Georgia Southwestern State University

GSW has held two COVID-19 vaccine clinics with another coming up this week for GSW faculty, staff and students helping to create a safer campus environment and getting us back on track for a return to normal. Staff from the Student Health Center coordinated each clinic, with faculty and students from the GSW College of Nursing and Health Sciences also volunteering to help administer vaccines.

After 17 years at GSW, Dr. Gaynor Cheokas has been named dean of GSW College of Business & Computing. She served as interim dean since June 2020 following the retirement of former dean Dr. Liz Wilson.

Want to finish the degree you started years ago? Join us virtually for the USG Adult Learner Open House where we'll discuss how to re-enter college, get you back on track, and answer any questions you may have. Register at bit.ly/DYGOpenHouseApr1

The Hurricanes are headed into another round of playoffs this week with GSW's Esports team competing in the Peach Belt Conference's League of Legends Tournament! As the #3 seed, GSW will face Florida Southern in the best-of-3 quarterfinals Thursday night at 9pm.

Aunt Mae would be so proud of "her boys" for bringing her 40-year-old scholarship back to life just before her birthday on Thursday, December 17. She made sure that her boys always displayed good manners, were kind to one another, and kept the house in an orderly fashion," recalled one brother.

The day may have been long, but it was worth every bit of preparation! Approximately 175 graduates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas, with 726 students total earning their bachelor's, master's and specialist degrees in 2020. Among those in attendance were unique stories of mother and son, twins, dean and son, three sisters, a special needs graduate, and an online student who traveled from North Carolina setting foot on GSW's campus for the first time. Congratulations Class of 2020! #GSWgrad

Graduation portraits are ready! We are happy to provide these free professional images from the commencement ceremony for you to download. #GSWgrad #TakeTomorrowByStorm

Congratulations once again to GSW’s Class of 2020! We wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors and are confident that you will all #TakeTomorrowByStorm! #GSWgrad

That's a wrap! Today has been a whirlwind of activity and emotion, but we are so glad to be able to celebrate our Spring, Summer and Fall 2020 graduates in person and on campus. You truly deserved it! We know that many were unable to be with us today for a variety of reasons, but we know you were with us in spirit and hope you watched online. Thank you so much to the graduates and guests for your understanding and patience through the new procedures and safety precautions. And thank you to the faculty and staff who worked diligently to plan and safely execute four ceremonies in one day. The full photo album from today's ceremonies will be posted early next week! #GSWgrad

It was an honor and a privilege to host the 2nd Congressional District Candidate Forum between Congressman Sanford Bishop and Mr. Don Cole on campus last night. Professor Berggren and the GSW student panel did an amazing job carrying out this event. Good luck to both candidates in the upcoming Nov. 3 election! Watch the full debate on GSW's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMBMxdTLPhE&t=102s

Campus is finally sportin’ some fall colors. : GSW Public Safety

REMINDER: The debate between Sanford Bishop and Don Cole is taking place tonight at 6:30pm and will be live-streamed on GSW's YouTube channel. WATCH LIVE www.youtube.com/channel/UCZXN3OXm0mmAwXhMgyT0PoA

Georgia Southwestern State University will host the one and only debate between incumbent U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop (Democrat) and Don Cole (Republican) on Wednesday, October 28 at 6:30pm. The candidates will have an opportunity to inform voters about their stands on a range of issues facing the country today. The event will be livestreamed on GSW’s YouTube channel. The forum will be moderated by Jason Berggren, Ph.D., associate professor in the history and political science department at GSW, along with a four-person student panel majoring in political science and education who will ask questions. WATCH LIVE on 10/28/20 at 6:30pm: www.youtube.com/channel/UCZXN3OXm0mmAwXhMgyT0PoA

Thank you to all of our student-athletes and coaches who volunteered to help unload and distribute 1,130 boxes of free food to Sumter County families today in partnership with Harvest Of Hope Food Pantry and Americus Rotary Club. You can always count on Georgia SouthwesternAthletics to show up and lend a hand! #GoldForceThursday

As a non-traditional student, Robert Hughey has faced several challenges in his quest to earn a degree. "Each time I failed, I got back up again, and I have never given up on my dream of earning my undergraduate degree at GSW," he said. "I want anyone who has ever failed in his or her life (and honestly, that's all of us at some point) to know it's never too late to rise up in the face of hard challenges and adversity. And you're never too old to dream and achieve." Robert plans to graduate with his BA in English next May. Canes Spotlights highlight Georgia Southwestern students who hold leadership roles, are involved in extracurricular activities and excel academically on campus. #TakeTomorrowByStorm

Congratulations to the recent inductees into the GSW chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society! The socially-distanced ceremony, originally planned for the spring, was postponed due to COVID-19 and the campus closure.

Aspiring pharmacists at GSW are eligible to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree a year earlier based on a new agreement with PCOM Georgia which will allow students to begin their careers sooner all while saving tuition dollars.

Check out our very own Dr. Sandra Daniel, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, in this month's issue of Georgia Trend in their nursing feature story, Nursing During Adversity. We are so proud of Dr. Daniel and her leadership during these tumultuous times when nursing is more important than ever.

Last week, we recognized the contributions of our dedicated faculty and staff with a virtual Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony. This event, typically held at the end of Spring semester each year, had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As President Neal Weaved noted during the ceremony, this year's awardees were nominated by their peers earlier this year, amid some of the most difficult and challenging times in higher education's history. Those receiving awards were... presented in-person to accept their plaques from Dr. Weaver. Additionally via the livestream, faculty were recognized for promotion and tenure, faculty and staff were recognized for years of service to GSW, faculty retirees that were granted emeritus status were recognized, and a moment of silence was held for the faculty and staff members that have passed away in the last year. See more

Our next Canes Spotlight is Senior music major Ayanna Harden. Ayanna toured several schools during her college search but says none of them truly felt like home - until she visited GSW. "My mom asked if I got that ooey-gooey-chocolate-chip-cookie feeling about this school. I said 'yes' and made GSW my home ever since." Now a senior, Ayanna has performed in Concert Choir and the Chamber Singers, served as a music department officer, and worked as a desk assistant in Financial Aid. Canes Spotlights highlight Georgia Southwestern students who hold leadership roles, are involved in extracurricular activities and excel academically on campus. #TakeTomorrowByStorm

An important message regarding December Graduation for all 2020 Hurricane Graduates (Spring, Summer, & Fall) has been sent to these students' GSW Radar email account. Please be sure to check this email to participate in a survey regarding the December Ceremony and respond by the extended deadline of Monday, October 12 at 11:59pm. Tag any 2020 graduates in the comments below

Today is midterm, the official halfway point in the most unique and challenging semester we have ever faced as a University. Despite the challenges, we have successfully completed 8 weeks of in-person classes, all while maintaining low case numbers. This is a milestone many other schools have not been able to reach. With the combination of flexible hybrid/online courses, dedicated faculty and staff, and continued safe health practices, it has taken all of us to reach this poi...nt. And it will take all of us to complete this semester as successfully as we’ve started it. As we look ahead, please continue to wear your masks and take all COVID-19 health precautions seriously, both on and off campus, so we can help keep GSW open. Now is not the time to let our guard down. Let’s finish this semester strong and take the rest of whatever 2020 has in store for us by storm!