Latest news with #SavannahStateUniversity
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
SSU student seriously injured in GA tornado
HENRY COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) — A Savannah State University (SSU) student is in critical condition after he was injured in Thursday's tornado in Henry County. According to an Instagram post, Malachi Chaney, an SSU freshman, is in ICU following serious injuries suffered during the tornado. SSU's student publication, The Tiger's Roar, has an article with a GoFundMe account for Chaney and his family. Malachi's father also posted on social media. Tray Chaney, an actor who has appeared on 'The Wire' and 'Saints and Sinners,' detailed the incident: NBC News shared video of the Henry County tornado crossing a road near Locust Grove: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SSU student-led magazine named best in the nation
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The student-led literary Magazine at Savannah State University (SSU), called Estuary, won first place in the 2025 Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Prize for undergraduate literary magazines. Estuary was chosen out of hundreds of entries by AWP. The prize is awarded annually to one outstanding, undergraduate-led journal and two runners-up. It celebrates the work of undergraduate student writers and editors, including exceptional content, cohesive design, and innovation. Ona Anosike, the founder and chief editor of the Tonic, a literary journal associated with Lesley University, served as the 2025 AWP judge. 'Estuary from Savannah State University is a bold and beautifully produced journal that reflects a campus community deeply invested in the literary arts,' said Anosike. 'The themes of resilience and liberation thread through its pages, not just in the work itself, but in the spirit behind it. From its sharp writing to its strong visual design, the journal feels alive with voice and vision. It's clear that this is more than a publication; it's a platform for connection, expression, and creative power.' Faculty co-advisors Dr. Chad Faries, associate professor of English, and Kelly Evans, instructor of English, provided editorial guidance and support. Dr. Faries also serves as senior editor for Estuary. 'I want to express my gratitude to our incredible president, Nyree Wright, for her visionary leadership over the past two years,' said Faries. He also acknowledged the support of Shed Dawson, director of Career Services and the Leadership Development Center, and Bonita Bradley, dean of students. 'Our co-advisor Kelly Evans and former advisor Elizabeth Kaiser played crucial roles in revitalizing the organization, helping to cultivate a culture of creativity on campus,' Faries added. 'We also extend thanks to Dr. Nicholas Silberg, chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, for his continued support.' In addition to earning national recognition for Volume 16, Estuary also celebrated outstanding student work through its guest submission contest. Members of the Estuary editorial team and the Estuary Creative Writing Club reviewed submissions in both prose and poetry. Prose Category Winners: Samantha Thompson – Best Prose, College of Education Macayla Moody – Best Prose, College of Sciences and Technology Keyonna A. Primus – Best Overall, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Poetry Category Winners: Kyndall Jackson – Best Poem, College of Education Madeleine Nolan – Best Poem, College of Business Administration Victoria Harris – Overall Winner, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Macayla Moody – Best Poem, College of Sciences and Technology Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SSU holds ceremonial pinning ceremony for spring graduates
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Thursday, Savannah State University (SSU) held its ceremonial pinning ceremony for members of the spring 2025 graduating class. The Alumni Pinning Ceremony marks transition between student and members of the SSU National Alumni Association. More than 100 alumni pinners and 150 graduating seniors participated in the ceremony. Graduating seniors receiving a bachelor's or master's degree were eligible to participate. Only alumni of SSU are eligible to pin graduating seniors. Vannessa Miller Kaigler, who received both her bachelor's degree in political science in 1983 and her master's in public administration in 1992 from SSU, delivered the keynote address to the graduates. 'My education at Savannah State University was not confined to textbooks or lecture halls,' Kaigler said. 'Here, I learned about capacity, my ability to grow beyond what I thought possible. I know that this university has shaped you into leaders who are ready to serve, to innovate, and to elevate. Wherever life takes you next, carry with you the lessons from here.' Marius Davis, SSU director of alumni relations, said, 'The Pinning has become one of SSU's signature programs. 'We are always excited to welcome students to the ranks of alumni and witness their impact on society as they prove that you truly can get anywhere from Savannah State University.' Davis went on to say, 'The pinning ceremony was established to recognize our new graduates and usher them into alumni status in a formal way.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Devastating': TRIO program director reacts to Trump's 2026 proposed budget
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The Trump administration's 2026 budget plan calls for deep reductions to the Department of Education. This includes eliminating support for programs serving thousands of first-generation, low-income and disabled students. In the proposal, the administration calls the TRIO programs a 'relic of the past.' Educators in Savannah said the loss of these services would be devastating for generations to come. Bobby Roberts is the director of the Upward Bound program at Savannah State University. He said TRIO programs have been a part of the institution for 59 years. 'These programs are undoubtedly important. Students are given the opportunity to dream,' Roberts said. 'You have to look at the impact that these programs have and the results, the sheer results.' Nationally, over 1 million students have been served through over 3,000 programs, according to Roberts. He said these programs help students K-12 stay on track and pursue higher education. 'This allows students to dream in color and actualize those short-term goals, which is of course is graduating from high school, but definitely aligning with college and post-secondary options before they leave strengthens the workforce,' Roberts said. The Trump administration wrote that institutions should be using their own resources to 'engage with k-12 schools in their communities to recruit students, and then once those students are on campus, aid in their success through to graduation.' Roberts told News 3 this wouldn't be a change for the better. 'Where does the mentorship happen? Where does the academic support happen? What happens to students who had access to special devices due to their disability when they don't have access to those things, how will those students continue to function?' Roberts asked the community to fight back by advocating for these programs and calling your local representatives. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Yahoo
