GCSU students enjoy the tight-knit community that going to college in small-town Milly provides. Mikaylie Hadden, a senior criminal justice and psychology major, appreciates the personal relationships she has made during her time at GCSU.
“Since Milledgeville and GCSU especially have such small populations in comparison to other cities and universities in Georgia, GCSU students have the unique privilege of forming close relationships with their peers and faculty,” Hadden said.
Hadden feels that the atmosphere in Milledgeville has encouraged her to participate more in serving the community.
“We have more opportunities to closely work together in various ways such as buddy programs with students who have intellectual disabilities, working in collaboration with the animal shelter to help get cats and dogs homes and off the euthanasia list and we get to volunteer in a way that helps the environment by doing monthly trash pickups,” Hadden said.
Jenna Vansant, a liberal studies major, feels that her involvement in the Millidgeville community has been an indispensable part of her experience at GCSU.
“Getting involved in the community in Milledgeville is so unique and important because there is so much you can learn from this town,” Vansant said. “GCSU and Milledgeville or Baldwin County are very different from each other.”
She believes getting involved in both GCSU and Baldwin County events will diversify a college student’s experiences.
“By involving yourself in both atmospheres, it allows you insights into different lifestyles and experiences that you may not be used to,” Vansant said. “I think that being a student here and involving myself in the community has allowed me a much broader experience than if I went to school and did nothing else.”
Val Pelaez, a freshman political science major, also notes the town’s rich history as a special part of going to college in Milledgeville.
“Something unique about going to GCSU is the historical aspect,” Pelaez said. “There is a lot of history behind the buildings around town.”
In December of 1804, Milledgeville was officially named the new state capital and served as the capital of Georgia until 1868. The city was modeled after Savannah, Georgia, and Washington D. C., with a layout built for efficiency and order.
Though Milledgeville is no longer the capital of Georgia, the city contains well preserved architecture and many opportunities for exploring Georgia’s past.
GCSU original founding as a prep school for women named Georgia Normal & Industrial College Milledgeville, which students affectionately refer to as “Milly,” is now primarily known as a college town, which allows for many opportunities for students across different majors to connect with peers and faculty and get involved in the Baldwin County area.
The Liberal Arts GCSU students know and love today culminated from multiple university changes and has remained the same since 1996.
Pelaez shared that she loves visiting the old Governor’s mansion to take pictures before events.
Students at GCSU have the unique ability to learn about Georgia’s past, through exploring the city’s historical buildings, touring museums and doing research on their own to become more informed about their college town. There are also plenty of opportunities to become involved with the local community of the Milledgeville/Baldwin County area by participating in programs and volunteer projects.