By Nadirah Mayweather

T he Golden Slipper contest – an annual tradition from 1935 into the ‘70s, when Georgia College & State University was known as Georgia State College for Women – still leaves an impression on the hearts and minds of many alumni.

Meant to foster creativity and leadership skills, the event challenged students to a slate of unique activities, culminating in the awarding of a gold-encrusted slipper. Competitors would build prop mascots using found materials, write and perform skits and sing new lyrics to well known songs.

They would also build bonds – as did Doris Floyd Mann (‘71) and Carol Duncan McMillan (‘73), who were best friends until McMillan’s death in May 2025.

The two met over 50 years ago when McMillan arrived on campus as a freshman. Mann was her junior advisor, and side by side the two competed, and won, basking together in the glow of their golden trophy.

They were close friends ever since, there for each other through marriages, the birth of children and the loss of spouses.

They also held their time at GSCW – now GCSU – close to their hearts, so much so that they set out on a campaign 14 years ago to organize a reunion. They hunted for an entire year through newspapers and directories to find contact information for classmates, made countless calls and mailed handwritten invitations that, finally, drew 60 of their beloved friends from the classes of 1969-1976 to McMillan’s home, ready to reminisce.

Their tradition lived on, as alumni descended each year on McMillan’s doorstep, eager for this annual event. There, they enjoyed long strolls down memory lane, table-decorating contests, singing of their alma mater, charity clothing drives and class photos.

“We never knew when we entered Georgia College what an impact Slipper would have on our lives, for the rest of our lives,” McMillan said. “It lit a candle in our hearts that nobody will ever be able to put out.”

This feature ran in the Spring 2025 edition of "Connection." Click here to read the full magazine.