The December 2025 issue of “Freshwater Scienceâ€� will carry special meaning in ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥â€™s Department of Biology.

The issue will feature a paper with the late GS biology alumnus José Sánchez-Ruiz as the lead author. The paper,  “,â€� is the culmination of Sánchez-Ruiz’s graduate research during his time as a master’s student at the University.

Focusing on how environmental changes affect leaf decomposition and their role as an essential food source in aquatic ecosystems, the publication is based on five years of research by Sanchez and his faculty mentor and co-author, Checo Colón-Gaud, Ph.D., professor of biology.

Colón-Gaud says there is cause for celebration any time a student is published. This work, however, is particularly meaningful since it is being published posthumously. 

“I know that all of our students hold a very special place in our lives, but with José it was even more,� he said. “We were both from Puerto Rico, worked in similar systems and with some of the same people, and we shared some unique experiences. This means a lot to me personally.�

After graduating from ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, Sánchez-Ruiz pursued a doctorate in ecology at Montana State University. He passed away in 2023 before completing his degree, and the degree was awarded posthumously later that year.

Originally an art major at the University of Puerto Rico, Sánchez-Ruiz was nearing completion of that degree when two science courses changed the trajectory of his life.

“It was kind of amazing that I could go and explore places that I would never imagine existed,� Sánchez-Ruiz . “I thought, ‘So they pay me to be an explorer? To do all of this stuff? To explain the natural world?’ I don’t know. It kind of fit with my personality, and I immediately switched my major to biology.�

In his time as a researcher, Sánchez-Ruiz conducted research across North America and Iceland. A National Science Foundation grant even led to field studies in southern Chile.

In 2016, Sánchez-Ruiz graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a Bachelor of Science in biology. He decided to further his education at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ after establishing a relationship with Colón-Gaud during his undergraduate years.

Having found his passion later than most, Sánchez-Ruiz more than made up for lost time. Upon graduation from ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, he published six peer-reviewed papers and received the Averitt Award for Research Excellence, the university’s highest honor for graduate research.

Steve Vives, Ph.D., professor of biology at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ and former biology department chair, called him an “emerging star in the field of freshwater ecology.â€�

As impressive as his academic accomplishments were, Sánchez-Ruiz, affectionately known as “Tosti,� is chiefly remembered as a caring friend who was quick to uplift others.

“He was simply a joy to be around,� said Vives. “He was a leader among the graduate students, sometimes as a mentor and role model, but just as often as someone who would be a good and invested listener. He was truly kind.�

His investment in others wasn’t just limited to his fellow students. Sánchez-Ruiz served as a fellow in the Society of Freshwater Science’s , which aim to increase representation from historically underrepresented backgrounds in freshwater science.

When asked in a whether he would recommend a career in biology to those who love science and adventure, he responded with: “Go for it.�

According to his mentor, that three-word phrase captured much of what Sánchez-Ruiz embodied, both in research and in life.

“That was José,� Colón-Gaud said. “He was fearless, intellectually curious and up for anything. This latest publication is indicative of the kind of science José believed in: rigorous, long-term and applicable beyond the boundaries of academia.�

When ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ student Anish Goyal arrived on the Statesboro Campus in fall 2023, he already had 63 hours of college credit and a clear goal: to dive into research that bridges computer engineering, physics and mathematics. Recently, his dedication took him across the world to learn from some of the brightest minds in science.

Goyal — a second-year Honors College student majoring in computer engineering — was selected to attend the Heidelberg Laureate Forum in Heidelberg, Germany. The annual event brings together 200 of the world’s top young researchers in mathematics and computer science to network with laureates who have received the Fields Medal, the Turing Award, the Abel Prize and other top honors in the STEM disciplines.

Goyal was one of only four undergraduates invited to the forum. Most attendees were Ph.D. candidates or postdoctoral researchers.

“At first, it was intimidating,� Goyal said. “I got to speak with the person who wrote my operating systems textbook. But over time, I realized the laureates were generous with their time and treated students as colleagues in training rather than guests on the sidelines.�

The experience deepened his interest in quantum computing — a field he describes as the frontier where physics, engineering and computation meet.

