by Kylie Rowe, photos by Maggie Forrester

P aige Blakemore – a senior Mass Communication major from Flintstone, Georgia – is the 2024-2025 Usery Fellow at Georgia College & State University.

The Usery Fellowship is named for W. J. Usery, Jr., the 15th United States Secretary of Labor, and is dedicated to recognizing students who exemplify excellence in leadership for the public good.

Blakemore is a member of the John E. Sallstrom Honors College, the 2024 Omicron Delta Kappa Emerging Leader of the Year and an alumna of the Leadership Program and Georgia Education Mentorship (GEM) Program. She is also the current chairwoman of the Council of Student Ambassadors and Managing Editor of “The Colonnade” student newspaper.

“My on-campus positions have taught me extensive leadership skills and the example I wish to set for others,” said Blakemore. “Through these opportunities, I found my passion for people and what it means to be an empathetic and effective leader.”

“As a first-generation college student from a rural county, I am particularly passionate about promoting educational opportunities for individuals with similar backgrounds,” said Blakemore. “I strongly believe that education is a powerful tool for social mobility and that everyone is entitled to a quality education."

Fellows contribute to Georgia College Leadership Programs, assisting with events such as the Usery Forum on Leadership, the Leadership Ideas Festival and TEDxGeorgiaCollege. In March, Blakemore helped host the Usery Forum on Leadership featuring the Honorable Steve C. Jones, Senior United States District Court Judge. Before the Forum, Blakemore acted as Judge Jones’ campus host, accompanying him to coffee with President Cathy Cox.

At the forum in Magnolia Ballroom, Judge Jones spoke to an audience of Georgia College nursing students, members of the Georgia Education Mentorship (GEM) program, honor students, and Georgia College faculty and staff members. Jones spoke for ten minutes before sitting down for a Q&A session with Blakemore and Director of Leadership Programs Dr. Harold Mock.

Usery Fellow nominees are evaluated on the basis of their potential for civic and public leadership, as well as a demonstrated commitment to connecting the academic life of the university to questions of leadership and citizenship, civic affairs and public life. The fellowship is funded by the Kim Usery Foundation along with Melvin and Lisa Usery (’72) and includes a financial award to support academic and research pursuits.

“There are countless people to thank for helping me become the leader I aspire to be. Any teacher or professor who has taken the time to mentor me or cheer me on, I have endless gratitude for you,” said Blakemore. “Throughout my academic career, I have been lucky enough to learn from extraordinary educators that have wholeheartedly shaped me into the person I am today.”

The next event sponsored by Georgia College Leadership Programs is the Leadership Ideas Festival on April 11.