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Alumni Association
welcomes record crowd to 16th Annual Dinner at Georgia
Aquarium
 CLICK
HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM THE DINNER @ AQUARIUM
Morrow,
Ga., April 15, 2008 –
The Clayton State Alumni Association welcomed a record
number of attendees to its 16th Annual Dinner & Auction
Saturday at the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta, GA.
Over 170 guests made the voyage to the Aquarium for the
annual event, which features a guest speaker, the
presentation of the Distinguished & Outstanding Alumni
Awards and a silent auction. This year’s attendance was 25
percent higher than last year, which was the previous high
in the event’s history.
“We had an overwhelmingly positive response for our dinner
this year,” said Gid Rowell, Director of Alumni Relations.
“It was a special evening at an incredible venue. Our Alumni
Dinner has blossomed into the ‘signature event’ of our
Association.”
Highlights included the presentation of the 2008 Clayton
State Overall Distinguished Alumnus Award, presented to
Dennis C. Martino, of Fayetteville. Last year’s overall
winner, Charles D. English, of Fayetteville, spoke at this
year’s event. English, a 1981 graduate, is Director of the
Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and the Office of
Homeland Security.
Along with Martino, other honorees were: Monica L. Martin,
Distinguished College of Arts & Sciences Alumnus; Charles E.
Crownover, Distinguished College of Professional Studies
Alumnus; Latoya N. Hubbard, Distinguished School of Business
Alumnus; Jeff M. Wilson, Distinguished School of Nursing
Alumnus; and Kristine B. Hopkins, Distinguished College of
Information & Mathematical Sciences Alumnus.
Martino, who received an Associate’s degree in Business from
Clayton State in 1973, is the General Manager & Vice
President of Martino-White Printing, Inc., and has been in
the printing business for 34 years.
Martino has been a member of the Atlanta Airport Rotary Club
for the last 25 years, where he is a past president and
currently serves on its Board of Directors. He has been
instrumental in facilitating of the Atlanta Airport Rotary
Mitchell C. Bishop Scholarship at Clayton State, which is
the oldest and longest continuing scholarship at the
University, beginning almost 30 years ago and influencing
scores of students.
In addition, Martino has served as president of the Airport
Area Chamber of Commerce and still serves on their Board of
Directors. His community involvement includes Chris Kids,
Travelers Aid and Children’s Miracle Network.
Martin holds two degrees from Clayton State, an Associate in
Applied Science and an Associate in Sociology. She works as
a Family Independence Case Manager at the Department of
Family and Children Services in Clayton County. In 2007,
she was recognized as the DFACS Employee of the Year. She
received this award in large part to her strong will and
determination in overcoming a disability. Prior 1999, Monica
had received six years of disability before becoming
employed with DFACS and thriving in her position.
Crownover obtained his Bachelors degree in Applied Science
in 2002, graduating with honors. Upon graduation, he was
commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps
and his commissioning ceremony was in Clayton State’s
Technology Building. He has risen to the rank of Captain and
has served two seven-month tours in Iraq and is preparing
for his third deployment.
A few of his noteworthy accomplishments include completing
Officer Candidate School during his junior and senior years
at Clayton State; serving as an AH-1 “Cobra“ Gunship Pilot;
and serving as a Squadron Flight Officer. He has received
the Marine Corps Service Medal, six Air Medals and a number
of campaign ribbons.
After obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Management from
Clayton State in 2001, Hubbard was employed by Nationwide
Insurance, where she has climbed the company ladder quickly.
Initially employed as a Casualty Claims Representative in
the Atlanta area, she has risen to the regional position of
Agency Development Sales Manager, and now resides in Ohio.
Hubbard is a member of The Advisory Committee of DECA,
United Way, National Association of Insurance for Women,
Atlanta Association of Insurance Professionals, Consortium
of African American Organizations, and the National Black
MBA Association. She has also volunteered with Hands on
Atlanta.
Wilson graduated with a Bachelor of Science Nursing degree
in 2002. He currently is the Education Program Manager at
Piedmont Fayette Hospital and is responsible for all
academic affiliations between metro Atlanta colleges and
universities, placing over 100 students from multiple
disciplines each semester into clinical rotations.
During his role as the Manager of the Education Department,
Piedmont Fayette Hospital was recognized and awarded the
Outstanding Partner in Education by the Fayette County
Chamber of Commerce and the Fayette County Board of
Education.
Wilson also has military experience, entering the Air Force
in 1992 and is currently a Captain. He was named an honor
graduate from the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine.
While being assigned to the 94th Aeromedical
Evacuation Squadron, he has flown over 1000 hours as an
Aeromedical Evacuation crew member. His most recent
deployment was in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Hopkins graduated in 1991 with an Associates degree in
Mathematics, receiving many academic honors. After Clayton
State, she graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in
Chemistry then completed her medical training at the
University of Alabama School of Optometry. She completed
her residency at the Southern California College of
Optometry. Hopkins has recently completed a Masters of
Science in Public Health Epidemiology.
She currently holds the rank of Associate Professor and
Chief of Vision Therapy Services at the University of
Alabama – Birmingham in the School of Optometry. Hopkins
has won several teaching awards, including the University of
Alabama – Birmingham President’s Award for excellence in
teaching for 2008. She is extremely active in research,
grant writing and has published numerous articles in the
medical community.
She has served the community in a number of ways including,
providing optometric screenings at Camp Seale Harris, a
summer camp for diabetic children and at the Lion’s Club
Special Olympics.
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