“Quantum computing offers new ways to model systems where classical simulations struggle,� Goyal said. “Better computational models could lead to safer batteries, clearer climate predictions and more efficient drug design.�

Goyal’s path to ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ began in high school at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology near Atlanta. After taking 17 Advanced Placement courses and dual-enrolling at Georgia Gwinnett College, he spent the summer of 2023 at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ as part of the Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) — an experience that solidified his decision to enroll at the University.

“GHP was one of the most pivotal, transformative experiences of my life,� he said. “I built a robotic hand that could fingerspell American Sign Language from spoken words. That project made me realize how engineering connects human needs with problem solving.�

Since joining the Honors College, Goyal has pursued research across departments. Working with Mark Edwards, Ph.D., a professor of physics, he helped develop a quantum-based rotation sensor for inertial navigation. With Hossein Taheri, Ph.D., associate professor of manufacturing engineering, he contributed to ConcreteNet, a deep learning model that analyzes radar images to detect infrastructure defects for the Georgia Department of Transportation.

His research has already reached an international audience as he participated in an event for the world’s largest technical professional organization. Last spring, he presented at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Symposium on Underwater Technology in Taiwan, sharing his work on an underwater robot inspired by zebrafish neural patterns.

“The conference taught me how to communicate complex ideas clearly and connect with researchers from different disciplines,� he said.

Looking ahead, Goyal plans to pursue a Ph.D. in quantum science and engineering, with hopes of designing solid-state devices that make quantum bits, or qubits, more stable and easier to control.

“My time at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ has shown me the value of mentorship and collaboration,â€� he said. “Research progress happens when people share knowledge freely. That’s the kind of environment I want to build wherever I go next.â€�

Jya Ewing was looking for a sense of belonging when she applied for college.

“I was excited to visit what I thought my top school was at the time,” said Ewing, who double majors in political science and international studies at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥. “But I really value my community and my family, and I just didn’t feel that when I visited.” 

That’s how the pre-law hopeful’s number two school became her top choice.  

“My family lives down the road in Richmond Hill,” said Ewing. “I’ve been around the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ area for a long time. I realized the University was more of the close-knit, community environment that I’d been dreaming of.” 

ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ was recently named as one of 75 ‘dream school’ colleges in Jeffrey Selingo’s latest book, “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You.”   

Selingo explained in a recent with NPR how working in and around higher education for nearly three decades led him to discover that prestige was often valued over purpose.

His book urges students and families to look beyond the usual A-list schools and instead focus on what matters at college: strong job prospects after graduation, hands-on learning experiences and what Ewing was looking for — a sense of belonging. She found all that and more at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥. 

“My programs tend to have smaller class sizes, which makes it really easy to connect and engage with professors,” she said. “And then there are incredible resources, like the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥. They helped me write my personal statement for my law school application.” 

OCPD offers more than just support to students like Ewing. The office uses tools like career assessments, networking tips and job search strategies to prepare students to succeed in their dream career. Services like these really make a difference: OCPD reports that more than 72% of all graduates from the class of 2024 have secured jobs and careers relevant to their field of study. 

Ewing wants to make sure others have the same opportunity as she did to chase their dreams. She’s gone on to help others find their own community during her time as president of the Student Government Association. 

“Students come to the Student Government for help with things like financial issues or classroom access,” she explained. “To be able to advocate for people who need help like that, that’s something I’ve always wanted, and it’s something I’ve gotten to do at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥.”  

Her friends told her just to drop out and try again later, but that only fueled Savannah Pickett’s fire to earn a college degree.

Pickett, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student, had started a new chapter of her life as a college student after serving five years in the U.S. Army. But just a few months into starting classes at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, she received news that she and her husband were expecting their first child.

She was excited to be a mother, and she never considered halting her education despite naysayers.

“I’m gonna keep going to school,â€� she recalled. “I’m not dropping out. I literally did not take a break. My son was born two days into the semester. I was three days postpartum and doing American government coursework in the hospital.â€�

Since then, Pickett enrolled in the BSN program, and credits the University’s Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) for her ability to juggle motherhood and her coursework. 

