Sigma Gamma Rho honors trailblazers
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. President RaSharon King honored seven members during the sorority's Founder's Day celebration. Recognized as trailblazers were, from left, Christy Rashed, Suzette Carlisle, Eunice Rooks, chapter president King, the Rev. Jean Yates, Fannie Hewlett, Adonia Latham and Felicion McMillon-Diakhate, from left.Irizarry named Student of the Year in Applied Technology
Javier Irizarry was recently named 2014 Outstanding Student of the Year for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Chattanooga State Community College.
Irizarry, 47, came to the United States from Puerto Rico in 1989. The birth of two sons then a divorce made him realize that minimum-wage jobs would not support his family of three, according to a Chattanooga State news release. The single father graduated from Chattanooga State in 1996 with a degree in licensed practical nursing. Irizarry, now a grandfather, has returned to college to earn a second degree through Chattanooga State's Industrial Electricity program.
While working as an LPN for the past 18 years, Irizarry found that many of his homebound elderly patients required home repairs but did not have the money, so he made repairs for them when possible.
"My dream is to establish a home service business targeted mostly to the elderly, and those less financially able, so they can enjoy the benefits of owning a safe, carefree home," he says.
Chattanooga State faculty and students delivered 41 food boxes to La Paz Chattanooga. From left are Juan Santillana, instructor; Katheryn Thompson, associate professor; Spanish I students Abby Callahan and Misty Smith; and Vivian Lozano of La Paz.Chatt State boosts LaPaz food drive
Students, faculty and staff at Chattanooga State Community College partnered to support an annual food drive for La Paz Chattanooga, which connects the Latino community to resources of the greater Chattanooga area. A total of 41 boxes of food were collected, packed and delivered before Thanksgiving. According to Katheryn Thompson, Spanish Club adviser at Chatt State, it was the most boxes the college has delivered to the nonprofit.
Kirsten Smith wins Miss Rhomania Pageant
Fourteen young women competed in the Miss Rhomania and Little Miss Rhomania pageants, a scholarship fundraiser sponsored by Sigma Gamma Rho sorority every three years. The event was held in the Community Theatre at Memorial Auditorium.
Kirsten Smith, 12-year-old daughter of LaShundra Swafford and Darrell Smith, was crowned Miss Rhomania. Kearri'anna Johnson placed second and Amari Hines was third.
Layla Smith, 7, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Smith, won the Little Miss Rhomania title. Malaya Middlebrook placed second, and L'Tae Bryant was third.
As part of the pageant, the local chapter recognized seven distinguished women as trailblazers to conclude its Founders Day celebration: Suzette Carlilse, Christy Rashed, Adonia Latham, Felicion McMillon-Diakhate, Fannie Hewlett, Eunice Rooks and the Rev. Jean Yates.
Tyler Crosby, left, Georgia Northwestern Technical College Basic Law Enforcement graduate, was honored as GNTC's top graduate and received the Top Gun Award. At right is GNTC Basic Law Enforcement Academy Director Jim Pledger.Crosby named top graduate in law enforcement class at GNTC
Tyler Crosby of Rome, Ga., received Georgia Northwestern Technical College's "Top Gun Award" for marksmanship as well as the top student academic award during a recent graduation ceremony for GNTC's Basic Law Enforcement Academy.
Other graduates in the class were Justin Bohannon, Amethyst Dunn, Patrick Dupree, Aaron Grant, Alejandro Hernandez, Wesley Holland, Luis Otalora Murcia and Johnny Peterson.
Berry College earns state excellence award
The Georgia Educational Advancement Council recently awarded Berry College its 2014 Excellence in Institutional Advancement Award during its annual conference awards program. The council solicits nominations annually from college and university presidents, chief advancement officers and members at large.
In judges' remarks, it was noted that Berry's win was due, in part, to the college's public relations team, which managed the national and international attention generated by the bald eagle nest on campus. The cam can be viewed at berry.edu/eaglecam.
Additionally, four years of work came to fruition in May when LifeReady: The Berry College Campaign for Opportunity was launched. Gifts and pledges have reached $77 million for the program.