U.S. News Media Group Names 2009 America's Best High Schools

Congratulations to Davidson Magnet School in Augusta, GA with its number 89 ranking in the nation!

Congratulations to these Georgia schools for making the list as well.

Appling County High School (Appling County)
Bowdon High School (Carroll County)
Calhoun High School (Gordon County)
Clinch County High School (Clinch County)
Columbus High School (Muscogee County)
Davidson Magnet School (Richmond County)
East Hall High School (Hall County)
Elberta Open Campus High School (Houston County)
Etowah High School (Cherokee County)
Gainesville High School (Hall County)
Greene County High School (Greene County)
Johnson Magnet (Richmond County)
Long County High School (Long County)
Margaret Harris High School (Dekalb County)
Mitchell-Baker High School (Mitchell County)
Peach County High School (Peach County)
Pierce County High School (Pierce County)
Rome High School (Floyd County)
Savannah Arts Academy (Chatham County)
Schley Middle High School (Schley County)
Seminole County Middle/High School (Seminole County)
Southside High School (Fulton County)
Telfair County High School (Telfair County)
Ware Magnet School (Ware County)
Washington-Wilkes High School (Wilkes County)
Woody Gap High/Elementary School (Union County)

/PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News Media Group today released its second annual survey of America's Best High Schools, available online at www.usnews.com/highschools and on newsstands December 8, 2008. Based on an in-depth methodology by School Evaluation Services (www.schoolmatters.com), the list recognizes more than 1,900 schools in 48 states*, up from the 1,600 schools in 40 states recognized by U.S. News in 2007. The high schools listed fall into one of four categories of distinction: Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Honorable Mention.

This year's ranking criteria include increased measures of college readiness, and the 2009 list demonstrated an 11-percent increase in the number of top-performing schools (Gold and Silver medal). This increase shows that a greater number of schools are providing students with access to college-level coursework and, more importantly, that these same students are demonstrating mastery of the coursework, which will benefit their work towards higher education.

"In just its second year, America's Best High Schools has proven to be a trusted source for educators, students, and especially parents making important decisions about their children's educational future," said Brian Kelly, editor, U.S.News & World Report. "Not only do our rankings highlight schools succeeding at the highest national level, but the Best High School package also allows communities and states to compare schools at a local level and measure why some are doing so well. This is the most comprehensive and inclusive information on hundreds of high schools nationwide."

Kelly noted the significant increase in the number of states providing information for the rankings and U.S. News' role in fostering transparency among America's most important institutions, saying, "Just as U.S. News has increased transparency in the health sector through its rankings of hospitals and health plans, and in the higher education sector through its rankings of colleges and graduate schools, its participation in the evaluation of America's high schools are helping to shine a light on how these schools prepare our children for college, and for life."

Since the release of the 2008 high school rankings, U.S. News and School Evaluation Services have developed the methodology to include the International Baccalaureate program as a measure of college readiness. In addition, an honorable mention distinction has been added to recognize schools that were able to achieve high levels of college readiness but only partially met state test performance criteria.

A high school is recognized as a top school if it:
1. Attains performance levels that exceed statistical expectations given
the school's student body, as measured by state accountability test
scores for all the school's students in the core subjects of reading
and math;
2. Achieves proficiency rates on state tests for their least advantaged
student groups that exceed state averages; and
3. Prepares its students for college, as measured by student participation
in and performance on Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International
Baccalaureate (IB) exams.



The 100 top-performing high schools were given a distinction of "Gold" and are listed numerically. The remaining 504 schools meeting all three criteria have been designated "Silver" high schools.

Additionally, 1,321 high schools were identified as "Bronze" schools for their performance on state tests. These Bronze high schools met the first two criteria of this methodology but did not meet the college-readiness criteria based on AP or IB exams. While AP and IB are by far the most widely used college-level programs in the country, there are schools that focus on providing students with access to alternative college-level programs.

Finally, 17 schools received honorable mentions. As previously described, the "honorable mention" distinction recognizes schools that were able to achieve high levels of college readiness but only partially met state test performance criteria.