CCAMPIS provides eligible low-income student-parents on the Armstrong and Liberty campuses with financial assistance for quality off-campus child care. It also provides on-campus services to students, like the new Family Study Space specifically designed with student-parents in mind.

At a recent grand opening, the Family Study Space was unveiled in the (ASC) on the Armstrong Campus, and gives student-parents a comfortable and soundproof room for studying or one-on-one tutoring with their child. On one end of the room, there are work tables and tablets to complete coursework, and the other side features comfortable bean bag chairs, children’s books and toys.

The University also unveiled a similar Family Study Space on the Liberty Campus as a collaborative effort between the ASC, CCAMPIS program and Chante Baker-Martin, Ph.D., Liberty Campus director. 

“We had a student who needed to bring her child to class, and this space made it possible,� said Dawn Merrell, Liberty Campus associate director. “It’s wonderful to have a place where parents can stay engaged in their studies while their children feel welcome.�

The Family Study Space stands as an example of collaboration and student-centered innovation, reinforcing ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥â€™s commitment to creating a campus environment where all students and their families can thrive.

“I think about our student-parents who are either working or trying to get as much done as they can to be successful in their classroom, but also having the responsibilities of having to keep their little ones with them,� said Leslie Harris, Ed.D., assistant director of Student Success. “Whatever it is the parents need to do for class, they can do it all right here while also being able to oversee their little ones.�

Pickett said the family study room will be a welcome resource when she needs to step away from distractions at home or when her son’s child care facility is closed during certain times of the year.

“This is going to be a really great space for me to bring him where I know that he’s safe,â€� said Pickett. “I know that there’s age-appropriate toys for him to play with and I can focus on studying.â€�

CCAMPIS received more than $400,000 this year from the U.S. Department of Education to help nearly two dozen students find quality child care and create on-campus spaces like the Family Study Space.

Program leaders are confident the area is fit for students because they’ve been in their shoes before.

“I was a low-income student-parent, so I am very tied to this program and my students,â€� said Marvette Wilkerson, CCAMPIS director. “I’m most excited for my student-parents to actually have a space where they feel safe and where their kids can have a place that they just have of their own. I always try to fulfill their wishes and their needs, and I want ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ to be as family-friendly as possible.â€�

The space’s availability for students with children can be found , but reservations aren’t required. The room will be unlocked weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Laila Ward still remembers the feeling of awe that washed over her when she first set foot onto the Tyler Perry Studios campus in Atlanta. 

“It was so surreal,â€� said the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ senior fashion merchandising and apparel design student. “There were so many moments during that day and the days after where I stopped and thought, ‘I’m really here.’â€� 

Ward secured a coveted internship with the production company for the 2025 summer semester. Out of 1,900 applicants, she was one of the 14 who were chosen. 

She started as a costume production assistant, coordinating costume logistics and maintenance across the various film sets spread out over the massive campus. 

“We kept everything organized,â€� Ward explained. “We made sure that merchandise and costumes were properly stored, and made sure that everything ran smoothly.â€� 

Things have to run smoothly on the studio grounds. The 330-acre campus is situated on the site of the former U.S. military installation Fort McPherson in Atlanta, whose soldiers enforced federal regulations after the Civil War. The property features multiple sets that are constantly in use, whether for a Tyler Perry production or otherwise. 

After a few weeks deep in the studio trenches, Ward and her fellow interns were challenged to go a step further. 

“We were given a surprise project to make our own short film,� said Ward. “We were given a budget, a location on the studio campus, camera equipment and props. We only had one week to film, but we were able to create a 10-minute short film.�

She recalls the late nights her team spent working on their film. They would stay up until 3 a.m., consulting with studio executives about how to create the best version of their work while meeting deadlines. 

“They already had their own work to do, but they made themselves available for us,â€� she explained. “The culture at the studios, everyone feels like family. We all want to help each other succeed.â€� 

The relationships she built with these industry professionals made her realize how similar they all were. 

