Before commencement every year, each college of the university selects an outstanding student to receive a medallion commemorating their undergraduate achievement. This year, Savannah Taylor, senior economics and world languages and cultures double-major, won two.

The College of Business (COB) and College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) both awarded Taylor their 2022 Outstanding Student Awards. She was also named Georgia College’s Newman Civic Fellow earlier in the year. 

“There are so many people I wish I could thank,” she said. “The list is so long, because it took an army to get me here. I’m blown away. I would not in a million years have thought this is where I would have ended up—I’m very thankful for it.”

Medallion recipients are selected based on a mixture of academic achievement, campus and community involvement and additional undergraduate criteria. They are presented with the medallion at each colleges’ awards ceremony and recognized at their graduation. 

Outstanding students are selected from each major and chosen to represent the college. For COAS, Taylor was the Humanities and Social Sciences division recipient. 

When she graduates, Taylor will be the public policy and research manager at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she will be immersed in policy, working to introduce Georgia businesses to sustainable practices.

She will work with Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, an alumnus and speaker at spring graduation.

“A lot of people get scared when they hear sustainability,” Taylor said. “We want to rework that in people’s heads to show them how it will be good for their business and good for their people. As long as I’m doing what I’m interested in and working for groups that I care about, I’ll be happy.”

The possibility of earning a sustainability certificate is one factor that drew Taylor to Georgia College. While here, she’s been a part of the Gardening Club, served as the West Campus Garden manager, crafted and maintained educational outreach and created a garden-bed rental program.  


She also had a hand in Georgia College’s compost production program, which will continue and expand after Taylor graduates.

“To be truly sustainable, you are doing what’s best for the planet, what’s best for people and, ideally, you don’t want to go bankrupt doing it,” she said. “Economics is a part of sustainability. For me, economics is a lot of critical thinking, problem solving and strategy. It plays into everything—I love it.”

Taylor grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia, with family in Michigan. Her family was always outdoors, and their penchant for kayaking, hiking and enjoying outdoor spaces inspired her interest in conserving natural environments and sustainability. 

She was enchanted by campus and remained for the liberal studies. Her professors, supportive staff and personal mentors were instrumental in her success.

“My professors had a lot of comments about why I got the award—some from freshmen year,” she said. “I was impressed and touched they remembered those things about me. When I enrolled as undeclared, it was probably the best decision I could have ever made.”