellent Scholarship Graduating Senior award, which is presented to all graduating seniors with a GPA of 3.9 or higher at Georgia Southern.
More than 200 Georgia Southern students were recognized during the Honors Day Convocation. Inductees into a number of honor societies were also recognized.

Georgia Southern University Recognizes Outstanding Alumni at Annual Alumni Awards Ceremony
Ten Georgia Southern University alumni were honored for their career achievements and support of the University at the annual Alumni Awards Banquet Saturday, April 5, in the Nessmith-Lane Center for Continuing Education Ballroom.
The University’s Alumni Association presented its Alumnus of the Year and Alumnus of the Year in Private Enterprise awards. The prestigious President’s Medal was also presented.
Georgia Southern University’s eight colleges each honored its alumnus of the year as well, in addition to one academic department.
“Each of these individuals represents what makes this University great – our people,” said Bruce Grube, president of Georgia Southern University. “Whether leaders in their respective field, hall of famers or outstanding supporters of the institution, all of these outstanding individuals have made significant contributions to Georgia Southern University.”
Following is a list of the 2008 Georgia Southern University Alumni Award Winners:
President’s Medal
• Terry L. Coleman, deputy commissioner, Georgia Department of Agriculture
Alumnus of the Year
• Tracy Ham (`95), regional account manager, Sony Electronics
Alumnus of the Year in Private Enterprise
• Rod Meadows (`71) president, Meadows & Macie P.C.
College of Information Technology Alumnus of the Year
• Matthew Janofsky (`84), vice president of application development, Gladiator Technology Services.
Department of Biology Distinguished Biology Alumna
• Charlene Jackson (`90), lead scientist and microbiologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Athens, Ga., Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit
College of Business Administration Alumna of the Year
• Olivia Suggs Flanagan (`69), retired vice president, Flanagan and Waycaster Construction Company
College of Education Alumnus of the Year
• Norris B. Strickland (`53), owner and president, Norris B. Strickland and Associates Inc.
College of Health and Human Sciences Alumnus of the Year
• Frank Hook (`71), senior director of Alumni Relations, Georgia Southern University
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Alumnus of the Year
• M. Albert Burke (`61), Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology Alumnus of the Year
• James Becton, M.D., physician, Augusta Orthopaedic Clinic

Telecommunications update: Phases 1 and 2 completed
The Georgia Southern University telecommunications team has completed the cutover of more than 1800 lines to the new Avaya VoIP telephone system. When they completed Veazey Hall and Cone Hall earlier this week, most of the academic buildings were part of the new system.
On Thursday, April 17, they will begin Phase 3, which includes the 433 telephones found in five buildings on Sweetheart Circle:

Anderson Hall
Lewis Hall
Deal Hall
Pittman Administration Building
Rosenwald Building

By Monday, April 21, telephone numbers for these buildings will use the 478 (GSU) prefix; however, their four-digit extension number will remain the same.
Please remember:
• If you have a 478 prefix and are dialing someone with a 478 prefix, you will only need to dial “8” and their four-digit extension.
• If you have a 478 prefix and are dialing someone with an old number, you will have to dial 9 and the complete number, just as if you were making an outside call.
• If you have an old number and are calling someone with a 478 prefix, you will need to dial 9 and the complete number, just as if you were making an outside call.
As the entire campus moves to the new system, previous telephone numbers will have an automated message that provides callers with the new campus number (e.g. “This number has been changed. The new number is 478-XXXX”). Even after the new system is completed, messages will be available for a year.
Telephone numbers in the University’s Web directory http://directory.georgiasouthern.edu will be updated as the cutovers occur. Individual Human Resources information will be updated with new numbers, at the same time updating information for the Eagle Alert system.
As each building moves to the new telephone system, training sessions will be offered. Please check with your administrative secretary for the time and place of training. Telecommunications will also provide tutorials on how to reconfigure voice mail in the new system.
Once your department has been moved to the new telephone system, please review all your department’s Web pages and update the telephone numbers that have changed.
For questions go to the Telecommunications Web site at http://services.georgiasouthern.edu/telecom/index.html and select Project Homepage.

Digital telephone seminars are April 14 and 16
Approximately 400 employees on campus will be receiving a new Avaya digital telephone in the coming weeks. To help those individuals become familiar with their new telephone equipment, the Telecommunications Office has planned two days of 45-minute instructional seminars.
NOTE: Anyone who will receive a new phone has been notified. If you haven’t been notified, you will NOT be receiving a new phone, and do not need to attend a seminar.
If you will be receiving a new phone, plan to attend a one of these 45-minute seminars:
• Monday, April 14 at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., or
3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 16 at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., or
3:30 p.m.
All seminars will be held in Room 2150, College of Education. Please RSVP to telecomm@georgiasouthern.edu with the day and time you will attend.

