The Voice - Spring 2017

THE VOICE

SPRING 2017

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In This Issue 3
4-6
GMC Mission
Whos’s Who at GMC 7
PER Meet and Greet 8
GMC Gives Back 9
Distinguished Order of the Servant Leader 10
Miss Fish Makes History 11-12
Club Spotlight 13
The Cherry Blossom Festival 14
The Brutal Burnout 15
Star Wars Week 16-17
Study Abroad 18-19
Dean’s List 20-21
President’s List 22-26
2017 Graduating Class 27
National Poetry Month 28-30
Sohrab Sepehri: “The Fowler of Moments” 31-33
Student Poetry 34
GMC Honor Code 35
Title IX 36
The Editors

2

GMC Mission

The Mission of Georgia Military College
is to produce educated citizens and

contributing members of society in an
environment conducive to the

development of the intellect and character
of its students.

3

4

CAMPUS DIRECTOR

Mrs. Reid is over the
entire Augusta campus
and oversees all activi-
ties to keep GMC run-

ning smoothly.

ACADEMIC DEAN

Dean Hendricks handles
academic concerns and
student accommodations.

5

REGISTRAR

Mrs. Simpkins can help you
update your personal

information, such as name and
address changes, as well as
request your transcripts.

LIBRARIAN

You can find Ms. Tang in the
library. She can help you access
GMC’s e-library and databases,

assist you with email and
Moodle issues, and help you
download Microsoft Word.

6

College Success
Meet & Greet

By Crystal Soles

All incoming students at GMC are required to take a college success course,
PER 101, to satisfy their degree requirements. At the beginning of every term,
the college hosts a mixer with refreshments and encourages the current PER
students to attend. All the clubs and organizations on campus come together
to greet our new students and talk about the different activities on campus. The
students also participate in a scavenger hunt posted throughout the library to
learn valuable information about GMC. It’s a great way to get involved, make
new friends, and enjoy the college experience.

7

GMC Gives Back

Giving back and serving our community are core values at Georgia Military College. On
April 18th, the Community Involvement Club hosted a volunteer fair and brought 14 local
organizations on campus to recruit volunteers to help serve our community. Some of the
organizations in attendance were Safe Homes of Augusta, who provide services to victims of
domestic violence, The Lydia Project, providing free services for women with cancer, Golden
Harvest Foodbank, dedicated to ending hunger by providing food to those in need, and many
others. If you were unable to attend the fair and are interested in getting involved, please visit the
websites for the following organizations:

Affinis Hospice of Augusta
Salvation Army
Action Ministries
Hope House

Ronald McDonald House
Safe Homes of Augusta

Gentiva Hospice
Friends of Augusta Animal Services

Golden Harvest Food Bank
St. Joseph Hospice Care
The Lydia Project

Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services
Savannah River Keepers
Alzheimer’s Association

By Crystal Soles

8

Distinguished
Order of the

Servant Leader

By Crystal Soles

Giving back to the community also has its
perks. Students, staff, and faculty who
complete 100 hours or more of community
service in a calendar year are eligible to receive
the Distinguished Order of the Servant
Leader Award and are recognized for their
achievement. This term, GMC had the
pleasure of awarding not one, but three
Distinguished Order of the Servant Leader
Medals. Students, Sarah Ragland and
Alexandra Stanley, worked hard to achieve this
honor. Mrs. Cathy Fishman became the first
ever Augusta faculty member to earn this
award. The Distinguished Order of the
Servant Leader Award is a special recognition
that takes a lot of selflessness and dedication.

Thank you, Sarah, Alexandra and
Mrs. Fishman for your service.

9

Mrs.
Fishman
Makes
History

By Crystal Soles

History was made at the GMC Augusta campus this Spring when Mrs. Cathy Fishman became our first faculty
member to earn the Distinguished Order of the Servant Leader Award.
Mrs. Cathy Fishman has been part of the Georgia Military College family since 2007 and recently received her
ten-year pin during the March faculty meeting. Mrs. Fishman started out as an adjunct professor before becoming
a full-time instructor. Currently, she teaches English 097 and 099, and Reading 099, but has formerly taught PER
101 and 102. She has also held the position of First Year Coordinator as well.
Volunteering runs in her family. Mrs. Fishman’s mother set the example and got her started in volunteering by
getting her to lend a hand. When she became a mother, she got involved in her children’s schools. Mrs. Fishman
also served as the president of Hadassah, a women’s volunteer group. Volunteering has been a way for her to
spend time with her friends who were also involved.
Her volunteering impacts organizations such as the Hadassah, The Augusta Jewish Community Center, The Au-
gusta Humane Society, Make a Wish Foundation and The Adas Yeshurun Synagogue. When asked what advice
she would give to someone who wants to start volunteering, her response was to focus on personal interests or
values and try to find a list of different volunteer organizations. “One important tip is to remember that volunteer
work teaches valuable skills like leadership, time management, and communication,” she explains. “These skills
can be added to a resume, and the administrators of the volunteer organization can be wonderful personal refer-
ences.”
The Servant Leader embodies the core values of Georgia Military College and is selflessly dedicated to serving
our community. Mrs. Fishman is a wonderful example of how we can all find a way to give back. Congratulations
on your accomplishment and thank you for being an inspiration.

