From the President: Compassion in Action

This story originally appeared in the Canes Corner section of the Americus Times-Recorder newspaper.

By Dr. Michelle Johnston

Welcome to the second edition of Canes Corner! We are grateful for the enthusiastic response to last month’s debut and invite you to once again take a closer look at the remarkable work unfolding across our campus and throughout our community.

At Georgia Southwestern State University, we believe education is more than earning a degree. It is about becoming thoughtful leaders, engaged citizens, and compassionate neighbors. In the classroom, laboratory, studio, and athletic field, our students gain knowledge and skills. But in our community, they gain something else that is critically important: heart.

Compassion in action is a commitment we live out every day at Georgia Southwestern.

Higher education has always been about learning – deep, transformative learning that shapes how students think and how they serve. We challenge our students academically, certainly. We expect critical thinking, innovation, and excellence. But we also expect empathy. We believe service strengthens scholarship, and scholarship strengthens service. When students apply what they are learning in real-world contexts, learning is deepened.

On February 13, many of our students served at Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom night experience founded by Tim Tebow that celebrates individuals with special needs. For many of our students, this evening is transformative. They come expecting to volunteer and leave understanding joy in its purest form. In that space, differences fade, dignity shines, and our students witness the power of affirmation and inclusion.

Just over a week later on February 25, the spirit of generosity continued with our 5th Annual Teddy Bear Toss, hosted by GSW Athletics, where thousands of teddy bears and stuffed animals are thrown onto the court after the first basket in the men’s basketball game. They are gathered and distributed to Phoebe Putney Health System and first responders to distribute to children in need of comfort during difficult moments. It’s an exciting display of school spirit, generosity, and service.

On March 27, GSW will host Area 11 Special Olympics, welcoming more than 250 student-athletes in Pre-K through 12th grade from surrounding counties. These incredible young competitors will participate in a variety of events led by GSW student-athletes, coaches, and members of various student organizations. Organized twice a year by our College of Education, this event is a hands-on learning opportunity for our students and future educators to develop the skills and heart required to support students with special needs in our region.

And in April, our students, faculty, and staff will roll up their sleeves for The Big Event, in cooperation with the Americus Fuller Center for Housing, to build a home for a local family. Now in its third year, this growing GSW tradition brings our campus together with volunteers from South Georgia Technical College and Phoebe Sumter Medical Center for a large-scale service initiative that strengthens our entire community. The Big Event is more than just volunteer work. It’s a powerful learning experience where students apply real-world skills like time management, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and civic responsibility, while deepening their understanding of the social and economic challenges faced by families in our region.

GSW is developing students for meaningful and impactful lives.

These signature volunteer events are not extracurricular add-ons. They are integral to who we are. Service-learning, civic engagement, and hands-on experiences reinforce classroom instruction and prepare students for lives of purpose. Employers consistently tell us they are looking for graduates who can collaborate, communicate, problem-solve, and lead with integrity. Service cultivates every one of those qualities.

It is probably no surprise to hear a university president say that a college degree matters. It does! We are preparing students to make a lasting difference wherever life takes them. When our graduates leave this campus, we want them equipped for success and inspired to live lives that truly matter.