Helping HUG promotes teamwork

July 23rd, 2010 by Stephen A. South
South College Admissions team members helping HUG included (front l-r) Sheilah Mendez, Lauren Galyon, Anna Rosetti; (background l-r) Lisa Susong and Pamela Bizot.

South College Admissions team members helping HUG included (front l-r) Sheilah Mendez, Lauren Galyon, Anna Rosetti; (background l-r) Lisa Susong and Pamela Bizot.

Helping HUG promotes teamwork

Recently the South College Admissions Department participated in a group HUG. That is, they lent a hand to the Habitat for Humanity Urban Garden (HUG) Foundation to improve a community garden.

HUG is an education program in which master gardeners and volunteers help Habitat for Humanity homeowners learn about landscaping and gardening.

This particular garden is part of the Beardsley Farm, a community horticulture center which grows fresh vegetables, fruit and honey for the Mechanicsville community.  It provides plants and vegetables for local food pantries, Second Harvest Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity homes.

There is no better way to promote departmental team-building than by working together on a project that brings you back to something as basic as growing food. Our team pulled weeds, pushed wheelbarrows, built compost bins, planted plants and earned praises from the HUG staff for making a difference.

I have always been extremely proud of the team we have at South College. I believe that we all share the same goal of providing a strong educational foundation to help our students achieve their goals. That focus on helping our students succeed is what sets us apart. It is important for each person to realize they are a significant part of that process - to learn how important teamwork really is.

Anna Rosetti was one of the nearly 15 team members who spent a long morning clearing that plot of land. In spite of being extremely sore the next day, Anna said it was great to work together on a project outside of the office. They learned a lot about gardening, and discovered a different side of one another. Anna also mentioned how rewarding it was to give back to the community.

It is important that each of us gives back to this great community. Efforts like Habitat for Humanity do that well. This garden project provided a double benefit; team building for our staff and service to our community. See what good a HUG can do!

Students Challenged to Be the Best

July 8th, 2010 by Stephen A. South

South College graduate and award winner, Katrina Gibson

“Demonstrate the desire to be the best.” That is the challenge issued to the South College Class of 2010 by keynote speaker Keith Goodwin, president and CEO of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Friends, family and colleagues filled the historic Tennessee Theatre Saturday, June 19, for our 128th graduation ceremony.

Speaking as an employer, Mr. Goodwin encouraged the 200 graduating students to be “passionate and competitive with a commitment to excellence.” That pursuit of excellence is what we strive for at South College. It is the focus of the staff and faculty and a direction we like to acknowledge.

To that end, we were pleased to honor several students as well as two faculty members with awards for excellence, distinguished service and outstanding achievements in their field. We provide our students with a quality education and valuable experience in the work field; but it is the extra effort and personal commitment that make these honorees stand out.

Our top award, the Presidential Award, went to two incredible students. Katrina Gibson, who relocated to Knoxville following the devastation of hurricane Katrina, was honored for her perseverance, attitude and performance in pursuing a degree in radiography. And T.J. Eubanks, Jr., who received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education, was honored for his outstanding scholarship and service. The collection drives he organized through the school provided much-needed books and classroom supplies to poor areas throughout East Tennessee.

Faculty member Gay Dunlap received the Distinguished Teaching award and Gary Taylor received the Distinguished Service award for his outstanding institutional, professional and community service. Other award winners were as follows:

  • Joyce Smith - Medical Assisting Pursuit of Excellence
  • William Lloyd Walker - Outstanding Student (Imaging Sciences)
  • Mike McGimsey - Outstanding Student (Physical Therapy Assistant)
  • Amber Wieniewitz - Outstanding Student (Nursing)
  • Rebecca Doell - Outstanding Student (Criminal Justice)
  • April Denard - Outstanding Student (Legal Studies)
  • Larry Brown - Outstanding Student (Criminal Justice Associate)
  • Wesley Wright - Excellence in Business
  • Heather Morrison-Monger - Outstanding Student (Business Administration)
  • Jessica Mills - Outstanding Student (Health Science)

From here, our students will go on to practice nursing, medical assisting, accounting, business and much more. Some of our students will continue to serve our community locally while others have set their sights for missions of hope abroad. Whatever their course, we wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors

Eight Keys to Personal Happiness

June 25th, 2010 by Stephen A. South

Keith Goodwin is the very able president and CEO of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. He has an important and serious job taking care of sick children. But when he took time out recently to deliver the commencement address at South College, Keith imparted Eight Steps to Happiness that were both helpful and sometimes humorous.

