VALDOSTA —
This afternoon, the official groundbreaking for the Health Sciences and Business Administration Building at Valdosta State University’s north campus will be held to commemorate this historic occasion.
The $32 million investment in the building earmarked by the state legislature will bring many times that amount in return to this community.
The ability to expand their health sciences degrees and programs will offset the severe nursing shortage South Georgia Medical Center is currently facing. The programs will also entice additional professionals to teach and others who may potentially practice in the community in the future.
Health care professions are among the fastest growing and the center will house six programs, including nursing, communication sciences and disorders, athletic training, exercise physiology, social work and health care administration. There will also be future masters and doctoral programs developed in these areas.
The center has received a tremendous amount of support from the legislative delegation, from the university, including several past presidents, from SGMC and from the community at large. It has taken a concerted effort on the part of many who consistently and persistently lobbied for the center to make it a reality.
Site preparation work has been ongoing for several weeks, and the groundbreaking today will herald the official beginning of the building’s future, but also marks the culmination of nearly 10 years of work and planning to bring it to fruition.
What We Think
Groundbreaking event today
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Thoughts on graduation
Graduation ceremonies reflect how life marches on. For the students receiving their diplomas and degrees, graduation is a culmination of the majority of their lives’ work.
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Dr. John Gaston, retiring dean of Valdosta State University’s College of the Arts. For the past 10-plus years, Gaston has worked to build a more interconnected program with various artistic and communications departments working together. Given that you are likely to see one College of the Arts department collaborating with another during events is proof of Gaston’s success.
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On the go this weekend
Take a breath.
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Sharing the roads with motorcycles
With the recent pleasant temperatures and sunny skies, the number of motorcycles on area roads has increased.
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Thank your local law enforcement today
Today, May 15, was designated Peace Officers Memorial Day back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy was in office.
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Visit musical roots this weekend
Beginning Saturday, May 18, Nashville, Ga., will be hosting a special Smithsonian exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.” The exhibit will continue through the end of June and Nashville has done a tremendous job in promoting and planning for the exhibit.
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Happy Mother’s Day!
A few years ago, a television commercial asked, Who first believed in you? Many folks may have instinctively answered by simply saying, Mom.
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Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To mail workers, volunteers and food bank staff for gathering food for the annual Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive today. A plastic bag designated for canned goods and other non-perishable food items should have arrived in your mailbox earlier this week. If you haven’t already, take a few moments to fill the bag with food and hang from your mailbox. If you didn’t receive the special Stamp Out Hunger bag, any plastic bag filled with food will do. This food drive helps feed thousands of South Georgians annually. Valdosta-Lowndes County often donates more food than nearly all other cities and counties in Georgia.
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Celebrating nurses
She is considered the founder of modern nursing so it seems only natural that National Nurses Week would include Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
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Helping the hungry: Mail it in!
Valdosta-Lowndes County continues revealing its generous spirit.
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Thoughts on graduation
