Shining at the 2016 GAEA Conference
We were recognized with five awards at the 2016 Georgia Adult Education Association (GAEA) Annual Conference held at the Brasstown Valley Resort. The three-day event provided leaders and practitioners in the field of adult and continuing education opportunities for growth and development through quality presentations, relevant field information and leading-edge concepts and initiatives.
“We are tremendously honored to receive these awards from an organization that we value greatly,” said Barbara Calhoun, dean. “It’s a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire staff to ultimately help our students succeed.”

The five awards include:
- Innovative Marketing Award for the “I Did It” campaign. The marketing campaign is the first of its kind for The College of Continuing and Professional Education. It maintains the connection to Kennesaw State University but brands the College as the only choice for continuing education by showcasing successful students through powerful testimonials.
- Innovative Program Award for Gerontology. The College of Continuing and Professional Education is the only higher education institution in Georgia to offer a Professional Development in Gerontology non-credit certificate program. The course examines the revolution occurring in the U.S. and the world as the average age continues to rise.
- Professional Achievement Award given to Tamara Grooms, assistant dean. Tamara has been a part of the continuing education team since 1997. She manages programming, finance, HR and registration while continuing to serve on multiple campus committees.
Tamara Grooms, assistant dean, was honored with the Professional Achievement Award. - Exemplary Service Contribution Award given to Fundamentals of Residential Property Management instructors. They represent some of the state’s top real estate and property management professionals. The instructors volunteer their services, teach on Saturdays and provide hands-on learning and networking opportunities for the students.
- Outstanding Adult Educator awarded to Jan Britt, who has been teaching at the college for nearly 20 years. Jan is an award-winning interior designer, published author, window treatment specialist and home stager.
The college’s presence at this year’s GAEA conference extended from the awards ceremony to the presentations, where the marketing team was selected to lead a session at the conference for education professionals.
“Identity Crisis: A Branding Success Story,” covered the importance of cohesive branding and proper marketing that is tailored to the specific needs of a target market. Presenters were Davia Rose Lassiter (Marketing Director), Jason Brown (Copywriter), Robert Smith (Creative Director) and Cheryl Rodewig (Social Media Specialist). Davia also led a conference session, “We Did It: Utilizing Student Testimonials to Market Programs,” focused on using student testimonials effectively in marketing campaigns throughout several mediums.
For more photos from the conference, visit our Facebook album.
Tag:Awards, Barbara Calhoun, staff