Print Issue: May 16, 2002

Southern Catholic College Supporters Break Ground In Dawson County

By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer

DAWSONVILLE - Having raised $9.8 million, about $4 million of which came in the last two months, leaders of Southern Catholic College broke ground May 7 to begin phase I of construction of campus buildings this summer for a scheduled opening in the fall of 2003.

Digging into the dream, about 400-benefactors, volunteers and other supporters turned out for the groundbreaking. The ceremony took place on the cleared site of the 356-acre campus in Dawson County.

Presiding at the ceremony were Tom Clements, Southern Catholic chairman, newly appointed president Jeremiah Ashcroft, Ph.D., and Archbishop John F. Donoghue. Master of ceremonies was FOX-5 News anchor Russ Spencer, a parishioner at St. Brigid Church, Alpharetta.

Above: Tom Clements, left, founder and chairman of the board of Southern Catholic College, chats with Rope Roberts, economic development manager for Georgia Power, Athens, prior to the May 7 ground-breaking ceremony. (Photos by Michael Alexander)

Southern Catholic will be an independent Catholic liberal arts college, dedicated to providing a technologically advanced learning environment grounded in the teaching of Catholic values and the Catholic intellectual tradition.

The ceremony began as a Knights of Columbus honor guard carried in U.S. and Vatican flags, and a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians played the bagpipes. Archbishop Donoghue gave the opening prayer of dedication, asking for blessings "on this center of seeking, of learning, and of teaching what is true."

On a hill beyond the construction equipment bagpiper Winter Taylor plays "Amazing Grace" on the site where the initial building phase will commence.

Taking the podium, Clements thanked all Southern Catholic supporters for their work, noting everything involved from preparing needed reports to developing the curriculum and school bylaws.

Clements attributed the success of Southern Catholic to the process of "listening and obeying the will of God."

"Things have happened in the last two and a half years because God directed people to come forward and actually participate in this project," he said. "I appreciate not only your efforts but your passion."

Clements recalled that two years ago Ashcroft e-mailed him wanting to help in the school's development. After launching a nationwide search for a college president, looking at over 200 candidates, Ashcroft, who has been president for nine years of East Georgia College in Swainsboro, was the committee's choice.

"If you want to deepen your faith, go back to the work of being obedient to what you feel the Holy Spirit is telling you," he said. Ashcroft "is the individual who contacted us first - if I just would have paid attention."

Ashcroft then said it's a historic day for the church, the county, the state and the Southeast. "I've spent more than 30 years in college teaching and administration in this state. I'm humbled by the opportunity and awed by the possibilities in leading Southern Catholic College. I consider it my profound privilege to serve and lead Southern Catholic."

He pledged that the school would provide a quality education enabling graduates to not only make a good living but also provide moral and ethical formation necessary for a good life. He plans to form partnerships with sister schools, especially North Georgia College and State University and Gainesville College, and to participate actively in the Dawson County community.

Various state officials expressed their enthusiastic support for the new school, and Linda Williams, president of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, spoke of the benefits to the area, including increased social, cultural, recreational and educational venues, and the economic benefit through jobs, business opportunities and tourism. "On behalf of all your new neighbors here, we support you and look forward to the many opportunities for partnerships that will benefit both Southern Catholic College and the community," she said.

The Rev. Jim Gaines of First Baptist Church, Dawsonville, said, "The faith community of Dawson County is overjoyed and looks forward to working with Archbishop Donoghue and Ashcroft together as we serve this community." He added that with the large Baptist turnout at a Catholic event, "it's got to be God's will."

The archbishop then gave a prayer of dedication for the school. He, Clements, Ashcroft, Rep. Clint Smith, Williams, Sen. Carol Jackson and Rev. Gaines then picked up their shovels to break ground.

(L-r) Jeremiah Ashcroft, Ph.D., Southern Catholic president, Archbishop John F. Donoghue, Tom Clements, founder and chairman of Southern Catholic, Rep. Clint Smith, Dawson County Chamber of Commerce president Linda Williams, Sen. Carol Jackson, and the Rev. Jim Gaines, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Dawsonville, stand before the construction site with their shovels in hand.

General contractors for the project are Beck Construction of Atlanta and Opus South Corporation of Florida, while architects are HOK architectural firm and Wakefield, Beasley and Associates, both with Atlanta offices.

Phase I-A includes construction of a residence hall, academic/office/ administration building, gymnasium and a facilities building. The expected completion date is next fall. The school will now need to raise $10 million more over the next fiscal year, part of a larger goal of $34 million needed to cover initial start-up costs, property acquisition, initial scholarships and the first construction phase.

UGA athletic director Vince Dooley also led a school cheer. "I have been extremely impressed with the leadership provided starting at the top ... There's no doubt in my mind it will be successful and my capacity is to be an advocate ... This is the kind of group you would like to have on your team."

Board member Carlos Rodriguez, owner of La Cazuela Mexican restaurants, is glad to be Clements' teammate. "He makes a decision and goes forward," Rodriguez said. "He doesn't hesitate. He knows that the blessings and contributions will come."

Rodriguez, a member of St. Benedict Church, Duluth, and native of Mexico, added that with the large Hispanic influx to Georgia he hopes to ensure Latinos are well represented at the school.

Paul Voss, Ph.D., explained that he is taking the career leap of faith to become the vice president of academic affairs, leaving behind his position at Georgia State University as English associate professor, because of his commitment to the Catholic intellectual tradition, which combines both faith and reason in the search for truth, justice, peace and beauty. He will be hiring all faculty and is in charge of curriculum development. There will be 61 hours required in the core curriculum, which will explore what it means to be human and man's relations to God, nature and community. "We're excited," he said. "We think we have an opportunity that is literally and figuratively a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Call (678) 584-0484 or visit www.southerncatholic.org.