Alumni

By Margaret SchellAs the Denny family siblings have attended Georgia College & State University, there are always two there together. First Georgia (’22) and Avery (’24), then Avery and Ellie (junior) and now Ellie and Mack (first year). Their sibling bond helped them flourish in college.All four Denny siblings felt strongly about choosing Georgia College. Since they went to a small, private high school in their hometown of Covington, Georgia, they appreciate the university’s small...

By Nadirah MayweatherThe 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...

By Margaret Schell
Charm Mapp (’03, ’06, ’10) always knew that she wanted to be an educator, and after two decades on the job, she has been named the Jones County, Georgia, 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year. “I fell in love working with middle school-aged kids,” said Mapp, who teaches eighth-grade math at Clifton Ridge Middle School, where she’s worked for the past 22 years. “I wanted to help them through their struggles.”Mapp earned her bachelor's, master's and education specialist degrees...

By Margaret Schell
When Georgia College & State University alumna Melanie Stephens Walls (’96, ’98) first picked up a basketball in fourth grade, she was hooked. 
She discovered her competitive spirit, which she still taps into daily in her role as associate head coach of the Tennessee Tech University’s Women’s Basketball Team.
“I love to win no matter what,” Walls said. “In doing so, I've failed a ton. As I've gotten older and having coached for 26 years, it's not about being afraid...