The UGA Alumni Association hosted its annual Holiday Open House at its headquarters, the historic Wray-Nicholson House.Ê Over 100 people attended and showed their support for the Association and donated canned goods and/or toys for local causes.

 

Held the Friday night before the UGA homecoming football game against the Arkansas Razorbacks, alumni, friends and family enjoyed an evening filled with bluegrass music, appearances by Hairy Dog and the UGA Cheerleaders and delicious barbecue.

 

Over 70 people attended the first UGA Alumni Association Georgia vs. Tennessee Game Watching Party at Dave & Buster's in Gwinnett on Saturday, October 8. Door prizes were awarded to the following guests:
Jekyll Island trip - Jennifer Richardson
Lunch with Damon and Tour of Butts-Mehre - Sims Gordon
Signed Jersey - Pamela Sullivan
Signed Official Football - Kim Shupe
Signed Football Helmet - Marvin Nunnally
Gift Basket - Lori Morrow
Gift Basket - Lonnie Davis
Gift Basket - Marvin Hightower

Thank you to all who attended and for your overwhelming response to the event.

 

 

Presented by Liberty Mutual in partnership with the UGA Alumni Association, UGA families and friends came together for the first Child Safety Fair at the UGA campus in Gwinnett. Children and parents were able to participate in activities aimed at keeping them safe. Activities included child finger printing, bike safety program, and a fire safety demonstration by local fire department complete with fire truck!

Bulldog Breakfast Club with Guest Host Grant Tribble '85, '01, Chief Financial Officer Vice President of Finance, Athens Regional Medical Services. For more information about the Bulldog Breakfast Club in Athens, please contact Wanda Darden at wdarden@uga.edu.

W. Keith McNeely '89, Director of Athens-Clarke County Human and Economic Development hosted a Bulldog Breakfast Club on July 14th at the UGA Alumni Association's Wray-Nicholson House. Keith discussed some of the services the Human and Economic Development offers, the goals and challenges he faces and how the community can become involved. The event was attended by Vanessa Smith, Kim Champion, Adam Sparks, Alisa Flanery, Marvin Brown and Sravanthi Meka.

If you would like to host a Bulldog Breakfast Club contact Wanda Darden at 706-542-8199 or wdarden@uga.edu.

UGA alumni and friends came together to celebrate summer this June at Atkins Park in Smyrna. The Smyrna location lured over 50 participants to the tavern in the Village Green. Alumni gatherings are the perfect way to reconnect with old friends and connect with fellow UGA graduates in a casual and entertaining setting.

The UGA Golf Team was honored at the Celebration of Champions event on June 27th at the Athens Country Club. Debbie Dietzler, Executive Director of the UGA Alumni Association was there to present a proclamation to Coach Chris Haack and the Golf Team for their recent NCAA Championship. The Bulldogs won their second NCAA championship earlier in June in Owings Mills, Maryland.

Members of the 2005 UGA Golf Team are David Denham, Mitch Donald, Christo Greyling, Jason Hodges, Chris Kirk, Kevin Kisner, Butler Melnyk, Richard Scott and Brendon Todd.

On Thursday, June 9, UGA Alumni Association member Dr. James Sweeney '67, '71 hosted a Bulldog Breakfast Club at the Wray Nicholson House. Sweeney is Associate Dean, Warnell School of Forest Resources.

The UGA Alumni Association's Athens Bulldog Breakfast Club offers alumni and student Association members a comfortable, relaxed forum in which to exchange ideas, discuss topics of interest and network with distinguished UGA leaders, Association members and friends. Seating will be limited to 10 alumni per session and guests are encouraged to bring business cards. Join us in fostering an environment of Bulldogs helping Bulldogs.

Breakfast is from 7:45 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Cost is $10.00 Alumni Association members $5.00 student members. Seating is limited to 10 alumni per session and guests are encouraged to bring business cards. For more information, please contact Wanda Darden at wdarden@uga.edu or 706-542-8199.

On April 6th, the UGA Alumni Association sponsored its eighth annual Workin' Like a Dawg event for UGA alumni employees. There were approximately 140 alumni employees who attended the breakfast this year. More alums celebrated UGA career milestones than ever before. The tradition service pins for 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service were presented.

Alumni and friends welcomed the spring season as they gathered together on the patio at Meehan's Public House in Brookhaven on May 18th. Participants enjoyed the casual atmosphere of the gathering and enjoyed free hors d‡ouvres as they mingled with other UGA enthusiasts.

Thanks to all the participants of the UGA Minority Admitted Student Receptions and the UGA Minority Admitted Student Call-Outs. We reached 533 students during the call outs! Because of the success of your efforts, alumni will play an integral role in future multicultural recruitment efforts. Please read "University of Georgia projects more diverse freshman class for fall 2005" at http://www.uga.edu/news/artman/publish/050512admissions.shtml.

The second annual UGA Night at Six Flags was held on Friday evening April 29. Students, alumni and friends descended on the park for an exclusive UGA night from 6 p.m. to midnight. The entire park was open to the UGA faithful and 5200, young and old participated in the event. UGA Night at Six Flags is sponsored jointly by the UGA Alumni Association and the Department of Student Activities.