Using this methodology, more than 21,000 high schools were analyzed for inclusion in the 2009 edition. Highlights of analytical findings include:

-- 604 high schools met all three of the demanding top schools criteria
(Gold and Silver categories)
-- Nearly 10 percent of top schools have minority populations of 75
percent or greater
-- Five percent of the top schools are charter schools
-- More than 75 percent of the top schools have open admissions
-- 20 percent of the top schools are located in large cities (populations
of 250,000 or more)

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University of Georgia Budget Update

University of Georgia Budget Update
President Michael F. Adams

I would like to begin my comments on the budget situation with words of praise for the people who have spent countless hours working to ensure the long-term financial stability of the University of Georgia. The credit for our careful management of the budget crisis to date goes to the many faculty and staff who have taken on extra responsibility in areas where there are unfilled positions. The credit also goes to the leadership team in the budget area: Arnett Mace; Tom Landrum; and Tim Burgess, with the help of the many dedicated staff in Finance and Administration; and of course the deans, vice presidents, directors, and department heads who face the greatest challenge of managing these budget reductions at the school, college, and departmental levels.

We are facing an economic crisis of a magnitude unprecedented since WWII. My belief has been that we must manage very conservatively during these times, doing all that we can to preserve faculty and staff jobs—which remains my top priority—so that we can continue to carry out our missions of teaching, research and service. To date, we have been able to avoid the worst of this economic recession because of the planning by our budget team that began about this time last year. But we do not yet know how much the fiscal year 2009 budget ultimately will be cut and what the funding levels will look like for 2010.

As you will recall, at their October meeting the Board of Regents directed that we reduce our FY 09 budget by 6%. This action led to a reduction to UGA's state-appropriated funds of over $29.7 million, with $24 million being reduced from our Resident Instruction budget and $5.7 million from our B Units, the experiment station and extension units that extend our research and outreach missions throughout the state.

Although the University System has not received specific budget instructions from the state regarding further budget reductions, the Board of Regents yesterday took prudent action to prepare for a likely budget reduction of 8%. Increasing the FY 2009 budget reduction to 8% would increase the reduction to UGA's state-appropriated funds from $29.7 million to about $39.7 million, with $32.1 million being reduced from our Resident Instruction budget and $7.6 million from our B Units.

Given the budget challenges facing all public colleges and universities in Georgia, the Board of Regents took the following three actions yesterday in a special called meeting.

First, the Regents voted to reduce the employer contribution rate for the PPO and HMO health insurance plans from 75% to 70%. This action increases the employee cost for these and the Indemnity health plans, if the employee does not opt to move to a lower-cost plan. Importantly, the open enrollment period has been reopened until December 15th to allow faculty, staff, and retirees to make different choices should they wish to do so, in light of the change in premiums.

Second, the Regents voted to waive BOR policy 704.021 on mandatory student fee. This is the policy that outlines the standard timetable and procedures by which mandatory fees are typically set by the Board of Regents, usually in April.

Third, they voted to institute a mandatory fee of $100 per semester at research universities and the largest comprehensive universities, $75 at the other comprehensive universities, and $50 at access institutions.

Each of these actions is part of a tiered approach that has been followed over several months by the System to address the changing budget situation. I would like to speak to these items in more detail.

First, the health care action. As UGA faculty and staff will receive the merit salary increases approved for January 1, 2009, these raises will help mitigate the health insurance cost increases that System employees are being asked to bear. At UGA, we have made concerted attempts to address salary concerns in specific targeted areas over the past months and years. As of January 1, 2009, we will have been able to move the minimum salary to $21,000 after steady steps in that direction over several years. Along with raising the minimum salary, we also allocated funds to mitigate staff salary compression issues that are associated with raising the minimum hiring rate. Likewise, we have allocated over $1.8 million additional funds in this fiscal year alone to help bring faculty salaries more in line with our competitors, with $1.3 million of this funding being targeted at the associate professor level. This is the fourth year that we have allocated funds to supplement the merit salary increase pool. In addition to these targeted salary increase allocations, we also provided funds to add an additional ½% to the 2.5% merit pool provided by the state to ensure that all faculty and staff are receiving a minimum ½% salary increase to help mitigate the impact of the growing cost and inflationary pressures that are confronting all of us.

