Westside Wish Inspires Mural Painting Class at VSU
A local elementary school’s wish for a bold, colorful, and inspirational message led to the creation of an innovative new class at VSU this spring.
VSU's first Mural Painting class was an opportunity for 14 Department of Art and Design students to learn about the business, design, and implementation phases of working as a professional artist.
The end result was a beautiful mural inside Westside Elementary School, a transformative project that will foster creativity and imagination, enhance the prekindergarten through fifth grade learning environment, and offer students and staff a bit of encouragement for years to come.
Graduate in First Doctor of Nursing Practice Class at VSU Reflects on Unique Path to Success
Nisha Patel is one of 17 students who will become the first to earn the Doctor of Nursing Practice at VSU on May 5. She moved to Valdosta from India in 2013 and earned a Master of Science in Nursing from VSU in 2018. She began her career as a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner at Legacy Behavioral Services in Valdosta.
As Patel continues on her journey, her story with VSU is not quite over. She has one more semester before also earning a Master of Business Administration, and she would love to return to teach at VSU one day.
Julie Slade Partain, a V-State alumna, was recently named vice president for Academic Affairs at South Georgia Technical College. She has been an integral part of the college for more than two decades, previously serving as Workforce Investment Act coordinator, admissions coordinator, the registrar, and most recently dean of Enrollment Management.
As the new vice president for Academic Affairs, Partain plans to implement new programs and revitalize existing programs to ensure South Georgia Technical College is providing a trained workforce for business and industry in Crisp, Macon, Marion, Schley, Sumter, Taylor, and Webster counties.
Partain earned a Master of Business Administration from VSU in 2003.
Diantha V. Ellis, a V-State alumna, was recently promoted to professor of business administration at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. She teaches economics and business law in the Stafford School of Business at ABAC.
The rank of full professor is the highest faculty rank at the college, requires that the faculty member have a terminal degree in the teaching discipline, and is awarded to faculty who show clear and convincing evidence of exemplary achievement in their schools.
Ellis earned a Master of Business Administration from VSU in 2003.
Kelly Denham, a V-State alumna, was recently appointed to the Seminole County Board of Education. With three children in the Seminole County School System, she is committed to ensuring every child has the best school experience possible.
Denham serves as membership chair with the Seminole County Athletic Booster Club and is involved in the school council meetings at Seminole County Elementary School.
Denham earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from VSU in 2001.
Yesha Shah, a V-State alumna, is one of five analysts selected from a pool 530 applicants for the second cohort of the Finance Analyst Program, a collaboration between three veteran education equity organizations — Equitable Facilities Fund, Civic Builders, and Afton Partners Education. This two-year, paid fellowship recruits, trains, and employs early-stage professionals from underrepresented backgrounds, preparing them to succeed in financial services roles across the education sector.
Shah earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance in 2022 from VSU. She is an analyst at Afton Partners.
VSU College of Education and Human Services Unveils James Dewar Portrait
The VSU community recently gathered to unveil an unexpected gift to the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services — a large, framed portrait of James Lovett Dewar Sr.
Hanging in the atrium of VSU’s Education Center, the James Dewar portrait was donated by David Rose of Rose Consulting LLC, a Valdosta-based law firm. He discovered the portrait inside a building he acquired and knew it belonged at VSU, where the enduring Dewar legacy continues to transform lives every day.
James Lovett Dewar Sr. and Dorothy Herndon Dewar dedicated their lives to inspiring, educating, and nurturing generation after generation of leaders and change makers. VSU is proud to remember their legacy through the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services.
VSU Enactus Finishes Third in National Competition
VSU Enactus recently placed third at the Enactus United States 2023 National Exposition Early-Stage Competition at the University of Texas in Dallas.
The VSU Enactus team presented The Upcycling Project, an initiative that aims to bring awareness and solutions to the global discarded clothing epidemic — starting on VSU’s campus. The students plan to deconstruct discarded clothing and upcycle the items to form usable products that have value and additional use. The concept offers students the opportunity to learn valuable skills, such as design, sewing, marketing, managing inventories and people, and sales.
VSU’s Spectator Wins Big at Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest
The Spectator, the unfiltered, uncensored voice of the students at VSU, recently earned seven 2023 Georgia College Press Association Better Newspaper Contest awards, including five staff and two individual recognitions.
The Spectator finished second in the General Excellence (Division A) category. Rounding out the top three were The Red & Black at University of Georgia in first place and Technique at Georgia institute of Technology in third place.
Other awards: Third, Best Editorial or Editorial Series. Second, Best Campus Community Service: Editorial, Best Campus Community Service: News, Layout and Design Excellence, Best Column (Austin Bruce of Quitman, Georgia), and Best Photo Essay (Bailey Wilson of Glennville, Georgia).
Caleb Register, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Caleb Christian Register of Homerville, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2023 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at VSU. He will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and an Honors College Certificate during VSU’s 235th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.
Register plans to pursue a sales and human resource management career after graduation.
Jared Collum, College of Business Administration
Jared Lee Collum of Moultrie, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2023 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration at VSU. He will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a Minor in Entrepreneurship during VSU’s 235th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.
After graduation Collum plans to work at Pentas Wealth Management, a financial advising firm in downtown Moultrie, as a client service associate / financial advisor-in-training. His career goals include becoming a financial advisor and helping individuals and institutions achieve their financial goals.
Winston Turner, College of Science and Mathematics
Winston Blake Turner of Powder Springs, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2023 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Science and Mathematics at VSU. He will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology during VSU’s 235th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.
After graduation, Turner plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as a pediatrician.
Jamie Collins, College of the Arts
Jamie Erin Collins of Columbia, South Carolina, is the recipient of the Spring 2023 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of the Arts at VSU. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media during VSU’s 235th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.
