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Happy Holidays From the UGA Alumni Association

By now, most students have exchanged their Ramen noodles, late-night study sessions and blue books for a little R&R under the close watch of family members and home-cooked meals.

The UGA Alumni Association staff members and I will join them tomorrow by spending a few days away from the office with loved ones. We will return on Tuesday, January 2, ready to kick off what is sure to be an exciting year in 2013.

This is the time of year when a number of “Top 10” lists are released. Every newspaper, TV show and blog seems to have its own list documenting the previous year or preparing for the next one. Not to be outdone, here are ten of my favorite UGA Alumni Association memories from 2012 (in no specific order):

1. Meeting Graduates

Nothing excites me more than meeting new alumni and interacting with old acquaintances. I look forward to seeing you at a 2013 UGA Alumni Association event if I haven’t already. All graduates of UGA are automatically members of the Alumni Association and therefore welcome to attend any of our special events in Athens, Atlanta, and across the country.

2. Founders Week

Every year, the UGA Alumni Association and the UGA Emeriti Scholars sponsor the Founders’ Day Lecture to celebrate the University's birthday which is January 27. Dr. Betty Jean Craige presented the 10^th Annual Founders Day Lecture this past year. Mark your calendars now for the 11^th Annual Founders Week.

3. Women of UGA

This program connects female UGA graduates for networking and socializing in their area. We held a number of these successful events in 2012 and will host many more in the coming year. Stay tuned to the Women of UGA webpage and Facebook page for upcoming events.

4. Alumni Leadership Assembly

Each year, UGA Alumni Chapter volunteers gather for a fun-filled weekend in Athens. The 2012 attendees learned new things about UGA, toured new facilities on campus, and spent time with students and other chapter leaders. I hope to see those chapter leaders return for the 2013 Alumni Leadership Assembly and a number of new leaders as well.

5. DawgTrot

Hundreds of alumni and friends come together at Stegeman Coliseum each spring for Athens’ largest 5k. Here are last year’s winners. Register now for the 2013 DawgTrot on March 16. Not a runner? Volunteer instead!

6. Bulldog 100

The Bulldog 100 recognizes the 100 fastest growing businesses that are owned or operated by UGA Alumni. jobTopia CEO Anthony Moore ’93 was honored with the No. 1 fastest growing Bulldog Business in 2012. Here is the complete list for 2013–who will be No. 1? Join us on Saturday, January 26, to find out.

7. Chapter Gatherings

While UGA graduates are spread across the globe, they still enjoy connecting with other alumni for Bulldog Breakfast Clubs, Women of UGA luncheons, Dinners with a Dozen Dawgs, Bulldogs After Business Hours, game watching parties, and other networking events. Collectively, chapters hosted several hundred gatherings in 2012. Check out your local chapter’s webpage for updates on events near you.

8. Student Alumni Council

I already shared my appreciation for the Student Alumni Council in a previous blog post, but these student leaders always bring a smile to my face. They do an amazing job acting as liaison between the UGA Alumni Association and the student body. I look forward to seeing them back on campus in 2013.

9. UGA Days

During these events across the country, UGA alumni and friends get the inside scoop on the Georgia Bulldogs’ upcoming seasons, hear the latest news from the university, and learn more about alumni chapter activities. In 2012, we hosted UGA Days in cities such as Macon, Tampa, Charlotte, and Birmingham. Stay tuned for the cities we’ll be visiting in 2013!

10. 40 Under 40

The UGA Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 recognizes UGA graduates who are leading the way in business, leadership, community, educational and/or philanthropic endeavors. Congratulations to the 40 Under 40 Class of 2012. We look forward to celebrating next year’s class.

As you can tell, it was a busy year. I look forward to an even busier one in 2013!

Until then, I wish you and your family the best. I hope your holiday season is filled with joy and rest. Go Dawgs!

