Oppong
Of all the students who will walk in Georgia Gwinnett College’s (GGC) graduation ceremony on May 11, it’s safe to say few have traveled farther than Nana Afia Serwaa Oppong to receive her degree.
Oppong grew up in Ghana in West Africa. Her hometown is the small village of Bonwire (pronounced “bon-ray”), where the most popular cloth in Africa, known as “Kente,” originated. According to legend, two brothers from the town learned how to weave the fabric by watching how a spider spun its web. It is a quintessentially African place, scenic and hilly with a vast tropical rainforest running through it. It’s hard to imagine any place being farther from Gwinnett County geographically or culturally – but in 2018 it is precisely where Oppong chose to pursue her education.
“I chose GGC because of its small classroom sizes, which allows the professors to focus on the students’ needs,” said Oppong, who is receiving a degree in criminal justice with a minor in information technology. She says she chose that major because she has a passion for criminal justice and believes the knowledge she’s gained will help her change the criminal justice system.
“When you step into a new environment, everything looks strange,” said Oppong. “At the start of my academic journey at GGC, I realized the weather, the accents, the style of dressing, the food and the mannerisms of the people were starkly different from what I was used to.”
Oppong knew right away that building relationships with classmates would be essential to success as an international student. Fortunately, that proved to be an easy task at GGC, which has one of the most ethnically diverse student bodies in the nation. It started on her first day of classes.
“My very first class was English. We did introductions, and everyone immediately became curious and wanted to know more about each other,” said Oppong. “I was not an exception, so as new faces drew closer to know more about me, I did the same. After English class, I went into a technology class and realized that I shared the same culture and background as my professor! I started to feel at home, even though I was 5,000 miles away from Ghana.”
Oppong said there are a few things she’d say to her younger self if she had the opportunity:
“Do not let where you come from be a barrier to you, and do not be afraid to try new things. Do not be afraid to ask questions because it is through those answers you will find your way. Use your degree to define who you are, what you can achieve and the places you can go. Let your hunger and passion to achieve greater things drive you forward!”
After graduation, Oppong, who now lives in Lawrenceville, plans to work in the forensic field and further her education.
Belgian company expansion calls for 30 new jobs in Gwinnett
A Belgian company, Aluvision, plans to invest $1 million and hire 30 new positions at 1620 Satellite Boulevard in Duluth. Aluvision leased the adjacent suite, increasing their production area from 29,000 to 83,000 square feet. The expansion will accommodate new design, production and sales roles, as well as add three more manufacturing lines, which will double production capacity. Aluvision is an event and exhibit modular systems developer and supplier
Aluvision President Dirk Deleu says: “The expansion aims to maintain and continually strengthen our good reputation in those core areas. With the additional space, we not only have the opportunity to further invest in our in-house production facilities, but we also create extra opportunities to invite customers for training sessions and showroom visits. Witnessing a flourishing company and getting to know the people behind the scenes is the perfect starting point for long-term relationships.”
Ann Vancoillie and Dirk Deleu founded the company in Belgium in 2003. They expanded to the U.S. in 2012, opening a sales office in Atlanta in 2013 and then a production facility in unincorporated Gwinnett County in 2016. The family-owned and first-generation company currently employs 41 professionals locally and serves more than 3,000 customers globally.
Aluvision imagineers innovative solutions that combine efficiency, elegance and sustainability, designing lean products using the latest technologies. They recently launched 16 new innovative solutions, including Flexbox, a mobile and modular unit that showcases products or services any place, such as minimalistic shops, temporary showrooms and VIP lounges. They designed the product to meet the growing demand for a high-end temporary outdoor event unit with easy assembly and disassembly. They also produce 100% recyclable and reusable products, including a reusable aluminum modular stand building system, and continuously pursue sustainable solutions.
Tournament plans chip shots for Special Needs Schools
There will be a new experience at the Mitsubishi Electric Golf Classic, May 5-7 at Sugarloaf Country Club. Spectators are invited to visit the Mitsubishi Electric tent in the Fan Village during the tournament to “chip-in” to help raise up to $10,000 for the Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett and learn more about the company’s sustainability efforts.
Mike Corbo, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.,, the tournament sponsor, says: “From our products to our people to our philanthropic efforts, Mitsubishi Electric is working to realize a vibrant and sustainable future for all. We are proud to sponsor, show our support for sustainable education at the Special Needs Schools of Gwinnett, and give back to the communities where we work and live.”
For every chip-shot fans make, the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) will donate $10 to support the Young Adults Learning Life Skills (YALLS) Program at the school. Proceeds will support a YALLS garden project to teach the young adults about healthy nutrition, sustainable practices, and vocational opportunities, as well as support other projects at the school. MEAF has pledged to donate up to $10,000.
“Our vision at the Foundation is to empower youth with disabilities to lead productive lives through increased employment,” says Corbo, who also serves as President of MEAF. “We wanted to showcase this commitment to inclusion and sustainability by getting fans involved in the action in support of the school.”
The Beatles inspires new Norcross Gallery show
The Beatles heralded spring with their memorable song Here Comes the Sun; Norcross Gallery and Studios celebrate the season with fresh new art in their exhibit entitled “Georgia Spring.” The show features the works of five selected artists and continues through Saturday, May 27. A reception free and open to the public will be on Sunday April 30 from 4 to 7 p.m.
The address is 116 Carlyle Street in Norcross and hours are Thursdays through Saturdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone is 770-840-9844 and the website is norcrossgalleryandstudios.org.
Among the artists on exhibit at this show are:
- Anne Emerson Hall stands out with a masterful trilogy of large, expressive portraits of the same model, a talented sculptor and designer whose mask, corset and wing design inspired reveries of a young woman in the spring of her life in moments of growth, movement and revelation.
- Jean Baldwin’s Bellingrath Gardens clearly shows her love of flowers along with an intimate closeup painting of hydrangea blooms in her garden.
- Expert photographer William Grewe Mullins includes a very nostalgic photo taken behind an abandoned house. He says, “The decay of the couch itself, covered with decaying leaves from the nearby trees just appealed to me, graphically. The title of the photo is Change in the Cushions, because of the double meaning.”
- Kathy Collins long a member of the gallery, chose a subject close at hand in her plein air Gallery Garden, painted just outside the Gallery entrance. She is one of the onsite studio artists – you may see her other soft landscapes or catch her at work in her studio when you visit.
- Lucy Brady includes a large acrylic painting of Cumberland Island, which largely owes its protected status to efforts of Georgia’s Sierra Club. She says, “The painting is from a magical trip to Cumberland Island. We sailed there and spent a few days enjoying its wild, unspoiled beauty.”
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