“I had no idea I’d be able to get here,â€� said Ward. “The crazy thing about it is that everyone working here all felt the same. Their journey wasn’t linear. It was all over the place, just like mine.â€� 

Her passion for fashion started at an early age. As a child, she was a constant fixture at her grandmother’s side, learning to sew. Her grandmother always encouraged her to make her own clothes, inspiring dreams of a future as a designer. But as she got older, she fought with her own fears, second-guessing her choices. 

“I feel like I’ve been mediocre in a lot of things my whole life,â€� she admitted. “I really wasn’t that athletic. I’m not a straight-A student. I felt like I wasn’t really good at anything.  

“After high school, I took a gap year and discovered that my natural gift was styling people,â€� Ward continued. “It was so much fun and my friends would always come to me for outfit advice. It felt like I was actually doing something.â€� 

She had her ‘aha’ moment when she found ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥â€™s Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design. 

 â€œThe fashion program at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ is really rewarding,â€� she said. “I can comfortably say it’s given me the skills I need to succeed in the industry, as well as understanding how important it is to create opportunities for yourself.â€�  

It was this winding road that brought her to the front door of Tyler Perry Studios, giving her an experience that has helped define her future. 

“I realized that my superpower wasn’t just in fashion and clothes,� she explained. “But in pushing people, including myself, to show up as their best selves.�

That’s what led her to start her own organization, Potential.

“Potential is a collective I started that’s all about connecting people who want to grow in the creative arts job markets,� she explained. “I wanted to create something that helps people realize how special they all are.�

She credits Perry’s real-life challenges an actor and writer looking for a break as a key influence in strengthening the trust she developed in herself.

“You have to believe in yourself, just like he did,� said Ward. “And you have to make sure that you’re taking the time to grow in your craft, just like he did. Once I started doing that…I realized there was genuinely no limit to what I could accomplish.�

Yorkis Caro Pena is a psychology student minoring in Spanish at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥. She spent the majority of the Fall 2024 semester as an apprentice at the Coastal Children’s Advocacy Center (CCAC) Hispanic Outreach Center in Savannah. 

Caro Pena would greet children and their families coming into the center, all while working on things like document translation, developing social media content and preparing for community events.

“While we want to make materials to educate the parents about our services, we’re also making sure that the children know that we’re advocating for them,” explained Caro Pena. “We want to connect directly with the children so that they know we’re here.” 

The nonprofit agency provides free services for children who have been abused or witnessed violence, as well as additional services for non-offending family members. And although the CCAC has been in operation since 1991, Executive Director Rose Grant-Robinson realized there was a population they were not targeting. 

“I knew there was a big Hispanic population here,” explained Grant-Robinson. “But they were not coming to us.”

That’s what led Grant-Robinson to open the Hispanic Outreach Center in 2016. Since then, she and her staff have helped more than 300 Hispanic children escape abusive situations, unpack their trauma and reclaim their lives. 

As with any nonprofit, their team is small, operating on a thin budget and looking for any help they can get. That’s where ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Spanish professor Grant Gearhart, Ph.D., saw an opportunity for students to get involved through the Community Apprenticeship Program run by the .

“I’ve always wanted to do a community service learning program for our students,” he said. “So when I found the Hispanic Outreach Center, I asked them if they would be interested in having students work with them.” 

Grant-Robinson jumped at the chance to get students in the Center. 

“I love interns,” she said. “Yes, I love interns, because I want them to have hands-on learning. Come in, put your boots on the ground and feel it for yourself.”

Caro Pena, a psychology major with a minor in Spanish who hails from the Dominican Republic, did just that.  

“I want to specialize in mental health advocacy and, you know, offering help specifically to the Hispanic community,” she said. “So this was a perfect opportunity.”

Spanish major Alexandria Shearer also served in a similar role at the Center. She said that ultimately, it’s not just the kids who are benefiting from the work the Center does. 

“Working with this team gave me hope in humanity even when facing such an ugly side of what humanity can do,” explained Shearer. “The advocacy center provides support to families and children as they face some of the most difficult challenges. It was an honor to learn from an organization dedicated to giving children the genuine, authentic care and attention they deserve.” 

