Posted on Friday, September 08, 2023
If you asked President Susanna Baxter to describe LaGrange College, one of the words she would use is community, a key theme she focused on during her State of the College address on Thursday.
Whether students are from Georgia, Florida or Ireland, they are all part of one family at LaGrange College, she said.
When freshman and Alabama native Collin Hardin was looking for a college to pursue his passion for film, he knew he wanted to come to LaGrange not just for its Film and Media Arts program, but for the sense of belonging he felt the first time he stepped onto campus.
“I truly feel as if my input really means something and my own individual needs are highlighted,” he said.
Alabama is one of 14 states that new students like Collin hail from. The Class of 2027 also has students from five countries, which will continue to grow in the years to come through new partnerships with Jesus University in South Korea, Bluechip Study USA in Sweden and High School Moms in India.
Of the new students, 23 percent are from LaGrange and Troup County, which is a two percent increase from last year according to President Baxter.
“We’ve been working hard with the high schools in Troup County,” she said. “We hope it continues to increase over time.”
Troup County not only has LaGrange College students but graduates as well.
“Twenty-three percent of our graduates stay in Troup County,” President Baxter said. “We’re pleased to be an importer of citizens in Troup County and LaGrange.”
In addition, she said 30 percent of Education graduates stay in Troup County to teach and 33 percent of Nursing graduates remain in Troup County.
She celebrated the fact that 87 percent of the Class of 2023 received a job offer or acceptance to graduate school.
President Baxter also spoke about the campus master plan, a significant project linked to the college’s five-year strategic plan.
“We had an evaluation done of all our facilities,” she said. “We have prioritized the deferred maintenance of our residence halls, specifically looking at Boatwright, Hawkes and Pitts.”
“Everything we do is about the mission of this place,” she said. “We work hard and we’re proud of that Wesleyan heritage and our liberal arts tradition. It’s core and central to who we are as an institution.”
President Baxter also:
The Panther Academic Center for Excellence started up its peer tutoring program for the academic year. Sessions will be held in the Moshell Tutoring Lab and the 24-hour study area in Lewis Library. Students can drop-in or make an appointment online.
Thursday, Sept. 14
Constitution Day Speaker
11:15 a.m., Corn Auditorium
Coming in January — 3D Journeys Free Lecture & Travel series
Football
The Panther football season begins Saturday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m., in Callaway Stadium. The theme is white out, so we ask our fans to wear their best white LC attire. It will also be LaGrange Youth Community Night. Starting this season, children under 12 have free admission. Bring the whole family to cheer on the Panthers against Berry College.
Women’s Soccer
LaGrange traveled to North Carolina last weekend to compete against two teams. The Panthers won the first match 3-2 against N.C. Wesleyan. On Sunday, LaGrange played a tough match against Meredith which ended in a 2-2 tie. On Thursday, the Panthers’ road match against Point University resulted in a 2-2 tie. The team has their first home game at Panther Field on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. against Sweet Briar.
Men’s Soccer
In the first regular game of the season, the Panthers fell to Birmingham-Southern in a tight 1-0 loss on Sunday, Sept. 3. The team bounced back with a huge 5-1 win against Point on Wednesday. On Friday (today), LC travels to Danville, Kentucky, to play against Centre at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers will stay in Kentucky to play Spalding at Centre’s field, on Sunday, Sept. 10, at noon.
Cross Country
LaGrange’s cross-country teams raced in the Foothills Invitational on Friday, Sept. 1, in Jacksonville, Alabama. Junior Santiago Vasquez placed first for the Panthers in the men’s division, running a 19:12.1 in the 5000 Meter. Junior Ema Turner placed first for LC in the women’s division, running a quick 21:43.20 in the 4000 Meter Run. Both teams will be in Montgomery, Alabama, on Friday, Sept. 8 (today), to compete in the Huntingdon Hawks Invitational at 9:30 a.m.
Volleyball
In their first two matches of the season, the Panthers lost to Fort Valley State and Oglethorpe last week. During LC’s first home match on Tuesday, the team fought back from a 2-1 set deficit to beat Wesleyan 3-2. On Thursday, LaGrange suffered a 3-0 loss to Birmingham-Southern. The Panthers will play their next game on Thursday, Sept. 14, at 5 p.m., at Pensacola Christian.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, Sept. 8 – Cross Country at Huntingdon Hawks Invitational, 9:30 a.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Friday, Sept. 8 – Women's Tennis at Tuskegee, 3 p.m., Tuskegee, Alabama
Friday, Sept. 8 – Men’s Soccer at Centre, 7:30 p.m., Danville, Kentucky
Saturday, Sept. 9 – Men’s Tennis at Tuskegee, 5 p.m., Tuskegee, Alabama
Saturday, Sept. 9 – Football (Home) vs. Berry, 6 p.m., Callaway Stadium
Sunday, Sept. 10 – Men’s Soccer vs. Spalding, noon, Danville, Kentucky
Sunday, Sept. 10 – Women’s Soccer (Home) vs. Sweet Briar, 1 p.m., Panther Field
Tuesday, Sept. 12 – Men's Tennis (Home) vs. Central Alabama Community College, 2 p.m., Greer Tennis Courts
Tuesday, Sept. 12 – Women's Tennis (Home) vs. Central Alabama Community College, 2 p.m., Greer Tennis Courts
Wednesday, Sept. 13 – Women’s Soccer at Birmingham-Southern, 6 p.m., Birmingham, Alabama
Wednesday, Sept. 13 – Men’s Soccer (Home) vs. Oglethorpe, 7 p.m., Panther Field
Thursday, Sept. 14 – Volleyball at Pensacola Christian, 5 p.m., Pensacola, Florida
Category: Community, College, Academics
Keywords: Enrollment, Strategic Plan, Facilities
