Georgia Southwestern students receive free laptops through USG Foundation gift

AMERICUS, Ga. (March 16, 2026) — Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) students now have greater access to technology thanks to a recent gift of refurbished laptop computers.

The University System of Georgia (USG) Foundation provided refurbished laptop computers to students across the 25 public institutions, including 20 students at GSW. This gift is part of a broader effort to support students with extreme financial need by ensuring they have access to essential academic tools and removing barriers that stand in the way of their academic success.

GSW staff members in Financial Aid and Student Affairs coordinated the selection and distribution process to ensure the laptops reached students with the greatest need. Financial Aid staff first identified students with the highest levels of financial need based on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submissions. Additional criteria were then applied to ensure recipients were students actively progressing toward graduation. Excluded from the list were students in their first term, those nearing graduation, transfer students, and students with GPAs below 2.0. After reviewing academic records and hours earned, the list was narrowed to 319 eligible students.

Those students were emailed and invited to claim one of the laptops in person on a first-come, first-served basis. All 20 laptops were claimed within two hours of the announcement.

“We understand that access to technology plays a critical role in academic success,” said Gaye Hayes, Ph.D., vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at GSW. “By providing these laptops, we hope to reduce barriers and ensure our students have the resources necessary to continue their educational journey.”

The laptops are a gift directly to the selected students and are theirs to keep. While they are not part of GSW’s IT inventory and are not supported by the campus IT department, recipients signed an acknowledgment form confirming ownership and responsibility for the devices.

Student recipients said the laptops will make a meaningful difference in their ability to complete coursework and stay connected with academic resources.

Ariyanni Raymon, a communication & emerging media major from Albany, said “My laptop was starting to fail, and I rely on it every day for my classes. Since many of my courses are online, I also need a working camera to record discussion posts and participate fully.”

Mason Jordan, a nursing major from Macon, said “This was such a blessing and came at the perfect time. I really needed a computer, especially with my online classes, and having one now helps me complete my assignments and stay on top of my coursework.”

Tyrianna Anderson, a nursing major from Macon, said “Receiving this laptop was an unforeseen blessing in disguise. I’m incredibly grateful to have received it because I now have an essential resource to help me study and complete assignments.”

Each laptop, provided in like-new condition, includes an Intel i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, solid-state storage, a 13.3-inch screen, Windows 11, and Microsoft Office. The devices also come with a one-year hardware and software support subscription at no cost to the university or recipients.