Augusta Prep celebrates one year of the W. Rodger Giles Institute of Inquiry
We spoke with Head of Schools Eric Hedinger who told us that he was excited for the celebration even though this has been a challenging year after Hurricane Helene. 'I'm a thought leader that does not live with a negative mindset in fact I'm very optimistic. So, when that happened, I was the one of the first to campus, one of the first to break out a chainsaw and to help open up our campus and community.' Hedinger said.
He says the school went into the Fall exploring project-based learning and design thinking amongst the faculty at Prep. 'These are really smart ways to approach education, and so we did different professional developments and really wanted to grow the mindset in lower, middle and upper school to those topics.'
During the party, Hedinger gave a speech where he outlined the Strategic Plan for Augusta Prep which highlighted three main goals. One is to make the Giles Institute of Inquiry a lighthouse for the community. 'I openly say to the community we welcome you to our campus. If this can be a space for you to bring your company to do thinking and be curious and it's an objective space, partner with me. In that same vein my students want to see what professions are in the community. And that's a wonderful partnership when we can reciprocate on that.' said Hedinger.
He also says Augusta Prep wants to continue building state-of-the-art facilities through their Annual Fund and campaigns. He said, 'The facilities need to be pre-eminent, because we are a pre-eminent school.' Lastly, Hedinger wants to continue to attract the most innovative and creative teachers in our area. 'The right teachers who care for students and have a student-centered mindset. Who really have that structure of clear goals for classrooms and want our learners to fail, but fail with a way to get up and learn from that with a growth mindset.'
Last year Augusta Prep was ranked as one of the top ten private schools in the state of Georgia.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Blake Tillery announces campaign running for GA Lt. Gov., visits Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Georgia State Senator Blake Tillery (R) kicked off his campaign on Monday to be the next lieutenant governor of Georgia, joining the several candidates running for the position in the state. Tillery made a stop at Daniel Field Airport on Aug. 11 as part of his stat-wide flyover tour to voice why he believes he makes the best candidate for the office. He said if he's elected, he would make changes for the better. 'One of the big things that I want to do is eliminate Georgia state income tax,' Tillery said. 'I believe that Georgia families are feeling the pinch at the pump. They're feeling the pinch at the grocery store. Working families are definitely feeling the pinch on child care. And if we can eliminate Georgia state income tax, we can give them a five percent raise overnight.' Georgia's current Lieutenant Governor, Burt Jones, is running for governor in the state, Photojournalist credit: Dania Alawir Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
This NY 25-year-old ditched school, sold his shoe collection and opened his own business. How you can follow his lead
Most parents would be disappointed if their children dropped out of college. But when 25-year-old Brandon Hollingsworth left post-secondary education after his sophomore year, his parents weren't upset — they were impressed. That's because Brandon had a plan. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now "He had a documented business plan, he knew exactly the steps he needed to take and he was prepared. I could not be upset with that," his mother, Nicole Hollingsworth, told ABC7 EyeWitness News. On December 31st, Brandon opened Don's Laundry on Hollis Avenue in Queens Village, following in the footsteps of his parents, who own two laundromats of their own. He even sold his sneaker collection to pay for the lawyer who helped him finalize the deal. Brandon, who goes by Don, shares his journey on social media, hoping to inspire others who look like him to chase their dreams. 'I feel like I am setting a standard for my siblings, especially, and other people that look like me,' he said. How this young entrepreneur made it happen As the oldest of five siblings, he grew up watching his parents run their laundromats, learning the ins and outs of the trade from handling customers to managing finances. "All the mistakes that were made, I was watching firsthand,' Brandon said. 'So I know not to make the same mistakes.' While that early exposure gave him an edge, it wasn't enough on its own. Brandon developed a business plan and made personal sacrifices to cover start-up costs. By the time he was ready to launch, he had a clear vision and the tools to execute it. Brandon has big plans to expand and serve his customers with care. 'Catering to my customers, making sure they feel welcome and accepted and they leave always with a smile,' he said. At 25, Brandon is part of a relatively small group of young entrepreneurs. According to Forbes, the average small business owner starts their venture at age 35. More than half (51%) launch their first business at age 55 or older. But Brandon isn't alone. In total, there are over 33 million small business owners in the United States. Small businesses — defined as those with 500 or fewer employees by the Small Business Administration — make up 99.9% of all companies in the US. Most small business owners make $70,781 annually, but earnings can range from $31,000 to $150,000, according to Forbes. Brandon's story stands out not just because of his age, but because of his preparation. And it's a good reminder that starting a business isn't just for those with decades of work experience. With the right groundwork, young entrepreneurs can thrive, too. Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. How to prepare if you want to start your own business Brandon had a head start thanks to his parents' experience, but you don't need a family legacy to make your dream of business ownership come true. Here are a few steps to take if you're thinking about launching your own small business: 1. Research and write a business plan Don't expect to come up with an idea and open the doors a week later. Take time to research your market and other similar businesses (including hands-on, in-person research). Understand what customers want and write a detailed business plan. A solid business plan should include a summary of your business idea, competitive market analysis, startup and operation costs, revenue projections and a marketing and customer service strategy. 2. Figure out funding Most businesses are bootstrapped, like Brandon's. Depending on your financial situation, that might mean saving for a few years to accumulate the necessary funds. Consider other options as well, such as small business loans, crowdfunding platforms, grants for minorities, women, or veteran-owned businesses, or seeking support from friends and family. If you borrow money, make sure you have a clear repayment strategy — and a backup plan in case things don't go as expected. 