Middle Georgia State MVP: Sylvia Moore
Author: News Bureau
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2014 12:39 PM
Category:
Finding Greatness
Macon, GA
Full Name: Sylvia Elizabeth Clements Moore.
Age: 52.
Hometown: Taylor Mill, Ky. “My mother was mayor there.”
Residence: Warner Robins.
High School: Scott High School in Taylor Mill, where she was Student Council President, “Miss Scott High,” Superlative Award recipient, on the Dean’s list and participated in other activities. I pretty much did everything I could possibly do in high school. It was a fun four years.”
Family: “My son Jacob Hardy, who passed away during his first year at (the former) Macon State. He was so excited to be pursuing the degree that I wanted to complete, business/IT. He wrote to me once and said how excited he was about going to college and how he wanted to work with me when he was done. He always encouraged me to go back to college. When he was killed that same year, I knew that I needed to go back. Not for Jacob, but because of Jacob. He cared about people, including his mom. He inspired me to go back and finish my degree.
“My sons: Isaac Hardy and Daniel Moore. They cooked for themselves sometimes and cooked for me sometimes when I was in class. Daniel attended more biology classes in Macon one semester than some of my other classmates. He really enjoyed that class. Isaac was so proud that he and I were in college at the same time. What a lucky mom I am.
“My spouse: Adam Myers (just graduated fall 2013 from Middle Georgia State College). Adam took a leave from the Post Office to achieve his degree in Public Service and Psychology at Middle Georgia State. He kept me on track and focused. We kept each other focused. It’s really hard to work full time and go to college, but when you have a full-time cheerleader like Adam, it’s SO much easier.
“My father, Robert Clements lives in Mount Olivet, Ky. He is a published writer of short stories. My dad has never stopped learning or trying something new. At 85, he is still writing for the paper and preparing to publish his works in book form.”
“My mother, Betty Clements, died in 2008. That woman worked full-time as mayor of our city after raising 10 children. Some of us were raised while she was city councilwoman, fire chief, police chief and volunteer fire department member. She would have been proud.
“My brothers: James, Walt and Jeff, and sisters, Linda, Sandy, Janet and Darla. (Two brothers, Bob and Marvin, are deceased.”
Current Employment: Sales Manager of Exit Success Realty and broker over commercial and residential property management. “I’m beginning a new school to train new agents as well as give CE credits to existing agents.”
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business & Information Technology, Class of 2014.
Activities: Donate Life (late son Jacob was an organ donor), Optimist Club of Warner Robins, T.E.A.R. Initiative (Teaching Everyone About the Risks.)
Career Goals: “I want to open a real estate school by the end of this summer as well as increase my commercial and investment real estate education and achieve additional commercial and management designations. I plan to complete my MBA in the next three or four years.”
She chose Middle Georgia State because … “As a busy full-time mom and a full-time head of my household, the idea of obtaining a four-year degree in business meant a college education better be a combination of ‘Close to Home’ and ‘online when possible.’ I knew Middle Georgia State was going to be convenient while in no way easy.”
The one thing that surprised her about Middle Georgia State was … “I was NOT the ‘non-traditional’ student I saw tagged beside my name on my college paperwork. While I felt out of place the first year, I soon realized that many of the students were just like me - working, raising families and going to school. Non-traditional? I’m about as traditional as a Middle Georgia State student gets!”
Her favorite professor was … “Jerry Williams always seemed to want his students to think outside the classroom. He coached us on interviewing and presenting ourselves to an employer. He made us take a close hard look at ourselves as present and/or future managers. I had been a manager for many years before going for this degree, running my own companies since 1993, and I thought I was a pretty good manager. But he certainly made me re-think the way I had been managing.”
One thing people don’t know about her is … “I write songs. I’ve published many. Some are pretty good.”
The one person she’d most like to meet is … “Mary, the Mother of Jesus. We both had sons die so that others lived. My son’s death only saved five people (through organ donation). Mary’s son saved millions. I consider myself a strong woman. But, she is the hero of all mothers who have lost children.”
Five years from now she sees herself … “Running my own real estate school; teaching real estate management; heading a commercial sales and management company; finishing my MBA at the same time my son, Daniel, finishes his bachelor’s degree from Middle Georgia State; and helping nurture my grandchildren and being an advisor to my children.”