Alumni Association honors grads

Congratulations to the four outstanding graduates honored during Alumni Weekend with the 2004 Alumni Association Awards.

Steve Cage (right), a Berry College trustee and member of the college class of 1974, received this year's Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. Steve is founder, president and CEO of Product Action International Inc., the leading provider of quality improvement services for the automotive industry. The company began as a one-man enterprise and now employs more than 2,200. Read more in "Takin' care of business" in the spring 2003 issue of Berry magazine at www.berry.edu/publications.asp.

Jason McMillan (left), a 1998 graduate of Berry College, received the Young Alumnus of the Year award. Following graduation, Jason entered the banking industry and began his impressive career. A past top lender with Regions Bank, he now serves as president/city executive for BB&T in his hometown of Vidalia, Ga. Not bad -- especially considering he's yet to reach the age of 28!

This year's Distinguished Service Award recipient is Carolyn Thompson Smith (53C). For 21 years, Carolyn served as director of alumni affairs at Berry, and she has an additional 12 years as a development officer for the college. After leaving Berry's staff, she enrolled at Columbia Theological Seminary, where she is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree. She is also an active community volunteer.

Dr. Philip D. Whanger (59C) received the Distinguished Achievement Award. A professor at Oregon State University for more than 20 years, Dr. Whanger has achieved international recognition as an authority on the trace element Selenium and its effects on human health. He has received numerous grants and awards for his research. In addition to his bachelor's degree from Berry with majors in biology and agriculture, Dr. Whanger holds a master's in animal nutrition from West Virginia University and a doctorate in animal science from North Carolina State University. He completed post-doctoral studies in biochemistry at Michigan State University.

Special thanks to Larry Sculley (65C), vice president for association awards, for his committee's work in choosing this year's winners. Larry is looking for nominations for the 2005 awards. To make a nomination, visit www.berry.edu/alumni/Awards/nominationform.asp.

Century Campaign tops $75 million

Berry's Century Campaign topped the
$75 million mark with two years and one month remaining in the seven-year, $100 million effort.

"We are ecstatic to have achieved three quarters of our goal," said Bettyann O'Neill, Berry's vice president for advancement.

Funding has been completed for several Century Campaign projects, such as the renovation of a new home for the Charter School of Education and Human Sciences, restoration of the historic Ford Buildings and support for international learning initiatives. Read more at www.berry.edu/pr/news/ pressdetail.asp?ID=165.

National Science Foundation brings research program to campus

Berry's Department of Biology has received a grant of nearly $200,000 to serve as a new site for the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.

Already six undergraduate researchers are at Berry taking part in this summer's 10-week program focused on ecological and environmental biology.

Berry will host similar programs in the summers of 2005 and 2006. Each year, six to 10 student-researchers will be selected to participate, with some coming from the Berry student body and others selected from a nationwide pool.

Read more about the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at www.nsf.gov/pubs/2003/nsf03577/nsf03577.htm.

Barry Griswell honored for 'making
the United States a better place'

J. Barry Griswell, a Berry College trustee and a member of the college class of 1971, is among the 2004 recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO). Barry serves as chairman, president and CEO of The Principal Financial Group. He is the husband of Berry alumna Michele Irwin Griswell (70C).

Others who have received Ellis Island Medals of Honor include six U.S. presidents and a variety of legislators, Nobel Prize winners and Supreme Court justices.

According to Denis Fugazy, NECO chairman, the medal honors those who lend their talents, time and energy to making the United States a better place. "Mr. Griswell is not only an outstanding businessman," he said, "but someone who has dedicated his life to helping others. He exemplifies all that is great about America."

Among the others honored this year are actor/comedian Joe Piscopo, musician/composer Yanni, Irish step dancer Michael Flatley, artist Leroy Neiman, actor Ernest Borgnine and Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Church of America.

Berry's chemistry program approved by American Chemical Society

After an intense, more than two-year process of review, the American Chemical Society (ACS) has granted approved status to the Berry College chemistry program.

"Employers and graduate schools know that programs approved by the American Chemical Society have sufficient rigor to ensure that their students have the knowledge needed for success in the workplace or in graduate study," said Dr. Gary Breton, chair of Berry's chemistry department.