Georgia Southern Chefs take bronze medals in NACUFS competition
Georgia Southern University chefs Brian Hancock and Michael Price faced the judgment of a CMC — Certified Master Chef — and two Certified Executive Chefs (CECs) at the recent NACUFS Culinary Challenge and were thrilled to come away from their first NACUFS competition with bronze medals. The contest took place at the ballroom of the Classic Center in Athens, Ga., and each participant was required to prepare a dish made with striped bass.
“We had 30 minutes to prep, five minutes to set up our stations, and one hour to complete the cooking process,” said Price. “Then we had five minutes to make four plates, three for tasting and one for display, and another five minutes to clean up.”
When the six competing chefs finished their cooking presentations, the judges tasted and critiqued their dishes, the part of the event that Price called “gruesome.” Price and Hancock knew that these judges, sanctioned by the American Culinary Federation, would hold their work to high standards. Each contestant was judged on taste, plate appearance, organization, knife skills, nutrition, use of product, use of waste, sanitation, and degree of technical difficulty. The hard part was waiting until the closing dinner of the NACUFS Southern Regional Conference to learn the results of their work.
“We were thrilled when the announcement came that both Michael and Brian received bronze medals,” said Jeff Yawn, assistant director of Food Services at Georgia Southern University, who accompanied Hancock and Price. “Many of our colleagues said they had been to similar culinary competitions where none of the contestants earned medals. The fact that both Michael and Brian won medals in their first competition is awesome. It’s a great representation of the kind of talent we have within Georgia Southern Food Services.”

Erin Rice receives 2008 FYE Peer Leader Award
Graduating senior Erin Rice has been named GSU 1210 Peer Leader of the Year. Peer leaders are upper level students who work with GSU 1210 instructors to provide a quality classroom experience, engage freshman students in the overall Georgia Southern Community, and serve as a positive role model.
Rice, a psychology major, was nominated for the award by Cassandra Arroyo, assistant professor of epidemiology and director of the Master’s Program in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health. Rice served as a peer leader for the GSU 1210 class taught by Arroyo.
"Peer leaders add so much to the classroom experience, serving as sounding boards and powerful role models for new students," said Chris Caplinger, director of First-Year Experience. "It was clear to the selection committee that Erin had a profound impact on her students. We were pleased to recognize her as the peer leader of the year."
“I hope that I was able to encourage students to be leaders by getting involved on campus and volunteering within our Statesboro community,” said Rice. “Being a peer leader was such an honor; I was thrilled to receive this award!”
Rice is from Richmond Hill, Ga. She is a member of Circle K, Psi Chi, and the Psychology Coalition and has volunteered with the Red Cross, Joseph’s Home for Boys, Safe Haven, Keep Bulloch Beautiful, CASA and Relay for Life. She received the Psychology Department’s “Spirit of Psychology” Award in the 2006-2007 academic year.

Former Georgia Southern golfer wins first Nationwide Tour event
One year after finishing tied for second place in the same 2007 Nationwide Tour event, former Georgia Southern University student Aron Price now stands as the 2008 Livermore Valley Wine Country Champion, marking his first career Nationwide title since turning pro in 2005.
Going into the final and fourth round tied for second place, Sunday, April 6, Price shot an even par to stay at 5-under 283. With a four-stroke lead, J.J. Killeen, who had led the field after each of the previous three rounds, had a rough final stretch and finished the tournament tied with Price, which forced a playoff.
The two remained tied after the first sudden-death hole, both carding a par 4 on hole 18. Price repeated his performance the second time around on the same hole, but Killeen’s missed putt for par gave the Sydney, Australia native his first such victory, and a piece of the $600,000 purse.
With the win and a purse winning share of $108,000, Price made a huge jump in the money standings from 48th to fourth place, bringing his year-to-date winnings to $124,893. Now with six tournaments under his belt since January, the win marks Price’s first top-10 and second top-25 finish so far this year.
“It feels good,” said Price of his recent victory. “I knew that if I could just hang in there I knew I’d be able to compete. I knew how to handle the shots from last year’s competition. It was almost like a practice round last year. I knew I had the advantage over the other guys.”
With one Nationwide Tour victory under his belt, Price is looking for the second and third wins that will qualify him for play in the PGA Tour.

Hiring process goes online: Questions and Answers
Georgia Southern University’s Human Resources Department will move to PeopleAdmin, an online employment system, beginning April 28. Here are some questions they’ve been asked:

Q. What is PeopleAdmin?
A. PeopleAdmin Inc. is a company based in Austin, Texas, that provides services to improve the hiring process for applicants and for institutions.

Q. What services do they provide?
A. PeopleAdmin will establish and maintain an Internet-based system for 1) processing job requisitions and 2) accepting and processing applications for employment. The company provides and maintains the system’s computer hardware and software.

Q. Why is Georgia Southern University changing to this system?
A. PeopleAdmin will improve service to applicants and at the same time increase the effectiveness and efficiency of applicant processing methods. PeopleAdmin was chosen because of its proven effectiveness in higher education services, and because the colleges and universities we contacted were highly satisfied with its system and services.

