Perfect Landing
Georgia state lawmakers received a formal introduction to Georgia Southern University on Feb. 6, when the Capitol opened its doors to Eagle Nation to mark the inaugural Georgia Southern Day at the Capitol.
After months of preparation by the Capitol Day Planning Committee comprising various department and campus officials, the special day offered a number of alumni and more than 50 University representatives a unique opportunity to visit with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, Lieutenant Governor and fellow Eagle Casey Cagle, as well as other members of the House of Representatives and the Georgia State Senate.
“The planning and implementation of Georgia Southern University’s Day at the Capitol showcased our University in many ways, not the least of which is the collaborative environment in which our students, faculty and staff learn and work,” said Georgia Southern Vice President of Government Relations and Community Engagement Russell Keen. “I am very grateful for the leadership team who garnered support for this endeavor all across campus. The Georgia General Assembly is very supportive of Georgia Southern University and this was a great way to showcase our stewardship of their investment.”
More than 50 Georgia Southern University representatives, several alumni and members of the Georgia State Legislature attend a resolution that officially deemed Feb. 6, 2014 as Georgia Southern Day at the Capitol.
Coming together to support statewide education initiatives and Georgia Southern’s ongoing institutional objectives, members of both legislative chambers attended the resolution that officially deemed Feb. 6, 2014 as Georgia Southern Day at the Capitol. The local delegation included state Senator Jack Hill, R-Reidsville; state Rep. Butch Parrish, R-Swainsboro; state Rep. Jon Burns, R-Newington; and state Rep. Jan Tankersley, R-Brooklet.
Georgia Southern attendees were led by President Brooks A. Keel, Ph.D.; Provost Jean Bartels, Ph.D.; Brittany Waters, a legislative student intern at the Capitol; and Lewis McDermott, a student intern in the governor’s office. Also making the trip from Statesboro was Freedom, the University’s bald eagle mascot, as well as the Georgia Southern Cheerleaders and the official mascot GUS. In addition, the most patriotic member of the Eagle Nation on Parade fleet, Victory, was carefully transported from its home on the Georgia Southern campus and temporarily placed atop the Capitol building steps (see above).
Before the resolution, Deal visited with members of the Georgia Southern ROTC program, as other state officials spent time learning unique details about the University’s nursing program, Department of Music, the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education program, and the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center, along with other University Points of Pride—making Feb. 6 a perfect red, white and True Blue day.
“Any time we can take a moment and thank our elected officials for the support they provide to higher education we most certainly try to do so,” said Keel. “We enjoyed talking with legislators about the great things happening at Georgia Southern, and we hope they learned a little something about our wonderful University as well.”