"While employers and graduate programs that have had experience with Berry graduates are already impressed with our students' preparation, this recognition of our program will make opening new doors easier," he added.

Berry's chemistry program is now one of only 13 approved chemistry programs in Georgia and 600 nationwide. Read more online about the ACS approval process at www.berry.edu/pr/news/pressdetail.asp?ID=164.

Professor wins Shingo Prize
for Excellence in Manufacturing

John Grout, Berry's David C. Garrett Jr. associate professor of management, has won a 2004 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing. The Shingo Prize has been described by BusinessWeek as the "Nobel Prize of Manufacturing."

Dr. Grout and collaborator Douglas Stewart, who will be joining the University of New Mexico this fall, won the Shingo Research and Professional Publication Prize for their article, "The Human Side of Mistake-Proofing," published in the winter 2001 issue of Production and Operations Management. The prize recognizes research and writing on new knowledge and understanding of manufacturing processes. Read more about the Shingo Prize and Dr. Grout's research at www.berry.edu/pr/news/pressdetail.asp?ID=162.

Thanks...from sea to shining sea

We'd like to offer a special thank you to the more than 125 alumni who have signed up to be part of the Berry Alumni Admissions Network. Through the network, alumni who live outside Georgia will assist with recruitment of prospective students by representing Berry at admissions fairs, contacting admitted students and hosting special events for prospects. Interested in helping? E-mail Scott Breithaupt at sbreithaupt@berry.edu.

Alumni chapter formed
in Big Apple

Approximately 25 New York City-area alumni and friends turned out for the first meeting of the New York City Alumni Chapter, which was held June 17 at the Marriott Marquis on Broadway. Berry President Scott Colley was the guest speaker.

The group agreed to become an official Berry alumni chapter and will meet regularly in the future.

Berry in your neighborhood

   Atlanta:

• Atlanta-area alumni are invited to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, July 16, for an Evening of Martinis and Imax. Tickets are $15 each. For details, e-mail Jennifer Edgerly at jedgerly@berry.edu or sign up online at www.berry.edu/alumni/ eventdetail.asp?ID=32.

   Macon:

• The Macon Alumni Chapter will host an alumni dinner at Jeneane's at Pinebrook at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20. Contact Jennifer Edgerly at jedgerly@berry.edu for reservations or more information.

   Rome and Cartersville:

• Rome and Cartersville area alumni are invited to come out to the ballpark for Rome Braves baseball at 7 p.m. on Aug. 7. Tickets are $16 and must be purchased in advance. Register online at www.berry.edu/alumni/ eventdetail.asp?ID=33.

Berry Bound events slated

   Northwest Atlanta:

• The Northwest Atlanta Alumni Chapter will host a Berry Bound party at 7 p.m. on July 22 at Hampton Farms Swim and Tennis Club. Area alumni and their families are invited to come and welcome the newest members of the Berry family -- incoming students -- and to talk with Berry President Scott Colley and Dean of Admissions Garreth Johnson. E-mail Jennifer Edgerly at jedgerly@berry.edu for reservations and directions.

   South Atlanta:

• The South Atlanta Alumni Chapter will hold its Berry Bound party in honor of students who will be attending Berry in the fall at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3, in the Luke House of First Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Contact Jennifer Edgerly at jedgerly@berry.edu for reservations.

   Rome:

• The Rome Area Alumni Chapter will host its Berry Bound Picnic at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 31, at Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum. For reservations, e-mail Jennifer Edgerly at jedgerly@berry.edu.

   Dalton:

• The Carpet Capital Alumni Chapter will host a Berry Bound Picnic at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, in the meeting room of Walnut Square Mall. Jordan Allem, president of Berry's Student Government Association, will be the special guest. E-mail Jennifer Edgerly at jedgerly@berry.edu for reservations.

   Cartersville:

• The Cartersville/Bartow County Alumni Chapter will host a Berry Bound party at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27, at the Tidwell Cabin on Sugar Valley Road in Cartersville. For reservations, e-mail Jennifer Edgerly at jedgerly@berry.edu.
  
  

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