10

Gay Straight

Alliance

Our students love to be

involved in activities both on and off campus. With 13 clubs and organizations of a wide variety

to meet everyone’s personal tastes, there’s almost always something to participate in. This Spring,

two new clubs have joined the fun: The General Science Club and The Gay Straight Alliance.

Lonzo Smith is the advisor for the TV: Could you describe what type of activities students
Gay Straight Alliance. can look forward to with the GSA?
LS: The organization will be student lead, and once
we have a team of members, volunteers, and
officers we will develop a yearly calendar.

TV: What date and time to does the club meet?
LS: We will meet monthly and our 1st meeting was
4/18/2017. Please look out for an email notice about
upcoming meetings.

TV: Could you tell me a little about the history of the
Gay Straight Alliance?

LS: The organization was the LGBTQ club and is
being re-activated as the GSA. We are in the
building phase and are looking for like-minded
individuals who want to provide a safe haven and
serve the interests and needs of the LGBTA
community and allies.

TV: What is the main purpose or mission statement of
the GSA?

LS: Our goal is to promote a higher level of
acceptance, prevent discrimination and harassment
due to gender expression or sexual identity. To
create a safe space where LGBTQ and Ally students
can share their thoughts and feelings and meet
others who have been through similar experiences.
This allows students at various stages of coming
out or identifying as LGBTQ to find support
through encouragement, understanding, and
friendship.

11

Stephan Barrett is the founder and acting TV: When does the club meet?
President of the General Science Club.
SB: Currently, the General Science Club meets
every Wednesday at 3:00 PM over at the Science
and Technology building, usually in room 209 but
may also meet in other empty rooms depending on
what rooms are occupied. This meeting time is
always subject to change depending on club needs.

TV: What can student look forward to with the General
Science Club?

SB: Students can look forward to discussions on

various scientific processes and ideas. Students may

also enjoy prospective field trips to museums of

TV: Why did you want to start the General Science science and engineering such as the Tellus Science
Club? Museum or Phinizy Swamp and Water Research
Facilities. Students may also participate in contests

SB: I had wanted to start the General Sciences Club related to food or acts of endurance, such as our

here at GMC because there was not previously a GMC Burnout Battle. In the future, we may even

club or community structure for non-computer engage in a community garden or solar array

science majors on campus. I saw an opportunity to projects.

simply create something new and wonderful, and I

took it upon myself to do it.

TV: How long did the process take?

SB: The process took about a quarter to get going.
The first half of the quarter was spent simply
considering options for getting the processes rolling
and doing those processes by the book. The second
half of the quarter was spent finding the people I
needed to found the club and advise the club.
Surveys indicating interest and a club founding
petition helped me do these things.

General Science
Club

12

The Cherry Blossom
Festival

By Hannah Hillman

The Cherry Blossom Festival was an awesome experience for
everyone that was able to go. When we got there, it was nice to
see everyone in the spirit by wearing pink and green. The
theme of pink and green everywhere was a symbolization of
spring beginning, which gave the name “Cherry Blossom
Festival.” The members of the International Club also got in
the spirit of spring and wore pink or green as well. In the
event itself, there were about 300 booths set up for people to
stop by and see cultural items, arts and crafts, or anything else
they had to offer. They also had food stands and dessert
stands with different types of foods for everyone to enjoy. The
festival had two stages for different performances going on at different times. One performance
in particular had a folklore dance from different countries together. Unfortunately, we did not get
to stay and watch, but it would have been nice if the International Club would have been able to
get that experience. There were a few booths that included cultural things, one being a henna
station, which my sister and I took advantage of. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and really
loved the experience and atmosphere the festival had.

13

By Maria Barrett those of an ethnic variety. Larger amounts of

capsaicin are used in medicine and products made

for self-defense. Examples of these include hot

patches like ThermaCare and pepper sprays. The

winner of the contest received a gift card to Buffalo

Wild Wings and a belly full of heat. Several

contestants described the sensation of chewing and

ingesting the wings as painful and difficult. Many of

the competitors quit and reached for their milk and

ice cream. It was close, but in the end the victor was

one of the lovely student ambassadors, Tom Elbon.

The Science Club plans on creating more incredibly

The Science Club hosted an event during fun events like this in future, so keep an eye out for
the Spring quarter to kick off their first term at that in the upcoming quarters. To find out more
Georgia Military College. It centered around being about them, join them in the Science and
both educational and entertaining. The challenge Technology Building in Room 207 on Wednesday’s
consisted of consuming several hot wings glazed in at 3:00 pm.

a sauce derived from the Ghost Pepper chili. It is

considered one of the hottest peppers in the world,

measuring just over one-million Scoville Heat Units.

