What is transgender? 

VALDOSTA, Ga. — “What Is Transgender?” The program is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Valdosta-Lowndes Parks & Recreation Authority offices, 1901 N. Forrest St. in Valdosta. Diversity trainers Gabrielle Claiborne, an Atlanta Pride board member and recipient of the award as Atlanta best trans activist, and the Rev. Linda Herzer, author of the coming book “The Bible and the Transgender Experience: How Scripture Supports Gender Variance,” lead the program that is part of South Georgia Pride Festival.

 

Dress drive underway for TCHS homecoming dance

TIFTON, Ga. – School dances are a highlight of any student’s year, particularly for seniors. However, not all students can afford to go, which is why Tift County High School is holding its third annual Homecoming Dress Drive for students in grades 9-12 who otherwise wouldn’t be able to buy an outfit to wear. Organizers explained that the annual prom dress drive is always a success, but they are trying to get less formal attire, such as knee-length dresses for the girls and jackets and slacks or khakis for the boys, which is more common at homecoming. They are asking that the clothing be lightly used, without unsalvageable staining, and that the dresses follow the dress code already in place: not showing too much cleavage and long enough to reach past the fingertips.  Donations of gift cards or money to help students do their hair and nails are also appreciated. Any donations can be dropped off the the TCHS guidance office. The homecoming dance is on Oct. 1, so donations will be accepted through Sept. 28 to give the students time to get the clothing cleaned and fitted. For more information, contact Faulk at (229) 387-2475.

 

Constitution Day program on tap

DALTON, Ga. — Matt Hipps, associate professor of political science at Dalton State College, will speak on “The Racial State of America: Prejudice or Progress” on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Dalton State’s Goodroe Auditorium in observance of Constitution Day. The free event is open to the public. Each year, Dalton State presents a Constitution Day program that addresses controversial topics to encourage faculty, staff and students, as well as the community, to expand their views on the Constitution and its effects on society daily. Hipps has led the last six Constitution Day programs. His topics range from political discourse to gay marriage and inequality in America.

 

Georgia College listed as Top Public Regional University by U.S. News & World Report

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. —The 2017 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges report ranked Georgia College as a Top Public Regional University. Designated ninth among the top public regional universities, Georgia College was the state’s only university to be ranked in the top 10 of this category.The 2015 “Best Colleges” guidebook shows Georgia College also listed 28th on the Best Regional Universities in the South — tied with Christian Brothers University. The 653 universities in “Best Regional Universities” category are not ranked nationally, but rather against their peer group in one of four geographic regions — North, South, Midwest and West — because, in general, they tend to draw students most heavily from surrounding states. U.S. News & World Report ranked Georgia College 20^th as a Best Regional University for Veterans, which shows the university’s dedication to our veterans in two areas: certification for the GI Bill and participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program or in providing in-state tuition to all out-of-state veterans.U.S. News listed Georgia College as a top undergraduate teaching school, ranking the university as fourth in the nation—tied with Rollins College. The J. Whitney Bunting College of Business ranked in the top Undergraduate Business Programs list. The “Best Colleges” guidebook is made up of a wide variety of data on assessments by peers and counselors, retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rate performance and the alumni giving rate.U.S. News & World Report is a multiplatform distributor of news and information, which also publishes annual print and e-book versions of its authoritative rankings of best colleges, best graduate schools and best hospitals. Georgia College has also received several other national honors in recent months. The Princeton Review recognized Georgia College on the “2017 Best Colleges: Region by Region” list for the 10th consecutive year. The university is a member of the elite group classified as the “Best in the Southeast.”The Colleges of Distinction website also recognized Georgia College as a public college of distinction — one of only two in Georgia named to the list. Teacher.org recently released the “Best College” rankings with the Early Childhood Education and Special Education degrees listed in the top 20 for the U.S.

 

Florida music park honored

LIVE OAK, Fla. – The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) has been honored by the Florida Festivals and Events Association (FFEA) SUNsational awards. Presented in August at the FFEA annual convention in Orlando, the SOSMP received first place awards for Facebook/Aura Music and Arts Festival, Commemorative Poster/Aura Music and Arts Festival and also Instagram coverage/Suwannee Hulaween; second place for Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park/Education Program, Suwannee Hulaween/Community Outreach Program, Wanee Music Festival/Green Program and Wanee Music Festival/Instagram and third place for Suwannee River Jam/Community Outreach Program and Wanee Music Festival/Television. The SOSMP, celebrating its 31st birthday this year, is located on the banks of the legendary Suwannee River just north of Interstate 10 in Live Oak, situated in beautiful Suwannee County. The SOSMP is famous for its 600 plus acres of pristine camping with substantial infrastructure ideal for hosting renowned events such as Suwannee Hulaween, Wanee Music Festival, Suwannee River Jam, Suwannee Roots Revival, Purple Hatter’s Ball, Elvis I’ll Remember You competitions, Suwannee River Jam Auditions, the Mother Tree built by Michael Garnier and the DIY Treehouse Guys, The Spirit Treehouse also built by Garnier along with many other grand events and facilities. For additional information on the SOSMP, please call the SOSMP at 386-364-1683, email spirit@musicliveshere.com or go to www.musicliveshere.com.