George Anglin joined the Senior Community Services Employment Program (SCSEP) following several years of unemployment. Upon enrollment, Mr. Anglin expressed a willingness to do “anything” as long as it was work. During our assessments we learned that Mr. Anglin had a high mechanical aptitude. We identified UGA as a potential training site, but knew Mr. Anglin would need to obtain a GED in order to be hired as a permanent employee at UGA. When George learned this, he said that he would do what was needed to in order to succeed.

Mr. Anglin reached his employment and educational goals in a far shorter time than we thought possible. In eight months, Mr. Anglin prepared for and passed all sections of the GED. As he worked towards his GED, George impressed his coworkers and supervisors in the Preventive Maintenance Shop, Facilities Maintenance Division at UGA. The culmination of this dedication came in May 2013. On May 8^th, George participated in Athens Technical College’s 2012-2013 GED Graduation Ceremony. On May 16^th he attended the Finance and Administration Employee Recognition Ceremony, during which he was recognized as one of 16 Merit Award Finalists out of 103 nominations. George was selected from this group of finalists as the Newcomer’s Award recipient. The Newcomer’s award is presented to an employee who has shown initiative, reliability and dedication to the University. (Nominees all have less than two years of service at UGA).

We are so happy for George, and cannot thank everyone at UGA enough for the training, support and opportunities they have provided him. We are proud to partner with UGA and all of the non-profit and governmental agencies that train SCSEP participants.

Happy Friday and Happy Older Americans Month!!

Written and submitted by Carol Ann Adams, SCSEP Program Director.

The Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA) would like to congratulate Paige Tidwell on her recent recognition from the University of Georgia as the 2013 School of Social Work BSW Field Instructor of the Year. Maurice C. Daniels, dean and professor at the college, stated the award was given to Tidwell for her “commitment to the School of Social Work and the University of Georgia is greatly appreciated and we would like to publicly recognize you for your achievements and support.”

Tidwell holds a Bachelor (2007) and Masters (2008) of Social Work from the University of Georgia and is currently the program director for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program at ACCA. Each semester she engages students from the School of Social Work into her program for real field experience. Tidwell initiated a summer food program during the summer of 2012 providing 4,620 meals to grandfamilies in six Northeast Georgia counties. You can read the whole article in the Athens Banner-Herald by clicking HERE.

Photo Courtesy Stephanie Bergamo

Athens Community Council on Aging recently had some of David Berle’s Horticulture 2000 class participants come out to the ACCA Community Gardens to get in some mandatory community volunteer hours.  The latest project involved planting tomatoes, driving t-posts into the ground for securing the tomato cages with bamboo poles, planting petunias, and watering.  We think UGA football stars Todd Gurley and Quayvon Hicks along with Thomas Hennessey and Dylan Orr had the job under control.  Thanks so much for coming out to work in our community garden.  All of the produce from our garden will go to the ACCA clients. Last year over 277 pounds of fresh produce came out of our community gardens for the ACCA clients. Thanks so much for all of your hard work.  We couldn’t do it without the community members that come out and volunteer with us! Thanks to Stephanie Bergamo from the Athens Land Trust for taking the pictures and providing the update to us.

This past Monday night, some of Athens finest agencies and community leaders got together to thank many volunteers for their efforts in our community.  ACCA had 4 volunteers that were nominated for awards… those nominated for volunteer of the year included Tapley Bennett (Meals on Wheels), Lew Frazer (Senior Corps), and Dr. Joan Berryman (Ombudsman).  In addition, Madeline Van Dyck (Athens Area Village) was nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award. It was great for all of these volunteers to get recognition for the jobs they do even though they don’t do them for the recognition.  ACCA wouldn’t be where it is today without our wonderful volunteers and we want to thank you all!

ACCA would also like to congratulate Tapley for winning the Athens Volunteer of the Year award for her work with the Meals on Wheels program.  Congratulations Tapley from everyone at ACCA!!

Were you “spotted” at the event?  See all of the photos HERE.