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Campus Review
December 18, 2012
DeAnna Holmes Aims to
Make Her Dreams Real at Clayton State
by Ciji Fox, University Relations
Chemistry Club Focuses on Community Outreach
by Samantha Watson, University Relations
DeAnna Holmes, a senior majoring in
health care management, is the mother of
three and battling breast cancer. However,
Holmes is taking major strides to accom-
plish her goals and make her dreams a
reality at Clayton State University.
“In 2007, I was a junior underwriter with
Wachovia Mortgage, and I decided that it
was time for a change,” Holmes says. “I
decided it was time for me to do some-
thing that I knew I would enjoy doing. I
obtained my associates degree in science
at South University in 2007, graduating
magna cum laude with a 3.67 GPA.”
After Holmes graduated from South
University she moved to Georgia.
“Once I got to Georgia I knew that I did-
n’t want to end (my education) there and
decided to attend Gordon College for
nursing,” she says. “However, my plan
fell through. I then transferred to Clayton
State for nursing and that’s
when cancer struck. After
that I decided to change my
major to Health Care
Management.”
Holmes did not let cancer
get in the way of accom-
plishing her dreams.
“My strong upbringing
from my parents and my
determination to be a good
example for my children is
what keeps me motivated to
excel in school,” Holmes
explains.
Holmes is indeed determined. Every
Friday she receives chemotherapy, which
sometimes leaves her exhausted, which
can be challenging. Despite the challenge,
on the days when she is feeling exhausted
Holmes motivates herself to come to cam-
pus earlier in the day to
keep her focused and stay
active.
“Being a full time student I
have to balance my chil-
dren’s activities as well to
make sure I’m there for
them and I pray, pray, pray,”
Holmes says.
Holmes looks forward to
graduating from Clayton
State in May 2013. She plans
to obtain a healthcare man-
agement position in an oncol-
ogy or cardiology department.
“I would also like to work in an executive
department, to make sure that the doctors
and hospital staff do their part to make sure
every patient is being properly cared for in an
effort to decrease the amount of unnecessary
accidental deaths,” she says.
DeAnna Holmes
Clayton State University’s Chemistry
Club recently sponsored service-learning
projects at Atlanta’s Fernbank Science
Center and the Fernbank Natural History
Museum. The club is presently focused on
expanding its outreach to all students who
are involved or interested in chemistry,
and the surrounding community, with its
mission to provide academic and career
information particular to the chemistry
field.
Gloria Phuong Le, president of the
Chemistry Club, says, “I believe the club
can serve to promote the awareness of the
surrounding community about Clayton
State University in general and the chem-
istry majors in particular.”
Phoung Le (Ellenwood) is one of the orig-
inal founding members of the Chemistry
Club, a senior double major in chemistry
and biology at Clayton State who plans to
graduate in spring 2013. She has many
future plans for the
Chemistry Club that prom-
ise to propel the success of
the club itself, as well as its
members.
Other recent club events
included a chemistry “study
day” on Dec. 1 to aid stu-
dents preparing for chem-
istry finals. Upcoming
events include various
chemistry demonstrations
that will “help students feel
motivated studying chem-
istry and also help them
understand what is going on
with their class materials in a fun and
interactive atmosphere,” says Phoung Le.
A large part of the Chemistry Club’s mis-
sion is to increase the retention of chem-
istry students at Clayton State. The club
provides assistance to its members in their
efforts to gain admission to
graduate school. This is a
great perk of being a mem-
ber for Crystal Seckendorf,
who plans to go to graduate
school for Environmental
Sciences with an emphasis
in geochemistry and water
quality.
Seckendorf
(McDonough) is a single
mother who is also double
majoring in biology and
chemistry and is in the
Army Reserves.
As well as serving chem-
istry majors, the club strives
to involve non-majors like Ruby Corral
(Atlanta).
“I am not a chemistry major but I have
enjoyed being part of the chemistry club
Gloria Phuong Le
Chemistry, cont’d., p. 13