From first steps to leadership: Maggie Creekmore’s honors journey

Every alum remembers their first day at Georgia College & State University; the mix of excitement and anticipation as they stepped onto campus, unpacked their room and wondered what the next four years would bring.

For Creative Writing major Maggie Creekmore, those early days in Bell Hall were just the beginning of a journey that would quickly anchor her deep within the campus community. Today, as an Honors College student, office assistant and editor of the Honors weekly newsletter, Maggie’s GCSU experience has evolved from navigating her first classes to shaping the student experience for others such as being a representative of the Honors College within the campus community.

"I spend a lot of my days at the Honors house and Honors residence hall because it's come to feel like such a little home," Creekmore said. "I would say I value the Honors community and experiences I can enjoy with others."

Finding Mentors and Taking the Stage

Creekmore points to small class sizes and direct faculty connections as the cornerstones of her growth. She believes these relationships have been the keys to gaining the confidence to step out onto bigger stages.

Last April, Creekmore presented her work at three major academic conferences in just one month: the Southern Regional Honors Conference in Montgomery, Alabama, the Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference in Kennesaw, Georgia and Association of Writers and Writing Programs in Baltimore, Maryland.

"I really enjoyed SRHC because I'd never done something academic that was so big," she said. "Plus, I hadn't realized before last spring that creative works like my writing were applicable to studious experiences like this, so it was exciting to find a new outlet to share my craft."

Paying It Forward: How Alumni Fuel Student Success

From her move into Bell Hall as a freshman to now as a senior and serving as Student Vice President of the Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference, Creekmore's trajectory shows what can be achieved when strong institutional support meets a student’s dream in the making. The Foundations of Excellence Fund helps make these dreams a reality by funding Honors College conferences and academic trips.

"I can't imagine not being in the Honors College at GCSU," Creekmore said. "The opportunities offered in Honors elevates everything I do at GCSU."

The journey from the first day to commencement might be a distant memory for you. But your impact can still be felt as alumni generosity helps students like Maggie Creekmore receive the launchpad they need to achieve their biggest goals on day one.