Such efforts would not have been possible without a shared commitment to these efforts among the senior leadership team, and the belief that such actions were important to the future of the institution. It is not easy to watch progress in salaries diluted by the very real pressures of this economic recession, but the Chancellor and the Board of Regents have been clear in indicating that at this stage of budget reductions, all employees have a role to play in helping address the budget crisis.

While other state agencies and other universities outside of Georgia are taking steps to furlough employees, furloughs are not being considered for University System employees at this time. We are also not yet taking steps towards hard layoffs across the University for full-time positions. However, the pain of the current level of cuts has already had a direct effect on positions. Vacancies are not being filled, and some part-time contracts have not been renewed that would otherwise have been renewed in better times. This is real pain, and real function being lost at this institution.

In total, the budget reductions are forcing UGA to defer filling 167 faculty positions, 183 staff positions, 47 graduate assistant positions, and 52 student worker positions across the institution. These vacancies translate to class sections that are not offered, student course needs that go unmet, and programs that are canceled.

Second, the issue of the Special Spring Semester ‘09 fee. The action taken by the board places a mandatory fee of $100 at the research universities, $75 at the comprehensive universities, and $50 at the access institutions for Spring 2009 in order to sustain academic quality. The Board will, in the normal course of business, set fees for the next fiscal year in April. The Board of Regents will make decisions about tuition and fees for fiscal year 2010 at that time.

Just as employees are being asked to help significantly in these challenging budget times, students are being asked to step up and help to ensure that the academic quality of this institution remains strong. We will continue to do everything possible to achieve greater efficiency in our operations so that we retain as much flexibility as possible in meeting our academic mission.

I have said before that I believe UGA’s tuition is too low; one has only to look at tuition at the other states in the Southern region to see this underscored. The $4,395 in tuition that UGA is assessing to in-state undergraduates (Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 semesters) is $1,033 below the median of $5,428 and $1,412 below the average of $5,807 for tuition being assessed by UGA's peers in the Southern region. The national discrepancies are even larger. As recently as last week, the governor of Florida, one state whose tuition has historically been lower than ours, announced his support for tuition increases of up to 15% to help struggling public colleges and universities.

In taking this action to implement a mandatory fee midyear, the Chancellor and the Regents have acknowledged that maintenance of academic programs depends upon such funds. Georgia’s students receive an excellent education at UGA, and as much as I regret increases, I do believe that they are justified to ensure that we can continue to provide appropriate academic offerings to our students that are of the quality that our students demand and deserve and that the state expects from its flagship institution.

Please understand that this is December 4th, and there is still a possibility that the budget reduction will go higher than 8%. This is a fluid, ever-changing situation, and we do not yet know how Georgia will fare in the coming months. I also want to be forthright in saying that we do not yet know the prospects for a pay raise in 2010, but I believe it to be slim. We will continue to work closely with the System officials and with our legislative leadership in our planning as we move through these challenging times.

Like almost every higher education institution in the nation, we are facing the challenges of a national economic downturn. Our neighboring states have these same issues. For my part, I remain grateful that UGA is located in Athens, with its strong sense of community and its good quality of life, for I think in difficult economic times such factors become increasingly important.

While we do not know the economic course of the next several months, we will continue to keep the campus informed of additional actions that impact our budget. I remain confident that the day-to-day work that we do to serve students as well as the citizens of Georgia is the best means to provide a bright future for this state. This institution has faced many difficult times in its 223-year history and has survived, each time to grow to a stronger and more expansive level of service. I am confident we will do so again and that there will be improvement in the next 12-18 months. I am truly grateful to all of our faculty, staff, and students for their shared sense of commitment to the University and its academic programs.

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Professional Development Key to Improving Math Achievement

Teachers have a greater impact than new textbooks or computers when it comes to raising math scores, according to a comprehensive research review by the Johns Hopkins University School of Education's Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education.

Researchers Robert Slavin, director of the Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University, and Cynthia Lake, research scientist, reviewed 87 previously released experimental studies evaluating the effectiveness of math programs in the elementary grades. The researchers' review covered three approaches to improving math achievement — textbooks, computer-assisted instruction, and approaches emphasizing professional development in specific teaching methods, such as cooperative learning and teaching of learning skills. They found that changing daily teaching practices did more for student achievement than simply using new textbooks or adding computers to the mix.

