Lena Walter-Helk. Photo by Lucas Caylor

Studying abroad is a prospect many college students are intrigued by. As many students who call any of GHC’s campuses home prepare to fulfill that dream later in the academic year, one GHC student is getting her first taste of life in the USA.

Germany’s Lena Walter-Helk is a 19-year-old participant in the CBYX program, a joint venture of the U.S. and German governments meant to provide young adults with the opportunity to experience life abroad.

CBYX, short for Congress Bundestag Youth Exchange, requires those selected to take college courses for six months before spending another six months in the work force.

“I haven’t heard from them,” Walter-Helk said about the jobs for which she has applied. Her ideal job would be “an office job, or front desk in a hotel.”

Walter-Helk is enjoying classes at GHC, particularly history. “It’s interesting to see where it all came from,” says the Schweinfurt, Germany, native. She is excited about local history and a planned trip to the Chickamauga Battlefield.

Having a longtime fascination with American culture through movies and television, Walter-Helk said, “I haven’t experienced culture shock.” She added that she loves American candy, saying, “I want to try all the candy, I love candy.”

She couldn’t wait to experience well-known American chain restaurants. “One of the first things I wanted to do was go to Panera Bread,” she said.

A singer in worship bands, both in Rome and her hometown in Germany, Walter-Helk looks forward to her first holiday season in the United States.
She particularly looks forward to Halloween because of her love of “pumpkin everything,” as well as the excitement of getting to dress in costume for the very first time. Her ideal costume? “Disney Princess. I love Disney,” she said.

When it comes to traveling, Walter-Helk said, “I want to encourage everyone to travel. This country has so many faces, life isn’t about material things. It’s about memories.”

The Six Mile Post has won the first place award in overall General Excellence for colleges with enrollment under 8,000 in the Georgia College Press Association’s statewide contest. This is the second consecutive win in this category for the SMP.

According to Kristie Kemper, SMP adviser, “This award is hard to win because everyone on the publication staff has to be doing excellent work consistently.”

Second place went to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and third place was awarded to Piedmont College. The other colleges in this division are Berry College, Georgia College and State University, Augusta University, Morehouse College, and SCAD-Atlanta.

The SMP also took first place for Best Campus Community-Sports.

Individual SMP writers and photographers competed with other first and second year students at all Georgia colleges and universities regardless of enrollment.

The Six Mile Post swept the Best Editorial or Feature Photo category in the individual awards.

Daniel Smith placed third with his photo of a spoken-word poet, Taylor Barton took second with her photo of a Costa Rican sunset and Stephanie Corona won first place with her photos of Cartersville Dean Leslie Johnson playing Whiffle ball.

The Six Mile Post won a total of 17 awards, with three first place awards and 14 second or third place awards.

“I am so proud of the staff and all the hard work they do. I’m blown away by how great we’ve done,” said Editor-in-Chief Kayla Jameson.

The annual GCPA press institute and awards luncheon were held Feb. 10 and 11 at Mercer University in Macon.

The press institute featured workshops and networking opportunities for collegiate journalists and was attended by college newspaper staffs from all over Georgia.

Representing the Six Mile Post in addition to Jameson and Kemper were Kacey Neese, Josh Mabry, Margaret Gardner and Lucas Caylor. Assistant Adviser Cindy Wheeler also made the trip to Macon.

Holly Chaney, outgoing GCPA president and a former SMP managing editor, was recognized for her service as president over the past year. Also, Corona was elected vice president of the GCPA.

For a full list of the award categories and winners, click here.2016 GCPA BNC Winners

Back row from left, Lucas Caylor, Kacey Neese, Adviser Cindy Wheeler, Kayla Jameson, Margaret Gardner and Adviser Kristie Kemper along with Joshua Mabry, front, bring home several awards from the GCPA press institute.
Contributed photo

On Tuesday, January 24, the GHC Political Science and Criminal Justice Club will be hosting a seminar on sexting and its consequences on youth, young adults, and adults.

The seminar will be presented by Captain Richey Harrell on the Floyd campus of GHC, January 24 from 12:15 to 1:30 P.M. Free pizza and soft drinks will be provided. All students, staff, and faculty are welcome.

For more information, contact Randy Green at ragreen@highlands.edu or Dr. Greg Summer at gsummer@highlands.edu

On Tuesday, January 24, the GHC Political Science and Criminal Justice Club will be hosting a seminar on sexting and its consequences on youth, young adults, and adults.

The seminar will be presented by Captain Richey Harrell on the Floyd campus of GHC, January 24 from 12:15 to 1:30 P.M. Free pizza and soft drinks will be provided. All students, staff, and faculty are welcome.

For more information, contact Randy Green at ragreen@highlands.edu or Dr. Greg Summer at gsummer@highlands.edu

The Student Government Association, along with Blood Assurance, is sponsoring a blood drive competition between the Floyd and Cartersville campuses throughout November.

Students are urged to visit Blood Assurance donation centers in Rome and Cartersville and designate their campus as well as student organization on the GHC donor sheet provided.

According to John Spranza, director of Student Life, the student organization with the most donors will win a free pizza party for their next meeting.

The Blood Assurance center in Cartersville is located at 921 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy. Its hours are M-F, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and every second Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Rome Blood Assurance donation center is located at 166 Shorter Ave., with hours M-F from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For GHC students interested in studying abroad, the Cartersville campus will be hosting a session to provide information on the summer 2017 trip to Montepulciano, Italy.

The session will be in room 124 on Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Owen Witcher
Photo contributed

Georgia Highlands student and cyclist Owen Witcher recently competed against students from across American the Collegiate National Championship in Snowshoe, W. Va.

In the downhill event on Oct. 22, Witcher finished in 10^th place of the 50 riders in the field and finished 10^th out of 39 in the following day’s dual slalom event.

Having competed in only two qualifiers and national championship events, Witcher’s efforts were enough to put GHC in 11^th place in club team omnium.