It is superseded in heat only by the Naga Viper,

Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, and the Carolina

Reaper. The rules were that contestants could not

drink any liquids to assist in the consumption of the

wings. The first person to eat all of their wings

without becoming sick was declared the winner.

What makes the peppers so hot is a chemical inside

them, particularly in their seeds, called capsaicin. In

small doses, it is used in foods to provide a delicious

amount of warmth and flavor to dishes, typically

14

By Jared Enger
Star Week was a week-long event to celebrate the fan-made holiday, May the Fourth.
Most of us in the Creative Arts Club are Star Wars fans, and there was a huge opportunity for a
lot of us to have fun with it. Both club members/students and faculty and staff organized the
event and participated. During the week, we played Star Wars in the student lounge, starting
from The Phantom Menace all the way through Return of
the Jedi. The events started with the movies, selling raffle
tickets for a custom lightsaber, trivia contests, and lightsa-
ber dueling. The lightsaber, from UltraSabers.com, is cus-
tom constructed with aircraft aluminum. It looked fantas-
tic! The winner of that contest was Mr. Wheatley from Fi-
nancial Aid. The trivia contests themselves were done
through Kahoot, which provided a unique challenge for
the contestants. There were three rounds over the end of
the week, with the prizes being DVD collections of the movies for both Blu-Ray and DVD re-
spectively. On Thursday of that week, we hosted my personal favorite event: Lightsaber dueling.
It lasted all day, from 9:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. There was not any particular goal in each duel;
the aim was just to beat your opponent. That was probably the best and most active event out of
that whole week. Overall, the event went famously, the students, faculty and staff enjoyed it and
the club had fun setting it up. We are talking about running it again next year. Come join us!

15

By Crystal Soles
During spring term 2017, GMC’s Augusta Campus study abroad program celebrated its tenth
birthday. The study abroad program is maintained and supervised by Professor Randy Elvidge,
who has been teaching at Georgia Military College for 14 years. After visiting San Salvador as a
student himself, Professor Elvidge knew he wanted to return with students of his own, and he
did just that.

Students, Nancy Ames, Karl Drexelius, Dyani Ferguson, Jordan Wingate, along with some
faculty and staff members made the trip to the beautiful island of San Salvador in the Bahamas.
The trip took place during the week of spring break and the students observed marine, plant, and
animal wildlife in its natural habitat. Students were even
lucky enough to witness a pod of bottle-nose dolphins
not native to San Salvador.

“Students should choose a study abroad
program to achieve the highest levels of learning.
When they immerse themselves into the environment
and the culture, they develop a much deeper level of
understanding. It’s fun, it’s not in a classroom, and it
really is a different pace. Study abroad is a true
adventure. It brings out the curious side of a student,” Mr. Elvidge explained.

Upon returning, the excited and sun-kissed group gave a wonderful presentation about
their adventure and learning experience in San Salvador for those of us who spent our spring
break landlocked. It was truly an experience they will stay with them forever. Do you crave a
unique and adventurous learning experience? Start planning for the next study abroad trip in
Spring 2018! Contact Mr. Elvidge for more details.

16

All photographs on this page are courtesy of Professor Elvidge 17

DEAN’S LIST

Adams, Madison Daniels, Philip Hicks,Ryan
Afedo-Abotsi, Cynthia Davila, Isaiah Higgins, Courtney
Davis, Zackary
Anderson , Julius Dock, Angela Huff, Kyle
Anderson, Rondell Downey, Casey Hukowski, Tiffany
Andrews, Courtney Eden, Jenna
Elledge, Zack Irvin, Sha'kia
Avelar, Jessica England, Valerie Jackson, Charity
Bagent, Sean Feasler, Amanda Jackson, Damian
Barrett, Stephen Ferguson, Dyani Jackson, Horace
Beck, Stanley Flowers, Hayden Jenkins, Dondre
Bingham, Gracie Frails, Katrina Jones, Khadeja
Blackburn, Matthew Glanton, Mildred
Boatright, Brandon Goins, Mya Jones, Taylor
Bowen, Tyler Gonzalez-Cortes, Cheyenne Jordan, Spencer
Brown, Shakira Gourley, Ezra Joseph, Kenneth
Bryant, Jessica Gourley, Joannah
Campbell-Arthur, Shannon Grabb, Jesse Josey, Baron
Carty, Matt Gurley, Victoria Kemp, Lorryn
Casella, Laura Hamilton, Bailey Koch, Ronald
Cheng, Lisa Hampton, Janay Kosche, Jada
Clark, Cybill Harper, Emily
Coleman, Tatyana Harvey, Alexander 18
Collins, Brenson Hastings, Jeremiah
Compton, Brandon Hearst, Jasmine
Constante, Isela Henson, Carter
Coule, Andrew Hicks, Jessie
Crow, Emily
Cunningham, Tracey

