Posted on Friday, September 16, 2022
When Jaydon Parrish ’23 started his term as president of the Student Government Association in May, he made it his goal to not be just a title, but also an advocate for the student body.
“I want to help make everyone at LaGrange College feel like they are listened to and respected,” he said.
Parrish said a task he is working on right now is creating a better flow of communication between the various organizations on campus.
“This would involve a master calendar that can be posted online in which every organization could see what the others are planning and either look to work together to plan a single larger event or choose a different time for the event,” he said. “We want to reduce overscheduling of student organization events on weeknights and figure out ways for there to be larger numbers at student-led events.”
Parrish, a Political Science Major with minors in History, Math and Servant Leadership, previously served the SGA as vice president his junior year and senator his freshman and sophomore years.
During his transition to president, he said he received valuable advice from former SGA President Nia Johnson ’22.
“I learned a lot being vice president under Nia Johnson last year, and I still message her every week or two with questions,” he said.
In addition to being involved in SGA, he also plays on the men’s soccer team, participates in the Servant Scholars program, and volunteers at YoungLife.
Other SGA officers include Hannah Godfrey ’23, Vice President; Chase Davis ’23, Treasurer; Hailee Kate Locke ’23, Secretary; Carmen Hamilton ’24, Public Relations; and Leia Avery ’23, West Side Representative.
“We would not be in the positions that we are in if we did not care about the student body and LaGrange College as a whole,” Parrish said. “Students can reach out to us in person, on Instagram (@lagrangesga) or through email.”
Election results for senators and the Executive Council’s Director of Multicultural Affairs and Director of Food & Sustainability positions will be reported this evening.
The campus community is invited to attend the SGA’s first senate meeting on Monday, Sept. 19.
Parrish said his post-graduate plan is to receive a master’s degree in international studies and then attend law school with the hopes of one day pursuing a career in international contract law.
LaGrange College earned high marks in annual rankings released on Monday by U.S. News & World Report.
The institution was rated in the top 10 among 99 Regional Colleges in the South, and also was included on the publication’s lists of “Best Value Schools” and colleges with the “Best Undergraduate Teaching.”
“It is always nice to have external validation for what we know here at LaGrange College: We are a top-ranked institution that transforms the lives of our students,” said President Susanna Baxter.
“Their experiences on the Hill serve as a time to gain the skills and experience needed to live into their calling. Whether that be accountancy, education, nursing or on the main stage, our students leave here equipped for the next step.”
Factors considered in the top schools ranking include outcomes (graduation and retention rates and social mobility), faculty resources (class size and faculty salary), expert opinion of peer institution leaders, financial resources, student excellence (standardized test scores and high school class standing) and alumni giving.
The publication determines its “Best Value” schools by factoring academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid.
“The ‘Best Value’ and ‘Best Undergraduate Teaching’ rankings affirm what our families already know: LaGrange students receive an outstanding education at one of the most affordable private colleges in the Southeast,” said Dr. John Head, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Experience. “We often hear from families with multiple children that their LaGrange experience has been more affordable than that of their student attending one of the state’s public institutions.”
To develop the 2023 rankings, U.S. News evaluated 1,500 U.S. bachelor's degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality.
Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions.
Wednesday, Sept. 21
Power Nap
12 p.m., SPEED Center, Callaway Education Building
Thursday, Sept. 22
Fall Exhibitions Open House
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lamar Dodd Art Center
Dr. Brian Shumate, superintendent of the Troup County School System, expresses his delight at the quality of trained classroom professionals that LaGrange College produces.
Cross Country – The Panthers competed in the Huntingdon Hawks Invitational last week. LC men raced on a 6K course and placed fourth as a team overall. Isaiah Oden led the team with a time of 19:12.9. The women competed on a 5K course and placed third. Kennedy Young set the pace with a 25:18.9. The team races today (Friday) at the Julius Johnson Invitational in Macon.
Football – LC lost at Berry last week, 56-10, in the first game of the season. Quarterback Shedrick Lindsey passed for 154 yards, with JayDon Cooper adding 44 yards on the ground and De’Queze Fryer catching five balls for 65 yards. The team faces Ferrum on Saturday, Sept. 17, at home at Callaway Stadium at 1 p.m.
Men’s Soccer – The Panthers split matches last weekend, beating Centenary 4-0 but losing to University of the Ozarks 2-3. The squad bested Toccoa Falls 5-0 on Wednesday. Now 4-1 on the season, the team competes away against Birmingham-Southern today (Friday) at 8 p.m. and on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at home vs. Mississippi University for Women.
Women’s Soccer – LC dominated Toccoa Falls on Wednesday at Panther Field for its first win of the season. Earlier, they battled Oglethorpe to a 0-0 tie. Now 1-1-1 on the season, the team faces Salem today (Friday) at home at 7 p.m., then Mississippi University for Women on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m.
Volleyball – The Panthers (0-8) faced Coastal Georgia College on Tuesday and came away with a 0-3 loss. The team enjoys a short break before taking on Belhaven Thursday, Sept. 22, at home.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, Sept. 16 – Cross Country at Julius Johnson Invitational, 8 a.m., Macon, Georgia
Friday, Sept. 16 – Women’s Soccer vs. Salem College, 7 p.m., Panther Field
Friday, Sept. 16 – Men’s Soccer at Birmingham-Southern College, 8 p.m., Birmingham, Alabama
Saturday, Sept. 17 – Women’s Tennis at Huntingdon College, 11 a.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Saturday, Sept. 17 – Men’s Tennis at Huntingdon College, 11 a.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Saturday, Sept. 17 – Football vs. Ferrum College, 1 p.m., Callaway Stadium
Sunday, Sept. 18 – Golf at Rhodes College Tunica Fall Intercollegiate (Rounds 1&2), Tunica, Mississippi
Monday, Sept. 19 – Golf at Rhodes College Tunica Fall Intercollegiate (Final Round), Tunica, Mississippi
Tuesday, Sept. 20 – Women’s Soccer vs. Mississippi University for Women, 3 p.m., Panther Field
Tuesday, Sept. 20 – Men’s Soccer vs. Mississippi University for Women, 5:30 p.m., Panther Field
Thursday, Sept. 22 – Women’s Soccer vs. Trinity Baptist College, 7 p.m., Panther Field
Thursday, Sept. 22 – Volleyball vs. Belhaven University, 7 p.m., Richter Gymnasium
Category: College, Academics
Keywords: student government, ranking