"The debate about mathematics reform has focused primarily on curriculum, not on professional development or instruction," said Slavin. "Yet the research review suggests that in terms of outcomes on math assessments, curriculum differences are less consequential than instructional differences."

Researchers conducted a broad literature search in order to locate every study comparing the effectiveness of various math programs to traditional control groups. The results were published in the September issue of the American Educational Research Association's Review of Educational Research. The review notes that the three approaches to mathematics instruction do not conflict with each other and may have added effects if used together.

The Johns Hopkins Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education is conducting one of the largest research review projects ever undertaken, to increase the use of evidence in education to improve student achievement. The intent is to place all types of programs on a common scale to provide educators with meaningful, unbiased information that they can use to select programs and practices most likely to make a difference with their students. Topics include reading, math, and other programs for grades K-12. Educator-friendly ratings of effective education programs as well as the full reports appear on the Best Evidence Encyclopedia web site at www.bestevidence.org.

The Johns Hopkins University School of Education's Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education is a non-profit center that received funding from the Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education. For more information on the center, visit www.cddre.org.

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Regents Take Action to Meet an Additional Two Percent Budget Cut

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) approved December 3rd in a special called meeting a change in health benefit plans for USG employees as well as a temporary fee for all USG students. The changes will help the System’s 35 colleges and universities meet an additional two percent reduction in the current Fiscal Year 2009 budget.

As a result of the board’s action today, as of Jan. 1, 2009, the employer contribution rate for health insurance for the System’s PPO and HMO health plans will be reduced from 75 percent to 70 percent. USG employees enrolled in these plans will thus pay increased premiums ranging from approximately $17 to $65 a month, depending upon the plan and number of individuals covered. The employer contribution rate for the Indemnity plan will be the same as the PPO plan. The employer rate for the System’s high deductible health plan will continue at its current level of 90 percent. This change will result in an additional $8 million in savings throughout the System.

Effective for the spring 2009 semester, all USG students will pay a temporary, one-semester fee: $100 at research universities and six other universities, $75 at most comprehensive universities, and $50 at two-year and state colleges. The fee will offset an additional $20 million in budget reductions at the institutions.

An additional $12 million in savings will occur as a result of instructions that allow all USG institutions to defer maintenance expenditures. This budget reduction measure initially was approved by the regents this past August and did not require additional approval in today’s meeting.

“These are difficult decisions,” said USG Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. “The board’s action today will protect the System’s core teaching mission and maintain academic quality.”

The regents took action in August to reduce the System’s budget by six percent ($136 million), and also to approve contingency plans for additional reductions. Health care plans and the student fee were two components of these additional reduction plans.

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New Scholarship Launches Careers of Patent Law Thought Leaders

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Patent Resources Group, the nation’s leading patent education firm, announces the introduction of a new scholarship that will launch the careers of the next generation of elite patent professionals.

The Future Leaders Scholarship, open to all full-time law students who are eligible to sit for the Patent Bar examination, will award full tuition to Patent Resources Group’s Patent Bar Review course, including travel and hotel costs, a value of more than $5,000.

Applications are currently being accepted and must be postmarked no later than February 27, 2009. Winners will receive notification by March 20, 2009.

Once scholarship winners pass the Patent Bar exam, they will also be reimbursed for the patent agent fee charged by the U.S. Patent and Trade Office to become a patent agent. Scholarship winners will be chosen based on proven academic achievement.

“In today’s world of fast-paced technological innovation, patents are crucial in translating new inventions into profitable business enterprises,” says Patent Resources Group’s Academic Director Paul Gardner. “PRG's Future Leaders scholarship will provide the recipients with the invaluable instruction of the nation’s premier course for preparing aspiring patent professionals, propelling them into highly satisfying and rewarding careers in patent law.”

More information and a downloadable application are available at www.patentresources.com/scholarship.

