Aeolian 2013


GSW ALUMNI PRESIDENT LETTER


GREETINGS FELLOW GSW ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,


The Mission Statement of the Alumni Association at Georgia Southwestern State University is clear. A principal goal of the Association is to unite its members and encourage lifelong support of the University as it pursues its goal of academic excellence. I believe that GSW Alumni have both the responsibility and the means to help the University reach its goals.


GSW Alumni are located in all parts of the world. But regardless of where you might be, you can play an important role in keeping the Alumni Association strong. For that reason we want to do all we can to involve you with your Association and your alma mater.


The Alumni Association sponsors many great events which provide opportunities for getting together to share our common past and keep up with the changes at GSW. I encourage you to take advantage of these events as a means of maintaining your ties to the University, your classmates, and other alums.


As we move into the next phase of our evolution as an Association, I appeal to you to lend your financial support to help ensure the continued success of GSW. These contributions to the GSW Foundation are used to fund various efforts, one of which is to provide academic scholarships to eligible students, some of whom may not otherwise be able to afford college.


02


There are over 25,000 living Georgia Southwestern alumni. Unfortunately, a small percentage of those actively participate in making contributions to the University. As an alum you are already a part of GSW’s legacy. What better time than now to give back and participate in its future.


I was a GSW student who benefited


from private scholarships. My path to a post-secondary education began as a high school graduate who had to postpone attending college and playing intercollegiate sports in order to stay at home and care for my mother who had become disabled. I took on the responsibility of supporting our household by working two jobs. During this time I had to seek legal counsel to help us settle my mother’s disability benefits claim. As a result of our needing the assistance of an attorney, a man by the name of Rudolph Patterson came into our lives.


Rudolph, as it turns out, was not only a managing partner at Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley and Hinson Attorneys at Law in Macon but also the founding president of the Georgia Southwestern Alumni Association. With his help, my mother was awarded her full social security benefits. At the same time, Rudolph encouraged me to enroll at GSW and continue in my pursuit of a college education.


I took Rudolph’s advice and enrolled at GSW. I discovered later, by chance, that Rudolph Patterson had quietly provided personal cash scholarships to me through the Alumni Association. It was because he was aware of my situation, believed in my potential, and was willing to invest in that potential that I could afford a college degree. I graduated from GSW with honors (i. e., Magna Cum Laude) in 1997.


Subsequently, as I began my career as an accountant (Doug is now a Partner at Mauldin and Jenkins,LLC) I was focused on achieving professional success. Like most recent college grads I was preoccupied with my job and gave little thought to how I might give back to my alma mater.


It was not until 2003 when I was contacted by Rudolph about serving on the board of the Alumni Association that I embraced the idea of giving back. I realized I was the product of the Association’s scholarship program. I also realized that because of the opportunities


afforded to me in the way of Alumni scholarships, I had an obligation to give back.


I am but one example of how one can overcome adversity and attain a college education regardless of the financial challenges he or she might face. There are avenues that exist for providing assistance to those who are determined to reach their goals despite the odds. Our contributions as alumni help to make that possible. It is a small gesture when made individually.


Alumni President Doug Moses (left) and Alumni Board Member Rudolph Patterson


Collectively, however, these small gestures amount to many opportunities for individuals to see their dreams fulfilled.


We need more alumni like Rudolph Patterson to help put the cost of a college education within the reach of good students who need financial assistance. You can be that type of alum, so I urge you to reconnect with GSW, get involved, and give back.


I look forward to meeting you at the next GSW Alumni event. Meanwhile, I hope you will consider making a financial gift to the University. Toward that end please visit www.gsw.edu/ giving.


Be Safe - Get Involved - Stay Connected!


Doug Moses President,


GSW Alumni Association


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28