The UGA Alumni Association Athens Bulldog Breakfast Club invited fellow alumni to the Wray-Nicholson House with Guest Host Paul Chambers, Northeast Georgia District Manager of Bellsouth. The UGA Alumni Association's Bulldog Breakfast Club offers alumni a comfortable, relaxed forum in which to exchange ideas, discuss topics of interest and network with distinguished UGA leaders, Association members and friends.

On April 29, the UGA Alumni Association celebrated is annual Awards Luncheon at the Athens Country Club. For over 60 years, the UGA Alumni Association has annually recognized distinguished alumni, faculty and friends who have demonstrated outstanding loyalty and service to the University of Georgia.

The first Alumni Merit Award was given in 1937 and in 1969, the Faculty Service Award was added. In 2002, the Association initiated another prestigious award. The "Friend of UGA" recognizes a non-graduate whose professional and public service has greatly assisted the University.

This year, the Alumni Merit Award was given to the Honorable George D. Busbee BBA '49, LLB '52. The award was accepted by his family.

Ivery D. Clifton, Gene E. Michaels BS '58, MS '61, PHD '67 and Larry Weatherford BSED '54 each received the Faculty Service Award.

The Friend of UGA award was given to Cecil M. Phillips. Phillips is managing partner of Place Properties in Atlanta and president of Place Properties Companies. The award was accepted by Cindy Davidson who is a member of his firm.

The Association also recognized the following individuals: Rupa Patel '05, recipient of the Inaugural Student Advisory Council Member of the Year Award; Marshal Scholar Matthew Crim, recipient, Alumni Association Proclamation; UGA Swim Coach Jack Bauerle' 75, recipient, Alumni Association Proclamation. (The women's swimming and diving teams recently won their 4th National Championship.)

On hand were several special guests including Georgia Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor, Nancy Bobbitt from Senator Johnny Isakson's office, UGA President and Mrs. Michael Adams, UGA Senior Vice President for External Affairs Steve Wrigley, UGA Interim Dean Josef Broder, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UGA Vice President for Instruction Del Dunn, Tyus Butler, Former Alumni Association Executive Director, Gordon Bradwell, Former Alumni Association Executive Director, Alumni Association and several UGA amazing students including Justin Golshir, Heather Nelson, Beau Bryan, David Carswell, Tate Izlar, Sachin Varghese, and Teresa O'Neal.

To nominate a deserving alum, faculty member or friend of UGA, for next year's Association awards, please visit http://www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/nominations.html.

Michael Floyd, head of UGA Food Services, gave an overview of East Village Commons. Alums heard updates from Association Executive Director Deborah Dietzler and Association President Dink NeSmith '70. President Michael F. Adams and Senior Vice President for External Affairs, Dr. Steve Wrigley also spoke. A video of the Archway to Excellence Campaign Kickoff was shown.

On Thursday April 7, Justice Benham '70 delivered the SGA's African American Leadership Series lecture entitled "Fulfilling the American Dream: From UGA to the Georgia Supreme Court."

Justice Benham is the second African-American to graduate from the University of Georgia School of Law and the first African-American to serve on Georgia's Supreme Court. The UGA Alumni Association in conjunction with the Student Government Association, Office of Institutional Diversity, Women's Studies, Criminal Justice and anonymous donors were sponsors of the event. Prior to the lecture, a luncheon in honor of Justice Benham was hosted in the Dean Rusk Center.

Celebrated at the beautiful State Botanical Gardens of Georgia on April 10, the 2005 Ring Ceremony marked the beginning of participation in a long-lived tradition for over 100 third and fourth year UGA students. Among approximately 400 guests, ring recipients and their families were able to take part in a celebration that included speakers Deborah Dietzler, Executive Director of the UGA Alumni Association, Dink NeSmith '70, President of the UGA Alumni Association, and Rupa Patel '05, Chair of the UGA Alumni Association Student Advisory Council. In addition, guests were able to listen to the music of Mark Maxwell '89 and meet Alumni Association staff and Student Advisory Council members.

Recipients were given a short history on the UGA Class Ring and were directed in the traditional Placement of the Ring. The event was a success in bringing the beginnings of a tradition to the recipients of rings as they were allowed to share the moment with family, friends, and fellow UGA students.

On Thursday April 14th, UGA kicked off the largest fund-raising effort in school history. Announced during the festivities at the World Congress Center in Atlanta, was the goal of $500 million for the Archway to Excellence Campaign. On hand was the Student Advisory Council to help register guests and serve as student ambassadors throughout the event. We appreciate their help and their enthusiasm to help lead UGA into the next phase of this important campaign.

For more information on the Campaign, please visit http://www.archwaytoexcellence.uga.edu/news/index.html

A group of Alumni and friends came together at the Atlanta Alumni Center on Tuesday, May 19th to celebrate and honor Gene Younts' book, Hola Cuba! The reception highlighted Gene's photographs, along with the late Lindsay Hopkins', III, '61, pieces as well. Gene and Wanda Hopkins, Lindsay's wife, held a booksigning and then Gene culminated the lovely evening with a few remarks on his trip to Cuba.