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Statement from Sen. Mitch Seabaugh on Board of Regents’ Tuition Fee

“I am disappointed that the Board of Regents has decided to impose additional cost burdens on students as a way to balance their budget. They should take responsibility and instead look diligently at their own non-essential spending.

Georgia families are struggling to make ends meet and the Board of Regents should not protect their status quo by balancing their budgets on struggling students' and parents' pocket books.

As the state, its agencies, and Georgia families are looking at ways to operate on a tighter budget, the Board of Regents should do the same and look at their own budgets to cut out any non-essential and wasteful spending rather than asking Georgia families to foot the bill during tough economic times."

Sen. Mitch Seabaugh (R-Sharpsburg)
Chairman, Senate Best Value in Government Task Force
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Clayton State University’ SNA Receives Several Recognitions at GANS

Several students from the Student Nurses Association (SNA) at Clayton State University recently attended the 56th annual conference of the Georgia Association of Nursing Students (GANS). Clayton State’s SNA received several recognitions and awards.

“We won the website of the year award. It is selected by the state GANS board members and their advisors. It is based on organization, ease of use, accurate information and links, and creativity along with other things,” notes Clayton State SNA President Lauren Hutchison (Stockbridge).

The Clayton State chapter was also recognized with the people’s choice award for their banner titled “Oh the magical things you can do with care.” It is now on display in the Clayton State School of Nursing’s headquarters, the Harry S. Downs Center.

Rashonbah T. Rogers (Decatur) is currently the first vice president of the Clayton State chapter of SNA and was elected West District director for GANS at the recent conference.

“It feels great to be a part of the executive board of GANS. I have been very active here in my local chapter and I am looking forward to doing projects on the state level. I am honored to be part of GANS,” says Rogers.

Angeline Hill (Duluth) was also elected to the executive board as the new secretary.

The conference was not all work. During a GANS Idol performance, Nicole Cicerello of Sharpsburg won best performance singing “Big Deal” by Leanne Rimes, winning $100.

During “penny wars,” a fundraiser at the conference, Clayton State’s SNA chapter earned $609.

“Our school won the fundraiser with the most points at the end. All of the money raised is counted and split in half with GANS and the winning school,” says Hutchinson. “We are so proud of the newly elected officers to the GANS Board and everyone’s dedication to our organization and to nursing as a whole.”

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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Berry Gets in Holiday Spirit

Berry College will kick off the holiday season with a series of special events this week.

First up is the 20th annual celebration of “Lessons and Carols,” scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the Berry College Chapel. Afterward, enjoy the traditional lighting of the Berry Christmas tree. Admission is free and open to the public.

Next, Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum will host “Candles and Carols of Christmases Past” from 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6. Admission is $2. Parking and shuttle service is available at Harbin Clinic (please use the Leland Avenue entrance). For more information, go to www.berry.edu/oakhill or call 706-368-6775.

Trim those Thanksgiving pounds at the third-annual Jingle Jog 5K, set for Saturday, Dec. 6. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. at Ford Dining Hall. A one-mile fun run gets under way at 9:30 a.m.; the 5K starts at 10. Registration is $5 for Berry students and $20 for all other participants. Proceeds benefit Athletes Bettering the Community, the service arm of Berry’s intercollegiate athletic program.

Last but not least, hear the Christmas message proclaimed through music and drama at “One Loud Night,” Mount Berry Church’s Christmas musical celebration. Worship begins at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, in the Berry College Chapel. Admission is free and open to the public.

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UGA Equestrian Team to Enjoy Permanent Home

The University of Georgia Athletic Association has signed a contract to purchase an existing horse farm near Athens that will soon serve as the permanent home for the Bulldogs' national champion Equestrian team, Athletic Director Damon Evans announced today.

Beginning as soon as February 2009, the Bulldog riders will train and compete at High Point Farm in Bishop, Ga., approximately 12 miles from the UGA campus.

"Coach (Meghan) Boenig, her staff, and team have established an Equestrian program at the University of Georgia that deserves the very best facility in the country," Evans said. "This property at High Point Farm gives us that opportunity. The stable, paddocks, and fields are essentially ready for our team and horses now, but our long range plan for enhancements will ensure a first-class home for our national championship team and at the same time, it will solidify our position at the forefront of varsity equestrian programs."