DEAN’S LIST

Kunkel, Samantha Morris, Donovan Santiago, Joseph
Lee, Shaniqua Odutayo, Adewale' Scarboro, Ashland
Legare, Joseph Slocumb, Carrera
Lewis,Ashley Okeyo, Nancy
Lewis,Janais Ormson, Annabell Smith, Jaythan
Lewis,Victoria Osborne, Jeanisha Spradley, Nathan
Paschal, Elizabeth
Lobrano, Hunter Patterson, Alicia Stoker, Jalisa
Logan, Stefanie Patterson, Shelby Swansiger, Todd
Paulus, Michelle Teague, Markevion
Lowe, Elaine Perbetsky, Elizabeth Thomas, Hunter
Lowry, Brittney Phillips, Kimberly
Maddox, Krista Phillips, Madison Todd, Tiffany
Toole, Jasmine
Martin, John Poss, Kathleen Wade, Sharon
Martin, Victoria Rachels, Charles
Martinez, Jessica Ragland, Sarah Wallin, Kyle
Wiggleton, Fitzgerald
May, James Rayton, Jahi Williams, Breonna
McClain, Nydaria Register, Elizabeth
McCombs, Charles Williams, Mandy
McElderry, Heather Rice, Jace Williams, Tyrell
McLain, Rachel Richards, Airelle Wingate, Jordan
Wooden, Courtney
McRae, Ajia Rivera, Taliah
Medina, William Robinson, Jessica
Mellick, Dakota Rodgers, Suzzanne
Mellott, Shawna Rodriguez, Thalia

Miller, Leslie Root, Roger
Montes, Jasmine Safi, Hasia
Moreno, Fany Sanders, Haley

19

President’s List

Baker, Abbigail Jenkins, Earnest
Battle, Christa Jones, Hannah
Berry, Alexis Kaminer, Madison
Brinson, Hogan Kates, Alicia
Bronson, Sara Kendall, Maren
Brown, Laquitta Kesler, Andrew
Camak, Arlen Khar-Enanga, Pamela
Criswell, Jenna Killisch, Ruth
Dryden, Anna Kurowski, Ashley
Dunlap, Scott Lane, Miranda
Eckles, Cassidy Leaptrotte, James
Forristal, Jacob Lindsay, Victoria
Grant, Tabitha Mays, Haley
Hall, Samaria McGregor, Kimberly
Hampson, Kaitlin McGuire, Thomas
Hatcher , Hollynd Metcalf, Austin
Heath, Caitlin Minney, Jeremy
Hinostroza, Carolina Nguyen, Alyssa
Hixon, Evan Nguyen, Phung
Huff, Robert

20

President’s

Norman, Brianna Stanley, Bethany
Ouzts, Tyler Stockett, Brianne
Sullivan, Manuel
Parmar, Puneet
Patel, Divya Taylor, Jimmy
Payne, Joseph Tiner, Bryson
Perez, Amy Tyson, Janis
Vanputte, Logan
Peterson, Sean
Plumlee, Marcus Vu, Anh
Portorrico, Maria Wang, Gary
Robinson, Julia Whitman, Delaney
Woodson, Ilka
Safi, Morasa Yeung, Joshua
Schultz, Kemi
Short, Athena
Shugarts, Carla

Sisco, Jason
Sizemore, Matthew

Smith, Jeffrey
Smith, Logan
Stanley, Alexandra

21

2017 Graduating Class

Associate of Arts Robert Sammons
Education
Kierra Benning
Business Administration Megan Weidner
Education
Jasmyn Brothers***
Business Administration _______________________

Kiyanna Cage-Evans Caroline Culbreth
Business Administration General Studies -

Cecilio Cunningham** Psychology
Business Administration
Jakesha Gardner
Hannah Hillman General Studies
Business Administration
Tariq Oliver
Allen Walker*** General Studies
Business Administration
_______________________ Whitney Ramsey
General Studies
Jeremy Baltazar _______________________
Criminal Justice
Charlotte Blackburn
Alexander Mormant Pre-Nursing
Criminal Justice
Jeronica Kelly
Shanequa Turner* Pre-Nursing
Criminal Justice
Tiffany McGovern
_______________________ Pre-Nursing

Russell Bohannon* Keiondra Robinson
Education Pre-Nursing

Kaylyn Chavous** Memori Wheatley
Education Pre-Nursing

Dosun Gabriel _______________________
Education
Michelle Jones
Sarimar Hernandez Social Work
Education
22

2017 Graduating Class

Associate of María Portorrico*** Computer Science Leigha Kendrick
Arts Biology Business Administration
⁂ Thomas Elbon
Mary Baker Candace Robinson Business Administration Samuel Koenig
Biology Biology Business Administration
Nicholas Estabrook**
Morgan Bankston*** Lakisha Scott-Jones Business Administration Stefanie Logan
Biology - Biology Business Administration
Luke Foss
General Studies Business Administration

Taylor Brown Billie Wilson Caleb Guillebeau** Stephanie Miller
Biology Biology Business Administration Business Administration

