Commercial and Residential Locksmiths in Kennesaw

KENNESAW, Ga. – The University of Central Arkansas volleyball team fell to Kennesaw State on the road Sunday afternoon. The loss was the seventh straight and dropped UCA to 6-14 overall with a 0-8 ASUN mark.

UCA was scrapping to start the match, keeping things tight at eight all, but a 6-1 run from the Owls made it 14-9. The Owls mixed in two more 3-0 runs answering a 3-0 run of UCA to eventually make it 21-14, and from that point, the lead was too much to overcome for UCA. Kennesaw State finished strong in the first set to take it 25-17.

A strong start was certainly needed for UCA to even things and swing back momentum to its side, and it was not what the Sugar Bears got. Kennesaw State got in front 6-0, and then used a 4-0 run to make it 13-6. UCA would climb out of that deficit later on thanks to a crucial 4-0 run capped by a Lexie Gregory ace to tie it at 23 all. Unfortunately, the Owls took the next two points to win the second set, 25-23, so the fast start by Kennesaw State came back to haunt the Sugar Bears.

The Owls would once again start hot in the third set, opening up a 7-3 lead, and would later go up 13-3. The Sugar Bears answered with six straight points to make it 16-11. A 5-1 scoring run for the Sugar Bears would tighten things up, but once again, Kennesaw State would drive home the last two points to take the third set, 25-20, and another fast start by the opponent comes back to hurt the Sugar Bears.

Laci Bohannan was once again in double figures with 13 kills on the afternoon while also putting up nine digs. Both Charleston Tidwell and Mackenzie Vernon finished with nine kills. Four different Sugar Bears finished with an assist, with Caylan Koons finishing with 30 and seven digs.

The Sugar Bears finally come home next weekend, hosting Jacksonville on Friday, October 20^th at 6:00 p.m. and North Florida on Sunday, October 22^nd at 1:00 p.m.

Kennesaw State University alumna Georgia McGaughey, a leading scientist in the pharmaceutical field, encouraged graduates of the College of Science and Mathematics in a commencement speech Tuesday and left the lasting gift of an endowed scholarship.

Topping off the return to her alma mater, McGaughey created an endowed scholarship to help future generations of Kennesaw State science students from underrepresented groups. The scholarship was established with a $50,000 endowment and will be based on merit and financial need.

“While writing my commencement speech, I realized how foundational Kennesaw State was to where I am now, and I thought it was time to give back,” she said. “I have a real affinity for helping diversify the sciences, so I hope the endowment can support someone with a real love for science — someone who might want to be philanthropic themselves someday.”

McGaughey enrolled at Kennesaw State while still in high school, earning dual credits toward both her high school and undergraduate diplomas. After graduating high school, she continued her studies at KSU and majored in chemistry. She credited several professors for further stoking her love of chemistry and for engaging her in undergraduate research.

“The professors I had were incredibly accessible and very supportive,” she said. “I loved that they were so generous in sharing their knowledge with their students, and I hope that I can repay some of that generosity.”

McGaughey is vice president of the data and computational sciences group at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Boston, working to set strategy for the research arm of the company. During her 25-year career, she has also worked for leading pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Merck. She serves as a board member and treasurer for the Silent Spring Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring the link between chemicals in the environment and women’s health, particularly breast cancer.

McGaughey earned a bachelor’s in chemistry from Kennesaw State and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Georgia. Away from working and volunteering, she is a pianist and an avid runner. She has two daughters, one of whom is a chemist and another who is a college student.

– Dave ShellesPhotos by Matt Yung

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 43,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

Opponent: Georgia State Date: Thursday, Sept. 7 Site: Fifth Third Bank Stadium; Kennesaw, Ga. Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. TV: ESPN+ Live Stats: Click Here

KENNESAW, Ga. – The I-75 series ramps back up as the Owls will host Georgia State on senior night Thursday at 7 p.m. at Fifth-Third Bank Stadium.

Kennesaw State (1-2-2) is fresh off a 1-1 draw versus Florida, still maintaining an unbeaten record at home with a 1-0-1 record. Kennesaw State was able to hinder a Florida attack that scored eight goals versus Stetson the match prior. Next up, the Georgia State Panthers as they return to play the Owls for the third straight year.

Seven seniors and departing graduates will be recognized 20 minutes prior to kickoff: No. 2 Morgan Thomas, No. 3 Teresa Wowk, No. 15 Kendall Hoskins, Elizabeth Rodenroth, No. 24 Madelyn Baucom, No. 29 Agata Giani, No. 33 Tianna Rivera

Series History Thursday's bout will be the 13^th time these teams have faced off since 2005. The Owls maintain the handsome 6-3-3 all-time lead. The most recent matchup ended in a 2-2 gridlock in Kennesaw. KSU also owns the longest winning streak in the series taking three straight games from 2017-2019.

In-State Dominance Ever since the programs birth, Kennesaw State has been a force versus teams in the state of Georgia holding a 35-17-4 record. Among Georgia bound teams, KSU's five wins over GSU is good for second most in program history with nine wins versus Mercer at the top spot.

Scouting The Panthers The most recent result didn't go GSU's way with a narrow 1-0 loss to SEC opponent, Ole Miss. Currently at 3-1-2, they will look to win versus the Owls in two of the last three years. Be on the lookout for the attack as they have massively outperformed teams in shots earning a 98-36 edge and shots on goal tipping GSU's way 43-18. They also hold an eye popping scoring margin with +15 in just six games with their 12-0 win over SC State helping in that category.

Agata's Big-Time Play Senior Agata Giani scored the game tying goal versus Florida with fewer than 25 minutes left in the second half to help maintain KSU's unbeaten home record. She was able to clean up after a left to right cross into the box to get across the first goal the Gators have given up all season. It marked Giani's second career goal with the last one coming Oct. 23, 2021 versus Liberty in the regular season finale.

Seniority Experience has been an attribute that's favored KSU and look no further than defender Camryn Simmons and midfielder Teresa Wowk. Both seniors are leading the team in minutes played (non-goalkeeper) with both players coming off the field for only a combined 37 minutes all season. Both players along with graduate transfer Jade Barkett, recorded full-time games versus Florida. Barkett has played in all but 18 minutes through her four matches.

Handling Pressure Corner kicks so far have favored the opponents with a 38-6 advantage going to the competition, but the Owls have continued to stand tall. Of those 38 corners, the Owls have only surrendered one goal (Troy). They also held Florida and South Alabama to four combined goals with both teams having scored at least eight goals versus prior opponents this season. The combined record of those two this season is 9-0-2.

Blye's Record Goalkeeping After acquiring the starting gig five games into the season her freshman year, Allanah Blye recorded 93 saves for a 85.3 save % last season. After a little over one year, Blye is the current all-time leader in program history in save % (83.9) and saves per game (5.20). The ASUN All-Freshman team member earned her 100th save of her career versus Presbyterian and started the season with back-to-back clean sheets.

Anabel's Amazing Attack Orozco made an immediate impact when inserted into the game versus South Alabama with a stellar goal to even the score at that point. She left-footed it in from the right corner of the box off of the post off of the throw-in feed from Naomi Moleka. The last freshman to score for KSU was Brenna Young versus Stetson Oct. 23, 2022.

Bryan's Brilliance The sophomore has been a contributor on the attack ever since she stepped foot on campus. She tapped in the first score of the season versus Presbyterian, already tying her goal total all of last year. Of her two career goals, both have been game winners (Presbyterian, Jacksonville State in '22).

Next Match The Owls will take to the road to face Samford at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

To keep up with the latest on the Kennesaw State women's soccer team, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSoccer or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.

Former student-athlete Brea Dickey will always remember Kennesaw State as the place where she rediscovered her love of softball – twice.

She first came to KSU as a heralded player from Lawrenceville, Georgia, earning ASUN all-conference honors and setting a Division I-era school record for batting average. Today, Dickey is one of a handful of former student-athletes who have returned to campus as a coach to lead the next generation of Owls.

Brea Dickey, Assistant Softball Coach

Dickey’s path to the dugout had a few twists and turns.

Growing up in an athletic household, it was almost a foregone conclusion that she would take to sports. She recalls picking up her first softball bat at the age of three and spending much of her childhood playing travel ball. Following an illustrious career at Collins Hill High School, Dickey began her collegiate journey as a member of the University of Georgia softball team. Having played for more than a decade in highly competitive environments, however, she began to feel fatigued by the sport and decided to step away to focus her attention on academics.

After transferring to Kennesaw State in 2019 to be closer to home, she unexpectedly rekindled the passion she once had for softball after meeting head coach Tripp MacKay.

“He changed my view of softball for the better and made me appreciate it again,” Dickey said. “You don’t come across that kind of coach often. He genuinely wanted us to succeed as a team, but he cared for us as people, too.”

After earning her degree in 2021, Dickey briefly served as a teacher in Gwinnett County but found the prospect of coaching her school’s softball team while teaching challenging. Just as she was considering a career shift, her phone rang. On the other end was MacKay, who offered her an assistant coaching position on his staff. Dickey could feel the fire igniting once more. The 2023 season marked her first since joining the coaching ranks.

"I can still see that passion of hers in her coaching role,” MacKay said. “It's always a great feeling to have a former player in the coaching world. But, to have one join your staff is even better. It has been a pleasure working with her and watching her grow as a coach."

Having once again discovered her passion for softball, Dickey said she aims to pay it forward. She recalls mentoring younger teammates while an upperclassman on a talented Owls team. Some of those players are entering their senior season with Dickey leading from a different vantage point.

“Now that I’m on the other side of things, it’s rewarding to see our players grow and find their success,” she said. “It’s important to me to be a positive role model to them and to show that women belong in the profession, too. I hope that 10 years down the road, they will come back and say that I’ve made a difference in their life.”

Chandler Burks, Assistant Football Coach

Like Dickey, former football standout Chandler Burks finds himself emulating the coaching style that made him an all-American on the field and a two-time Big South Scholar Athlete of the Year in the classroom. The most decorated player in KSU football history, he remembers sitting in head coach Brian Bohannon’s office before the first ball was ever snapped at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

“I was sold on a vision,” said Burks, who now serves as a quarterbacks coach at his alma mater. “I knew that I would be leaving home and that I wanted to be surrounded by people who would develop me into a good man, husband and father. This was the perfect fit for me.”

Burks holds the distinction of being KSU’s first football signee and was part of a cohort of student-athletes who built a winning culture from the ground up. The team lives by two mantras, he said. The first mantra – effort, attitude and toughness – calls on players to exhibit these qualities in the field of play. The second – win the day – challenges players to always strive to be the best version of themselves off the field and in the classroom.

The mantras have become so ingrained that Burks never misses an opportunity to celebrate his players, even rescheduling recruiting trips to watch them cross the stage at Commencement.

“Our coaches always told us that how you do one thing is how you do everything,” Burks said. “It was important for me to set the standard. I knew that if I took care of my business off the field that it would translate to success on the field, and I ask my players to do the same.”

After earning his bachelor’s degree in sports management at KSU, Burks spent a year on the Wofford College football staff. When a position opened at KSU, he immediately picked up the phone to express his interest in coming home.

For Burks, it was an opportunity to mold young men at a place he holds dear. For Bohannon, it was proof positive the football program was succeeding in developing student-athletes into professionals.

“Our goal as coaches is to provide an opportunity for our players to become the best version of themselves, not only on the field but as young men,” Bohannon said. “Seeing Chandler come back to coach at KSU gives a firsthand view of what the product of doing things the right way within our system looks like, and I could not be prouder of the hard work he has given to this football program.”

Simon Pritchard, Assistant Tennis Coach

While Burks’ leap of faith brought him to Kennesaw via Douglasville, Georgia, former KSU tennis star Simon Pritchard landed at KSU by way of Wales. From the first moment he stepped on campus, he knew that he had found his second home.

During his tenure as a student-athlete, Pritchard set school records for wins in singles and doubles. He would go on to earn the ASUN Male Conference Student Athlete of the Year award in 2016 and was twice named ASUN Scholar Athlete of the Year. Despite his success on the court, he chose to leave the sport to enter the workforce after earning a bachelor’s degree in economics.

“I had an unreal experience at the Coles College of Business and being a part of the Coles Scholars Program really opened up a lot of doors for me as an intern and later as a professional,” Pritchard said. “After working some long hours in the private equity field, however, I started to realize that I needed to find something I was more passionate about.”

During a meeting with KSU director of tennis Matt Emery over a cup of coffee, Pritchard was offered an opportunity to rejoin the program as a graduate assistant.

“It was the best of both worlds,” said Pritchard, who now serves as an assistant coach. “I was able to pursue my MBA whilst also finding something I was more passionate about. I knew early on that coaching was going to be something I wanted to do long-term.

Now after three years on the coaching staff, Pritchard said Kennesaw is where he wants to plant his roots. It’s the place where he met his wife and where they purchased their first home.

“There’s a sense of pride having both played and coached here,” he said. “I’m hugely passionate about tennis; I’m just as passionate about KSU. This university has given me so many opportunities.”

– By Travis HighfieldPhotos by Darnell Wilburn and Matt Yung

This article was first published in the Spring 2023 issue of Kennesaw State University Magazine.

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 43,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

KENNESAW, Ga. — Citing its enrollment growth, Kennesaw State University announced plans to build a new residence hall on its Kennesaw campus.

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved a $50 million construction project to build a dorm building that will fit 600 students, to be called the Summit II.

Additionally, KSU announced the regents had also given their approval to renovate the university’s baseball stadium for an additional $12.3 million.

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University officials said the new residence hall would be built next to the Summit student housing building which opened in Fall 2022.

Between the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses, KSU will grow its total residence capacity to more than 6,500 beds, according to the university.

“We know that students who live on campus and are engaged in campus life tend to achieve higher success in the classroom, and both of these projects align with that mission,” Kennesaw State President Kathy Schwaig said. “We are grateful to the Board of Regents for their support as we continue to find ways to enhance our campus to better serve our growing community.”

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Officials said the new dorm building will be a mixture of single and double-bedroom suites, mainly intended for freshman students. The Summit II will also have community areas and study spaces and is expected to open for use during the Fall 2026 semester.

Separately, KSU’s Stillwell Stadium, across from the current Summit dorms, will also be overhauled.

According to the university, the Owls stadium, in use for baseball since 1984, will have a new turf installed, new lighting improvements, and fencing for a safer playing environment thanks to a $12.3 million project fund.

Most of the money for the stadium will be funded through private donations, according to KSU.

The stadium will also receive new dugouts, new press and media areas, as well as more concessions spots and a 1,500-seat expansion.

KSU said the stadium renovations would coincide with the university’s Athletics program’s move to Conference USA in the 2024-2025 academic year.

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