Equestrian was added as UGA's 21st intercollegiate varsity sport in 2001. Since the first year of competition in 2002, the team trained and held meets at the Animal Science Arena on South Milledge Avenue. UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the department of animal and dairy science operate the facility and have graciously hosted the Bulldogs through the current fall season.

The academic programs within the CAES, as well as the varsity Equestrian program, continue to expand. The Equestrian program's move to High Point Farm will facilitate the continued growth of both programs.

"Purchasing High Point Farm is another important step in the expansion of women's athletics at the University of Georgia," said UGA President Michael F. Adams. "It will allow us to offer unmatched opportunities for student-athletes to train and compete at the highest level of college athletics."

Since 1993, High Point Farm has served the Athens-area equine community with boarding and training facilities. In 1996, High Point was selected as the training site for the U.S. Dressage Team, which competed in the Summer Olympic Games at the International Horse Park in Conyers, Ga.

Though many facilities at High Point already exist, the Athletic Association plans to develop the property to suit the needs of the Equestrian program. Preliminary plans include the construction of an outdoor arena, as well as locker-room facilities for the student-athletes.

"We are so excited and the Equestrian team is very fortunate and appreciative of the Athletic Association's support," said head coach Meghan Boenig. "This purchase allows us the opportunity to take care of our student-athletes and our equine athletes. It will give us a chance to put firm roots down for our program. We are deeply appreciative of our time on South Milledge, but we also look forward to the future at High Point Farm."

Over its six-year history, the UGA program under Boenig has become a national leader in varsity equestrian, which is classified as an "emerging" sport by the NCAA. The Bulldogs have won three national championships, captured five Southern Equestrian titles, and have never lost a dual meet at home since the format was introduced over four years ago.

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Unique Scholarship Helps People Affected by Epilepsy Fulfill Life Ambitions

GE Note: Congratulations to the Georgia students who are recipients of this scholarship.

/PRNewswire/ -- UCB, The Epilepsy Company(TM), will honor 31 recipients of the 2008 UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship(TM) at a reception in Seattle, WA on Sunday, December 7 during the American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting. The scholarship is awarded to inspiring people whose lives have been affected by epilepsy, and who seek personal growth through higher learning.

Each year, the UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship is offered to people living with epilepsy, their caregivers and family members to provide financial support for academic and personal achievement. This year, UCB awarded a total of $150,000 to 31 recipients; twenty-one recipients are people living with epilepsy, and the remaining 10 are family members or caregivers of someone living with epilepsy.

The scholarship money can be used toward tuition at any United States-based center for higher learning, including colleges, graduate schools and technical schools. Since 2005, UCB has awarded over half a million dollars in scholarships to qualified recipients.

"There are many people living with epilepsy who continue to have a positive impact on their families, schools and communities. The UCB Family Epilepsy Scholarship allows us to recognize their achievements by making higher education more attainable for deserving recipients," said Rich Denness, Vice President and General Manager of CNS at UCB. "This scholarship is one of several innovative patient programs that demonstrate UCB's commitment to improving the lives of people living with epilepsy."

The American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting is an international conference where medical experts convene to share research findings and discuss relevant topics in the field of epilepsy and other seizure disorders. This year the meeting will occur in Seattle, WA from December 5-9, 2008.

2008 Scholarship Recipients:

The winners of this one-time award were selected from a pool of 588 applicants. Each recipient was considered based on their application, personal essay and letters of recommendation.

2008 recipients and their selected learning institution include:


