GMC News
New Valdosta Campus
by Rabyn Ratliff , Valdosta Daily Times
VALDOSTA — Administrators and community supporters of Georgia Military College cut the ribbon on the school’s new building and campus Monday.
Nearly eight months of construction went into the new campus and facility, located on the northwest corner of Forrest Street and Mount Zion Church Road. Several students visited throughout the day to register for fall classes.
The campus offers nearly double the space and parking availability as the previous location in the Harveys shopping center.
Georgia Military can fully accommodate its growing number of students at a site conveniently located between Valdosta and Moody Air Force Base.
Speaking on behalf of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, former GMC students G. Robert Carter and Edgar Roberts shared their memories and their hopes for the college’s future.
Valdosta Mayor Pro Tem Willie Head also attended and acknowledged GMC’s commitment to contributing to lifelong learning within the community.
Having served as president of the college for more than 14 years, retired Maj. Gen. Peter Boylan was pleased to join the college’s ambassadors in cutting the ribbon just outside the building’s main entrance.
Boylan believes that the new campus and facility will solidify the college’s presence in the community as it continues its commitment to providing quality education.
“Georgia Military’s philosophy of education has always been two-dimensional: We aim to develop intellect and elevate character. We’re so pleased to be a part of a community that not only shares our value of self-discipline and responsibility, but also supports it,” Boylan said.
Following the ceremony, guests attended a reception and took tours of the new facility, which is complete with 15 classrooms, science and computer labs, and office space for more than 30 full-time employees.
“Since I joined GMC as president years ago, the student body has nearly tripled and our budget has grown from $8 million to over $50 million. Initially we were confined to Moody Air Force Base, but as more and more civilians began taking classes, some issues of concern arose over the number of non-military personnel being allowed access to the base,” Boylan said.
“We then started offering some classes downtown and later moved into our shopping center location, which was nice, but we really outgrew the location. We are so grateful for the leadership of the city and county over the years and especially their enormous assistance in getting us relocated and constructing the new building with the help of Tom Warren and Joe Vallotton. I believe our new campus sends a strong signal to the area that we’re a long-term community partner, committed to Valdosta and Lowndes County, and that we intend to make a difference.”
