Office of the President: Wildcat Dreams, Vol. 2, No. 6

Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014 • Vol. 2, No.6

Wildcat Dreams is Fort Valley State University President Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith’s tri-weekly e-newsletter. As an additional resource to stay connected to FVSU, Wildcat Dreams highlights various campus activities and updates about new initiatives and programs. Readers are encouraged to share with friends and family. We welcome your feedback. Please send comments to fvsu_pr@fvsu.edu. Thank you and happy reading!

Read more news on the FVSU Review.

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Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith's 2014 Thanksgiving Message

Watch Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, president of Fort Valley State University deliver a special message for this year's Thanksgiving holiday.

Fenika Miller, FVSU Featured Student.

Student Spotlight: Fenika Miller

This month’s featured student is Fenika Miller, a property manager and the chair of Houston County’s Democratic Committee. Miller is a nontraditional student who decided to return to Fort Valley State University’s campus to complete her degree. She will graduate in December 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in English. “The FVSU experience this time around has been the best thing for me," Miller said. " I love my HBCU.”

Read more here.

University employees and supporters posed on the state's capitol steps in honor of the inaugural FVSU Day in the Capital in March 2014.

FVSU Day at the Capitol

Fort Valley State University will provide lawmakers with a glimpse into Wildcat Country during the 2nd Annual FVSU Day at the Capitol on February 11, 2015 in Atlanta.

The event is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon and will include brief presentations by key university leaders and student scholars.

Read more here.

FVSU supporters enjoy the 2014 Scholarship Day at the Health and Physical Education Complex.

FVSU to host 28th annual Scholarship Day

Fort Valley State University’s largest scholarship luncheon to aid deserving students will be held on Feb. 16, 2015. The 28th annual FVSU Scholarship Day is scheduled for noon and will be hosted by U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop and State Representative Calvin Smyre. Doors for the luncheon will open at 11 a.m.

The theme for this year’s luncheon is “Keeping the Flame of Excellence Burning.”

“This is our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Kristie Kenney, director of the FVSU Foundation. “We would love for everyone to contribute to help make this event a success.”

Read more here.

FVSU to launch Recruit Back program

Fort Valley State University is launching a new program that will encourage former students to return to campus to complete their degrees.

The Recruit Back program, which is in line with Governor Nathan Deal’s new “Go Back, Move Ahead program, will reach out to FVSU students who either dropped out or left campus before finishing their degrees, and encourage them to come back and finish their college degree.

Read more here.

FVSU hosts first international recruitment event in Barbados

Fort Valley State University recently hosted two recruitment sessions on the Caribbean island of Barbados to share information with prospective students about the outstanding educational experience provided at the university.

Fort Valley State University president Dr. Ivelaw Griffith and his administrative team members, including Dr. Govind Kannan, dean of the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology, and Director of Admissions Calandra Wright, visited the island to share information with prospective students about the outstanding educational experience provided at the university, recruit Barbadian students, and build relationships with government and key stakeholders on the island.

Wright said as a result of the visit, more than a dozen students applied and were accepted to Fort Valley State. Several of them are planning to enroll for the fall 2015 semester, she said.

Read more here.

An Enroll Now session from earlier this year drew in potential Fort Valley State University candidates to campus.

FVSU to host Enroll Now Session

High school graduates, nontraditional and transfer students will have a unique opportunity to apply and enroll on Fort Valley State University’s campus during a one-day recruitment event. The Enroll Now Session will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6 in the Troup Building, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Qualifying students that have sealed, official transcripts from their school and test scores could be admitted the same day.

“This will be a one-stop shop opportunity to apply to FVSU and be enroll the same day,” Sha-Ron Jones, director of recruitment, said. “This is an opportunity for students who are thinking of enrolling in Fort Valley State University this spring to come to campus on Dec. 6, and enroll.”

Read more here.

FVSU holds Pre-College Academy closing ceremony

Fort Valley State University recently celebrated the accomplishment of 28 students who successfully completed course work that qualified them to become official Wildcats in the 2015. The graduates that completed the university’s new Pre-College Academy received their certificates at a closing ceremony on Nov. 21 in the Wildcat Commons Clubhouse.

Parents, teachers and well wishers celebrated the accomplishment of the recent high school graduates who will enroll on campus in the spring of 2015.

“The Pre-College Academy is a program for students who would not be normally admitted to FVSU," said Dr. Jessica Bailey, FVSU's vice president for Academic Affairs and Provost. “We put them into the program to install the skills necessary for them to become college ready and admitted into FVSU.”

Read more here.

Four FVSU graduates honored as Teachers of the Year in Atlanta

Atlanta Public Schools recently honored 84 educators at their Teacher of the Year Program for excellence in the classroom at their respective schools. Among those honored, four were Fort Valley State University graduates.

APS has 106 learning sites and programs, including nine high school clusters, two single-gender campuses and 15 charter schools.

The four FVSU alums will now qualify for semi-finalists for the district’s Teacher of the Year Award.

The FVSU graduates that were honored are:

Julien Siah – Young Middle School

Natasha Hogan-Mahan – Price Middle School

Krystle Scott – Fickett Elementary School

Shekela Edwards – King Middle School

Ten Fort Valley State University College of Education student scholars received scholarships from the Kitchens Family at the annual Educator Induction Ceremony.

Three College of Education students received scholarships from the Peyton Williams family this year.

