The University broke ground Thursday on a special collections library that will store rare and historial documents and other items.  The 115,000-square-foot Richard B. Russell Building will take about two years to complete and cost about $45 million, a third of which is coming from private donations.  The new South Hull Street facility will house the Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, along with the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscripts Library and the Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection.  UGA Library Director Bill Potter says the new building will include enough storage space to house another 40 years of collectable material.

Today our Student Alumni Association presents the 10th annual 100 Days Until Graduation celebration.  This year’s seniors are invited to drop by the Tate Center Plaza between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. where there will be food, music and live entertainment.  There also will be information about Senior Signature, our class ring program, the Career Center, UGA Graduate School, and general information about the Alumni Association, including how to join.  The Class of 2010 has done a remarkable job during their four years at UGA, and I look forward to reading great things about them as they soon enter another phase in their lives.

I hope to see you this afternoon at 3:00 in the UGA Chapel as we observe the 225th anniversary of the signing of the charter establishing the University of Georgia.

Dr. Gary Bertsch will present this year’s Founders’ Day lecture entitled “UGA and ‘the rising hope of our land’ in a New World Order.”  Gary is the founding director and professor emeritus for UGA’s Center for International Trade and Security.  Click here to read Gary’s entire text.   

The student responder will be Josh McLaurin, a senior from Marietta majoring in International Affairs and Religion.

Also, our Student Alumni Council will be on campus today passing out cupcakes in celebration of the University’s birthday.  The public is invited to attend this free event co-sponsored by the Alumni Association and the University’s Emeriti Scholars.

Last week I relayed that there was an effort on campus to raise money for the people of Haiti in the aftermath of this month’s earthquake.  I’m happy to report that the group Dawgs for Haiti is inching closer and closer to its goal of $50,000.  As of last Friday, more than $30,000 had been collected from the t-shirt sales and it seems everyone is playing a role in this effort.  Just last week, in Dr. Adams’ State of the University address, he urged all to buy a t-shirt and wear it today.  In the Alumni Association office, several of our staff doned their t-shirts in a show of support for the devastated island nation.  Go to Dawgs for Haiti if you’d like to help out and buy t-shirt.  They are only $10 each.  Click here to check out a video presentation of t-shirt sales in Tate Plaza.

Billy Dilworth ‘59, a legendary journalist and broadcaster in Northeast Georgia for more than 50 years, has decided to call it quits.  Early in Billy’s storied career, he was lucky enough to interview Elvis Presley and Harry Truman.  Along the way, Billy wrote for several newspapers.  Among them was the Anderson Independent in South Carolina and The Athens Daily News.  He also spent several years behind the mic, promoting his love of country music through the weekly Saturday night radio show “The Top of the Georgia Jamboree.”  But Billy was probably best known for hosting the TV program named for him, The Billy Dilworth Show, first on WSPA in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the mid-1970s and later on WNEG in Toccoa.  His homespun humor and approachable nature made him a celebrity and a TV icon everyone loved and revered.  Please join me in wishing Billy well in his retirement.

Henry G. Neal ‘43 ‘48, will be remembered as a trusted friend and confidant.  He served as legal counsel to Governors Ernest Vandiver and Carl Sanders, and retired as executive secretary and legal counsel to the State Board of Regents.  Mr. Neal died last Saturday in Dahlonega at the age of 86.  He was a faithful Bulldog, having left his home in Fortson and enrolled at UGA at the age of 16.  After his graduation in 1943, Mr. Neal enlisted in the Army and fought in Europe during WW II.  He nearly died in Nov. of 1944 when his foxhole was hit by enemy fire, emerging from the hospital 16 months later.  Mr. Neal came back to UGA and earned a law degree in 1948 where he started his path of public service.  A memorial service will be held tomorrow morning at 11:00 at Banister Funeral Home in Dahlonega.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Polly, and the rest of the Neal family.

President Michael Adams will present the State of the University this afternoon at 3:30 in the UGA Chapel.  In his annual address, Dr. Adams reflects on the past year and spells out his future vision for the University.  The event is free and open to the public.  For those who can’t make it, Dr. Adams’ speech will be streamed live on the UGA Web site.  Hope to see you there.

UGA students are taking the lead on campus in organizing assistance to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.  “Dawgs for Haiti is a campus-wide effort organizing to raise money to support victims of this devastating earthquake,” said Volunteer UGA’s Stephen Dorner in a web site letter.  He says raising money will come through various means, and one way is to organize UGA’s philanthropic alumni community.  Stephen says proceeds from Dawgs for Haiti will go to the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders.  Out Student Alumni Association has already pledged its support.  Click here for all the information and together we can help ease the suffering.

Annvi Shah Utter ‘04 and husband, Tobiah, have started a new company called Barkin’ Doggie Biscuits based in Houston, Texas.  Annvi tells me for every bag of biscuits purchased, the company will donate a bag to animal rescue/foster groups across the country.  This is such a great cause, and many of you know what a dog lover I am.  Click here to see the groups Barkin’ Doggie partners with.  She also included a picture of a Bulldog chowing down on some Barkin’ Doggie Biscuits.  With such flavors as Pucker Up, Get Pumped and Go Nuts, I’m sure your pooch will thank you over and over again.

Courtney Kupets, who set dozens of records at UGA, has been named a recipient of the NCAA’s Top VIII Award.  She and seven other college athletes who have completed their athletic eligibility are being recognized ”for their athletic success, academic accomplishments, community service and leadership,” according to a news release.  As a senior last year, Courtney led the Gym Dogs to their fifth straight national title, capturing honors on the all-around bars, balance beam and floor exercises along the way.  She also excelled in the classroom, being named a First Team Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine and a recipient of NCAA and SEC postgraduate scholarships.  Courtney was also a member of the Blue Key Honor Society.  All eight recipients will receive their awards tonight at an NCAA Honors Celebration in Atlanta.  Congratulations, Courtney.