A 2008 grad has formed a group designed to promote international community service.  Mindy Lipsitz, founder of Global Endeavors, says she and others in the organization want to improve the lives of those who live in underserved communities throughout the world.  Global Endeavors is comprised mostly of students who specialize in health care, finance and education and want to bring sustainable growth to these areas.  This past summer the group spent several weeks in Ghana and next spring hopes to travel to Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.  We applaud their efforts.

Multi-talented UGA alum Henry Cameron Hand ‘98, better known to the entertainment world as “Hadjii” has debuted a new comedy for BET called “Somebodies.”  The Brunswick native created, starred and co-produced the half-hour show that was shot in Athens during the summer.  The show is based on Hadjii’s independent film of the same name that won critical acclaim at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.  I mentioned that Hadjii was multi-talented; he also has written the book, “Don’t Let My Mama Read This: A Southern Fried Memoir,” which are stories based on his childhood in South Georgia.  Click here to find out more about Hadjii.        

The Alumni Association is proud to co-sponsor with the UGA Bookstore an event that celebrates UGA writers.  Our 5th annual Faculty and Staff Authors’ Reception is set for Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the UGA Bookstore from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.  It gives UGA faculty and staff the opportunity to share and showcase their published works. 

For those in the metro Atlanta area, we will begin showcasing next month the oil painting artwork of Association member Laura Loving ‘93 in our Atlanta Alumni Center.  Laura’s distinctive style and vibrant colors are unique to the art world.  Laura’s work will be on display at the Center from Oct. 1 through Dec. 15. 

For information about these and all UGA Alumni Association events, please call our office at 706-542-2251 or visit our web site.

I was saddened this week to hear the news of Larry Munson’s retirement from the broadcast booth.  His colorful and memorable game plays are legendary.  The Bulldog Nation will miss him and his gravelly on-air delivery.  As evidence of the affection people feel for Larry, a Georgia farmer has used his Henry County corn field to produce a likeness of Larry.  Click here to see the aerial photo.

Larry was into his 43^rd season calling games at UGA; his 60^th as a broadcaster.  Scott Howard ‘84, who has been by Larry’s side for 16 years, will carry the torch for the remainder of the season.  Scott called Larry’s news “the end of an era.”  Among the memorable Munson calls are “Run Lindsay,” “There goes Herschel” and “hobnail boot.”  Larry will be 86 Sunday.  Let’s all wish him a very happy birthday.

One of our Alumni Association Board Members is giving back to her school in a unique way.  Kim Wilson ‘89, ‘90, a bank strategist from Tybee Island, will be leading a book discussion for a group of UGA Honors Program students over dinner Thursday night on campus.  Kim will be joined by her college roommate Gwen Kaminsky ‘90, a high school teacher from Roswell, in discussing Lipstick Jihad by Azadeh Moaveni.  She says it will be an intimate affair with only 10 students.  This is Kim and Gwen’s second go-round at hosting dinner book reviews, having led an event last spring in which they analyzed The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.  Kim tells me she really enjoys interacting with UGA ‘s best and brightest students.

It’s always great to see the top-notch work of UGA graduates.  One alum in particular is putting her degree to work helping tutor at-risk students.  Di Yonna Mitchell ‘01 is the founder of Vision Tutoring, a program that pairs highly motivated and creative educators with at-risk youths in metro Atlanta for free one-on-one instruction.  Vision Tutoring just recently secured a contract with the State Department of Education for some funding but still needs money for books and other supplies.  That’s why Di Yonna entered Vision Tutoring in an entrepreneur competition for a chance to win $10,000 from ideablob.com and has made it to the finals of the contest.  If you want to know more about Di Yonna’s worthy effort click here.  Voting for Vision Tutoring goes through Sept. 30.

Natasha Trethewey ‘95 has been named Georgia Woman of the Year for 2008.  Natasha, a professor of poetry and Chairholder at Emory University, won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in poetry for her latest collection Native Guard.  She has won many other literary awards as well, including the inaugural 1999 Cave Canem poetry prize, the 2001 and 2003 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Book Prizes, and the 2001 Lillian Smith Award for Poetry.  Her work has appeared in numerous publications and journals including American Poetry Review, New England Review, and The Southern Review.  She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts just to name a few.  Natasha also will headline a The Pulitzer Legacy in Georgia presented by The Georgia Review and co-sponsored by the UGA Alumni Association Oct. 27-30 at the Jekyll Island Club.  Other Pulitzer-winning authors joining Natasha include Hank Klibanoff, Stephen Dunn and Ed Larson.  Click here for more information about this event.   

Now, more than ever, is the best time to be a member of the UGA Alumni Association.  We are continuing to get first-rate businesses to offer discounts and other benefits to our members.  Here are just a sample of the goods and services being offered:

Harbor Club on Lake Oconee  - $20 off regular greens fees.

Red Racket Tennis in Athens - 10% off restringing and regripping.

237 Prince Woodfire Grille – 10% off your total food bill at this new Athens restaurant.  By the way, we’re having an alumni gathering at 237 Prince on Tuesday, September 23 from 5:30 – 7 p.m.  

Forbes Magazine – This national publication is offering 26 issues for only $18.99.

Agave Restaurant in Atlanta is offering 15% off your bill any night.

For more information about these as well as many other discounts, please visit our Bulldog Benefits page on our web site.  If you’re not a member of the UGA Alumni Association, I encourage you to join.  Click here to become a member.

I enjoy talking about our Alumni Chapters and Clubs all across the nation.  We have a total of 90 with thousands of members.  Just recently our Florida Panhandle Club held a Game Watching Party in which the club’s “Female Football Fanatics” gathered to root-on the Bulldogs.  One of the club’s members was even interviewed by the Pensacola News Journal for a story about female football fans. 

I encourage you to get involved with your local Chapter or Club.  You’ll meet some great UGA alumni and some diehard Bulldogs.  For information about Chapters and Clubs please visit the Regional Programs page of our web site or call Regional Programs Director Tami Gardner at 706-542-2251.

Last week I highlighted Monique Campbell of Stone Mountain as one of our Black Alumni Scholars and this week it’s my pleasure to introduce our other Black Alumni Scholar, Chamblee Charter High School graduate Wendell Scott.   

Wendell has widely diverse interests…from Drama Club to Future Business Leaders of America to National Society of Black Engineers.  He plans to study broadcast journalism at UGA and has already served as public relations manager with the engineering society during high school.  Wendell also has been active in his community.  He has participated in American Red Cross blood drives, AIDS Walk, Hunger Walk 2008, and spent two summers as a camp counselor.  “The strength of diversity can only grow by the works of strong individuals,” Wendell wrote in his scholarship application essay. 

Like Monique, Wendell receives a $1,500 scholarship from the Black Alumni Scholarship fund.  Join me in congratulating Wendell!

Again, a sincere thank you to UGA Alumni Association Board Member Keith McNeeley ‘89 for serving as our representative to the selection committee.