Happy Holidays,

Deborah Dietzler

Recent Entries

05.24.2013

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

As you head into Memorial Day Weekend, we wish you safety in your travel and activities. This weekend is a time to remember those who lost their lives defending our freedom, as well as those who have been wounded or who have served or are still serving in any capacity. We are eternally grateful for our soldiers' sacrifices and service!

While reflecting on our military heroes this weekend, I invite you to peruse our Greatest Generation and Support Our Troops blogs. These blogs have been put together by UGA and Athens legend Claude McBride, and they are filled with wonderful stories of UGA graduates who have defended our country over the years.

CLICK HERE to visit the Greatest Generation blog.

CLICK HERE to visit the Support Our Troops blog.

Thank you, veterans and troops, and Go Dawgs!

05.22.2013

UGA graduate wins Bearings Specialists Association Lifetime Achievement Award

The Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Andy Nations (BBA '71), president and CEO of B&D Industrial.

The presentation was made at the association’s 2013 Annual Convention May 4-7 at the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Nations is the first second-generation Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. His father, John Nations, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.

B&D Industrial (known to most of BSA as Bearings & Drives) was founded in 1947, when Nations’ father, John, purchased Travis Belting & Supply in Griffin, Ga. The company started as a “mom and pop” industrial distributorship. Nations literally grew up in the company, learning the ropes by working in various positions starting with shipping and delivery for Bearings and Drives before he graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in finance in 1971. From implementing the company’s first computer system in 1975 to managing various acquisitions and record growth in the 1990s, Nations has brought B&D to a new level.

Andy is yet another shining example of UGA alumni serving as leaders in their fields. Andy, congratulations on a distinguished career and this well-deserved recognition!

This article was sourced from an article in Industrial Supply Magazine. CLICK HERE to read the full article.

05.21.2013

UGA graduate now a golf curator at St. Andrews

My favorite thing about meeting with UGA graduates from across the country is hearing all of your wonderful stories and accomplishments. Recently, at UGA Day in Nashville, I was speaking with Josh Parker (BBA '00) when he told me about his father, Dr. Tony Parker (AB '90, MA '92). Last year, Dr. Parker was named curator of the "Lawrence Levy Photograph Golf Collection" at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.

His assignment is to organize and catalogue the more than 240,000 images taken between 1978 and 1994 by Levy, who lost a battle to cancer in 1994. Of course, living and working in St. Andrews, we hear that Tony may be enjoying a little golf, as well!

Dr. Parker isthe first Curator of Golf History in the 600-year history of the University of St. Andrews. They are currently raising funds to build a purpose-built facility to house their Special Collections. Knowing how much we cherish our own Special Collections Libraries, I know how valuable that addition will be to St. Andrews.

An excerpt from an article by Loran Smith on Parker in the September 4, 2012 edition of the Athens Banner-Herald describes his path to this project:

After graduating with a masters degree in history from UGA in 1992, Parker enrolled at the University of St. Andrews, where he received a degree in Scottish history in 1996. He and his wife, Lisa, who grew up in Alpharetta and is also a UGA graduate, decided to stay in Scotland. Last year, they became Scottish citizens and now have dual passports.

Following the conferring of his doctorate, Parker became the administrative director of the Institute for Transatlantic, European and American Studies at the University of Dundee, where he taught for 12 years.

Leaving the University of Dundee in 2008, he formed the Parker Group Scotland, which specialized in Scottish and golf-related history, educational consultations and photography.

In 2007, Parker was introduced to the Queen and Prince Philip for his "contributions to the people of the United Kingdom."

Dr. Parker, I and the thousands of UGA graduates who are avid golfers or golf fans are so proud of your role at the home of golf. We know you miss fall afternoons 'Between the Hedges,' but we know that replacing them with fall afternoons on the Old Course is not too bad an alternative!

Well done, and Go Dawgs!

This post was sourced from an article by Loran Smith in the September 4, 2012 edition of the Athens Banner-Herald. CLICK HERE to read the full article.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Tony Parker

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