Kathleen Coleman ____________________ Trevor Hansen Rene Moralez***
Biology Business Administration Business Administration
Sabrina Bussey**
Brandon Drawdy*** Business Administration Ashland Healy** -
Biology Business Administration Pre-Nursing
Molly Camp***
Valensia Federick Business Administration Kelsey Hollins*** Megan Parkman
Biology Business Administration Business Administration
April Calloway
Dyani Ferguson Business Administration Darien Holmes Catherine Peacher***
Biology Business Administration Business Administration
Carlos Castro
Anna Lee Business Administration Joseph Hoskins Elizabeth Perbetsky***
Biology Business Administration Business Administration
Stephanie Cooper
Jamie McVay Business Administration Cheryl Hudson Andrea Von Plinsky
Biology Business Administration Business Administration
-
James Mims** Paralegal Donald Johnston De'Shon Priester
Biology - Business Administration Business Administration
Christian Cunning-
General Studies ham*** Alicia Kates* Morsal Razaee
Business Administration Business Administration
Myleka Murray Business Administration
Biology - ^Alecia Reed
Cha'teria Dent General Studies Business Administration
Austin Oliver Business Administration
Biology Alexandria Kendrick ^Imani Reed
Jeremy Duvall* Business Administration Business Administration
Business Administration

-

23

2017 Graduating Class

Lyonna Reid Business Administration Benjamin Phillips Education
Business Administration Criminal Justice -
Dakota Watts General Studies Tracey Cunningham
Taliah Rivera** Business Administration Education
Business Administration Krystle Raby
Mandy Williams Criminal Justice Katheleen Dunnom
Business Administration Education

Carla Shugarts** Tori Williams Kyle Reece Taylor Dyches
Business Administration Business Administration Criminal Justice Education

- Joshua Wodarz*** § Jason Sisco*** Quiandara Germany
Pre-Nursing Business Administration Criminal Justice Education

Amber Sibert Amie Wright Aiden Smith Tiffany Jones-Phillips
Business Administration Business Administration Criminal Justice Education
____________________
Sahib Singh Jennifer Smith Richard Nevard III
Business Administration Antinette Burt Criminal Justice Education
Computer Science
Kelly Sparks Sharon Wade** Brittany Pedroza*
Business Administration Eugene Gyakari Criminal Justice - Education
Computer Science
- Social Work Katelyn Penrow
General Studies Education

Bethany Stanley*** Nathaniel Scalia Ashley Williams* Sarah Pickens
Business Administration Computer Science - Criminal Justice - Education

Todd Swansiger General Studies Paralegal Evan Rangel
Business Administration Education
John Simmons Michael Young
Jacob Troupe Computer Science Criminal Justice - Porcia Rogers
Business Administration ___________________ Education
Psychology
Dean David Ray Teresa Brookins ____________________ Haley Sanders
Vintson Criminal Justice Education
Katie Adkins**
Business Administration Bernard Cooke Education ⁂Alaina Smith***
Criminal Justice Education
Kareem Walton Valencia Baker
Business Administration Kyle Dobson Education Madalyn White**
Criminal Justice Education
- Symphonie Cates
Criminal Justice Ashlyn Hofilena Education
Criminal Justice
Torie Washington Kendra Collins***

24

2017 Graduating Class

Pamela Williams Kristina Dunn William McDaniel** Hayley Springer
Education General Studies General Studies - General Studies
Pre-Nursing
Eric York Daniel Edmunds Cole Steed
Education General Studies Samantha Mims General Studies
____________________ General Studies -
Joseph Germain Sarah Stockett***
Andrew Bankston *** General Studies Pre-Nursing General Studies
General Studies
^Jameka Germany Teddy Mirjah Levi Teel
Kallie Beckham** General Studies - General Studies General Studies
General Studies Pre-Nursing
La'naisha Proctor Hunter Tenpenny
Zachary Beverly Katrice Gist General Studies - General Studies
General Studies General Studies
Pre-Nursing Deborah Verdell
Asia Blount + Britni Gray General Studies
General Studies General Studies Tyler Reynnells
General Studies John Whitlow
Cassie Boatwright Richele Greenhill*** General Studies
General Studies General Studies Ywata Reynolds
General Studies + Delaney Whitman*
Angdris Brigham Caitlin Heath*** General Studies
General Studies General Studies - Jameka Richardson
General Studies - De’amora Williams
Rayna Brockman Pre-Nursing Pre-Nursing General Studies -
General Studies - Sociology
Mallory Huntington* Sheena Richardson
Pre-Nursing General Studies - General Studies ^ Devika Williams
Psychology General Studies
David Cadwell Breanna Rogers
General Studies George Jones III General Studies Lisa Williams
General Studies General Studies
Ross Carrigan Giovanni Ruiz
General Studies Monica Lowe General Studies - Kanesha Williamson
General Studies General Studies
James Curtis Pre-Nursing
General Studies Ashley Lunz*** Talicia Wilson
General Studies Nicholas Shores** General Studies
Jesse Dogan General Studies
General Studies - Demetria McCray
General Studies Owens Skalak
Pre-Nursing General Studies

