Posted on Thursday, May 06, 2021
The college will present honorary doctorates to civic leader Dr. Robert Tucker of LaGrange and Atlanta businessman Jerry Wilkinson during this year’s Commencement ceremonies on May 15. The awards were delayed a year because of the pandemic.
Dr. Tucker returned to LaGrange in 2012 and became the driving force behind the Calumet Park Neighborhood Association. In 2016, the group worked with the Georgia Conservancy to draw up plans for the revitalization of Calumet Village.
Those projects included upgrading Calumet Park, improving general safety and street safety, providing job training, focusing on education from the pre-K level to two years after high school and improving housing within the community.
Dr. Tucker has reached out to partner with city groups and organizations in strategic ways to benefit LaGrange and Troup County as a whole.
He has enlisted the help of LaGrange College students in neighborhood projects over the years and has worked closely with the City of LaGrange and the Troup County School System. He also serves on the board of DASH (Dependable Affordable Sustainable Housing) for LaGrange.
Wilkinson is a nationally known businessman who is recognized as a philanthropist and a leader in the field of real estate.
Wilkinson is the founder and chair of Wilkinson Companies, a privately held real estate investment, management and construction firm. He has directed the operations and growth of the Wilkinson Companies and its subsidiaries for more than 30 years.
He has served as president of the Atlanta Apartment Association, Georgia Apartment Association and the National Apartment Association. He is one of only 20 people in the past 80 years who have been inducted into the NAA Hall of Fame.
His writings have appeared in national publications, and he is a guest lecturer at various organizations and schools.
Wilkinson has served on the board of directors for the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Saint Joseph Hospital, Apartment Life Inc., Duke University School of Engineering and LaGrange College.
In 2017, the LaGrange College Servant Scholars program was named the Wilkinson Family Servant Scholars Program to honor Wilkinson and his family for their support of the institution. He was named an LC Honorary Alumnus in the fall of 2019.
He and his wife, Beverly, have three daughters and eight grandchildren and split their time between Atlanta and Amelia Island, Florida.
The Digital Creative Media and Film program will host its 2020-21 virtual showcase at 6 p.m. Saturday and will spotlight the Capstone class of 2021. It will premiere live on the “West Side Productions at LaGrange College” YouTube channel.
The annual Nurse Pinning Ceremony will be at held at 7 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church of LaGrange. Tara Vaughn ’06, accreditation and licensure coordinator at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, will be the guest speaker. The Nursing Pinning Ceremony is a cherished event for the Nursing graduates as the seniors celebrate their achievements and recognize the junior class on their journey towards a degree in Nursing. The event will be streamed live here. http://l0jb.kongtiao11.com/academics/graduation/pinning-ceremony.html
This year’s Baccalaureate service will be streamed on the college’s Facebook page online at 5 p.m. May 14, with the Rev. Dr. Jessica Terrell ’03 as speaker. She is superintendent for the Central West District of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church.
The ringing of the Chapel Bell is a new tradition offered only to graduating seniors to celebrate a first full-time, post-graduation job offer or admission to grad school. Congratulations to these students on their accomplishments: Savanna Hicks (Theatre Arts), a touring performer/director with the Missoula Children’s Theatre in Missoula, Montana; Kristi Smith (Nursing), cardiac acute care nurse with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; Alyssa Lord (Mathematics), Master of Arts in Teaching program at LaGrange College; Lincoln Anderson (Psychological Science), senior field underwriter/outside sales representative with Equis Financial in LaGrange; Kiara Tookes-Williams and Brittany Todd (Psychological Science), Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program at LC; Natalie Glass (Political Science), criminology graduate program at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton; Porter Law (Political Science), public administration graduate program at the University of Central Florida in Orlando; and Julian Cameron (Education), Education in Classroom Leadership graduate program at Southern Wesleyan University in Central, South Carolina.
Commemorative bricks from the old patio next to Smith Hall are still available, but only for a limited time. Cost is a gift of $25 or more per brick. For a $35 gift, the college can ship domestically. To make a qualifying gift and receive a brick, go here and put “brick” in the comments or call the LC Development Department at 706-880-8244.
Attention Class of 2021: We want to celebrate your achievement by spotlighting memories from your time as a student at LC. Share your photos, videos and messages here.
Political Science students presented their final research project about COVID-19-era political crackdowns to Amy Slipowitz from the human rights group Freedom House, based in Milan, Italy. These students looked at economic and political factors behind such crackdowns, from electoral systems to political systems to voting, governing structure, level of federalism and gender representation. Those presenting included Thomas Bird, Tia Braxton, Kristina Calixto, Andrew Cunningham, Chase Davis, Madison Demkowski, DeQueze Fryer, Natalie Glass, Hannah Godfrey, Olivia Hanners, Jacob Jeffords, Nia Johnson, Taren McGhee, Brennan Oates, Hailey Owen, Jaydon Parrish, Abbey Reese, Yasmin Roper, Jake Thrailkill and Karson Troth.
Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions. For in-person events, all COVID guidelines apply.
THROUGH SUNDAY
Local Professional Virtual Interview Series – Carol Bailey, Human Resources
Bailey is human resources manager at Trackmobile in LaGrange.
THROUGH MONDAY
Museum and Gallery Tours
Take a virtual tour of the Louvre in Paris; the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy; the British Museum in London; and more.
Baseball
The Panthers (20-7) swept a three-game USA South series at Piedmont last weekend. LC won by scores of 11-1, 15-7, and 6-5. Jack Layrisson batted .417 with a home run and four RBIs in the three games.
http://www.lagrangepanthers.com/sports/bsb/2020-21/releases/20210501y16uqc
Golf
Senior Cameron Starr was selected to play in the NCAA Division III Golf Championship on May 11-14 at the Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling, West Virginia. Starr is ranked fifth in the Golfstat Division III player rankings. He is the third LC player to play as an individual in the tournament. The Panthers have 10 team appearances.
http://www.lagrangepanthers.com/sports/golf/2020-21/releases/20210503lvhvgi
Softball
Sophomore Reagan Gunter was named to the USA South All-Conference West Division first team as a utility player. Gunter batted .400 in 10 games this season. Sophomore Abbey Gardner and senior Rebekah Hobson were on the second team as at-large selections.
http://www.lagrangepanthers.com/sports/sball/2020-21/releases/20210506h9ioij
CALENDAR
Saturday
Baseball vs. Piedmont 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium (USA South Tournament First Round, best-of-three series)
Sunday
Baseball vs. Piedmont 2 p.m. Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium (USA South Tournament First Round, best-of-three series, if necessary)
This year’s Baccalaureate Service will include this presentation by the LaGrange College Chorus.
No links available
MP grad Emsley Smith reflects on time at LaGrange – Monroe County Reporter, May 5, 2021
Torrid Panthers sweep doubleheader – LaGrange Daily New, April 28, 2021
Sophomore standout honored – LaGrange Daily News, April 28, 2021
Category: Events, Faculty, Academics, Students, College
Keywords: honorary doctorate Commencement
