Please note: All committee members' titles reflect their relationship to UWG in 2006.
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Drs. Anne & Fred Richards, Co-Chairs
Subcommittee: Community & Regional Events
(Jennie Coker & Tracy Stallings assisting)Focus: Downtown Celebration / community service activities / Thanksgiving project
Anne says:
" I wanted to have some part in celebrating and honoring the extraordinary and inspiring record of how this institution came into being and flourished over the past 100 years. I thought the Centennial would provide myriad opportunities for recognizing the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of students, faculty, staff, alumni and of the surrounding community in shaping the development of UWG through its first century. I believe a milestone celebration of this sort can foster a greater sense of community on campus while serving as a source of inspiration for the years ahead. I wanted to help make this possibility a reality."Fred says:
"I'm the kind of guy who wouldn't turn down an invitation to a year-long party celebrating an outstanding university and the people whose dedicated service has made it the great institution it is. I wanted to be a part of the effort to tell this extraordinary story, of a small rural
school struggling to survive in the early 1900s and becoming a great institution known for its service to local communities, its innovative programs, and its global reach. Hopefully, I can bring to this centennial event the kind of energy and spirit that will inspire others to join the
celebration." -
Lisa Ledbetter, Director, University Communications & Marketing, UWG Liaison
Subcommittee: Communications & Marketing
Focus: Communications and publicity - including Centennial Calendar, articles in regional magazine and local newspapers, banners, website, etc.
"The University of West Georgia is not only my alma mater, but, after my family, where my heart lies. I began working here in 1977 and the people and history of this place are woven into the fabric of my life. To play a small part in the celebration of our Centennial is an honor for me."
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Frank Pritchett, Associate Executive Director, Alumni Engagement
Subcommittee: Campus Employees (with Dr. Charles Wilson)
Focus: Staff Appreciation event
"Service is a great learning tool. It moves us forward professionally and
personally. Being involved in the planning and execution of our university's
centennial celebration has been greatly rewarding and I am humbled and
honored to have been a part of such an historic occasion in West Georgia's
history." -
Christy Sammon, President, Alumni Association
Subcommittee: Alumni Events
Focus: Highlighting alumni achievements / contributions
"I wanted to help make this a wonderful celebration for our University and community. I am honored to serve as President of the National Alumni Association Board of Directors during this Centennial year."
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Dr. Rita Tekippe, Assistant Professor of Art
Subcommittee: Artistic Events (with Robert Jennings)
Focus: Faculty, staff, alumni exhibits; Centennial concerts, etc.
"I knew that the UWG Centennial celebration would be expressed through art works of various kinds and I believed that serving as a liaison between the Department of Art and the Centennial Committee would best help to facilitate this. We have had 110% cooperation and enthusiasm from the Art faculty, and I am very proud to be associated with them."
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Jan Ruskell, Library Professor, faculty member
Subcommittee: History & Heritage (with Myron House, Lorene Flanders and Mary White)
Focus: Time capsule, publication of UWG highlights over time
"I majored in history in college and have worked on two books about the history of Carrollton and the college. I think West Georgia's history is not known by many people, so I like to promote the university whenever possible. The Centennial seemed like a good opportunity."
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Sondra Smith, Lecturer, Richards College of Business
Subcommittee: Academic Events & Activities (Jeanette Bernhardt assisting)
Focus: Tracking academic speakers / conferences
"I decided to participate in the centennial celebration steering committee
because the University of West Georgia has been so good to me. I'm not
only an alumni, but I work here full time teaching accounting. In appreciation for this, I wanted to 'give back' to this wonderful institution and felt this
was the best way to accomplish that! I love this college and believe in its mission!" -
Linda Picklesimer, Director, Campus Center
Subcommittee: Student Events (with Rieann Norman)
Focus: Moviefest, sorority & fraternity celebrations, Centennial Homecoming activities, SGA projects, Athletic events
"I wanted the great privilege to serve on the University of West Georgia's Centennial Committee for the opportunity to have a part in the history of the University and what it has come to mean not only to me, but also to the community of Carrollton. Not only is this going to be an exciting and memorable time for the University, but I wanted to help in creating those memories for the next 100 years."
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Myron House, Library Professor, Special Collections
Subcommittee: History & Heritage (with Jan Ruskell, Lorene Flanders and Mary White)
Focus: Time capsule, publication of UWG highlights over time
"I came to WGC in 1980 as the Special Collections Librarian and immediately became involved in the history of the institution. I began an oral history collection, interviewing Annie Belle Weaver, J. C. Bonner, and numerous other campus and community figures. In 1983 J. C. Bonner and I collaborated in writing a history of WGC, eventually published in 1998 after James Mathews joined in the project as the third co-author. I will be retiring this year and have been glad to have been able to help set the stage for the 100th Anniversary Celebration.