25

2017 Graduating Class

Jessica Wuerth** Homeland Security & Brad Wise Paralegal

General Studies Emergency Management Information Technology

Shawntellia Jenkins

Hunter Young Walter Nuss* Jennifer Yarbrough* Paralegal

General Studies Homeland Security & Information Technology

Emergency Management - Vickie Parrish

Aaron Youngblood - Pre-Nursing Paralegal

General Studies Information Technology ____________________ ____________________

____________________

Gregory Sterling ** Malik Deberry Ariel Lightfoot

Santavious Duggan Homeland Security & Logistics Management Political Science

Health and Human Per- Emergency Management ____________________

formance Jervay Muhammad

Darrell Thompson Logistics Management Lauren Adams

Colby Welch Homeland Security & Pre-Nursing

Health and Human Per- Emergency Management Alicia Phiniezy

formance Logistics Management - Cynthia Afedo*

____________________ Fitzgerald Wiggleton Sociology Pre-Nursing

Homeland Security &

Steven Minor Emergency Management Nathan Rembert Nancy Ames**

Health and Physical Ed- ____________________ Logistics Management Pre-Nursing

ucation

Charnita Blount David Bandlow

Cody Smith Human Communication Paul Richardson* Pre-Nursing

Health and Physical Ed- ____________________ Logistics Management

ucation Sharon Billups

Jenee’ Allen* Nala Scott Pre-Nursing

Whitney Terrell Information Technology Logistics Management

Health and Physical Ed- ____________________ Summer Blackstone

ucation Grant Hall Pre-Nursing

____________________ Information Technology Christopher Lloyd

Mass Communication Ansley Boettcher

Lerry Slaughter Aaron Henderson Pre-Nursing

History Information Technology Samantha Miller**

___________________ Mass Communication Shakira Brown

Kayla Mayfield*** Pre-Nursing

Eric Hutchinson* Information Technology Jeremy Minney***

Homeland Security & Mass Communication Kaycee Burton

Emergency Management Tyrell Williams ____________________ Pre-Nursing

Information Technology

Leonard Miller Michelle Collier Clarissa Campbell

26

2017 Graduating Class

Pre-Nursing Pre-Nursing Sheila Huffman
Pre-Nursing
Beverly Canada Ashley Dykes Tawanna Miller
Pre-Nursing Pre-Nursing Briana Hurlston Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing
Edna Carswell- Pamela Khar Enanga** April Norman
Jackson Pre-Nursing Kinyahna Jackson Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing Kaitlyn Fowler Jessica Norris
Pre-Nursing Polly Jenkins Pre-Nursing
Allie Casella Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing Katrina Frails Nicole Preston
Pre-Nursing Courtney Johnson Pre-Nursing
Aelina Clark Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing Yassia Gillings Maggie Price
Pre-Nursing Courtney King Pre-Nursing
Leonna Clements Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing Orlandria Golatt Talor Ray
Pre-Nursing Victoria Lewis** Pre-Nursing
Kimberly Cofer Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing Kendra Green Latorra Rhodes
Pre-Nursing Haleigh Litchford Pre-Nursing
Antonisha Colbert Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing Miranda Griffin Tamara Richardson
Pre-Nursing Thomisa Lucas Pre-Nursing
Isela Constante Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing Janay Hampton** Jessica Robinson
Pre-Nursing Deomina Martin Pre-Nursing
Jessica Currie Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing Joshua Harden Keiondra Robinson
Pre-Nursing Taylor Masters Pre-Nursing
Jasmine Davis Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing - Tamikio Henderson Dominique Rucker
Social Work Pre-Nursing Marin McBride Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing
Tatyana Delee Shemika Howard Kyneshia Safford
Pre-Nursing Pre-Nursing Amy McDonald*** Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing
Brooklynn Dillard** Kiera Howell Cortney Scott
Pre-Nursing Pre-Nursing Jacqualyn McGee Pre-Nursing
Pre-Nursing
Shakara Durham** Erica Scurry**

27

2017 Graduating Class

Pre-Nursing ____________________ Social Work Associate of
___________________ Applied
Teshia Shank-Blount Eric Andrews Science
Pre-Nursing Psychology Brea Butler*
Sociology
Elizabeth Smith Abigail Bigelow
Pre-Nursing Psychology Corney Garnett
Computer Information
Jazmyne Smith Hannah Hayes
Pre-Nursing Psychology Systems
____________________
Jeffrey Smith*** Kara Lamberth***
Pre-Nursing Psychology Tyrone Bennett
Criminal Justice
Brittany Terry Yasaman Najafi
Pre-Nursing Psychology Arielle Boyd**
Criminal Justice
Tanesha Thompson Taylor Snyder
Pre-Nursing Psychology Kenya Dixon
Criminal Justice
Stephanie Tucker ____________________
Pre-Nursing ⁂ Sean Peterson**
Tiffany Gillians Criminal Justice
Dakota Turner Social Work
Pre-Nursing - Priscilla Skipper*
Amanda Hatfield** Criminal Justice
Sociology Social Work
Samuel Williams, Jr.
Charles Watts Shante McClain Criminal Justice
Pre-Nursing Social Work
____________________
Georgia Weekes Kamisha Mew
Pre-Nursing Social Work Juwan Gardner
General Studies
Joya Wiley Alicia Patterson**
Pre-Nursing Social Work

