MACON - Samson Alva has been living it up at Mercer University, academically speaking, that is. He's leaving after five years with three majors, two degrees, one minor and a sprinkling of computer programming titles he earned along the way. And computer science isn't one of those majors - or the minor - his majors are physics, mathematics and economics, with a minor in German.
Alva will be graduating Saturday, May 13, along with more than 450 other Mercer undergraduates. He will receive his Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Liberal Arts, both degrees will be presented magna cum laude. Alva maintained a 3.827 grade point average overall and a 3.9 in his majors.
Alva was given a computer in high school and taught himself programming, a fascinating concept, he said. Despite his fascination, he never decided to make it his career, though he did join the Binary Bears programming team at Mercer.
"It seemed like so much fun, though it's...
MACON, GA -- The Mercer Singers, conducted by Dr. Stanley Roberts, will present their Bon Voyage concert at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, at First Baptist Church in Macon before embarking on a two-week tour of Eastern Europe the next day. During the tour the choir will perform eight concerts in Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, including the Dom (Brandenburg), Nikolaikirche (Potsdam), Corpus Christi Church (Wroclaw), and St Catherine's Church (Krakow & Kremnica). The Mercer Singers' final concert will be performed in the magnificent and historic Matthias Church of Budapest. The a cappella program will feature works by composers ranging from the Renaissance period to our time, including a large selection of spirituals and folksongs. The Bon Voyage concert is open to the public at First Baptist Church, 511 High Place, Macon. Roberts is an associate professor of music, director of choral activities and coordinator of sacred music studies at Mercer University.
MACON - Mercer University will present Academic All-American basketball player William L. Emerson with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, one of the two highest honors given to undergraduates, during its commencement on Saturday, May 13.
"In all my dealings with athletes over the last 30 some years, I've never known a better 'student-athlete,' and he's the first athlete to win the Sullivan award since I've been here," said Bobby Pope, Mercer's Director of Athletics for the past 17 years. "We've had some very good athletes and some very good students, but we've never had one like Will. He's as good as they come. He's a great representative for the University and I think he'll make a great physician." Emerson will attend medical school in the fall.
Emerson excelled as both an athlete and in the classroom; playing for four years on the men's basketball team and serving as captain his senior year. He was twice recognized as a first-team Academic All-American by ESPN The...
MACON, Ga. -- As the first recipient of the James T. McAfee Jr. Endowed Vision and Leadership Scholarship Fund, James "Jamie" Christopher Geiger Jr., who graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of music degree from the College of Liberal Arts, showcased his tremendous potential for leadership among his peers almost from the moment he set foot on campus. According to Dr. Stanley Roberts, director of choral activities and coordinator of sacred music studies, Geiger "demonstrated maturity beyond his age and confidence for service and leadership. He has continued to exhibit and further develop these skills of leadership and service throughout his university career."
He is the son of James and Christie Geiger, Canton, both of whom are Mercer graduates. His brother, Casey, is currently attending Mercer. He is a member of First Baptist Church, Canton.
Geiger was actively involved in many facets of student life. He served in the Student Government Association as vice...
ATLANTA - Hollie Benet Preston of Tucker, Ga., received Mercer University's highest university student honor Saturday, May 6, at the commencement on the Atlanta campus. The nursing graduate received The Griffin B. Bell Award for Community Service, the only award given to a graduating student from among the University's 10 colleges and schools who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to service of others.
During the graduation ceremony, Preston received a crystal Steuben sculpture. The award is named for Mercer alumnus and longtime trustee Judge Griffin B. Bell, whom most Americans recognize as the United States Attorney General during the administration of President Jimmy Carter.
She is the daughter of Stephen and Christy of Monroe. She is a member of the Center Hill Baptist Church, Loganville.
Preston entered Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer as a first-generation, first-year college student. Having already developed strong leadership...
ATLANTA - Mercer University's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Atlanta is currently developing a Physician Assistant program in conjunction with its educational partnership - Piedmont Healthcare of Atlanta. The graduate program is set to matriculate its inaugural class in January 2008 following successful provisional accreditation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant Inc.
ATLANTA/MACON - Mercer University will hold on Saturday, May 6, the first three of its 10 commencement ceremonies. The University's three health schools will graduate their students in separate ceremonies on their respective campuses in Macon and Atlanta. The remaining seven ceremonies will take place over the next two weeks.
The Southern School of Pharmacy will graduate 130 doctor of pharmacy and Ph.D. candidates at 9 a.m. at Mercer's Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus in Atlanta. Dr. Carmen A. Catizone, CEO and executive director/secretary of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, will be the keynote speaker. In this year's graduating Doctor of Pharmacy class, nine students have completed the exceptionally rigorous pharmacy program with a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout their four years of study.
At noon, the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing will graduate 97 bachelor's and master's nursing degree candidates on the Atlanta campus....
MACON - Mercer University will hold two commencements at the University Center on the Macon campus on Saturday, May 13. Students from the College of Liberal Arts, Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, School of Engineering and Tift College of Education will graduate during a ceremony beginning at 10 a.m., while students from the College of Continuing and Professional Studies will graduate in a ceremony at 4 p.m.
The main Macon commencement, which includes four schools, is the largest of the University's 10 commencements, with more than 460 graduates in attendance. For the first time, commencements are being held on campus in the University Center, opened in 2004 as the focal point of campus activity.
This year's exercises will be the final ceremonies that Dr. R. Kirby Godsey will preside over as president and CEO of Mercer. Dr. Godsey, the longest serving president in the University's history, will step down as president on June 30 after more than 27...
MACON - Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law will hold its commencement at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 12, in the Macon City Auditorium, with approximately 120 graduates receiving degrees during the ceremony.
Recently retired Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Norman S. Fletcher will deliver the commencement address to graduates. The University will also award Justice Fletcher a Doctor of Laws honorary degree during the ceremony.
Justice Fletcher was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia on June 28, 2001. He served continuously on the Court from his appointment on Dec. 28, 1989, by Gov. Joe Frank Harris until he retired from the Court in June of 2005.
He began his law practice in 1958 and in 1963 formed a partnership with the late George P. Shaw and Irwin W. Stolz Jr. While in private practice, he represented the state of Georgia as a special assistant attorney general and he also served as LaFayette city attorney and Walker...
ATLANTA - Mercer University's Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics will introduce a new 16-month accelerated Executive Master of Business Administration degree at an information session from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, on its Atlanta campus. The event will be held in the Trustees Dining Room, 3001 Mercer University Drive, off I-85 just inside the northeast perimeter. Professors, administrators, and admissions and financial aid counselors will be available to discuss the Executive MBA program, as well as the Flexible MBA program, which allows students to attend class only one evening per week in eight-week sessions.
The business school developed this new EMBA for corporate professionals who have a minimum of five years of experience. Classes will be held on Friday afternoon and Saturday every three weeks, interspersed with online activities, allowing even the busiest managers the opportunity to earn this advanced degree. Three retreats provide a concentrated...
