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Campus Review
December 12, 2013
Page 2
Clayton State’s New Science Building…
A Monumental Addition
Nikki Sawyer’s Unique Perspective
On Clayton State’s New Science Building
by John Shiffert
While Clayton State University is not in
the process of raising monuments, at least
one current student believes there’s a
monumental addition coming to the
University’s Morrow campus.
Chemistry major Lashaundra Ponder, a
native of Rex, Ga., is understandably
excited about the potential for the new
science building to make dreams real for
Clayton State students.
“The new science building is a monumen-
tal addition to the Clayton State commu-
nity,” she says. “This building will be a
valuable asset to Clayton State, serving as
an extension of the science division,
which offers greater opportunity for stu-
dents to grow.
While chemistry majors are typically
thought of along strictly scientific lines,
Ponder also applauds other aspects of the
new building.
“Aesthetically, the building provides a
modern and chic ambiance to the cam-
pus,” she notes.” The technological
advances that building encompasses will
help to students to learn and achieve their
academic goals.”
The groundbreaking for the new science
building was held on Nov. 14, 2013.
Additional labs and classroom space for
the natural sciences have been a critical
need for Clayton State since the
University has expanded from 4675 stu-
dents in 2001 to more than 7200 students
currently. Indeed, given the science
course and lab requirements in the core
curriculum, the lack of a dedicated sci-
ence building has limited the University’s
enrollment, in effect limiting the number
of students who can make their dreams
real at Clayton State. The science building
is expected to be completed in June 2015
with classes to be held in the new building
starting with the fall 2015 semester.
In addition to meeting the needs of the
University, the new science building will
help the University meet critical needs in
several fields in Atlanta’s Southern
Crescent; notably in nursing, healthcare
managers for Southern Crescent medical
facilities, science educators, and entrepre-
neurs in the STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines,
enabling more students to graduate with
STEM skills. This enhanced workforce
will mean a boost to the economy of the
counties immediate to Morrow, which
provide the majority of Clayton State’s
students.
While the term
“unique” is often
overused, Clayton
State University
Lecturer
of
Biology
Nikki
Sawyer can cer-
tainly claim to
have a unique per-
spective on the
University’s new
science building. A
2007 graduate of Clayton State, Sawyer
matriculated at the University in 2004, or
just about the same time as it became
clear that a science building was a neces-
sity for the University’s future growth. As
a result, she’s ready to see another dream
made real at Clayton State.
“I was one of the ‘non-traditional’ students
that came to Clayton State after several
years -- 11 to be exact -- away from acade-
mia,” she explains. “Going straight into the
workforce after high school, I held various
jobs; the longest was eight years at the
postal service; before deciding to return to
college to get a degree in science.”
As a result of her academic background,
Sawyer says she still feels a real connec-
tion to Clayton State students... because
so many of them are older, non-tradition-
al students.
“Clayton State really is the place where
dreams are made real... for people of all
ages!” she exclaims.
A lifelong resident of the Southern
Crescent, Sawyer’s dream at Clayton
State started in the spring of 2004 as a
biology major. Following a very success-
ful career as a Clayton State student – she
was named the 2007 Chancellor's
Academic Recognition Award Recipient,
and graduated summa cum laude in May
of that year – she was accepted to both
Columbia University and Emory
University’s graduate schools.
Sawyer, cont’d., p. 17
Nikki Sawyer