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Alum McGill’s Eye for Photography

August 6, 2024

As a travel photographer and writer, alum Grady McGill has gone to far-flung destinations, from Ireland to Russia, Alaska to Greece, South America to Canada — and many points between.

Student News

Beacon’s Chess King

August 5, 2024

Michael Wang represented the College in an online bullet chess league tournament last month, leading Beacon to second place out of eight schools.

Summer For Success

Sampling College in Summer Program

August 5, 2024

This year, 145 high schoolers signed up to tackle 28 college-level courses through Beacon's popular Summer for Success high school transition program.

Athletics

Beacon Joins New South Athletic Conference

July 24, 2024

Beacon College has taken another significant step forward in the evolution of the school’s athletics program with its recent admission into the New South Athletic Conference.

Career Development

CIP 2024 Experiences

June 20, 2024

Beacon’s Career Immersion Program is an internship-driven program that places students at Central Florida area businesses so they can experience life in the workforce.

Academics

Chandler’s Math Career

June 14, 2024

Dr. Kevin Chandler developed new approaches to teaching math by grouping the students according to ability.

Academics

Chandler’s Retirement

June 12, 2024

Dr. Shelly Chandler’s send-off at Beacon was full of accolades — the most prominent being the Beacon Medal, the College’s highest honor and recognition for service to college and community.

Academics

Wisdom for Graduates

June 11, 2024

Beacon College graduates took a victory walk in May as the record-setting Class of 2024 took its place in the college’s history.

Student News

Green Team Cleanup

May 2, 2024

Beacon College students from the Dungeons and Dragons Club and the Green Team worked together at the Venetian Gardens in Leesburg, Florida to give Mother Nature a much-needed scrubbing.

Academics

Cruise Industry Class

May 2, 2024

Beacon cruise management students boarded Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas and left behind book learning for a three-day excursion into experiential education on the high seas.

Career Development

ICAN Career Fair

May 2, 2024

Armed with strong resumes and stronger resolve, more than 200 Beacon College students converged at the inaugural ICAN 2024 (Internship Careers and Neurodiversity) fair in April with a shared goal: convincing potential employers that neuro-diversifying their workforces adds value.

Student News

Theatre Club Explores One-Act Plays

May 1, 2024

The Beacon College theatre Club explored science-fiction and satire in a series of one-act plays that collectively formed its presentation, “Past, Present, Future: A Collection of One-Acts.”

Ramblin’ Man Alum Finds Home Behind Camera and in Travel

Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man

Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can

And when it’s time for leavin’

I hope you’ll understand

That I was born a ramblin’ man

Allman Brothers Band

By Richard Burnett

Amid the colorful pageantry and mountain vistas of Bogota, Colombia, Grady McGill’s photographer eye homed in on mesmerizing local street-art, succulent dragon fruit on a platter, and other compelling imagery.

The photos he shot during that memorable trip in 2022 would later grace the pages of Atlanta-based Travelgirl Magazine, providing striking visuals for the publication’s entertaining piece on one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

McGill has seen much of the world in his professional and personal life. As a photographer and writer or as a leisure traveler, he has gone to far-flung destinations, from Ireland to Russia, Alaska to Greece, South America to Canada — and many points between.

A business management major at Beacon College (Class of 2018), the 31-year-old Atlanta native said he has also had a passion for art and history, which has fueled his lifelong love of travel.

“I’ve always been fascinated by art and the history of the world’s great landmarks, like the Acropolis in Athens, the Roman Colosseum, and Egypt’s pyramids,” he said. “Learning about them really made me want to go there, and when I actually got to see them in person, it was incredible.”

McGill’s work as a travel journalist began soon after he finished at Beacon. While he was job searching, his mother — Mary Welch, a senior editor and writer for Travelgirl — suggested he join her on some assignments for the magazine, until he found a full-time job. That’s when a star was born, she said.

“When he would travel with me, it became clear that he was taking better pictures than I did,” she said “After one trip, our art director chose his photos over mine. So, then Grady became the official photographer on our trips. He just had a talent to look at the world differently and knew how to capture that with his camera.”

On the writing side, it took some time for McGill to hone his craft, Welch said. Through hard work and determination, however, he has established his expertise and a growing portfolio of articles.

“Our magazine is 21 years old, and we have high standards of excellence,” Welch said. “So, I can’t give my own son assignments unless he can do the job and meet those standards. But he’s met the challenge and exceeded every expectation. He’s a hard worker and takes great pride in what he does, and I’m very, very proud of him.”

Looking back, McGill credits Beacon with being a life-changing experience. After he wrestled with attention deficit issues in his early schooling, Beacon helped him navigate those issues and opened new horizons, he said.

“Being at Beacon helped me grow in so many ways,” McGill recalled. “It was like finding the missing piece of a puzzle; something I’d been looking for so long. I saw a difference in all my teachers there, that they really cared about everyone’s success. We all worked together, and that made a huge difference.”