The Good Life of Georgia

by Lane Lester
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Over 100 Christian young adults completed another milestone in their preparation to impact the world for Christ as they received their degrees at Emmanuel College May 10. Their majors included education, Christian ministries, business, communication, psychology, biology, music, kinesiology, pre-law, pre-professional, and others.

Representing the kind of excellence for which Emmanuel College strives was valedictorian Sara Ray, a communication major who completed her degree with a 3.98 grade point average out of a possible 4.0. She is from Royston and works as a writer for LifeSprings Resources, the denominational publishing house for the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Assisting in the ceremony were the Honor Marshals, who were selected for the highest grade point averages among underclassmen. They were Cathleen Milligan from Monroe, music education major; Kara Parten from Colbert, early childhood education major; Rebecca Dzimianski from Nicholson, music major; and Catherine Banister from Canon, music major.

Recognized for her excellence as a teacher was Assistant Professor Jennifer Lester-Benson, who received the Firebaugh Award. Jennifer began teaching full-time at Emmanuel in 2004. She teaches courses in introduction to communication, video production, film, and theatre. She also directed EC’s 2005 Spring Musical, “Jane Eyre,” 2006 Spring Play, “As You Like It,” and 2007 Spring Melodrama, “Lily , The Felon’s Daughter.” Prof. Lester-Benson received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honors in Drama from Carnegie Mellon University and her Master of  Fine Arts in Dramatic Media from the University of Georgia.

Honored with the Brady Award for her contribution to students was Dean Leslie Boucher, who has been at EC since 1998. She is currently Chair of the Music Department and Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.  Her areas of teaching are music history, theory, world music, art/music appreciation, and applied violin. Dr. Boucher earned the Bachelor of Music Education from Indiana University, the Master of Arts (Ethnomusicology) from Long Island University in New York, and the Ph.D. in Music History and Theory from the University of Georgia.

A host of administrators and support staff provide essential services in the educational enterprise, and the Ferguson-Caddell Award is given for outstanding performance in this role. This year’s recipient was Jessica Dunning,  Assistant Director of Admissions. She is a 2004 graduate of Emmanuel College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and she begin working with the Office of Admissions in May of 2005.

Georgia State Senator Nancy Schaefer delivered this year’s commencement address. “We are honored to have Sen. Nancy Schaefer as this year’s graduation speaker,” said EC President Michael Stewart. “Her outstanding contributions to our state have been marked by integrity. Sen. Schaefer is a friend to higher education, a champion of public service, and an example of moral leadership.” Sen. Schaefer [R] represents District 50, which includes Franklin County.