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Congratulations to our 2020 Southwest Georgia scholarship winners

Congratulations to our Southwest Georgia scholarship winners! We awarded $1,000 to 23 students selected by a panel of judges who considered: academic record, financial need, school/community service, and an essay. Including the $23,000 committed to this year’s recipients, Georgia’s Own has awarded nearly $140,000 in scholarships to Albany students over the last 16 years. Meet this year’s winners:

Alexis Crimes | University of West Georgia

Alexis Danforth | Georgia Gwinnett College

Amiel Johnson | Wesleyan College

Amiraica Johnson | Albany State University

Annlyn Royal | Berry College

Ariana Drake | North Carolina A&T State University

Ashlynn Wright | Fort Valley State University

Ayanla Dudley | Florida A&M University

Ayanna Newberry | Valdosta State University

Bethany Phillips | Valdosta State University

Elijah Humphries | University of Georgia

Emily McClure | Georgia Southwestern State University

Gavin Baker | Kennesaw State University

Hayley Newberry | Georgia Southwestern State University

Jamia Lofton | Georgia Southern University

Katherine Smith | Truett McConnell University

Kirby Perry | Valdosta State University

Makayla Gay | Shorter College

Michael Harris | Middle Tennessee State University

Lindsey Creech | Georgia Southwestern State University

Rhiannon Belcher | Kennesaw State University

Sarah Mullins | University of Georgia

Tyler Coker | Valdosta State University

5 industries hiring during the coronavirus pandemic

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, millions throughout the country are out of work as businesses have been forced to make cuts or shut their doors altogether—the unemployment rate has skyrocketed, with almost 26 million people filing for unemployment. Even though many companies have laid off workers, some industries desperately need employees. If you’re searching for a job, check out these five industries hiring right now.  

Grocery stores

Grocery stores are hiring thousands right now—major chains, like Kroger and Publix, are in dire need of store clerks, stockers, and cashiers. Kroger has posted at least 20,000 job openings across the country. Also, with more people staying home, grocery delivery services like Instacart need shoppers.

Shipping and delivery companies

With more people resorting to online shopping, shipping and delivery companies, like Amazon, are hiring thousands of workers—Amazon has posted jobs at their fulfillment centers, as well as remote opportunities. UPS hubs are hiring as well, looking for drivers and warehouse workers.

Technology

Popularity in remote meeting platforms has rapidly increased as more of the country’s workforce is telecommuting. Companies like Zoom and Slack have posted various jobs for backend support and customer service, as well as sales. And, tech support companies, such as Support.com, are hiring remote support specialists. 

Online learning

As schools across the country closed for the remainder of the school year, over 50 million kids have been forced to resort to online learning. Online learning companies, like Outschool, are hiring instructors. From math and science to English and art, there are dozens of subjects available to teach and more than 10,000 classes offered.

Pharmacies

Almost half of Americans take at least one prescription medicine—despite the ongoing pandemic, people need those medications filled, as well as other conveniences pharmacies provide. So, many pharmacies are hiring more customer service associates and pharmacists. CVS and Walgreens are two major pharmacies that are searching for workers to fill these positions.

We understand that the job market is tough right now—but rest assured, Georgia’s Own is here for you and is determined to help you in any way we can. Please visit our website to view the resources we’re offering to members and the community.

How to help small businesses during COVID-19

Many locally owned businesses are struggling because of COVID-19. With social distancing measures in place, small businesses are either drastically changing how they operate or shutting their doors altogether. However, there are various ways you can help local businesses stay afloat. Here are five things you can do to help small businesses in your community survive:

Purchase gift cards

Gift cards are a great way to support small businesses while maintaining social distancing. By purchasing a gift card, you’re still contributing to local businesses, and you can shop or go out to eat at a later date. This especially helps places that have had to completely shut their doors, like nail and hair salons or boutiques. Most places allow you to purchase gift cards on their website.

Continue to shop online

Shopping online is another fantastic way to practice social distancing and continue supporting local businesses. Despite closing their doors to foot traffic, many small businesses are still open and operating, offering curbside pick-up or delivery. Even if some businesses don’t have the option to purchase online, you can often shop by simply messaging them through social media sites like Instagram or calling the store and placing an order directly.