FVSU hosts Teacher Induction Ceremony

Aspiring educators that met all of the requirements to enter Fort Valley State University’s College of education were officially inducted during a special Teachers’ Induction Ceremony on Nov. 11 in the C. W. Pettigrew Center auditorium. During the ceremony, 12 education students received scholarships.

“Every year, we look forward to the retired and current teachers in the surrounding communities to come and share this special event with us,” said Dr. Edward Hill, dean of the College of Education. “Words cannot express the joy that fills my heart every fall of the year as we induct new, motivated and capable students into our programs to mold, shape and train into becoming proficient educators. We expect a bigger and better program next year.”

Read more here.

Keynote speaker Col. Terry Love speaks with Dr. Angela Harris, interim vice president for the Office of Student Success and Enrollment Management, at the Veteran's Day event.

The university honored first responders at the event.

FVSU's Dr. Angela Harris speaks to the Veteran's Day crowd.

FVSU hosts Veterans Day Service in honor of troops

Servicemen, students, staff and members of the Central Georgia community recently gathered at Fort Valley State University for a program that honored our nation’s troops.

The university held its 2014 Veterans Day program on Nov. 11 in the Historic Quadrangle near Founders Hall. This year’s program featured keynote speaker Terry Love, a university graduate and formerFVSU Wildcat Battalion commander.

“Each day, we should pause as a nation to honor the sacrifice of our veterans,” said Dr. Angela Harris, interim vice president for the Office of Student Success and Enrollment Management. Harris spoke on behalf of President Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith. “While only one day is dedicated to our veterans, we must never forget the sacrifice they have made, and the opportunity they took to defend and serve. Thank you: a royal salute to you on this Veterans Day.”

Read more here.

FVSU holds its annual grantsmanship workshop

Fort Valley State University recently held its one-day signature Grantsmanship Institute and Training Conference on Nov. 13 in the C. W. Pettigrew Center.

During the annual workshop, attendees learned strategies and tips that would help make their grant proposal application competitive and get funded. Individuals networked with federal agency program officers and private foundation representatives, and also underwent a mock proposal review. They also attended breakout sessions about foundation funding, promoting educational excellence abroad, and compliance.

LeRonn Furr (photo credit: Sports Illustrated)

Leron Furr named SIAC MVP and Defensive Player of the Year

The SIAC Football Coaches Association recently voted Fort Valley State University Wildcat player LeRon Furr as its 2014 SIAC Football Player of the Year (MVP) and Defensive Player of the Year.

The FVSU football player also earned a spot on the SIAC First Team All-Defense. In addition to Furr’s accomplishments, the FVSU Wildcats placed six student-athletes on the All-Conference Teams.

Student-athletes that were named to the All-Conference Teams are freshman wide receiver Drelon Freeman, senior defensive lineman Bernard Little, junior defensive back Brian Walker and freshman kicker/Punter Juan Serna. Serna also made SIAC First Team on Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Junior offensive lineman Brandon Baker made second-team offense.

Furr led the Wildcats in tackles with 108 (49 solo) and tied for first place in the SIAC. He finished with 49 tackle-for-losses, 10 sacks, one interception, 4 pass break-ups and 6 quarterback hurries. Furr was named Defensive Player of the Game at the Fountain City Classic and two-times SIAC Player of the Week.

Read more here.

Students win big at LSAMP symposium

Wildcat students did well this year at an annual symposium that encourages college students to pursue research in the sciences.

Six FVSU students placed in the top three in the Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in the Sciences 9th annual Fall Symposium hosted by the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Ga.

Accompanying the students were FVSU Chemistry department faculty Drs. Robin Bright, Tiffani Holmes, James Mack and Dwayne Daniels, and biology professors Dr. Cecelia Dodd, Dr. Teresa Shakespeare and Fred McLaughlin.

Read more here.

Residential Life donates baskets to domestic violence survivors

Women at a domestic violence shelter had a happier Thanksgiving holiday thanks to the kindness of some Fort Valley State University students. Recently, the campus’ Residential Life program, and residents in the Wildcat Commons, created five gift baskets that will go to five domestic violence victims and their families that living in the Salvation Army Domestic Violence Shelter in Warner Robins.

Tiffany Tillman, a Residence Life and Community Service Coordinator for Wildcat Commons 5, said they encourage FVSU students to get involved to serve the community.

Read more here.

Marketing and Communications names new public relations specialist

Marketing and Communications director Pamela Berry-Johnson recently announced that writer Christina Milton will become the new public relations specialist for the department. Milton has served as an editorial assistant for Marketing and Communications for the last six years. "Ms. Milton's title change reflects the more dynamic and expanded duties and responsibilities she has undertaken in her role within the department," Berry-Johnson said.

Read more here.

English as a Second Language Program coming soon

In an effort to fulfill community and workforce needs related to the improvement in English language proficiency, Fort Valley State University is planning to establish a Second Language (ESL) program.
The program, slated to begin in spring 2015 with first-level courses, will offer instruction in reading, writing and speaking to individuals whose native language is not English.

More details coming soon.

After-Care Program Interest Survey

Benefits of an afterschool program are widespread and needed in this community. In an effort to fulfill this need, the FVSU Office of Graduate Studies and Extended Education has developed a strategic plan to offer a quality after school program that will provide a safe, nurturing place of supervision for school age children where there are opportunities to reinforce learning from school, teach social skills and encourage good citizenship.

Please click the link below to offer your comments and suggestions.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FVSUAftercare

The survey will close on December 10.