Ron Clark, world renowned nontraditional educator, will deliver the 2010 Holmes-Hunter lecture on campus today.  Named in honor of the first two African-American students to attend UGA, Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter, this annual lecture always features interesting and entertaining speakers.  This year’s lecture will be in Hodgson Hall at the Performing Arts Center at 2 p.m.

A New York Times best-selling author and Oprah Winfrey regular, Ron heads the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, a privately-funded school that serves students “using innovative teaching methods and curriculum based on world travel,” according school information.  You may recall that some of his students gained notoriety during the last presidential election when they appeard on CNN singing the song they wrote, “You Can Vote However You Like.”

Award-winning writer, producer and vocal special effects wizard Fred Newman ‘74 will deliver what is sure to be a very entertaining lecture this afternoon at the UGA Chapel.  The 4 p.m. address caps a four-day visit to Athens during which the LaGrange native spent time with students in several disciplines including English, creative writing and theatre & film studies.  Among his many talents, Fred is most known for being the voice behind the special effects on NPR’s radio show “A Prarie Home Companion,” starring Garrison Keillor.

Current Alumni Association Board members Palmer Sanford ‘01 of Atlanta and John Neel ‘84 of Macon are on the host committee for the inaugural Bully Ball, an event to benefit Georgia English Bulldog Rescue.  The Bully Ball will be held this Saturday night, February 27, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Buckhead beginning at 6 p.m.  Former UGA football coaches and players will be in attendance at this most worthy event.  Click here for more information about the inaugural Bully Ball.

Last Friday, February 19, was proclaimed by UGA President Michael Adams as Arbor Day on the University campus.  And as such, we were pleased to have an oak tree planted in the front yard of Wray-Nicholson House, headquarters of the UGA Alumni Association.  Dexter Adams (kneeling in the photo) is director of Physical Plant’s grounds department.  He and his staff do an outstanding job of maintaining our beautiful campus.  Standing behind Dexter in the blue sweater is landscape manager Mike Orr.

Together, they manage a staff of arborists and tree surgeons who monitor, map, label and nuture the university’s massive tree collection.  I want to personally thank them for this beautiful gift.

Bulldog gridiron great Larry Rakestraw ‘64 and former Gym Dog coach Suzanne Yoculan were inducted this past weekend into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Macon. 

Larry was a two-sport standout at UGA, playing baseball and football.  In 1963, he threw for 407 yards against the Univ. of Miami.  After school he went on to play for the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL.

Suzanne led the UGA gymnastics program for 26 years, retiring in 2009 with a career records of 836 wins against only 117 losses.  She led the Gym Dogs to 16 SEC titles and 10 NCAA championships- five of which were consecutive. 

Congratulations to Larry and Suzanne.

Alan Harris’ ‘85 generous donation has made it possible for the Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services Department to receive a life-saving thermal imaging camera.  The device was an equipment grant from the group 500 For Life, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization “dedicated to saving the lives of fire victims and firefighters,” according to 500 For Life literature.  The Bullard T-320 Thermal Imager is valued at $12,500.  Thanks, Alan, for this unselfish gift.

I had the greatest visit this week with two Bulldog 100 recipients, Bucky Cook ‘77 and David Cogdell ‘76, ‘83.  Neither was able to attend the recent top 100 unveiling so I decided to personally hand-deliver their awards.

Bucky runs the trendy children’s haircut salon called Pigtails & Crewcuts with locations around Atlanta and in several states.  His company was the 71st fastest growing Bulldog business.

David is President of Ad Ventures, an Atlanta-based direct marketing/ad search agency.  Ad Ventures placed at #65 on the top 100 list.

Another recipient who couldn’t join us was Brett Levitzke (’00 DVM), who owns Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group in Brooklyn, New York.  Brett’s vet emergency care company was listed as the 27th fastest growing Bulldog business.  Here you see Brett with his award that was hand-delivered by Chris Betts in the University’s development office.   

Congratulations again to all Bulldog 100 recipients.  Nominations for the class of 2011 will be accpeted starting April 15th.

The Alumni Association’s Study Abroad student for this semester is Megan Aunchman, a junior biology major from Buford.  She recently e-mailed us from New Zealand, where she’ll be living and studying through May.  We are very proud to offer this annual scholarship.  Here is the text of Megan’s message:  

Spiro Amburn has been tapped to be chief of staff to the Ga Speaker of the House.  The 38-year-old Amburn, who earned his master’s degree at UGA just last year, had been serving as the legislative affairs director for the state Department of Juvenile Justice when new House Speaker David Ralston ‘80 called.  “Spiro is not only someone who I have a great deal of trust in, but also has served this state well as a committed public servant in his time in state government,” Speaker Ralston said in a news release announcing Spiro’s appointment.  “I am honored to have him leading our staff and confident that he will be an asset to the Speaker’s Office and the entire House of Representatives.”  Spiro’s background also includes a stint as deputy legislative affairs director for Gov. Sonny Perdue ‘71.  Congratulations.

Saturday night’s Celebration of Support was a great event.  Paying tribute to loyal donors of the University is always special.  Without these alums and supporters, UGA would not be able to provide the top-notch education and experience our students expect and demand.  It was wonderful sharing the evening with friends and alums.  Here I’m flanked by UGA Alumni Association board members Dr. Barry Dotson ‘86, ‘06 and Wendy Brannen ‘94.

Recognized for their extraordinary support were Carolyn Warnell Bryan ‘37; Charles ‘58 & Mary ‘59 Sanford; Earl ‘58, ‘61 & Bebe ‘63 Leonard, and the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation.  Mrs. Bryan is the daughter of Daniel B. Warnell, the namesake for the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.  Charles Sanford ‘58 is a retired New York City banking executive with deep southern roots.  His grandfather was former UGA president Steadman V. Sanford, for whom Sanford Stadium is named.  Earl Leonard retired from Coca-Cola as a senior vice president.  He is a past president of the UGA Alumni Association, trustee emeritus of the UGA Foundation and serves an executive-in-resident in the Terry College.  The Frances Wood Wilson Foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to various campus initiatives and programs over the year.  It’s board chairman is Terry Wingfield ‘51.