What is GSYPF?

The Graduate Students & Young Professionals Fellowship (GSYPF) at the UGA Catholic Center is dedicated to providing a Christian atmosphere for graduate students and other young professionals to gather for spiritual, social, and community service activities.

Membership

All graduate students and young professionals are invited to participate in activities sponsored by the GSYPF. Internationals, couples and singles are all welcome. All you need to do is let someone know that you are interested in participating. Call or e-mail the Administrator/Publicist Peer Minister so that you can start receiving weekly emails about GSYPF happenings. You can also fill out the on-line GSYPF registration form for submission to the Catholic Center at your convenience. More information about GSYPF and other special interest groups at the Catholic Center can be found online at the Catholic Center web site.

Fellowship

Fellowship activities, whether they be social, spiritual or community service oriented are held at various times during the year. Information regarding upcoming events is disseminated weekly via the GSYPF email distribution list. Some events are publicized in the Catholic Center Bulletin. Some typical GSYPF social gatherings have included pot-lucks, going out to dinner, watching movies, bowling, game nights, hiking, and trips to Six Flags. Outreach activities for GSYPF have included bake sale fundraisers, preparing Sunday Night Dinners and participating in activities sponsored by the Catholic Center's Outreach Committee, such as Adopt-a-Highway. Past spiritual programs have included one-day and weekend retreats, discussions with visiting clergy, a book club, participation in Catholic Center community programs of a spiritual nature and presentations by Fr. Jack and Fr. Tom.

Bible Study

The Bible study discussion group meets on most Mondays at 7:00pm at the Catholic Center. Meetings consist of a discussion based on a study guide booklet (past Bible study guide topics have been anything from the "Book of Proverbs" to "Surviving Life in the Fast Lane") followed by refreshments and a bit of social time. Each study lasts about 8-12 weeks and interested newcomers are welcome to drop in at any time.

Peer Ministers

A peer ministry group works to meet the needs of the community by planning opportunities for fellowship. There are 5 peer ministers: Bible Study, Outreach Programs, Spiritual Programs, Social Programs, and Administrator/Publicist. Here is a short directory for peer minister contact information:

• Bible Study: Christy Sinksen works at the Georgia Museum of Art and is a graduate of UGA. Christy has been a peer minister since December 1999. She can be reached by phone at 706-613-0921 or e-mail at csinksen@uga.edu.
  
  
• Outreach Programs: Laura Williams is a doctoral student in the Department of Microbiology at UGA. She has been a peer minister since spring 2004. She can be reached at 706-542-2664 or lew13@uga.edu.
  
  
• Spiritual Programs: Elizabete Vasconcelos, an Adjunct Professor in the English Department at UGA and contributing writer for Southern Distinction magazine, has been a peer minister since April 2003. She may be reached by phone at 706-613-1398 or e-mail at evascon@uga.edu.
  
  
• Social Programs: Andrea Sinclair is a veterinarian who did her residency at UGA.  After she graduated, she managed to stay in Athens by getting a job as a technical service veterinarian for a vaccine company.  Andrea has been a peer minister since fall 2006 and can be reached by phone at 706-338-3916 or e-mail at asinclair12@hotmail.com.
  
  
• Administrator/Publicist: Sherry Clouser is Coordinator of Instructional and Distance Technologies at the Center for Teaching & Learning at UGA. Sherry has been a peer minister since May 2002. She can be reached by phone at 706-542-0525 or e-mail at sac@uga.edu.

Any of the peer ministers would be happy to tell you more about GSYPF and how to get involved. For new friends and old, we value your feedback. Please share your thoughts, ideas and suggestions with us. Contact a Peer Minister today!