-Crystal Armstrong Columbus State Community College
-Paul Babbitt Pitzer College
-Lindsey Beth Brewer University of West Alabama
-Steffanie Chamburs Seattle Pacific University
-Thomas Ciccone Binghamton University
-Kaycee Damm Albion College
-Jordan De Jong Mitchell College
-Christa Desjardins New England Culinary Institute
-Courtney DiPersico Palm Beach University
-Jacqueline Hayden University of Phoenix
-Chelsea Henline Townson University
-Cheyenne Hettel Southern State Community College
-Rebecca Huang California State University Dominguez Hill
-Melissa Kielbus Rochester Institute of Technology
-Patrick Masterton Iowa State University
-Samantha McCrary Ball State University
-Jennifer Mitchell Chattahoochee Valley Community College
-Meghan Monhollen Northern Kentucky University
-Trevor Nuener Modesto Junior College
-Allison Rellar University of Cincinnati
-Ryan Schuster University of Toledo
-Lakischa Stewart Thomas Jefferson University
-Erin Vachon-Vierra Northern Arizona University
-Brittany Wagner-Frederick Shenandoah University
-Claire Willeford Georgia State University
-Leigh Ann Youngblood-West Troy University
Note: Some recipients requested to remain anonymous.

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NASA Astronaut Confirmed As Shorter’s December Commencement Speaker

NASA astronaut Stephanie D. Wilson will be the keynote speaker at Shorter College’s December 13 commencement ceremonies. The commencement exercises will be held at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m. in the college’s Winthrop-King Centre.

Selected by NASA in 1996, Wilson has logged more than 28 days in space, and is a veteran of two space flights, one in 2006 and one in 2007.

In 2006, she was part of a return-to-flight test mission and assembly flight to the International Space Station. During the 13-day flight the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery tested new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of space shuttles, repaired a rail car on the International Space Station and produced never-before-seen, high-resolution images of the Shuttle during and after its July 4th launch. Wilson supported robotic arm operations for vehicle inspection, multi-purpose logistics module installation and EVAs and was responsible for the transfer of more than 28,000 pounds of supplies and equipment to the ISS.

Her 2007 mission was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This flight was a crew rotation flight, delivering 16 new crewmembers and returning with a 15-crew member team. During the STS-120 mission, the Node 2 module named “Harmony” was delivered to the International Space Station. This element opened up the capability for future international laboratories to be added to the station. In addition, the P6 Solar Array was relocated from the Z1 Truss to the end of the port side of the Integrated Truss Structure. During the re-deploy of the array, the array panels snagged and were damaged. An unplanned spacewalk was successfully performed to repair the array.

A native of Massachusetts, Wilson graduated from Taconic High School in Pittsfield in 1984 and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science degree from Harvard University in 1988. She later earned a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas in 1992. She is the cousin of Shorter graduate Sandra Terry (’88), who serves as assistant vice president for the college’s Professional Studies program.

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Georgia Department of Education Approves Scientific Learning Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant Products for Adoption

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scientific Learning Corp. (http://www.scilearn.com/) (NASDAQ:SCIL) today announced that the Georgia Department of Education has selected the Fast ForWord(R) (http://tinyurl.com/6j3qcp) and Reading Assistant(TM) (http://tinyurl.com/55qjzz) family of products as an approved 2008 K-8 Language Arts/Reading program for Georgia schools and districts. The products included in the adoption are: Fast ForWord Language v2, Fast ForWord Language to Reading v2, Fast ForWord Reading 1-5, Fast ForWord Literacy Series, and Reading Assistant with Curriculum Levels 1-5.

The Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant family of products are scientifically-proven intervention programs that apply neuroscience principles to build the fundamental cognitive skills (http://tinyurl.com/6aarpd) required to read and learn. The strengthening of these skills results in a wide range of improved critical language and reading abilities, such as phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, decoding, working memory, syntax and grammar. More than 500,000 learners in Georgia schools have used Fast ForWord products.

"The purpose of this program is to identify appropriate, standards-based instructional materials to be recommended to local school systems," said Robert C. Bowen (http://tinyurl.com/6k935g), chairman and CEO of Scientific Learning. "We're delighted to have the opportunity to provide Georgia districts and schools with research-proven products that increase brain processing efficiency, and build critical reading and language skills. By helping students strengthen the underlying cognitive skills needed for effective reading and learning, schools can make the most of their instructional programs, accelerate the learning process, and create enduring gains."

The Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant products were approved as State Recommended Learning Resources for English Language Arts/Reading for kindergarten through eighth grade. As part of the adoption process, the learning resources were evaluated in all 13 congressional districts across the state. All State Recommended Learning Resources must be correlated to the Georgia Performance Standards. The adoption will be in effect through June 30, 2015.

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