Breonna Williams Takisha Ricks*
Pre-Nursing Social Work

Savannah Zerbel Marquetta Thomas
Pre-Nursing

28

National Poetry
Month

Brief History of Poetry

By: Brianne Stockett
Poetry is a long revered art form that makes use of rhythm, rhyme, and structure
to portray deep emotion that all people can relate to. Many, however, when they hear the
word poetry, think of a sappy love song or something that belongs in a history book.
While Poetry is one of the oldest literary forms known to man, it has grown and evolved
to fit the times in which they reside.
One of the oldest known works of literature is the Epic of Gilgamesh. Epics are
long poems that tell of heroes and adventures. During the ancient times, epics were
some of the most popular sources of entertainment. Today we watch television and
movies to fill our free time and, if you think about it, they are not much different from
the original epics. We watch heroes prance across screens fighting digitally created hor-
rors as we relax and enjoy their triumphs or mourn their failures. Through epics people
of the ancient period enjoyed such adventures too, only through the spoken word, indi-
vidual performances, and a vivid imagination.
As time passed the poetry evolved and a new form emerged. This one became
known as the lyric. These short poems, unlike their predecessor, did not tell stories of ad-
ventures but focused inward on the feelings and emotions of the writer. The lyric later
evolved to become the sonnet. The sonnet (borrowed from the Italian sonneto) similar to
lyrics often focused on emotions and incorporated elements of nature into the These
new forms, however, held a stricter set of structural rules (e. g. a sonnet is to have only
fourteen lines) and were popularized by none other than William Shakespeare.
Throughout history poetry has lived because of its versatile nature. Today poetry
takes on many forms that focuses on anything an author thinks to put on paper. Though
poetry has taken a back seat in modern entertainment it still exists and touches many
hearts. There are many great songs that are filled with poetic qualities.

29

Sohrab Sepehri: “The Fowler of
Moments”

Sohrab Sepehri (Oct 7, 1928-April 21, 1980) was a modernist poet
and painter once called by a leading critic as “the fowler of mo-
ments.” The depth of philosophical messages and the permanent
presence of various components of nature in his poetry through a
structured but simple language, in many ways reflects selected vers-
es by Robert Frost and Federico Garcia Lorca. His soothing poetry,
among other singular features, is filled with natural elements and
philosophical implications.

Sepehri was a humble artist well aware of his combination of crea-
tive traits. Although he was raised in a small country town like
Kashan (where some of the best Persian rugs are weaved), he re-
garded religion and the practice of it a very private manner. He es-
pecially disliked superstitious beliefs and practices.

In the mid-1970s, the so-called intellectuals and their counterpart
poets, writers, and artists had diminished into a political football in
the hidden hands of internal and external powers that were meticu-
lously and effectively planning and implementing a disastrous self-
destructive plot—later on called the stolen revolution. During that
era, the majority of Sepehri’s contemporaries were merely blind/
misguided instruments whose works only echoed problems of social
issues that were (and still are) actually common challenges even in
the most advanced Western societies. Unlike the majority of these
one-sided men and women, Sepehri concentrated on other major is-
sues and never sacrificed the innovative quality of his poetry be-
cause of a phony popular political agenda.

Roughly a year after his ancient land had been forced to return to
the Middle Ages, Sepehri’s leukemia intensified and he passed
away. Today, the wealth of his creative works remain considerably
popular among the educated and unbiased individuals who can now
clearly appreciate the vision and wisdom reflected in his poetry and
beliefs.

_____________________________________________________________________

*To convey certain cultural concepts, minor liberties deemed necessary in
translation.

30

TO THE GARDEN OF THE SOJURN’S
COMPANION

Call me like a door to the downfall of a
your voice is good. pearl,
Your voice is the chlorophyl
of that outlandish plant that flour- in this age of steel's domination.
ishes Put me to sleep under a branch
at the end of the truthfulness of away from the collision of metals.
melancholy. And I would wake up at the dawn
of a jasmine
I’m lonelier than the taste of a song behind your fingers!
in the context of the comprehension And then
of an alley. narrate the tale of the bombs
Come, allow me to tell you that fell while I was asleep;
how vast is the scope of my loneli- narrate the tale of the cheeks
ness that were moistened while I was
Which did not foresee the night raid asleep.
of your dimension Tell me how many ducks flew over
and that is the virtue of love. the sea?
To what sense of comfort
No one is here did the canary tie
let us steal life and divide it be- the yellow thread of its song?
tween us From the unknown taste of bread
—between the duration of two what kind of comprehension
gatherings. was leaked into the taste of prophe-
cy?