Briefly he suggests you:

  1. Stop and smell the flowers. In other words, take time to enjoy the simple things.
  2. Become a good listener, but think for yourself. When listening to others think, “They just may be right.”
  3. Turn off electronics once or twice a week. Pick up a book and read; even if it just puts you to sleep it will help you relax.
  4. Have chutzpah. Be feisty, self-confident; eliminate self-doubt.
  5. Get married. Life is better with a partner. Plus it gives you good material for when you are writing a book or seeing a psychiatrist.
  6. Have children. Children add texture to your life and teach you humility.
  7. Be as smart as you can be; but remember it is better to be wise than smart.
  8. Smile. Anger has become the national pastime. Try for less negativity, go for the positive.

Goodwin also advises, “Do what you are passionate about.” He says even if you fail, fail big because you were going after something big. Don’t waste time living life for someone else. Follow your heart and it will most likely lead you to a fulfilling career.

The best piece of advice he ever received? If you live each day as if it were your last, someday you will be right!

Why do you want to earn a degree?

June 1st, 2010 by Stephen A. South

We focus a lot on career goals at South College. We pride ourselves on providing educational opportunities in fields with job opportunities. We are constantly on the lookout for new career growth areas to help our students succeed. But there are students that come to South College with even higher goals. Read the rest of this entry »

New speakers bureau a resource for our community

May 6th, 2010 by Stephen A. South

Looking for a speaker for your group or organization?

The South College faculty is exceptional. Every day, our students are being inspired and motivated by professors at the top of their game presenting fascinating material from first-hand experiences. In an effort to share this wealth of knowledge with our community, we have assembled a speakers bureau. Read the rest of this entry »

Work begins to prepare for new Parkside Learning Centre

March 18th, 2010 by Stephen A. South

Last week we began demolition inside the former Goody’s corporate headquarters on Parkside Drive, to convert the office space into our new Parkside Centre Learning Site. We will occupy approximately 85,000 square feet in the property’s “west wing,” which includes a 200-seat auditorium. Read the rest of this entry »

New Space Equals New Opportunities

February 23rd, 2010 by Stephen A. South

When we built our signature building on Lonas Drive, it was such an increase in space I thought it would give us plenty of room to grow. Only four years later, we have filled that building and have been holding additional classes at a second location on Hayfield Road in West Knoxville.

That is why I am so excited about our new expansion plans. You may have heard the news that we will soon be moving into Parkside Centre, the former corporate headquarters of Goody’s Family Clothing on Parkside Drive. This facility is perfect for us: It has over 85,000 square feet of space for classrooms, labs and offices as well as a 200-seat auditorium. Read the rest of this entry »

20 Years and Growing

January 26th, 2010 by Stephen A. South

Twenty years may be a long time, but it has gone by in the blink of an eye. Read the rest of this entry »

South College Takes Exciting Step Forward

December 21st, 2009 by Stephen A. South

We received some great news for the future of South College this week – news that will benefit students for years to come. Read the rest of this entry »

First Physician Assistant Studies Students Earn Master’s Degrees

December 11th, 2009 by Stephen A. South

Dec. 19, 2009, is a banner day at South College.

It’s graduation day for our first 27 students to complete the Masters of Health Science degree in our Physician Assistant Studies program. This diverse group completed 15 months of classroom training followed by a 12-month clinical phase that included rotations all across East Tennessee. Read the rest of this entry »