Q. What changes, if any, will there be to the hiring process?
A. Human Resources will work with PeopleAdmin and Georgia Southern University administrators to provide a smooth transition to the automated system. The basic tenets of our hiring philosophy will not change. What will change are the methods by which we manage the hiring process.

Q. When do we switch to the PeopleAdmin system?
A. The new system will go live on April 28. Advertising for new positions will cease during the April 14-27 cutover.

Q. Will there be training?
A. All hiring managers will have an opportunity for training on the new system. If you are a hiring manager and have not yet received information on training, contact Human Resources at ext. 5468.

OTHER EVENTS
April
11-25	"Tripping the Beauty Queen," a ceramic sculpture exhibition by MFA candidate Gayle Shaw Clark, Center for Art & Theatre.
11	Men’s Tennis - South Carolina State at Georgia Southern, 2 p.m.
	Reception for "Tripping the Beauty Queen," a ceramic sculpture exhibition by MFA candidate Gayle Shaw Clark, Center for Art & Theatre, 6 p.m.
	Baseball - Appalachian State at Georgia Southern, 7 p.m.
	Theatre & Performance presents “On Dragonfly Wings,” Black Box Theatre in the Center for Art & Theater, 7:30 p.m.
12	Spring Blue-White Football Game, Paulson Stadium, 1 p.m.
	Baseball - Appalachian State at Georgia Southern, 1:30 p.m.
	Women’s Tennis - Chattanooga at Georgia Southern, 2 p.m.
	Theatre & Performance presents “On Dragonfly Wings,” Black Box Theatre in the Center for Art & Theater, 7:30 p.m.
13	Baseball - Appalachian State at Georgia Southern, 1:30 p.m.
	Theatre & Performance presents “On Dragonfly Wings,” Black Box Theatre in the Center for Art & Theater, 2 p.m.
15	Baseball - Georgia Tech at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m.
	Theatre & Performance presents “On Dragonfly Wings,” Black Box Theatre in the Center for Art & Theater, 7:30 p.m.
	University Singers & Women’s Chorus, Trinity Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m.
16	Softball - Georgia Tech at Georgia Southern, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.
	Baseball - Georgia Tech at Georgia Southern, 4 p.m.
	Theatre & Performance presents “On Dragonfly Wings,” Black Box Theatre in the Center for Art & Theater, 7:30 p.m.
	Sigma Alpha Iota - Edna Braz Scholarship Competition, Trinity Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m.
17	Toombs County Eagle Club, Home of Dennis & Therisa Ingley, 6:30 p.m. For more information or tickets, contact Alumni Relations at ext. 5691.
	Theatre & Performance presents “On Dragonfly Wings,” Black Box Theatre in the Center for Art & Theater, 7:30 p.m.
	Symphony Wind Ensemble & Wind Symphony, Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
18	International Conversation Hour, Russell Union Ballroom, 11:30 a.m.
	Theatre & Performance presents “On Dragonfly Wings,” Black Box Theatre in the Center for Art & Theater, 7:30 p.m.
19	Softball - Western Carolina at Georgia Southern, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.
	Theatre & Performance presents “On Dragonfly Wings,” Black Box Theatre in the Center for Art & Theater, 7:30 p.m.
20	Softball - Western Carolina at Georgia Southern, 1 p.m.
	OASIS Concert, Southeast Bulloch High School Auditorium, 3 p.m.
	Georgia Southern Symphony, Sweetheart Circle, 7 p.m.
21	Cinema Arts presents “The Big Lebowski,” Russell Union Theater, $2, 7:15 p.m.
22	Softball - Savannah State at Georgia Southern, 4 p.m.
	Baseball - North Florida at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m.
	“Rent,” Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
	Georgia Southern Chorale, Trinity Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m.
23	Jazz Band Concert, Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
24	Spring Training: Gardening for Fitness, Botanical Garden, 6 p.m.
	Effingham County Eagle Club, Effingham County High School, 6:30 p.m. For more information or tickets, contact Alumni Relations at ext. 5691.
25	International Conversation Hour, Russell Union Ballroom, 11:30 a.m.
	Greater Savannah Eagle Club, Johnny Harris Restaurant Banquet Facility, 6:30 p.m. For more information or tickets, contact Alumni Relations at ext. 5691
	Night of Wild Sax, Averitt Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m.
27	Spring Fling Flute Choir Recital, Trinity Episcopal Church, 7:30 p.m.
29	Greater Macon-Middle Georgia Eagle Club, Tattnall Square Academy Field House, 6:30 p.m. For more information or tickets, contact Alumni Relations at ext. 5691.
	Magellan String Quartet, Nessmith-Lane Building Room 1915, 6:30 p.m. Brass Chamber Recital, Southeast Bulloch High School Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
30	Baseball - Jacksonville at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m.

TOP STORIES

TRAINING

PRESENTATIONS

CAMPUS EVENTS

OTHER EVENTS

KUDOS

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION