FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 16, 2008

Contact: Lisa Kostellic
             912.260.4349
             lisa.kostellic@sgc.edu

Douglas Natives Win Regional Debate Competition

     Two South Georgia College students won the Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (SAEOPP) Debate Competition on April 19 in Atlanta.

     Roberta Rodgers and Kristi Watkins defeated teams from Fisk University, Mississippi Valley State University, and the University of Kentucky. Each school’s team was made up of two students. The competition consisted for four rounds.
 
     The debate was held as a part of SAEOPP’s Student Initiative Regional Competitions. Rodgers and Watkins were able to compete because they are enrolled in the Student Support Services program at SGC, and they won the SSS Debate Competition for the state of Georgia in November 2007. The SAEOPP Debate Competition is the highest level of competition for SSS debaters.

     “These events provide an opportunity for our students to learn and grow in a competitive environment. They are able to develop their research, critical thinking, and oral presentation skills, and the competitive environment encourages students to be more intellectually agile as well as open-minded about diverse points of view,” said Director of SSS at SGC Angela Nuga.
 
     Rodgers, a Political Science major, and Watkins, a Theatre major, will share a $500 prize for their efforts. During the SSS awards reception on April 22, SSS Director Angela Nuga presented them with plaques from the local program to commemorate their victory.

The Southeastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (SAEOPP) is the regional association of TRIO program personnel representing the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The Mission of SAEOPP is to promote and support equal educational opportunity and access to postsecondary education. Through professional development, networking, research and advocacy, SAEOPP provides TRIO personnel and others with the necessary skills and techniques to assure that the least advantaged have equal access to higher education. (From http://www.saeopp.org.)

     SSS is one of the TRIO programs funded by the Department of Education. Their goal is to provide students with the support needed to allow them to successfully complete the most difficult years of their college experience by offering academic and personal counseling, tutoring, career guidance, pre-registration assistance, cultural experiences, and transfer assistance. To qualify for SSS, students must meet certain criteria. For more information about SSS at SGC, call the SSS office at (912)260-4436.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Regional debate winners Roberta Rodgers (left) and Kristi Watkins at SGC’s Student Support Services awards reception April 22.
 

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About South Georgia College

South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu) was founded in 1906 and is a two-year institution in the University System of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty.