Georgia Southwestern State University: A Presidential Connection
In 2013, still relatively new to College Counseling, I met a woman while shopping at Marshall’s. This middle-aged woman and I began to converse, and she shared that she was looking for something to wear on her first day of work as an Accountant, having recently completed her undergraduate degree. Naturally, I asked her which school she had attended, and she answered that it was Georgia Southwestern State University. She went on to tell me that she had completed most of her coursework online.
She then told me more about the school and proudly mentioned that President Jimmy Carter had also attended. Hmmm? I don’t think so, I said silently to myself. Why? Because I knew that Jimmy Carter graduated from the Naval Academy after transferring from Georgia Tech. I chose not to do or say anything to distract from her enthusiasm and pride, and wished her success in her new position.
However, the first thing I did when I got home and got to a computer was to research Georgia Southwestern State University, and to my surprise, I discovered that this stranger I met was correct. Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, started his post-secondary education at Georgia Southwestern State University! The university maintains close connections to the Carter family, including a library named in honor of President Carter’s father, James Earl Carter. Additionally, Roslyn Carter graduated from what was then known as Georgia Southwestern College in 1946.
I consider Georgia Southwestern a hidden gem, boasting strong programs in Business Administration/Management, Nursing, and Accounting, as well as a relatively low cost. It’s also diverse, boasting an almost 32% black student population and four of the nine black Greek organizations. Perhaps even more surprising is that https://nurse.org/education/top-10-best-nursing-schools-in-georgia/ ranks its nursing school #1 in Georgia as of June 2024.
“On February 13, 1942, four GSC freshmen etched their names in the wet cement of the newly constructed driveway entering the campus from the end of Glessner Street. Six decades have passed since these students left their mark, but their names are still visible: Bill Davis (Desoto), John McCrea (Atlanta), Bob Logan (Quitman) and Jimmy Carter (Plains).”
4 Comments
January 14, 2025 5:14 am
What an interesting “little known fact” and great in information about a highly accredited college that is not appreciated for all it has to offer. Thank you for sharing. More parents would benefit from more information about schools that are so close and have so much to offer and are economical. Thanks for being such an asset to us and our children. You are appreciated
January 16, 2025 12:38 am
Thank you so much for your kind and insightful comments. CFS appreciates you!
January 16, 2025 12:31 am
We truly appreciate you for keeping us informed as families seeking institutions of higher learning for our children.
Thank you for sharing many nuggets that our teens can glean from this story. Most importantly refraining from making comments prior to having all of the facts or accurate information. An opportunity I have daily as a mother of a teen.
As parents we can only scratch the surface in knowing the various colleges and universities that offer exceptional academic programs that would benefit our students. Thank you again for sharing this story.
January 16, 2025 12:36 am
Thank you so much for your kind words. CFS strives to impart as much information as possible to our students and parents to ensure that they make informed decisions regarding college.