Peach State Poll: Georgians find higher education important to success
Almost all Georgia residents (98 percent) say that a college education is either very important (83 percent) or somewhat important (15 percent) for an individual to succeed in life today, according to the latest Peach State Poll, conducted by the university’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

When considering the importance of higher education, quality is the most important concern. A majority of Georgians (55 percent) said that they would not compromise quality for wider access to Georgia’s colleges and universities.

At the same time, Georgians have a very high opinion of the institutions of higher education in the state. Twenty-one percent of the public rate Georgia’s colleges and universities as excellent, and another 57 percent rate them as good. In addition, 27 percent rate the colleges and universities in the Atlanta/Athens area as excellent, and 48 percent rate them as good. Only 3 percent rated the colleges and universities in both Georgia and those in the Atlanta/Athens area as poor.

New study-abroad fund to honor slain alumna and French honor student
Following the tragic death of alumna Meredith Emerson, who professors called an outstanding student of French language, literature and culture, a fund is being established in her memory at UGA to support students studying abroad in French-speaking countries.

When fully endowed, the Meredith Hope Emerson Memorial Fund for Study Abroad will be given to a UGA student each year for study in a French-speaking country, with preference given to current and former residents of the French Language Community.

Tax deductible gifts to the Meredith Hope Emerson Memorial Award for Study Abroad can be made by check or credit card. Make checks payable to the Arch Foundation and write “Meredith Emerson” in the memo line. Send checks to Suzi Wong (gifts officer for the Romance languages department at UGA) c/o the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, 124 Old College, UGA, Athens, GA. 30602. To make donations by credit card, go to www.rom.uga.edu/emersonaward.html, click on “contribute now” and donate to the Romance languages account. Follow all links and at the “checkout” point, in the box for indicating special designation, write “in memory of Meredith Emerson.”

For gifts of stock, matching gifts or other questions, call Wong at (706) 542-9867.

Top authors to speak on campus at 39th children’s literature conference
Some of the nation’s top authors and illustrators of children’s books will speak during the
39th annual Conference on Children’s Literature Feb. 29–March 1 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel.

The conference is a celebration of children’s literature and the culmination of the Georgia Book Awards program that involves thousands of Georgia children in reading.

Leading children’s book authors and illustrators, including winners of the Georgia Children’s Book Award and the Georgia Children’s Picture Storybook Award, are invited each year to the conference to speak and answer audience questions.

This year’s conference features Brian Pinkney, Caldecott Honor Medalist for The Faithful Friend and Duke Ellington; Cynthia Kadohata, winner of the 2005 Newbery Medal for Kira-Kira; Ian Ogilvy, winner of the 2007 Children’s Book Award for Measle and the Wrathmonk; David Wiesner, three-time Caldecott Award winner for Tuesday, The Three Pigs and Flotsam; and Mo Willems, winner of the 2007 Children’s Picture Storybook Award for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, a 2004 Caldecott Medal Honor Book.