VALDOSTA STATE MAGAZINE 97 鈥溾�� you tell them that the drive to raise retention and graduate rates now permeates everything the university is doing,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou tell them that we are using national best practices to build a model advising program. You tell them that 15 to Finish is becoming the norm, and streamlined pathways mean that more students are staying on track to completion. And you tell them that the students who are with us 鈥� will join me on a commencement stage to receive their degrees in four years, on time.鈥� How should every member of 魅色天堂鈥檚 Blazer Nation family respond to those who say that the university鈥檚 athletic teams鈥� best days are behind them? 鈥溾�� 魅色天堂 is a place that has never minded being judged by the number of championships we will win in any era,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hy? Because using that standard, we fully expect to be judged well, knowing that there are plenty more banners to be hung and plenty more championships to be won. That鈥檚 right. You tell all who will listen 鈥� now is our time.鈥� How should every member of 魅色天堂鈥檚 Blazer Nation family respond to those who say that the university only cares about what happens within its own walls? 鈥溾�� you assure them that 鈥� 魅色天堂 has a new vision 鈥� one in which our success is fully linked to the success of the region we serve,鈥� he said. 鈥淕o ahead and announce that no longer do they have to wonder when we will stand up as one and plant our flag as South Georgia鈥檚 preeminent university. Yes, when 鈥� if we channel our collective energies behind a common vision, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish. 鈥� no matter the challenge, there comes a time when all things become possible. 鈥� DR. RICHARD A. CARVAJAL 鈥� 鈥