Return to Adult Learner Stories Main Page
Visionary and Philanthropist Extraordinaire
Words cannot express the significant contribution Delores Bunch-Keemer has made at KSU since she transferred in the Fall of 2002. Delores sees a cause and takes the vision to complete fruition. Her gift of giving back to the community have come to her through the example and inspiration of her mother, Cleopatra Jones. If the name sounds familiar, it is because of the movie of the same name.
Although not completely about her mother, Cleopatra was invited to the premiere of the movie.
Delores shared both political and historical memories of her mother with the civil right era and remembers having dinner with senators at the age of seven. However, mostly she remembers her mother’s constant sense of citizenship and generosity.
It was no surprise when Delores told me she held her first job in fifth grade as a receptionist on Saturdays for her grandfathers fuel business. She earned $5 a day and would have to balance the books; if she did not balance, she would have that amount deducted from her small salary. Delores attributes her beginnings of a career in finance with this experience. An incredible entrepreneur, Delores has financed her entire education through grants and scholarships. She has offered to do a workshop for adult learners in Spring Semester. Delores came to KSU in 2002 as a transfer student with credits from Marymount College and as valedictorian of the Pace University program in accounting.
She is the mother of two daughters, Kendra, 20, a college student at Atlanta Intercontinental University come this Fall and Nesha, 15, a tenth grade cheerleader that scored 1100 on her SATs in sixth grade.
Delores has initiated major community service projects and philanthropic endeavors since at KSU. Naming only a few: “The Friends of the Library at KSU”, Presidential Fellows Habitat for Humanity participant and most recently the “Clean Up Kennesaw Community Festival” with 65 vendors and the intent of relationship building with the surrounding neighborhoods to KSU.
It is with this heart, wisdom and hard work that makes Delores a noteworthy adult learner.
Champion and Advocate of the Adult Learner
It is indeed a pleasure to feature Joan Lanoie as one of our adult learners of note. I would introduce Joan as a spunky servant leader that is not as concerned about how others perceive her as much as making a difference. Joan transferred to KSU in 2001 with previous college credits from Glassboro State University in New Jersey.
Joan is a middle grades education major in math and social science and wants to teach with the intent of becoming politically involved.
“Being a boy scout leader is what motivated me to choose middle grade teaching because they are still willing to listen but willing to question as the same time—that should make for an interesting experience for a teacher. I’m not sure I’m ready for the hormonal
stuff.”
Not only was Joan a boy scout leader for 10 years in New Jersey but she also belonged to the Order of the Arrow (an honorary society with the boy Scouts by invitation only). Joan makes a difference in whatever environment she encounters on her path. She was a county committee woman for the Republican party for her district, Civic Association President for 12 years and was literally the water authority for a small city in New Jersey.
Joan was introduced to the Lifelong Learning Center when she came back to school. At the time the hours of the LLC were limited due to budget. As is Joan’s style in problem solving, she volunteered to keep the LLC open later. This evolved into a student assistant position and later into the current tutoring position she holds.
Joan uses her life experiences to help others. She took Learning Support math to refresh her memory after being out of school for 27 years. She credits Professor Tonya Jones for being a good instructor for adult learners because “she didn’t make me feel I was stupid”.
“I tried to pass the same kind of attitude to the adult learners I tutor. I don’t want people who don’t remember to feel stupid—it’s just relearning. I enjoy helping people to feel good about relearning something they use to know.”
Joan’s past includes being in the Coast Guard Reserves and that is where she met her husband, Rene. She is proudly the mother of two grown children, Amy, 24, a carpenter and mother of her first granddaughter, Austen, 2. Her son John, 20, graduated from Hiram High School holding the Paulding County record for rifle and was Captain of the Jr ROTC rifle team. John is a Ducati motorcycle service technician and has aspirations of going on the race circuit.
Joan has held the position of non-traditional student senator on Student Government and has been a continual advocate of adult learner issues. She was instrumental in getting baby changing tables in campus bathrooms. In addition, she is a strong proponent of more quiet study places on campus and revisiting the academic course pass/fail option.
In asking her advice for a new students Joan enthusiastically stated,
“The Lifelong Learning Center helped her to understand that adult learners have similar challenges as their counterparts. I’m really glad the LLC is open to all students; it makes it more enriching. I don’t think we can learn if we don’t communicate with others different from ourselves.”
She told of the Chinese students and how she loved eating lunch with them in the LLC and even went to their classroom to say goodbye. She hugs them each and told of how they giggled with delight. Now That is typical take a risk, friendly Joan!
The Warm and Generous Webmaster - John Finch
A picture says a thousand words and this one speaks volumes about John. You can see the exuberant joy mixed with a bit of little
boy, mischievous grin. John said he really likes the LLC’s borrowed slogan from Cheers, “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name”. Using the same sitcom
analogy, John Finch lights up a room like Norm coming in with a witty quip and greeting all he sees.
It was hard to find a picture of John because he is normally the one behind the camera. John is the volunteer webmaster for three separate student organizations; Adult Learner Student Organization, Kennesaw Communication Association and ABLE. John states that he, “. . .enjoys putting together Web sites that are easy to navigate that include useful content”.
Another area that John expresses his creativity includes designing landscaping.
“I can go to a property and see what the final result will look like. Kind of like an artist that sees his painting on a blank canvas”.
He will be able to put his creativity to work soon moving into a new house with his partner, Eldrige and their dog named Fred and cat named Ginger. You can’t help but smile seeing his screensaver of Fred lounging on the floor with forlorn eyes.
John currently works at BellSouth as a Multimedia Technician troubleshooting high speed data lines for the internet. While in the Lifelong Learning Center, many a student and staff are helped from his technical expertise.
He transferred from Georgia Perimeter College with an Associates degree. Although a computer science major, John aspires to go for his Masters degree in Conflict Management with the goal of labor relations.
When speaking of his 11 years experience in the Army, John exclaimed without hesitation, “I would do it all over again!”
At KSU, in addition to his webmaster responsibilities, John has been extremely active in the Odyssey Peer Mentor Program. His thoroughly enjoyed his experience last semester with his mentee, Matthew Magee.
“I think I acted as a sounding board. We e-mailed back and forth, had phone conversations and met in the LLC. I think it was a productive relationship”.
As secretary of the Adult Learner Student Organization, John was crowned the first King of Homecoming for ALSO. His humility made him a reluctant royalty but nevertheless he holds the honor for all eternity.
