2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking of what was first known as Emanuel County Junior College, and I could not be prouder or feel more fortunate to be serving as president during this time. The story of how this college came to be, and how it has evolved over time, is one of true inspiration. It is a story of hope; it is a story of sacrifice; it is a story of a vision shared by the community leaders in Emanuel County and Swainsboro to provide a gateway to higher education for the residents of their local area.
In September 1971, the citizens of Emanuel County voted for a bond issue of $2.1 million to underwrite the cost of a new college. The Emanuel County Board of Education, representing the citizens of the county and working with the local college committee, also provided a wooded site of 207 acres, 190 acres of which were donated by Luck Flanders Gambrell, within the city limits of Swainsboro. In December 1971, the Board of Regents gave final approval for the campus site and named the new college Emanuel County Junior College. The fall quarter of 1973 welcomed the first students to campus.
Over the last 50 years, this college with humble beginnings has experienced many seasons and many changes. Through them all, East Georgia State College has remained steadfast in its mission – to expand educational opportunities for all who seek them out and to continuously be engaged in the communities that it serves. EGSC can boast that it has transformed the lives of over 80,000 talented students, beginning in 1973 serving one small county, to impacting students in over 30 counties from three different site locations who embody the dreams of multiple cultures and ancestries, and who have impacted hundreds of thousands of others through their academic and personal achievements.
As we celebrate this incredible milestone of half a century of changing lives, let us not forget that our past, present, and future are all inextricably linked, and we must embrace and celebrate them all as we continue in our drive to meet our full potential and work to help every life that enters our campus community realize their full potential, as well.
I invite you to join us as we celebrate our Golden Anniversary with a number of special events throughout the course of this year. We are not simply celebrating 50 years of existence – we are celebrating the incredible impact we have had, and will continue to have, on the lives of our students, their families, their communities, and their world!
David L. Schecter, Ph.D., M.B.A.
President