Elise Aleman, a ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ Master of Fine Arts (MFA) graduate, spent much of her adult life in South Florida working as a graphic artist. She moved to Savannah, Georgia, in 2017 to pursue a new calling in painting. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Aleman decided she wasn’t done yet.

Aleman dreamed of becoming an art teacher, and she wanted to have a graduate degree to boost her applications. While looking for a master’s program, she was recruited by a friend to look at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥. Shortly thereafter, she became a member of Eagle Nation.

As she developed her portfolio in the graduate program, she found herself going to a familiar source.

In the 1960s, there was a wave of immigration from Cuba into the U.S. This pattern of immigration was called the “Freedom Flights.�

When she was just seven years old, Aleman and most of her family were on one of those planes in July of 1967. 

The Communist regime believed all who left the island were deserting their nation, and they took many of the families’ belongings in retaliation. 

“When people would get on the flights, the military was at the airport,â€� she said. “They would go through all your bags, they take anything  that either they wanted to keep for themselves or just to be spiteful. A lot of the time, they would take photographs and just throw them out.â€�

To avoid losing their family pictures, Aleman’s mother left their photos with relatives in Cuba.

After landing in the U.S., they settled in a small community in New Jersey where they learned a new language and way of life.

Over time, deliveries began arriving in their new home in the Garden State. They held the family photos they had left behind, sent by relatives who had been protecting them.

“I use the photographs from Cuba that were sent to us when we came in,â€� she said. “There’s a series in my scope that I did that is about those photographs and immigrating here. I wanted to make people see them and really connect with it in their own way.â€�

Those paintings were featured in a recent art exhibition, “Theopoetics Prothesis,â€� on the University’s Armstrong Campus in Savannah, which explored the intersections of her faith, exile and transformation through two parallel yet interwoven bodies of work. One aspect reflected on her family’s immigration from Cuba, and considered how cultural displacement shapes identity, memory and faith. The other engaged directly with biblical themes, using scripture as a foundation for conceptual exploration.

“My goal was to make both scripture and personal history compelling and relevant,� she said. “The Bible is more than just a religious text—it’s a multidimensional tapestry of history, poetry, prophecy and metaphor. Likewise, the story of exile and displacement is not just my own but a universal narrative of survival, adaptation and faith. I wanted viewers to engage with these layered meanings, finding connections between the sacred, the personal and the collective.�

As Aleman prepares to graduate this week, she’s reflecting on the journey her family took to make it possible. She’s also grateful to the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ community for welcoming her, despite the age gap between her and other MFA students.

“Those students, especially in the grad program, they just embrace you,â€� she said. “I never felt like an outsider. ‘Oh, there’s the old lady,’ you know? We have a very tight group in the fine arts program.â€�

After working a 12-hour night shift, Jazmine Jenkins headed to Memorial Health in Savannah, Georgia, to complete her round of clinical rotation for the day. From 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., she would prepare patients for various imaging procedures and attend to their needs. 

All the while, the phrase, “Give me 18 months, and I’ll give you a lifetime,â€� from her faculty mentor, Rochelle Lee, Ed.D., in the radiologic sciences program at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, helped her push through the exhaustion. 

Her endurance paid off this spring as she crossed the commencement stage to earn her bachelor’s in radiologic sciences with a concentration in nuclear medicine. 

“Dr. Rochelle Lee helped me a lot,â€� Jenkins said. “I would definitely say that my love for nuclear medicine stemmed from her.â€� 

Jenkins also credits Lee with investing in her and her classmates.

“Nuclear medicine is a very small program, so my class was only seven people,â€� Jenkins said. “Dr. Lee really took time out to get to know each and every one of us. She’s a really concerned, loving professor. She helped me a lot.â€�

Jenkins’ degree path wasn’t always clear. Instead, trial, error and determination guided her steps along the way. 

She began her journey studying early childhood education at Albany Technical College in her hometown of Albany, Georgia, before transferring to ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ in 2020. 

