Atlanta — June 13, 2001

Dalton’s State College’s on-going efforts to serve the growing Hispanic population in northwest Georgia have been recognized with the College’s selection as the 2001 recipient of the University System of Georgia’s Chancellor’s Collaborative Award.

Specifically, Dalton College’s Center for Continuing Education and the Dalton-area Latino Advisory Council were selected for the award, which annually recognizes outstanding examples of collaborative efforts by a person or unit within the University System of Georgia.

The annual award – a $1,000 donation by the University System of Georgia Foundation from funds provided by University System of Georgia Chancellor Stephen R. Portch and his wife, Barbara, – was presented to Dalton President James A. Burran in a ceremony held during the Board of Regents’ June meeting. Accompanying Burran at the presentation were three charter members of the council: Ivette Moncus, a probation officer with Georgia Probation Services; Norberto Reyes, a Dalton business owner and executive board member of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce; and David Sargent, director of Dalton State College’s Center for Continuing Education.

“There were a number of outstanding nominations for this year’s award,” said Portch, “but the Dalton collaborative project clearly stood out. It represents a deep commitment by many people to help ensure full access to educational and economic opportunity for a growing and important group in Georgia. It also supports the regents’ strategic goal of creating a more educated Georgia.”

The Latino Advisory Council was formed in August 1998, to increase awareness of Dalton State College by the Latino community in Dalton and Whitfield counties and to develop non-credit training and educational programs to serve them. The Council is a collaborative effort among Dalton State College, Centro Latino, Inc. – a local community support group – and the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce.

Examples of some of the varied programs the Council has created and offered include courses in computer use, small business management, citizenship, and English as a Second Language (ELS). The Council also has offered seminars and special events designed to help the local community and businesses learn how to accommodate the growing Hispanic population. In addition, the Council has created programs such as a Latino Family Day to help potential Latino students and their families become familiar with Dalton State College and other higher education opportunities.

This marks the seventh year for the USG’s Chancellor’s Collaborative Award, initially established in 1995. Programs or individuals are nominated by the presidents of the University System’s 34 institutions and are evaluated by a committee composed of Board of Regents staff. The final selection of the annual award recipient is made by the three senior vice chancellors at the University System Office.

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