Get takeout

Many local restaurants offer takeout or curbside pick-up. Most restaurants are also waiving delivery fees or offering no-contact delivery—meaning the delivery driver leaves your order outside of your door. If you plan having your food delivered, try to order directly from the restaurant, so you know they’re receiving 100% of the profits. A majority of food delivery services take a portion of the profits for themselves or charge restaurants high fees.

Contribute to a fundraising campaign

If you don’t feel comfortable ordering from restaurants, you could contribute to a fundraising campaign. Many restaurants and other small businesses are starting fundraisers for their employees who aren’t working their full hours or aren’t working altogether. Most post the fundraisers on their social media pages—all you have to do is donate online. However, do your research to be sure that what you’re donating to is legitimate. And, if your favorite restaurant doesn’t have a fundraising campaign, you could even start one for them.

Share on social media

If you’re not in the place to contribute financially, that’s okay. You can still help small businesses by solely sharing their posts on social media. Share a local restaurant’s menu or a local boutique’s post about their virtual styling appointments—either way, a simple share goes a long way, and it’s greatly appreciated by many small businesses.

Georgia’s Own Credit Union recognized for community outreach

Georgia’s Own Credit Union was recognized by BadCredit.org for our initiatives during 2019’s 85 Acts of Kindness.

Our very own Adam Marlowe, Principal Market Development Officer, discussed our constant dedication to improving the community—an important philosophy of Georgia’s Own. From partnering with organizations, such as L.E.A.D and Action Ministries, to promoting financial wellness, Georgia’s Own consciously prioritizes giving back to our members and their communities.

Because of our efforts, we received the BadCredit.org Editor’s Choice Award for Community Commitment.

Click here to learn more about our endeavors during 85 Acts of Kindness.

Creative ways for college students to make money

Juggling school and work can become frustrating for many students, but there are many creative ways to earn extra cash on your own timeline. After hitting the books all night and attending class, it can be discouraging to flip burgers in a hot kitchen. Here are 10 unique ways to get the cash you need without all the burgers and fries.

Watch Movie Previews: Sign up at InboxDollars. As soon as you sign up, you get $5. That’s pretty easy work. But, if you want to earn even more, just take a look at the site to see the variety of ways you can earn cash.

inboxdollars.com

Share Your Opinion: Everyone’s got one…an opinion that is, so you might as well share. Complete online surveys at MyPoints for cash and get $5 just for signing up. The site rewards you in gift cards for completing polls, surveys, and so much more. Swagbucks is another site that rewards you for completing surveys and other small online tasks. Again, you get $5 just for signing up…that’s practically free money.

mypoints.com | swagbucks.com

Exercise: Yes, exercise. Something you probably already do each day will get you paid. HealthyWage pays you to lose weight if you’re willing to bet on yourself. Complete a few short questions about your weight, age, etc., then bid and let the games begin. Become healthier and earn money doing it. You could win up to $10,000 depending on how much money you put on the table. Sounds like a win-win situation if you’re willing to do the work.

healthywage.com

Pet Sit: Like pets? Enjoy some fun time with furry friends. It’s flexible and you choose your own schedule. Sign up to help pet owners with their cats or dogs at Rover, and earn up to $1,000 per month.

rover.com

Offer Rideshare Services: Use your car to make money with Uber or Lyft…or both. Turn the app on or off whenever you like. You work when you want, and you get to meet new people and share stories (only with the passengers who are in a chatty mood).

uber.com | lyft.com

Work for hire: Got skills? Many companies outsource jobs to freelancers on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and other freelancing websites. Choose the gigs you want to complete on a timeline decided by you and the client. Work when you want and gain the experience you need to pad your resume.

upwork.com | fiverr.com

Complete Tasks: Create an account at Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and choose a job. Make up to $500 by performing “human intelligence tasks” from home on your own schedule.

mturk.com

Deliver Packages: Become an Amazon Flex delivery driver. You’ll be delivering goods to consumers via Amazon.com, Prime Now, Amazon Fresh, and Amazon Restaurants. Amazon Flex pays between $18 and $25 per hour. The app allows you to set your own work schedule and work when you want.

flex.amazon.com

Take pics: Have a great eye? You can take photos and sell them on an app called Foap. Get paid for snapping pictures!

foap.com

Nanny: Babysitting has always been a great way to earn extra income. Find a great babysitting gig at Care.com and offer your time at a rate you choose.

care.com

Q&A with Nicki Collen

Coach Nicki Collen of the Atlanta Dream basketball team has made an incredible impression on the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She started her career playing basketball at Purdue University. After college, she played professional basketball in Greece for a short period of time.

