NEWS BRIEFS: Students named to Impact46 summer internships

Names of those chosen for the Summer of Impact internship Impact46 program of the City of Lawrenceville from Central Gwinnett High School and Discovery High Schools. 

Students selected are Isaiah Beedles, Christine Le, Anastasia Grba, Camira Lundy, Leilani McFarland, Aja Okoro, Darrius Moses, Alma Valdez Ramos, Trinity Okonkwo. Students standing from left to right: Britani Jarquin, Habibur Nakib, Samrawit Tesfaye, DieuDonne Mulumba Kalubi, Alayna Bradley, Mata Hann, Kelsey Izurieta, Bryan Huynh, Frances Kwofie, Madison Noble, Melanie Matos, Qauthir Noor, Rahima Coulibaly, and Randy Tran.

This will be the sixth year of the eight week program. Summer of Impact is a collaborative initiative to help high school students discover and experience their purpose, passion, and influence through paid internships with local businesses. 

The students will be having internships with local employers, including Barrios Virguez Attorneys; Cheese Press Publishing; City of Lawrenceville; GNR Public Health; Neighborhood Nexus; Peach State Federal Credit Union; Powell Edwards Attorneys at Law; Print Perf; Rejoice Christian Books and Gift Shop; Rock Paper Scissors; and Shuma Sports.

Jen Young, executive director of Impact46, which directs the program, says: “Throughout the six-year journey of our program, former student interns consistently affirm the transformative impact of the Summer of Impact program. They emphasize how it equips them. Empowering youth through workforce development is vital as it enables them to amplify their skills, knowledge, and abilities.”

10th annual Duluth Car Show coming on June 15 

The 10th annual Rotary Club of Duluth Car Show, co-hosted with the City of Duluth Downtown Development Authority, returns on Saturday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the heart of historic downtown Duluth. Cars will be on display in the lot that runs parallel to the railroad track and Main Street, behind the Red Clay Theatre. The family-friendly event is free to the public.

Open to all categories of cars, the show will present multiple trophies, including first, second and third  place by class, and an overall favorite, determined by popular vote. Anyone attending the show may cast one vote. 

The event’s proceeds will benefit Operation One Voice, www.OperationOneVoice.org, a Duluth-based non-profit organization that operates with a fully volunteer staff and has raised over a million dollars to ease the burden of fallen soldiers and police officers and their families. Last year’s car show enabled the Rotary Club of Duluth, through Operation One Voice, to provide much needed assistance to the young wife and children of a Duluth Police officer who suffered a severe brain injury while on duty.

The fee to enter is $20 per vehicle for those who preregister by Friday, June 14. Online registration is available at https://duluth-rotary-car-show.cheddarup.com/. Individuals may also preregister by mail using the form provided. Registration will also be open on the day of the event for as long as space permits for a fee of $25 per vehicle. 

NOTABLE

Current GGC new nurses pass license at 100% rate

Before you can become a registered nurse, you must pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX), which is designed to test critical thinking, solid decision-making and to provide safe and effective nursing care for the patient.

Georgia Gwinnett College’s Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) program graduates are passing the NCLEX at an exceptional rate. The December, 2023 class passed the exam on the first attempt at 100 percent. In the past four years, GGC’s nursing students passed the exam on the first effort at 93.71 percent. 

Dr. Paula Gordon, interim dean for the school of health sciences and associate professor of nursing, at GGC says: “That’s second highest in the state of Georgia for BSN programs.” 

For bachelor’s degree nursing programs, the four-year national average for a first time NCLEX pass rate is 87.22 percent. In the state of Georgia, that rate is 87 percent.

What’s the secret to GGC’s success?

Gordon feels: “It’s our dedicated faculty and the methodology they use to teach our students. It’s interactive in that students participate in activities to understand and then apply the concepts they learn. It’s not a typical classroom setting where the professor stands at the front of the class and lectures.”

Complementing the interactive learning experience are the two simulation labs students use to practice. 

Gordon maintains: “The skills lab is where students start to learn the basic technical skills of nursing and our simulation lab is state of the art with hi-fidelity mannequins that give our students a close to real setting to apply their critical thinking skills. We also have a setting like an apartment where we simulate home visits and care. 

Gordon also credits the program’s clinical partners, which provides students with real world experience. 

In addition, the job placement rate after graduation is 100 percent. GGC graduates nurses in May and December of each year.

Commencement at Gwinnett Tech rewards 545 students

Gwinnett Technical College conferred degrees, diplomas and certificates to 545 students on its 2024 Commencement May 7. Dr. D. Glen Cannon, Gwinnett Tech president, recognized the achievements of the Class of 2024. The Commencement speaker was TC Parker, a 25-year instructor of Surgical Technology at the College, its instructor of the year.

Addressing the graduates, Dr. Cannon stated, “Many of you have faced obstacles that would have deterred the faint-hearted. Balancing college, a full-time job, family responsibilities, and financial hardships are no small feats.”

Dr. Cannon continued, “You stake your claim to success. You hold the power to open doors, shape destinies, and create change.” The applause that followed echoed through the arena, a testament to the collective pride felt by faculty, families, and friends.

While some graduates will immediately enter the workforce, others will continue their education through transfer agreements with other Georgia colleges and universities. 

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