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From using the green screen in the Newsroom studio and experiencing virtual reality technology, to calling the Dawgs with Dean Charles Davis, the Destination Dawgs enjoyed a day at Grady College on Nov. 12 as a first-of-its-kind immersive experience on campus.
“I’ve had a bunch of Destination Dawgs in my classes through the years and the idea just kind of formulated to have a whole bunch of them over here for the day to show them the college and do some experiential learning activities,” said Charles N. Davis, dean of Grady College. “It’s important to me because Destination Dawgs make my classrooms better.”
Destination Dawgs is a program at UGA serving students with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 18- and 25-years-old. Destination Dawg students complete four semesters of classes, work-based learning and campus activities. At the end of the program, the students earn a UGA Certificate in College and Career Readiness.
Nine Destination Dawgs participated in the activities at Grady College, including Brantley Kate Jones, who enjoyed all the workshops.
“It was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed myself today,” Jones said at the closing ceremony. “Today was an amazing day.”
After registering and receiving an event T-shirt, the students enjoyed a Chick-fil-A lunch and a welcome from Dean Davis and several Grady College Ambassadors.
The group proceeded to the first of several different activities, starting with the Newsroom studio where students learned about delivering short sports and weather reports, and posed for pictures behind the Grady Newsource anchor desk.
The studio visit was a highlight for Ben Harrison, a Destination Dawgs student.
“My favorite activity was being able to deliver the sports and weather report, because it definitely helped boost my confidence in public speaking,” Harrison said.
From the Newsroom, the students rotated to a session where they discussed portrait photography, followed by a visit to the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE) where they experienced virtual reality environments through VR headsets.
Several deans from other units on campus, including Denise Spangler, dean of Mary Frances Early College of Education; Matthew Auer, dean of the School of Public and International Affairs; and Anisa Zvonkovic, dean of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, also attended a portion of the day to see how the program was run.
The final rotation invited students to the New Media Institute, where they were led in a digital AI activity to create a graphic with a digital likeness of themselves and some interests based on information they input into the program.
“My favorite part was the Adobe workshops and working with the AI generated pictures,” said Julia Nazarowski, another Destination Dawg student.
The day concluded with a celebration, including a certificate of completion presentation with Dean Davis and calling the Dawgs.
“Grady and Dean Davis are awesome for having us,” Nazarowski said.
Harrison said the day went above his expectations.
“I think this program is only going to get better and stronger,” Davis concluded. “It’s only now beginning to get the attention it so richly deserves. It’s a wonderful program, and we’re all made better by the presence of the Destination Dawgs on this campus.”
Author: Sarah Freeman, freemans@uga.edu
Below is a photo gallery from the Destination Dawgs at Grady visit. Hover over each image for more details.
For more pictures, please see the UGAGrady Flickr album.
Gavin Tucker stands in front of a green screen and experiments with delivering the weather, while Jen Duck looks on.
Julia Nazarowski (l.) and Katherine Hoots talk with some Grady College ambassadors over lunch.
Wes Unruh, CACHE lab administrator, helps put a VR headset on Aaron Johnson.
Brantley Kate Jones receives her certificate of participation from Dean Charles Davis. Each Destination Dawgs student who participated in the event received one.
Destination Dawgs students pose for a picture behind the Grady Newsource anchor desk.
Aaron Johnson smiles as he tours the Grady College Newsroom studio.
Claire Jordan (l.), a New Media Institute instructor, asks for a thumbs up from students before moving on as they complete an AI activity.
Andrea Briscoe, a clinical assistant professor, takes a picture of Dalton "Burke" Lyle during a portrait class she instructed for the Destination Dawgs.
The AI simulation led by the New Media Institute was one of Julia Nazarowski's favorite activities. Students created a graphic of themselves along with a list of some favorite interests.
Dean Davis and the group of Destination Dawgs pose for a picture at the conclusion of the Grady College Day.
