The Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, April 3, 2024 13
Slutty Vegan Owner to Speak
at Savannah State University
Commencement
Greenbriar Children’s Center Holds Annual Meeting
Honorees and Outgoing Board Members shown with Greenbriar Executive director Gena Taylor (Far Left)
On Wednesday,
March 27, 2024, Greenbri
ar Children’s Center held its
Board of Directors Annual
Meeting and Awards luncheon
at Bethlehem Baptist Church
L. Scott Stell Banquet Room.
Greetings and welcome was
given by Board President Dr.
Connie Cooper. Invocation
was delivered by Rev. Chester
Ellis, Chairman of the Cha
tham County Board of Com
missioners.
Greenbriar reviewed
its program outcomes over
the last year, and announced
awards to its community part
ners, including the Depart
ment of Family and Children
Services, corporate partner of
the Year SDG Construction
Services and Floor and Decor
and WSAV as Media Partner.
Servant leader of the Year, Cal
vin McMichael.
Celebrating its 75th
year, Greenbriar has been help
ing children and families in
Savannah since 1949 through
a variety of programs, includ
ing one of only two emergen
cy shelters for children in Sa
vannah ages 11-18 and three
early learning and infant care
centers for children primarily
from low-income families. As
a non-profit, it has relied on
support from the community
for 75 years since its founding
in Savannah.
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“Pinky” Cole Hayes,
founder of the immensely
popular Atlanta-based Slutty
Vegan restaurant chain and
2023 TIME100 Next honoree,
is returning to Savannah State
University (SSU) this spring
to deliver the commencement
speech to the class of 2024.
Cole Hayes visited the uni
versity in the fall as part of
her book tour for her autobi
ographical book, “I Hope You
Fail,” which details the trials
and tribulations she overcame
to become the successful own
er of 14 restaurants in Georgia,
New York, Texas and Alabama
in just six years. As the title
implies, success has not been
easy. Her father was sentenced
to prison the day she was born.
Her first restaurant burned
down. Just as her innovative
plant-based burger restaurant
venture was gaining popularity,
a pandemic rocked the world.
“I had the privilege
of presenting my book at Sa
vannah State and personally
shared with students how some
of my most significant failures
transformed into invaluable
lessons and triumphs,” Cole
Hayes said. “I’m thrilled for
the chance to address the Class
of 2024 as they embark on their
next life chapters.”
Savannah State Inter
im President Cynthia Alexan
der said the university invited
Cole Hayes back because the
message of her book resonated
with SSU students.
“I think her life story
represents the path that many
“Pinky” Cole Hayes
Savannah State Uni
versity (SSU) faculty and ad
ministrators, led by Interim
President Cynthia Alexander,
recently visited dual enroll
ment students at Savannah
Early College High School
(SECHS).
During the visit, Pres
ident Alexander’s team, which
included Dr. Stephanie Alexan
der from the College of Liberal
Arts and Social Sciences, SSU
Director of Admissions Brian
Dawsey, and Professional Ad
visor Jan’a Prater, spoke with
SECHS students, faculty and
staff and the students showed
President Alexander some of
their recent projects. President
Alexander thanked Dr. Chris
tina Conners for her leadership
at Savannah Early College and
her continued commitment to
the dual enrollment program
with SSU. She also shared with
students what opportunities
await them if they continue
of our students have taken
just to get to Savannah State,”
Alexander said. “As these stu
dents navigate the path of life
they will have successes and
struggles, but just like Mrs.
Cole Hayes, they need to know
they can conquer and thrive in
the midst of challenges.”
“Thriving in Change”
will be the theme of Cole
Hayes’s speech on Friday, May
3, 2024 at T.A. Wright Stadi
um, 4437 Skidaway Rd. Cole
will address 350 SSU grad
uates, the largest graduating
class in the last several years.
“It is always an honor
to speak to the next generation
of leaders,” Cole Hayes said,
“and I am excited to be the
commencement speaker for the
Savannah State class of 2024
for that very reason - they are
some of our fiercest leaders of
tomorrow.”
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Savannah State University Interim President Encourages Dual
Enrollment Students
LIFE TOGETHER-
STEWARD
OSS CENTER
their college careers at SSU.
“It was a delight to
meet these students who might
soon join the long ranks of suc
cessful SSU alumni,” President
Alexander said. “As we contin
ue to grow our dual enrollment
program, the goal is to interact
with the students to learn more
about their goals and objec
tives, to energize them and
share with them the benefits of
being engaged in dual enroll
ment.”
SECHS and SSU
have a long-standing part
nership allowing high school
students to earn college credit
while still in high school. Since
2004, the dual enrollment pro
gram has helped numerous
SECHS students complete
their college degrees in less
time. This partnership is the
largest of all dual enrollment
programs offered at SSU, with
56 SECHS students currently
participating. Learn more by
visiting savannah state.edu
Savannah State University Interim President Cynthia Alexander, right, recently visited
dual-enrollment students at Savannah Early College High School to encourage
students to pursue secondary education
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APRIL 4-7
