AMERICUS- Georgia Southwestern State University has named 19 freshmen to the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program, established to honor the legacy of GSW alumnus and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. These students are the sixth cohort to enter the program since its creation in 2019.
The newest cohort members were selected through a competitive application and interview process. The group commits to program requirements that include a 3.0 GPA, two-year residency, organization involvement, 240 service hours minimum, a 12-credit hour academic leadership certificate, and a senior research/service project.
“I am excited to see this energetic, eager and diverse group of students come in and impact the program, the University and the community with their passion for and commitment to leadership and service,” said Mikela Barlow, coordinator for the President Jimmy Carter Leadership Program. “It is an honor for me to work with these future leaders in this prestigious program.”
The 2024-2025 members of the Carter Leadership Program include Austin Hatcher of Pelham, Ga. and Emmarae Smith of Pavo, Ga.
“I have always had a close attachment to Georgia Southwestern, and I am honored to be associated with the University’s leadership program,” said President Carter. “They invested in me as a student over 75 years ago, and I want to do the same for the future leaders in our region.”
The program exemplifies Carter’s lifetime of leadership in education, politics and community service. Guided by the evidence-based “The Social Change Model of Leadership Development,” the four-year Carter Leadership Program allows students to develop their leadership skills both individually, within a group, and in the community.
Students who score a minimum 1100 on the SAT or an ACT composite score of 22, hold a high school curriculum grade point average of 3.0 or greater and have been admitted to GSW are eligible to apply for the program. Additionally, students who hold a leadership role in high school, whether on a sports team, a student club or community organization, also qualify.
The Carter Leadership Program provides students with academic scholarships of $2,000 each year they are in the program for up to four years. The program is made possible thanks to generous support from the Charles L. Mix Memorial Fund.
The deadline to apply for the program for fall admission is February 1 of each year. Learn more about the program and find all current members at www.gsw.edu/CarterLeadership.
Georgia Southwestern State University, located in Americus, Ga., is a public, four-year unit of the University System of Georgia with approximately 3,500 students. Georgia Southwestern offers outstanding professional programs of study as well as degrees in the arts, humanities, sciences and graduate programs in business, computer science, education, English, and nursing. Founded in 1906, Georgia Southwestern is recognized as one of the best value colleges in the nation. Visit www.gsw.edu for more information.