Her coaching career began as an assistant basketball coach at Colorado State. She eventually moved on to coach under Curt Miller with the Connecticut Sun. Collen helped the Sun turn around from a 14-20 finish in 2016 to a 21-13 record in 2017.

In 2017, Collen was announced as the head coach of the Atlanta Dream, taking over for Michael Cooper. Just a year later, in August of 2018, Collen was selected as the WNBA Coach of the Year. Read more about Coach Collen and her journey below!

What does your daily routine look like?
My daily routine starts at about 6:30 a.m. I shower then have breakfast, which typically consists of a protein pancake or smoothie and some athletic greens. I attend an 8:30 a.m. pre-practice staff meeting, followed by practice at 10:00 a.m. After practice, I handle office work and get in an afternoon workout, have dinner, and watch film work on my team and our opponents to plan the next day’s practice. I close out my day with some family time by watching Netflix or talking
with my family.

What is your fondest memory as a coach?
One of my fondest memories as a coach was beating Tennessee at Thompson Boling Arena when Pat Summit was still the coach and I was the assistant at Arkansas. It was Arkansas’s first-ever win at Tennessee.

Do you have a pre-game ritual?
For my pre-game ritual, I like to get a hard workout in before choosing my dress and shoes for the game. I also enjoy a very long shower. During the National Anthem, I pray for the health of my players and my ability to lead them in a positive way.

How do you channel your frustration during a game?
I focus on the next play. If I lose my cool, my team can feel it. I have to provide the calm to keep the team focused as the game goes along, though I’m not as cool as I appear on the sideline.

What was the most important game you’ve coached? Why?
The most important game I ever coached was my son’s soccer games when he was age four and just beginning to love playing sports. I was often dragging along his twin sister and a baby, but this was the start of his love for sports, competition, and having fun while doing so.

What are some ways you celebrate winning a game?
I don’t do much to celebrate after winning a game. Usually, I just grab food with my staff and/or family, but we are always preparing for our next opponent.

As a leader in women’s sports, does that push you to be more outspoken for women’s rights like equal pay?
Yes, I care deeply about women having a voice in today’s landscape of athletics and business. This is a unique time in history when women are standing up and they are being heard. I am extremely passionate about understanding the business of basketball, and more specifically, the WNBA.

What helps you recover after losing a game?
I am not a friendly human being when we lose. I channel our losses into watching game footage and finding ways to improve or prepare better for our next opponent. Typically, I am back to my normal self by the start of practice the following day after losing. Preparing for upcoming games gives me a great deal of peace.

What advice has any coach/mentor given you that you’ll always remember?
My husband, who coached for 35 years, shared with me that while coaching women’s sports, you have to understand the difference between allowing a molehill to become a mountain and turning a molehill into a mountain. Basically, there is a time to address things, and it’s not always immediately. Sometimes letting things blow over is better than addressing them and creating an even bigger issue. Knowing the difference is so important in coaching.

You started out wanting to be a tennis player. Do you still play tennis at all?
I do not play tennis, but I love to work out with weights, doing interval training, or walking. I will play some lax (lacrosse) with my kids.

Are your daughters interested in playing basketball?
My oldest daughter does not play basketball and has very little interest in the game. My youngest daughter plays tennis and lacrosse and is interested in giving basketball a try. She is very invested in my team and the WNBA in general.

Georgia’s Own and Ne[x]t Magazine are all about helping our members make smart financial decisions. Any tips or tricks you’d like to share with our readers?
Save, save, save! I have been lucky to never live on a hard budget, but having said that, I have saved money from every single paycheck I have ever made. Pay yourself. Utilize your 401k and company-match plans.

Just for fun—what’s something many people might not know about you?
I love peanut butter, coffee, roller coasters, shoes, fashion, and I am terrible at bowling. I say, I am 44 going on 14.