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Robert Jennings, Director, Townsend Center for the Performing Arts
Subcommittee: Artistic Events (with Dr. Rita Tekippe)
Focus: Faculty, staff, alumni exhibits; Centennial concerts, etc.
"I enjoy working with Arts organizations and extending the University into the community that has been so supportive of both."
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Dr. Tracy Stallings, community member
Subcommittee: Community & Regional Events (Anne and Fred Richards & Jennie Coker assisting)
Focus: Downtown Celebration / community service activities / Thanksgiving project
"I am participating on the centennial celebrating committee because I think
the University of West Georgia is one of the greatest institutions in this part of the state and adds so much to the quality of life for all our citizens, and also because this is a golden opportunity, so to speak, to call postive attention to the institution and its contributions to the State and the need for the public to provide solid support as the university carries out its various missions." -
Dr. Charles Wilson, community member.
Subcommittee: Campus Employees (with Frank Pritchett)
Focus: Staff Appreciation event
"I am participating on the centennial steering committee because of my interest in the history of the University and that fact that I was part of that history for 26 years."
"As a member of the Carrollton Community since 1960, and as an employee of the college from 1970 to 1996, I have seen the institution change from a small two-year college to the university it is today."
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Jennie Grooms Coker, community member
Subcommittee: Community & Regional Events (Anne and Fred Richards & Tracy Stallings assisting)
Focus: Downtown Celebration / community service activities / Thanksgiving project
"The four years I spent at the University of West Georgia were the most influential and character building years of my life...not to mention the most fun. The friends I made there are the ones I will keep for a lifetime. The lessons I learned, not only in the classroom, but also in real life situations are the ones that have helped me choose the direction I want to go with my life. When the opportunity came up to serve on the Steering committee, I thought what better way to say thank you to the University than to serve. Hopefully I will be making other student's experiences at West Georgia as enjoyable and educational as mine were."
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Dr. Jeanette Bernhardt, retired faculty member.
Subcommittee: Academic Events & Activities (with Sondra Smith)
Focus: Tracking academic speakers / conferences
"I wanted to be on the Centennial Committee to plan an event to celebrate Nursing at UWG and to plan a reunion for nursing alumni."
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Dr. Tara Singer, Vice President, University Advancement
Subcommittee: Signature Centennial Events
Focus: Kick-off Gala, closing convocation
"I am excited to serve as a member of the Centennial Steering Committee because of the wonderful opportunities that it provides to celebrate the people and the history of our alma mater. A university's story is really best told by the people who worked and learned there - something that all of the institution's constituencies have done through the last 100 years in the betterment of themselves and our community. This is why being a member of this committee is important to me."
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Dr. Andrew Leavitt, Associate Vice President, Development
Subcommittee: Finance & Development
Focus: Budget development, solicitation of funds for projects / events
I am delighted to play a small part in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of this great institution. It is my pleasure to work with such a dedicated group of community people who celebrate the long relationship this university has had with the fine people of Carrollton and the West Georgia region.
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Rieann Norman, Student Government Association
Subcommittee: Student Events (with Linda Picklesimer)
Focus: Moviefest, sorority & fraternity celebrations, Centennial Homecoming activities, SGA projects, Athletic events
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Lorene Flanders, Director, University Libraries, Advisor.
Subcommittee: History & Heritage (with Myron House, Jan Ruskell and Mary White)
Focus: Time capsule, publication of UWG highlights over time
"I was asked to serve on the Centennial Committee due to my experience working with the 2003 Milledgeville-Baldwin County Bicentennial Committee. Centennial Committee service provided an opportunity for this UWG newcomer to learn more about the history of the institution and to get to know a variety of people at the university and in the community. As an outgrowth of the centennial project to identify photographs representing each of the past one hundred years, two library colleagues and I wrote an article entitled "From Rural Roots to Global Reach: Celebrating a Century of Success at the University of West Georgia," which will be published in the spring 2007 issue of the Georgia Historical Quarterly. The research process revealed much about the history and development of both UWG and the University System of Georgia and helped me better understand challenges and opportunities facing higher education in Georgia today. I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to work with the committee, to have had a mini crash-course in local and institutional history, and to have experienced the interest and enthusiasm of fellow committee members."
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Mary White, Coordinator of University Advancement Programming, Advisor
Subcommittee: History & Heritage (with Myron House, Jan Ruskell and Lorene Flanders)
Focus: Time capsule, publication of UWG highlights over time
"Believe it or not, I was in charge of centennial celebrations at my previous
institution. As we honored the college's past and looked ahead to a second
century of success, the entire campus was energized. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to be involved in planning West Georgia's centennial? I love the idea of a year-long birthday celebration."