All UGA faculty, staff and retirees are invited to celebrate the campus kickoff of the Archway to Excellence Campaign March 21 from 3-5 p.m. at Georgia Hall in the Tate Student Center. The event includes a reception and brief program that will end with drawings for door prizes.
Arnett C. Mace Jr., senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, recently asked the campus deans to encourage all faculty and staff to attend the event. He wrote, “The University of Georgia’s students, faculty and staff greatly benefit from private contributions to our academic programs, and if UGA is to maintain and enhance its learning environment, it is essential that this support continues.”
The kickoff program will begin with UGA President Michael F. Adams providing an overview of the campaign. Donors Gordon Maner, local government program manager in UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, and Ginny Barton, an admissions counselor, will introduce the award-winning campaign video.
The program will conclude with remarks from Robert E. Ratajczak Jr., president of Staff Council, and Nancy Felson, chair of the University Council Executive Committee. Faculty and staff who attend the event will be eligible for a door prize drawing. The door prizes include:
- tickets to UGA performing arts events;
- one semester membership to the Ramsey Student Center;
- one pass for a Ramsey Student Center aerobics class;
- a gourmet basket from Shiraz;
- dinner for four to the April 27 End-of-the-Year Bash, University Food Services’s special event;
- a football signed by Mark Richt, head football coach;
- a golf package for two at the UGA golf course;
- a basket of products and a $50 gift card to use on any services of the Foundry Park Inn and Spa;
- two free passes from parking services for campus parking decks;
- tickets to a UGA football game;
- four tickets to a men’s basketball game; and
- tickets to the alumni sky suite for the UGA-Western Kentucky football game.
Light refreshments and desserts will be served at the event. All faculty and staff are encouraged to use campus bus transportation.
The campus kickoff is one of 18 events held across the country showcasing the campaign themes. UGA employees and retirees will view the campaign video and materials and experience the celebration.
Faculty and staff will learn more about the goals of the Archway to Excellence Campaign at the event, according to Mace.
“Since the campaign began, the many colleges, schools and units across campus have had great success in their fundraising efforts among their external constituencies,” he said. “With more than $380 million raised toward the campaign goal of $500 million, it is clear that UGA alumni and friends value the work of UGA’s faculty and staff and have confidence in their ability to prepare today’s youth to be tomorrow’s productive and engaged world citizens.
“Now it is time for the members of the university community to show UGA donors and friends that we, too, support the Archway to Excellence goals of Building the New Learning Environment, Maximizing Research Opportunities, and Competing in a Global Economy,” Mace said.