Collins plans to spend her summer working as the projections programmer for Peach State Summer Theatre, the Official Musical Theatre of the State of Georgia. Afterwards she hopes to pursue a career in video production, videography, and/or editing in a media setting.
Morgan Hill, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Morgan Bailey Hill of Echols County, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2023 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at VSU. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences during VSU’s 235th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.
After graduation Hill plans to return to VSU “to play my fifth year of eligibility for softball. Then I plan to go to physical therapy school and later specialize in pediatrics.”
Amanda Parker, College of Education and Human Services
Amanda Fields Parker of Hahira, Georgia, is the recipient of the Spring 2023 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services at VSU. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Education in Communication Disorders during VSU’s 235th Commencement at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, on the Main Campus Front Lawn.
Parker plans to continue her education after graduation, pursue a Master of Education in Communication Disorders, also at VSU, and become a speech language pathologist. She wants to work in early intervention services, helping children from birth to age 3 with swallowing, language, and speech disorders.
VSU Celebrates 11th Tree Campus USA Recognition
VSU recently celebrated its 11thArbor Day Foundation Tree Campus USA recognition and renewed its commitment to effective urban forest management during a Georgia Arbor Day ceremony.
Arbor Day ceremony guests learned what it takes to achieve the Tree Campus USA designation, including the work behind maintaining VSU’s urban forest and why those efforts are important to student success and the health and wellbeing of every member of the university community. They also helped plant a new live oak tree, a symbol of wisdom, strength, and endurance and the official tree of the Peach State.
The live oak tree, located near VSU’s Fine Arts Building, was dedicated in memory of Keagan Kung-Korte, a former Dual Enrollment Honors Academy student from Nashville, Georgia, who died in October 2020.
Jerome Joynes-Walker Earns Second VSU Degree May 5
A soon-to-be two-time VSU alumnus, Jerome Joynes-Walker of Brooklyn, New York, has his finger on the pulse of Blazer Nation (and West Hall). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2020 and will earn a Master of Social Work on May 5.
Throughout his VSU Graduate School experience, Jerome has served as an intern with the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion and as a graduate assistant with the Office of First-Year Programs. He looks forward to earning licensure as a social worker and using his skills to change lives and make a difference. He says VSU is a great place for students to “discover their WHY.”
VSU Alums Win Twins Edition of NBC’s Weakest Link
VSU’s Jessica and Nina Bald recently won the Twins Edition episode of NBC’s Weakest Link.
The Bald sisters became the first members of their family to earn a college degree when they graduated from VSU with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media in 2019. They live together in the Atlanta area where Jessica works as a Trimble workforce analyst and Nina works as a State Farm claims associate and digital creator. They hope to use their game show prize money to create and develop their own business ventures.
From Jessica: “VSU is the gateway to great opportunities. In the Mass Media program, I learned how to network and find opportunities to be involved in media.”
From Nina: “VSU is the most beautiful Georgia campus, in my opinion. Walking to class is so scenic and gets you in the best mindset to learn. Also, there is such a sense of community and togetherness at VSU.”
VSU Recognizes Faculty with Awarding of Tenure, Promotion
VSU recently awarded tenure to five faculty members. The award of tenure constitutes permanent status as a member of the university faculty.
VSU’s 2023 faculty tenure recipients are Dr. Minsun Song, Department of Political Science, College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Dr. Nandan Jha, Department of Political Science, College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Dr. Lois Bellflowers, School of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences; Dr. Susan Blankenship, School of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences; and Dr. Joshua Pifer, Department of Music, College of the Arts
VSU also awarded promotion to 21 faculty members.
VSU Honors Retired Faculty and Staff
: VSU recently hosted its annual Retiree Recognition Ceremony and Celebration in honor of the 29 faculty and staff members who have already retired or will retire by the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.
“I am proud to honor our retirees and to celebrate and recognize their hard work, dedication, and lasting contributions to VSU,” said Dr. Richard A. Carvajal, university president. “VSU is incredibly blessed to have a world-class faculty and staff. They are the heart and soul of this institution. My hope is that our retirees never underestimate the impact they’ve had, and continue to have, on the lives of others as a result of their years of service.”
VSU Police Department Celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
The VSU Police Department celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 9-15.
The VSU Police Department employs six Peace Officer Standards and Training-certified dispatchers that work around the clock to ensure callers get the help and resources they need as quickly as possible. They are a lifeline, not only to those calling for help but also to the police officers who rely on them for accurate and detailed information.
VSU dispatchers are always there to answer the call, providing an indispensable service to the university community.
VSU’s Sigma Chi Gives Back to Cancer, Hunger Relief Organizations
The Lambda Mu chapter of Sigma Chi at VSU recently hosted Derby Days 2023, raising nearly $8,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Foundation and collecting more than 5,000 canned food items for Second Harvest of South Georgia.
“Philanthropy is an integral part of Sigma Chi. We believe that bringing a community together to help those in need makes that community stronger. We truly enjoyed working with local businesses and our peers to help fight cancer and end hunger.” — Samuel C. McFarland of Valdosta, who serves as Sigma Chi tribune and president of the Interfraternity Council at VSU.
Red Team Battles Back for 28-24 Victory in Blazer Spring Football Game
The Valdosta State football team recently held its annual spring game at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium as the Red Team battled back for a 28-24 victory over the Black Team.
VSU heads into summer workouts and then into fall camp in early August. The Blazers have six exciting home games at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on the schedule for 2023. Season ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks.
Explore VSU Photo Albums
VSU’s official university photographer, Paul Leavy, and his student assistant, Ethan Lowe, who will earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media on May 6, have captured countless memories on campus this semester.
From award ceremonies and ribbon-cuttings to campus life and athletic events, we invite you to take a moment to explore their photo albums and share your favorites.