Bainbridge State College announced they will be hosting multiple big name speakers throughout the next six months including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, American Poet Steve Gehrke and the legendary comedy theater that feeds Saturday Night Live talent, The Second City. The events are free and open to the public.
President of Bainbridge State College, Richard Carvajal, said the speakers, all part of the school’s Arts and Lecture Series, will educate and inspire the community.
“It is truly rare for a rural institution of our size to host such a world-class series.  From a U.S. Poet Laureate to the famed Second City Comedy Troupe to the 39th President of the United States, we clearly have a series that sets us apart,” Dr. Carvajal said. “From our beginning 40 years ago, we were created to be our community’s college.  Our new Arts & Lecture Series is yet another way that we seek to education and inspire the communities we serve.  We have opened our events to the public because we want everyone to be able to enjoy this series.”
The series, which began Tuesday, with a visit from Max Brooks, author of “World War Z,” will feature events each month through April. On Sunday, Nov. 3, The Valdosta Orchestra will perform; American poet Steve Gehrke will visit Monday, Nov. 14; Chicago’s legendary comedy theater The Second City will mark its 54th year with the touring of the company’s “Happily Ever Laughter” series at Bainbridge State on Thursday, Jan. 30; and American poet Andrew Hudgins will appear Tuesday, Feb. 4
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will be at the Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center, which is named after the former president’s dear friend and trusted advisor, Tuesday, Feb. 18.
American poet and non-fiction writer Sandra Beasley will speak Monday, March 31 and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet laureate of the United States, Natasha Tretheway, will be the final guest speaker in the College’s Arts and Lecture Series on Tuesday, April 1.
Scott Dunn, the chair of the Arts & Lecture Series Committee and chief information officer at the College, said the members of the committee hope to inform, educate and entertain the entire community.
“Obviously, we hope that the quality of the series will gain attention for Bainbridge State in places that may have overlooked us in the past.  It certainly helps to have a few names as major draws to achieve that goal.  The focus on this type of activity might inspire students and benefactors that would have never considered Bainbridge State in the past,” Dunn said.
Dunn said since the beginning, the committee has deliberately worked to bring the larger world to the Bainbridge State community.
“We want to gently challenge our students, and community, about how they view the world and their place in it.  If this inspires them to change themselves or the world around them, more the better,” Dunn said.
The presenting sponsor is Allstate Construction Company, which is based in Tallahassee, Fla., and was the contractor for the Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center and the Student Wellness Center on Bainbridge State’s main campus, as well as Bainbridge High School.
“No series like this would be possible without the help of many great community partners, and Bainbridge State College is so grateful to Allstate Construction, this year’s Presenting Sponsor, and all of our partners who are helping to make this new series come to life,” Carvajal said.