By the numbers: Fewer people attended Orange Crush, and police made fewer arrests
During the early days of his tenure with the city of Tybee Island City Manager Brett Bell said that he had begun having weekly conversations with various people, including the Tybee Police chief, on how to make the annual unpermitted Orange Crush event safer. In that process, the city was approached by Orange Crush organizers George Turner and Steven Smalls with a plan for a permitted event, something that hadn't happened since the event cut ties with Savannah State University in 1991. After months of negotiations and planning, the Orange Crush came and went on April 19, with considerably less fanfare and angst than in years past. The 2025 iteration of Orange Crush saw similar attendance as in 2024, but fewer crime numbers than previous years, according to the recap Bell gave during Thursday night's city council meeting. Bell highlighted the law enforcement and community efforts throughout the day to feed and lodge festival goers and workers, and with cleaning the beach. He said he was very proud of the way the islanders reacted. More: How does Tybee Island's Beach Bum Parade and Pirate Fest compare to Orange Crush? Day of recap: 'This is just college students having a good time;' Orange Crush one-day crowd about 7,000 Although numbers have not been fully reported for the entire weekend, 30,000 people flocked to Tybee Island on Saturday, April 19―about the same number of people as the 2024 Orange Crush event. In comparison with 2023, which drew 50,000 visitors to the island on the Saturday, according to data from However, the island was inundated with more than 115,000 during the three-day Spring Break event. In 2024, the island experienced a precipitous drop in attendance when a total of 56,000 people crossed from the mainland to Tybee over the weekend. As for the crime statistics, TIPD made 22 arrests, 22 traffic stops, 184 calls for service and two stolen firearms over the course of the weekend. Last year, TIPD made 54 arrests, gave out 111 traffic citations, five beach citations and answered 526 calls for service over the three-day weekend. Three stolen firearms were seized. 'Those who came for Orange Crush were exceedingly well behaved, for the most part,' Bell said. 'They were there to have a good time as mostly college-aged kids on the beach.' Bell mentioned that officers did find a couple of vehicles that were heavily armed, including with AR-15-style rifles, during traffic stops. 'Luckily, there wee no incidents, and I attribute that to the overwhelming police, law enforcement presence that we had on the island for the weekend. You had to really think twice to do wrong on Tybee Island.' There were 125 officers representing seven agencies that reported stats from both Tybee Island and on U.S Highway 80. They reported a combined 457 traffic stops, 361 warnings, 114 citations, 12 DUIs, 2 felony drug arrests and one stolen firearm. Other stats include 27,580 pounds of trash collected on the weekend, 28 cars towed, nine on-beach intoxications, 10 minor medical calls, one woman in labor and one dog bite. What organizers said before the fest: 'Here to take accountability': What to know about Orange Crush 2025 a month out Though the weekend went smoothly, tension appeared to be brewing between George Turner, the Orange Crush trademark holder, and Steven Smalls, the CEO organizer of the event. Turner, who had been one of the faces of the event, often communicating with press and attending meetings with city staff, did not attend the April 19 festival on or the ribbon-cutting ceremony held the day before. He had stopped attending meetings leading up to the event. Turner is now demanding $50,000 per year for a licensing agreement for the use of the Orange Crush bane, or $350,000 to purchase and transfer the trademark. After May 1, Turner said this is will be a public offer, and a cease and desist letter will be sent to Smalls who, according to Turner, will no longer be an organizer unless they reach an agreement by that day. 'I am seriously not allowing any organizers including Steven Smalls or whoever to work with Tybee without an agreed upon signed and paid licensing agreement,' Turner said in a text message. Smalls responded with a lengthy statement, saying that Turner was now his 'former associate.' They met in 2021, two years after Turner was arrested on Tybee for damage to personal property. Smalls said he tried to coordinate with him to plan the Tybee festival after having organized several Orange Crush events in Florida. 'I didn't know the full extent of his troubled history,' Smalls wrote in the statement. 'It wasn't until I began engaging with businesses and clubs in Savannah and Tybee Island that I realized [his] reputation was severely tarnished and his involvement was deterring support.' That support apparently made him distance himself from Turner entirely for the protection of the future of the brand and the communities they serve, he said. Turner, according to Smalls, went silent 'for months' prior to the event, despite the fact that Turner was at the April 2 press conference, remaining unreachable until the event was over. Smalls said Turner was demanding money that does not exist for an event that had been put on to great personal financial loss for him. He is now pursuing legal channels to remove Turner as the trademark holder, saying that his actions are damaging the brand and the 'positive direction' in which the festival is headed. He added that if rebranding was necessary to preserve the 'mission' of Orange Crush, he would do it. 'I'm committed to making this festival a national example of how we can merge culture, commerce and community — and nothing will stand in the way of that vision.' Smalls wrote. Notably, many of those who attended Orange Crush said they were unaware that there was a permitted, organized event. If they were aware, they were unwilling to pay the price for a ticket for an event on a public beach. Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for the Savannah Morning News, covering the municipalities, and community and cultural programs. You can reach her at DAmbus@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Tybee Island Orange Crush draws smaller crowd, police make fewer arrests