3. Don't skip the legal side A big part of being successful is setting yourself up for success and that means making sure you're doing everything correctly. Ensure you're registered with your state, have the correct business structure (e.g., LLC, sole proprietorship) and hold the necessary licenses or permits. You'll also want to open up a business bank account and get a tax ID. Consider consulting a lawyer who can ensure your bases are covered, as Brandon did. 4. Plan your budget Startups don't have to cost six figures, but you will need a clear idea of your operational costs and how you'll pay them. Plan to save three to six months' worth of expenses while you get your business off the ground. Account for rent, inventory, equipment, marketing and insurance. 5. Expect to work hard According to Forbes, 58% of small business owners work at least 50 hours a week and most don't take regular vacations. Expect to work long, hard hours — especially in the early years. In the beginning, it's smart to keep your operation lean and costs low, even if that means doing most of the work yourself. The payoff is that you're building your dreams, working for yourself and doing work you believe in and that your community needs. 6. Build a community As Brandon's journey shows, customer relationships matter. Ensure your business fills a genuine need and consistently treats customers with care and respect. In addition to building in-person relationships with your customers, consider using social media to connect with your community, potential customers and other business owners. Starting a business in your 20s isn't easy, but it's possible. With a plan, a bit of grit and a lot of hustle, Brandon Hollingsworth turned a dream into a thriving laundromat. And with the right strategy, you can start your journey too. What to read next Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Here are 5 simple ways to grow rich with real estate if you don't want to play landlord. And you can even start with as little as $10 Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Fast Company
5 days ago
- Fast Company
AI isn't coming for your job. It's just changing it
As the rapid acceleration of AI ushers in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a small cadre of AI evangelists is promising that this new technology will make the world a better place in almost every way. Everyone else, it seems, is worried that AI is coming for their jobs. It's an understandable fear. Over the next two decades—and probably sooner— tech experts say cashiers, factory workers, and software engineers are among the numerous occupations primed for significant job losses. A new General Assembly survey of tech hiring managers found that 54% said they expect their companies to conduct layoffs over the next year, and the employees most at risk of being let go are those who can be replaced by AI or automation. But if past is prologue, the AI revolution—much like the three industrial revolutions that have preceded it—won't so much eliminate jobs as create new roles that require different sets of skills. In the case of AI, there's the very real potential that high-tech automation will create far more jobs than it eliminates if employers equip their workers with the right skills to harness this new technology. But good luck finding employees who can work well with AI. Current talent pools aren't wide enough or deep enough to produce the AI talent companies are seeking. Nearly two-thirds of hiring managers say it's harder to hire job candidates with desired AI skills than it is to source candidates for other tech roles. As companies around the world teeter on the precipice of an unprecedented skills crisis, they should recognize that all of today's jobs must include digital skills so workers can manage AI and assume mission-critical tasks with far less technical expertise than ever before. Here are three ways companies can build the AI workforce they need: 1. MAKE ALL EMPLOYEES IN EVERY DEPARTMENT AI-READY Nearly every role in every organization can benefit from AI in some way, but some roles—and some workers—will adapt to it more quickly than others. Building an AI-ready workforce doesn't mean letting only early adopters and tech-savvy employees try out new AI tools. It means making AI available to everyone, from opening up access to AI-enabled tools to ensuring that workers across the enterprise have opportunities to experiment. Perhaps most importantly, AI training—basic literacy, ethical and responsible use, and job-specific functions—should be mandatory for all employees before the technology advances so fast and so far that some workers won't be able to catch up. 2. BUILD AI TALENT YOURSELF Outside recruitment of AI talent clearly won't be enough to keep up with the growing demand for AI skills. As AI becomes an increasingly crucial tool across a range of business functions, businesses looking to solve their talent shortages should start by looking inward and upskilling and reskilling existing employees to both enter emerging AI-focused roles and better integrate AI in their existing workflow. Equipping the incumbent workforce to use AI effectively can help them both become more effective in their current roles and open new pathways to advancement. Crucially, building talent internally can also have a powerful impact on retention. Employees typically welcome opportunities to advance their careers and be a part of a culture of continuous improvement, so helping your workforce master AI skills at this pivotal inflection point will go a long way toward building loyalty and incentivizing employees to stick around. 3. CRAWL, THEN WALK, THEN RUN As rapidly as AI is advancing, it'll be a long time before it replaces people. The companies that can remain ahead of the curve in the current AI-dominated labor market will be the ones that recognize both AI's advantages and its limitations. That means workforce AI training should start with the basics and ramp up from there. This approach starts with helping employees throughout the company find ways to apply AI to become more efficient in their current roles. It progresses to automating tasks to increase scale and accelerate output. It culminates with compiling these tasks into AI-driven processes managed by employees with AI skills their employers helped them develop. The race for AI talent is underway. The companies that will come out ahead won't be the ones who will try to use AI for everything right out of the gate, or leave the less AI-literate parts of their workforce in the dust. It will be the organizations that intentionally prepare their workforce for AI that's not coming to steal their jobs—but coming to change them.
