22nd Annual Celebration Lauds Instructors, Brings Laughs

Each year, our college thanks instructors with a night of food, fun and gratitude. Our 22nd annual CE Celebration event on Aug. 25 brought together more than 100 educators, CCPE staff members, and a host of family and friends. We also welcomed KSU President Sam Olens and campus partners including Athletics, University Information Technology Services, and the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing.

Our instructors are the key to our continuing education graduates succeeding in the workforce. Whether our students get job offers, receive promotions or start their own businesses, what they learn at our college launches them to professional heights. Our graduates will have learned from lawyers, medical assistants, registered nurses, certified technology professionals, executive chefs, event planners and a host of others who represent more than 50 career fields.

One of the many highlights of the celebratory evening was the food! We are grateful to the following Kennesaw-area restaurants:

• Bahama Breeze, 755 Ernest Barrett Parkway
• Chick-Fil-A, 830 Ernest Barrett Parkway
• Chuy’s Mexican Food, 585 Ernest Barrett Parkway
• Copelands of New Orleans, 1142 Ernest Barrett Parkway
• Hudson Grille, 2500 Cobb Place Lane
• Little Greek Fresh Grill, 745 Chastain Road
• Longhorn Steakhouse, 2700 Town Center Drive
• Marlow’s Tavern, 745 Chastain Road
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 620 Chastain Road
• Starbucks Coffee, 745 Chastain Road
• Willy’s Mexicana Grill, 600 Chastain Road

The event continued with welcoming remarks from Barbara Calhoun, continuing education dean, followed by stand-up comedians Conrad Bromberek and Carlos Rodriguez. The night concluded with instructors being gifted umbrellas bearing the university’s black and gold colors, complete with a CCPE logo.

First-time attendee Russ Osmond teaches in our OLLI program. He said the joy of being surrounded with others with the same mission was magnetic.

“Pride of place seldom finds its way into the hearts of folks committed to educating other adults,” he said. “CE Celebration certainly set a new standard of positive inside-out personal gratitude for all of us in attendance.”

Jan Britt, award-winning interior design instructor, said CE Celebration is a time for her to reflect on 17 years of teaching in our program as well as the growth of the college. She said, “When I first started teaching we were at a different facility, and now we are in a beautiful campus. It is amazing to me over all these years how many more courses and instructors have been added to the college to help others achieve their goals.”

The event also allows Jan to reunite with other CCPE instructors. However, there is one person with whom she shares a special moment with each year.

“One of the highlights that I have personally enjoyed every single year is I ask the Dean Calhoun to take a picture with me,” Jan said. “She is always so kind and so accommodating to oblige my request. That picture has turned into a tradition for me that I enjoy and that I am very proud of.”