“A lot of the classes I took didn’t transfer to ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ when I started here in 2020,â€� she said. “It felt like starting over.â€� 

Navigating a new university far from home was at times a struggle for Jenkins as a first-generation college student who had to learn how to balance studying, working long shifts and staying connected with her family several hours away. 

“It was a bit difficult because your family may call while you’re studying and you just don’t know how to tell them you’re very busy because they never experienced that,� she said. “I had to tell them I needed to study and I cut out part of my social life. After a while, it became very exhausting.�

But Jenkins was intent on following her dreams of working in health care. Inspired by her mother’s pregnancies with her younger sisters, Jenkins enjoyed the atmosphere of doctors’ offices and wanted to become an ultrasound technologist. 

Once at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, she began studying nursing, but it didn’t feel like the right fit. She then pivoted to exercise science, hoping that would better align with her interests. 

She soon found something was still missing. 

“I wanted to change from exercise science, but I was just so lost, so I stuck with it,� she said. “I knew I wanted to pursue ultrasound technology. That ultimately led me to radiologic sciences.�

When she didn’t get into the sonography program, her professors and advisors encouraged her to pursue other options. 

“They gave me the option between nuclear medicine and radiation therapy, and that’s when I ended up choosing nuclear medicine,â€� she said. “I didn’t know anything about it at all, I just decided to give it a try.â€� 

Jenkins admits she wasn’t excited about nuclear medicine at first. 

“I was really stuck on becoming an ultrasound technologist,� she said. “But I had come far enough and just wanted to do something at that point, and that’s when I reached out to Dr. Lee.�

Navigating changes in coursework didn’t come without its share of challenges for Jenkins, who also commuted and worked a nearly full-time job while studying and participating in clinicals. 

“‘How did I balance it?’ That’s a great question,â€� she said with a laugh. “For the most part, I just never thought about it. People did ask me, ‘How do you do it?’ And I could never tell them about it, you just have to do it.â€�

For Jenkins, the ultimate goal of having financial freedom and being a mentor for her younger sisters contributed to her resolve to finish her degree. 

“I really wanted to move out of the state,� she said. “My mom encouraged me all through college to get through it and said, ‘You’ll be able to live the lifestyle that you want. That mindset helped me keep going.�

Even though the path wasn’t always clear, Jenkins can look back and appreciate the experiences. 

“The core classes I took while planning to join the nursing and exercise science programs tied very closely,� she said. “Psychology taught me about how the mind works, and my pre-nursing, like human anatomy, helped a lot. Once I joined the radiologic sciences program, it felt like I hit the ground running, and all that knowledge helped me. I even took more classes than I should’ve because of the change of majors; however, each class I took, I don’t regret because it has made me a better radiologic student.�

Spiritually grounded, Jenkins also found peace and strength through her faith.

“When I came to Savannah, I found a church home,� she said. “That helped me be more positive, knowing that God had my back in every room I stepped into.�

As she prepares to enter the workforce for a career in nuclear medicine in Richmond, Virginia, this June, Jenkins isn’t done dreaming. She still feels pulled toward maternal and infant health and knows her journey will continue. 

“In the medical field, you can’t know everything at one time,â€� she said. “It’s an ongoing journey of learning. You never stop learning.â€� 

Statesboro, GA – ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥â€™s fraternity and sorority groups made a significant impact on the Savannah and Statesboro communities during Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) Serves Week, during which the students served more than 1,000 service hours.

Held from April 19-26, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s (OFSL) annual event featured a variety of service projects, philanthropic events and community engagement initiatives, showcasing the spirit of collaboration and commitment to service among fraternity and sorority members on both campuses.

