Mathematics & Computer Science News
ASU computer science student wins intercollegiate speech competition
An Albany State
University Computer Science major took first place in the Robert S. Barmettler
Intercollegiate Speech Competition at Alabama State University on April 14.
Christina Dennard, a freshman from Terrell County Middle High School in Dawson,
was the best of seven contestants in the informative speech category at the
competition held in Montgomery, Ala.
Dennard’s speech entitled, “Suicide and Depression at Colleges and
Universities,” explored the question: “Why students commit suicide?” Dennard
concluded that depression is the main reason students commit suicide. “One of
the main factors that counselors have failed to realize is how severely
depression affects students,” she said. “Stress, in the form of pressure from
academics, being in a new social environment and other events such as death in
the family or among friends, has a dangerous effect on students.”
Dennard was coached by Dr. Florence Lyons, associate professor of Speech and
Theatre. Dr. Lyons said, “It was gratifying to see that Christina was rewarded
for all of the time and effort she put into preparing for the competition.”
Dennard took home a trophy and $125 in prize money for winning the competition,
which featured students from Alabama State, Fisk University, Fort Valley State
University, Lincoln University, South Carolina State University and Tuskegee
University.
Christina is the daughter of Sandra Dennard of Dawson and Arthur Dennard of
Newport News, Va.
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ASU professors develop innovative software for health management
Three Albany
State University professors recently developed an innovative software and
research product in cooperation with Southwest Georgia Health District and
Darton College. In a presentation at ASU, the professors gave the public an
overview of the development of the software to be used to improve heathcare in
Southwest Georgia.
The software, designed by Dr. Khalil Dajani, associate professor of Computer
Science; Dr. Zephrynius Okonkwo, professor and chair of the Department of
Mathematics and Computer Science; and Dr. Robert Owor, associate professor of
Computer Science, will support a health management research program to be
launched later this year by the Southwest Georgia Health District.
“The purpose of this software is to help improve the health and wellness of
Southwest Georgians,” said Dr. Dajani, at the unveiling of the software on March
23. “We hope this work will lead to ASU being recognized as a key player in
software development for health and wellness in the state of Georgia.” The
product has already received high praise from state health officials.
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ASU hosts workshop for school system data collectors
Student
information coordinators, assistant superintendents and data entry specialists
from across Georgia converged on Albany State University August 31-September 1
to learn the ins and outs of a new statewide student information system.
“This is the second Fall Data Collection Workshop we’ve had here,” said Dr.
Janis Carthon, the director of the Educational Technology Training Center
located at Albany State. “About 100 people are here, many from southwest
Georgia, but others from the rest of the state. Some are coming to find out
about changes in the system and others are new and came to learn how to code
information into the system.”
Entering data correctly is vitally important for school systems because the
information determines how much state and federal funding and other assistance
they will receive, Carthon said. “If you don’t code properly, you’ll miss out on
funds.”
The data is also used to prepare for the AYP, the Adequacy Yearly Report, which
determines how well school systems are performing.
Last year the Georgia Department of Education introduced a new statewide
electronic data collection process, which gathers information from school
systems throughout the state into a single clearinghouse.
“There are still glitches being worked out,” Carthon said. “And there are a lot
of changes in the initiative, such as getting away from using students’ Social
Security numbers and assigning them IDs from the State of Georgia.”
The ETTC at Albany State, which serves 14 counties in southwest Georgia, is one
of 13 centers strategically located across the state.
“These centers are partnerships between host educational agencies and the
Georgia Department of Education,” said Carthon. “We provide instructional and
technical training and assistance for all school systems.”
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