An intimate group of UGA alumni and friends came together for an exclusive cooking class at Williams-Sonoma. Chef John Wilson led the group through an evening of low-fat and low-carb cooking. Participants were treated to samples of the evenings menu which included yummy low-fat Chewy Chocolate Cookies that were the class's favorite!

Adinkra hall turned into a subdued poetry cafe for the Mark Anthony Thomas's poetry reading and reception. Candlelight set the mood and neosoul hummed in the background. Students, faculty and staff lounged on couches or sipped punch while stylishly perched on patio chairs.

"I write about anything," said Thomas, as he described his many sources of inspiration. The diverse subject matter of his second book, The Poetic Repercussion, includes: memories of student life at UGA, thoughts of the Atlanta city-scape, and a tribute to Charlayne Hunter-Gault. After performing several pieces, Thomas signed books and met with old friends.

Thomas has been nominated for the 2005 Georgia Author of the Year award. More information about him and his works can be found at http://www.markanthonythomas.com/

Members of the UGA Alumni Association's Student Advisory Council were guided through the locker rooms, hall of fame and many other interesting areas of the famous Butts-Mehre Hall.

Alumni and friends gathered to indulge in our pre-ValentineÖs day chocolate tasting on February 10, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the UGA Atlanta Alumni Center. Dr. Rob Shewfelt, UGA Chocolate Professor of Food and Science Technology led the group through seven different chocolates.

An exclusive group of Alumni and friends attended UGA night with the Hawks on February 15. The UGA competitive cheerleading squad helped set a festive mood for a meet and greet with UGA alum Dominique Wilkins.

The Multicultural Alumni Conference was a tremendous success and couldn't of happened at a better time. The conference coincided with the NPHC step show and the "Georgia Daze" minority recruitment weekend.

The Friday reception opened with an alumni panel discussion, consisting of Alumni Association Member Randy Groomes '92, Alumni Association Member Donald Hartry '87, Debra Carthon-Brown '78, Keith Nesbitt '01 and moderated by Royal Marshall '92.

The panel and audience debated ways for a minority alumni to initiate change at UGA. The panel discussion was followed by a knee-slapping performance by comedian Mia Jackson '00. She gave a humorous account of what to do and what not to do as a student at UGA. The "Georgia Daze" students (minority high school students who have been admitted to UGA but who are still deciding whether or not to attend) found Ms. Jackson to be both very informative and extremely funny. "Georgia Daze" students were also present at the conference networking session, during which alumni shared ways to succeed while attending UGA and when pursuing one's career.

Alumni Association Member Damon Evans '92, '94 gave the opening address on Saturday morning. Mr. Evans was introduced by his fraternity brother, Morris Williams III '86, '89. Williams told many personal anecdotes about Evans' path to success and he couldn't help to dwell on Evans' football career as a "slow wide receiver."

Alumni Association Member Dr. Tracey Ford '02, Assistant Dean of Students, discussed the role of the African American Cultural Center in the recruitment and retention of black faculty, staff and students. Ms. Vanessa Williams Smith, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, discussed how alumni can support Multicultural Services and Programs by serving as mentors, assisting with the development of workshops that will enhance student growth, and volunteering. Three representatives from the Career Center, including Executive Director Scott Williams, presented ways for alumni to host student job shadowing opportunities.

Curtis D. Byrd, Director of Recruitment and Retention in the Graduate School, discussed successful programs that have increased minority graduate education, ways to contribute to minority programs for underrepresented groups at UGA, and how alumni may pursue a graduate degree at UGA.

Maria Dunn and Mahlete Endale, both graduate students in the College of Education, presented information on the Empowered Youth Program, which nurtures academic and social excellence in children and adolescents from underrepresented groups.

Karen Webb, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, distributed information on undergraduate recruitment efforts, including a list of feeder schools from which UGA recruits many African American and Hispanic students. Alumni were asked to fill out an "Alumni Data Collection" form if they wanted to assist with undergraduate recruiting efforts in their region.

Debbie Dietzler, Executive Director of the Alumni Association, discussed the significance of diversifying membership in the Alumni Association and also recognized Judy Walker, who while at UGA was heavily influenced by Charlayne Hunter-Gualt, for her organization of the first minority conference in 1975.

Alumni Association Member Corey Dortch '03 gave an inspiring speech on the need of alumni to make their presence known and felt on campus. Dr. Maurice Daniels, who has researched the desegregation of UGA, discussed the courage of Dr. Mary Frances Early, being among the first three black students at UGA.

Dr. Early, the conference's key-note speaker, shared her UGA experiences and emphasized the need to make amends with a painful past to ensure that current students don't endure the same tragedies.

Jacqueline Bunn '82, '84 offered closing remarks for the conference. Afterwards alumni attendees discussed the next viable step to strengthen minority alumni relations. Because of the conference a dialogue has begun and now alumni are committed to move that dialogue toward action.