Statesboro Campus events: 

• Eagle Essentials Pantry Food Fight
• Volunteering with the ROTC Freedom Run 5k/10k
• Volunteering at the Kennedy Pond Conservancy
• Volunteering at Feed the Boro
• National Volunteer Month Community Engagement Panel
• Philanthropy and service workshops
• Philanthropy/service tabling event
• Volunteering at ArtsFest
• Faculty/Staff Appreciation Ice Cream Social

Armstrong Campus in Savannah events: 

• Pickleball for a Purpose Donations to the Captain’s Cupboard
• Earth Day Campus Clean Up Service to Success Community Engagement Panel
• Grillin’ with the Greeks pop tab collection and clothing drive

By the numbers: 

• Hours served: More than 1,000
• Volunteers: 239
• Items donated to Eagle Essentials Pantry and Captain’s Cupboard: 2,877
• High priority donations: 1,370
• 4,000 pop tabs collected for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire
• 650 clothing donations to the Old Savannah City Mission

The number of volunteers for this year’s FSL Serves Week grew by 40% over last year. Service hours also rose significantly, increasing by 70% from 650 last year to more than 1,000. Notably, this was the first year the Armstrong Campus participated in FSL Serves, expanding the program’s reach and reinforcing a multi-campus commitment to service.

The OFSL partnered with the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement, The Eagle Battalion Army ROTC Program, the Kennedy Pond Conservancy, Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department, The Gardens Senior Living and Memory Care Facility, Statesboro Farmers Market and the University Facilities Department to create a successful week of events.

For more information about FSL Serves Week or to learn how to get involved, please contact the .

Shaheim Johnson is reaching a significant milestone this May by becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. He describes his journey as a first-generation student at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ with two unforgettable words: “No regrets,â€� adding, “If I could, I would do it all over again.â€�

Growing up in Brunswick, Georgia, the University was always on his radar. It was a popular choice among the teachers who influenced him. However, it wasn’t until a visit to the Statesboro Campus that the then-high school senior decided to enroll.

Recalling that visit, he said, “I fell in love with the campus, the staff and faculty. I didn’t want to leave. I asked my mom then and there if I could stay.�

As a first-year student, Johnson set his sights on a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in history, inspired by the teachers who had guided him.

“This major allows me to make an impact on the future of our country,â€� he explained. “I want to give back, just like the many educators who motivated me throughout my PreK-12 years.â€�

A self-described go-getter, Johnson quickly found his footing on campus, readily embracing new challenges and opportunities. Yet, his initial year was also marked by the difficult loss of his grandfather.

“It was very tough being away from home and experiencing such a huge loss,â€� Johnson shared. “I was considering leaving ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, but the supportive community is what led me to stay.â€�

Ultimately, his choice to remain at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ enabled him to fully engage in college life,  especially through his extensive involvement in campus activities. He served in various roles in the Student Government Association (SGA) and was the founding president of the Aspiring Educators of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥. His proudest accomplishment was ending his final year as the SGA president. That role gave him the honor of speaking to his fellow students at both the December 2024 and May 2025 commencement ceremonies.

“This was a dream that I had for many years, and I can say that I achieved it,� Johnson said.

With graduation now a reality, Johnson reflected on his personal growth, noting that his years at ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ totally changed his outlook on life. As he put it, “Life is going to come with endless challenges and obstacles that make you want to quit or settle for the bare minimum. But you can’t let that stop you from seeing what bigger things you can accomplish or will be granted when you run through the fire of obstacles and worries.â€�

For those considering ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥, the education major advised, “ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ is a place of huge opportunities. No matter what your interests are, you will find your opportunities here. Come here, have fun, make new lifelong friends and enjoy all the things Southern has to offer.â€�

The May graduate is set to begin teaching U.S. history at Effingham County High in the upcoming academic year and eagerly anticipates organizing and decorating his classroom. For now, foremost in his mind is the gratitude he feels for the support he received from ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥â€™s College of Education.

“It’s difficult to name just one professor because so many have left an indelible mark on my academic journey,â€� Johnson explained. “They challenged me to think critically, inspired me to strive for excellence and equipped me with the knowledge and confidence I need to step into my future classroom as a capable and passionate educator.â€�

The budding teacher knows his parents are proud of his achievements, particularly as a first-generation college student. He acknowledged, “Moving away from home to come to Statesboro was a challenge for them, but I have definitely shown them that it was the best decision ever.�

Looking ahead, Johnson intends to return to ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ to earn a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Eventually, he plans to transition into education administration, demonstrating his continued commitment to the institution that changed his life.