Around the dimensions of this si- And then
lent century like fate,
warmed from the radiation of the
I feel lonelier than the taste of a equator,
song I will implant you at the prologue
of a garden.
in the context of an alley's* com-
prehension.

Come along, let me tell you ____________________________
how vast is [the scope of] my lone-
liness. *For many Iranians, an alley signifies the
Open my soul, dignity, identity, and the pure sense of be-
longing of an individual to his/her domi-
cile. An alley also represents the compas-
sionate ties to one's ancestry.

31

THE COMMENCING ANNOUNCEMENT

Where are my shoes? I have a heavy heart
Who was uttering, "Sohrab"? when I see from my window that Hoo-
It was as an acquainted voice ri,
as air to the body of a leaf. the neighbor’s mature teenage girl,
My mother is asleep is studying Feqh***
and so are [my siblings] Manuchehr under the rarest elm tree in the world.
and Parvaneh
and perhaps the entire town’s popula- There are other things, too
tion. —moments full of apex:
The Khordad's* night passes over the (For instance,
moments I saw a poetess
like a soundless elegy; so deeply obliterated
and a cool breeze sweeps my sleep by the atmosphere
from the edge of my green blanket. that the sky disseminated in her eyes.
There's an aroma of migration: And one random night a man asked
My pillow is filled with feathers of me
swallows. how many hours till the dawn of
grapes?)
Dawn will return
and the sky will emigrate to this bowl I must depart tonight . . . .
of water**

I must depart tonight . . . . Tonight I must take the suitcase
that has enough space
I who spoke to the local people —like the width of my shirt of loneli-
from the most candid window ness—
did not hear a word about the essence and aime at a destination
of time. where mythological trees are visible:
Not even one eye gazed amorously at That wordless amplitude
earth. which constantly summons me.
No one was amused
looking at a flower-bed; Someone called again,
no one took a raven seriously at the “Sohrab, where are my shoes?”
plantation.

*In Persian calendar, the first day of spring (usually March 21) marks the beginning of the new year. Khordad, the third month in that
calendar, falls in May21-June21.
**Traditionally, the Iranians sleep on the roof or balcony whenever the weather permits. For convenience, they keep a bowl, glass, or
pitcher of water by their bedside in case they need to drink water during the night.
***Studying the Islamic principles under the title Feqh (Sharia) was a national core course included in high school curriculum even dur-
ing the first two decades of the late Shah's reign. By about the mid-seventies it was excluded from the national core curriculum. 32

Vesicle

Her body is my vessel
My home is within I know
To be without her is to be without {
Food – water – hydration
Her soul is my soul – our hearts one
Without her I am nothing

By: Hannah Rae

33

So Be It

They cannot see to where they go,
All their actions, blind

they cannot see the depths, to which, they would drag us all!
I want no part of this, I want to run away,
I want to fight, but my fears make me stay
I fear, but they don’t care
so I stand down, as I am small
but I see now, this is no way to live
reluctant to move, but unwilling to give
and now I see that

I must make a choice, there is no neutral ground
if I don’t fight, they will drag me with them, down

No! I will not go,
my heart has screamed against them,

my spirit fighting back
but, now I act!
So, here I stand
against them all
so be it if I fall,
I will not follow
I will not go

I raise my voice above their lies
like flares shooting to the skies
they will not take me, of mine own free will
while they move onward, here I stand still
I stand here, with no intent to move
attack me if you will and mock me if you dare

but I will not Follow
I will not go

here I stand against you all
so be it if I fall!

By: Brianne Stockett

34

The Lost Girl

Where should she go?
Does this life leave her in the depth of winter?
Or will it lead her to the glow of a summers day.

Seeing is believing.
Are hopes set too high, or is spring just too much to bare?
Everyone claims to love her, but she does not love herself.

The lost girl is the chosen one,
So much to be expected of her but she refuses it all.

Who is the lost girl,
But a wounded warrior amongst the rest.

Her feelings consume her,
But her life deceives her.
The loss of loved ones will bear weight on her now,
As she lives life as the lost girl, but a number in the crowd

By Briana Gilstrap

35

GMC Honor
Code

I WILL NEITHER LIE, CHEAT, STEAL,
NOR TOLERATE THOSE WHO DO.

36

Title IX

The academic and administrative policy of the
College subscribes to the nondiscrimination
provision of Title IX of the education Amend-
ments of 1972, which states: “No person in the
United States shall, on the basis of sex, be
excluded from the participation in, be denied
the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination
under any educational program or activity.” The
Dean of Students at each campus is a deputy

Title IX Coordinator.

37

Faculty Adviser: Dr. Aman Kay
The Editors

Crystal Soles Brianne Stockett

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