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Clayton State celebrates
homecoming wtih a parade
By J. FRANK LYNCH
jflynch@theCitizenNews.com
Homecoming festivities continue at Clayton College & State University
through Saturday, when for the first time two Grand Marshalls will ride
in the homecoming parade, winners of the 2003 Alice Smith Awards as the
University’s Faculty and Staff Members of the Year.
Dr. Michael Deis and Tammy Wilson will be riding in the lead car on Saturday
at 11 a.m. The Parade will also feature floats, clowns, and baton twirlers,
the Fort MacPherson Military Band, Morrow High School’s ROTC Color
Guard, the Clayton County Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.), and The World
Famous Kazoo Band.
Deis is Clayton State’s 2003 Alice Smith Award winner as the University’s
outstanding faculty member. An associate professor of Management in Clayton
State’s School of Business, Deis has been a Clayton State faculty
member for six years. He also served in the University’s Career Center
for two years as retraining administrator and educational consultant for
dislocated airline workers.
Deis and his wife Sandra live in Newnan. One of their four children, Kendall,
just completed his B.B.A. from Clayton State’s School of Business
in the summer of 2003.
A native of Griffin and a graduate of Griffin High School (class of 1989),
Wilson has worked as secretary/administrative assistant for Clayton State’s
Office of Academic Affairs for six years. Academically, Wilson is enrolled
as a student in the University’s School of Technology’s Associate
of Applied Science Degree program, majoring in Office Technology. A three-time
Dean’s List member, she expects to graduate in May 2004.
An annual event since 1995, the Smith Awards are presented to the faculty
member and staff member ranked most outstanding as determined by committees
of their peers. Local philanthropist Joseph Smith established the two
awards (one for the faculty and one for the staff) in honor of his wife,
Alice.
Other events scheduled this week:
• Thursday, Oct. 23 — Students, faculty and staff will show
their Laker Spirit by donning the blue and orange of the 34-year-old institution
in Morrow. The athletic department will host the Athletics’ Extravaganza,
a day filled with activities, beginning with the Lady Lakers vs. Spellman
College soccer match, and culminating that evening with the faculty/staff
and student basketball game and free-throw contest.
• Friday, Oct. 24 — The Student Life Activities Committee
will host a Pep Rally in the campus courtyard, where Clayton State’s
cheerleaders, athletes and coaches will get the opportunity to see and
be seen by the entire campus community. They will be working hard to get
everyone fired up for Saturday’s Homecoming Day Soccer Games. Homecoming
T-shirts will be available for only $5.
• Saturday, Oct. 25 — Beginning early Saturday morning at 8
a.m., President Dr. Thomas K. Harden will don his toque, apron and spatula,
in honor of all Clayton State Alumni, at the annual Homecoming Pancake
Breakfast in the Harry S. Downs Center for Continuing Education. At 9
a.m., The McElroy Mile, the first event sponsored by the Clayton State
Track Club, will be held on campus. At 11 a.m., the Homecoming Parade
begins, to be followed immediately afterward by the Clayton State Home
Carnival, a free event. Beginning at 1 p.m., the Lakers soccer teams will
begin the Homecoming Game activities against UNC Pembroke, starting with
the women and followed by the men at 3 p.m.
For more information on Clayton State’s 2003 Homecoming events, to
register an entry in the parade, or the McElroy Mile, or to attend the
Pancake Breakfast, visit the Homecoming website at adminservices.clayton.edu
or call Reda Rowell, director of Alumni Relations, at 770-961-3681, or
Jeff Jacobs, director of Student Life, at 770-961-3510.
Tracking down Clayton State
Alumni
Although Clayton State is best known for serving the residents of Atlanta’s
“Southern Crescent,” the University’s alumni are spread
out over more than 100 of Georgia’s 158 counties. The top 10 counties
represented among the University’s 10,000 identified alumni are
1. Clayton 2210
2. Henry 1995
3. Fayette 1077
4. DeKalb 588
5. Fulton 572
6. Coweta 565
7. Gwinnett 294
8. Rockdale 259
9. Cobb 244
10. Spalding 192
Other counties in the Top 25 among Clayton State alumni include; Newton
(148), Douglas (116), Butts (99), Pike (79), Cherokee (50), Hall (42),
Paulding (38), Forsyth (37), Walton (35), Lamar (32), Carroll (33), Chatham
(22), Upson (18), Jasper (17) and Meriwether (15).
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