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Major John Strain, Nursing AlumniDegree: ADN Program
Additional Education: Master of Physician's Assistants Studies (Orthopaedic Surgery) University of Nebraska, Omaha
Current Employer: ECC, Hamilton Medical Center (Dalton), National Guard Reserves
Current Position: E.D. Physician's Assistant
Decision To Attend: Floyd College was my first glimpse of post secondary education in an effort to obtain a clinical degree. The location, pace and curriculum were a unique fit for me as an adult working fulltime.
Tools Given: I recieved an outstanding foundation through core curriculum, basic and clinical sciences, as well the experience I needed to provide the confidence for an advanced degree.
Impact Person: Carolyn Parks
What Excites You: Georgia Highlands continues to provide an exceptional opportunity for high school graduates and non traditional students through easily accessible localities, diverse instructors and a tradition that trancends decades of success. I must say that I came to the realization, while in my clinical program, of how valuable my two years there actually were. My Physician's Assistant program had candidates from many of the top schools in the nation. I feared that I would be ill prepared, even with my 3.63 GPA from Floyd College. In actuality my ranking was eighteenth in a class of sixty-three with a GPA of 3.73 when I finished. I have been a PA now for almost ten years. I have served two tours in Iraq and am currently a Major and commander of a Army National Guard company of one-hundred thirty-nine. I am employed in Dalton, Georgia as an Emergency Department PA and enjoy well over a six figure income. What excites me most is when I pass a billboard that states " I got my start at Georgia Highlands", I realize how true that really is. Seeing it makes me think of how many people see it and wonder what they may become. I would be remiss if I did not mention I have never paid for one cent of education. The cost was borne entirely by the Chapter 106 GI Bill and the Georgia Hope Scholarship. That includes my GRE. Thank you Georgia Highlands, Carolyn Parks, and the educational system that enabled me to have what I enjoy today.
Additional Education: BSFR, MFR UGA
Current Employer: SC department of natural resources
Current Position: wildlife biologist
Decision To Attend: I chose to attend Floyd College because of personal invitation of then-Dean Dr. Walraven, whom i met at a convenience store and encouraged me to do so. Its proximity to my home was a factor, also.
Tools Given: Floyd was the beginning of my intellectual development, a process still on-going. The superb professors there inspired and advised me, as well as gave me the tools to continue my quest. Without Floyd, I'd never have attended college.
Impact Person: Kristie Kemper -- she showed me my propensity for writing and effecting change through my prose. She taught me in class, and also recruited and advised me in my endeavors with the Six Mile Post. What a wonderful catalyst Floyd, and profs like Dr. Kemper, David Cook, Phillip Dillard, M. Davis, Glenn Singleton, Mr. Sharpe and others were to me.
What Excites You: I really like the idea of such a paragon educational facility being in NW GA, my homeland.
Dates Attended: 1983-1986
Degree: none
Additional Education: BS, PhD
Current Employer: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Current Position: Associate Professor
Decision To Attend: I began taking classes when I was a high school student. I was very interested in math, and I was able to take Trigonometry and Calculus before I left home to attend Georgia Tech. In subsequent summers I lived at home and took classes at Floyd. It was terrific to be able to live at home, get great instruction, and earn college credits I would need for my degree.
Tools Given: Floyd had some excellent teachers that were very interested in the students. They worked hard to ensure that the students learned the material and succeeded. I feel that my instruction in calculus and first-year chemistry was far superior to what my friends got in the large classes at four-year colleges.
Impact Person: I had many great instructors at Floyd. However, Dr. Dave Cook helped me the most. I did independent biology research with Dr. Cook. We isolated protozoa from the lake and a sewage treatment plant and studied them microscopically. That project was tremendously fun. I greatly enjoyed the sense of discovery. As a result I decided to become a microbiologist.
Dates Attended: Sept. 80 to June 82
Degree: Assoc. Of Science Pre Engineer
Additional Education: BIE - Ga. Tech, MBA-Berry
Current Employer: Southwire
Current Position: Vice President, Planning & Trans.
Decision To Attend: I had very little money, average SAT scores and did not know what I wanted to do with my life.
Tools Given: For me the math and science teachers at Floyd made all the difference. Jack Shape, John Egakazie, and Dr. Hayes inspried me and gave me the confidence to go on and Graduate with Honors from Ga. Tech. Out of high school I would of had no chance to even be acepted by Ga. Tech. Dr. Kemper was also a favorite teacher of mine who helped me a lot too.
Impact Person: I will forever be indebted to Dr. Hayes and Jack Sharp. They went out of their way to help me time and again. They were excellent professors.
Ken Weatherman and Riley Evans were gave life to a comuter school thru their social and athletic programs.
What Excites You: The Highlands (Floyd) has acheived its purpose and impacted North West Ga. and its people in a very positive way. Today's offerring is even broader than it was when I was there. I am a huge fan of the Highlands college.