MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Georgia College & State University has announced a new five-year $50,000 commitment from Exchange Bank supporting the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology and GCSU Athletics. 

The comprehensive partnership builds upon Exchange Bank's longstanding relationship with Georgia College while providing meaningful support for student achievement, academic excellence and the continued growth of Bobcat Athletics. 

Through the commitment, Exchange Bank will serve as the exclusive presenting sponsor of Atkinson Honors, one of the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology's signature annual events recognizing the college's highest-achieving students. Exchange Bank will also make a significant investment in Bobcat Baseball and the future E.R. Snell Family Stadium at John Kurtz Field while serving as a platinum partner of GCSU Athletics. The commitment will provide lasting support for the future of the baseball program while expanding Exchange Bank's engagement across Bobcat Athletics. 

"Exchange Bank has called Milledgeville home for more than 120 years, and supporting Georgia College is an investment in the future of the community we share," said John C. Childs Jr., president and chief executive officer of Exchange Bank. "We are proud to deepen our relationship with the university through a commitment that supports students both academically and athletically. These young people will become the professionals, business leaders and community members who shape the future of our region, and we are pleased to play a part in their success." 

The five-year partnership represents a $10,000 annual commitment from Exchange Bank, totaling $50,000 through 2031. Half of the investment will support the Atkinson Honors presenting sponsorship, while the remaining $25,000 will support GCSU Baseball and Athletics. 

"Our relationship with Georgia College has always been about more than a traditional partnership," said Jonathan Pope, senior vice president and commercial lender at Exchange Bank and vice chair of the College of Business & Technology Executive Leadership Board at GCSU. "Our employees, customers and families are part of this community, and Georgia College is an important part of what makes Milledgeville special. This commitment gives us an opportunity to support outstanding students in the classroom while also investing in the student-athletes and programs that bring so much energy and pride to our community." 

For the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology, Exchange Bank's support of Atkinson Honors will align the bank with the celebration of academic excellence and the development of future business leaders. The partnership also creates a connection between academics and athletics, as GCSU student-athletes pursue degrees and prepare for careers in business, finance, management and other industries throughout Georgia and beyond. 

"We are deeply appreciative of Exchange Bank's investment in our students and in the mission of the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology," said Dr. Amit Ghosh, dean of the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology. "Atkinson Honors celebrates the exceptional academic accomplishments of our students, honors our dedicated faculty and staff and Exchange Bank's support strengthens our ability to recognize those achievements while connecting our students with a respected community institution. Partnerships like this demonstrate the powerful relationship between higher education, business and the communities we collectively serve." 

Within GCSU Athletics, the partnership will provide year-round support and engagement across Bobcat Athletics while establishing Exchange Bank as a prominent supporter of E.R. Snell Family Stadium at John Kurtz Field. The bank will receive premier recognition on the stadium's donor wall and the opportunity to participate in a ceremonial first pitch during the facility's opening season in 2028. 

"Exchange Bank has been a tremendous friend to Georgia College and the Milledgeville community for generations, and we are incredibly grateful for its continued belief in our university and our student-athletes," said GCSU Director of Athletics Wendell Staton. "This commitment will have a meaningful impact on Bobcat Athletics, and we are especially excited to have Exchange Bank represented as we look toward the future of E.R. Snell Family Stadium. We are proud to continue building this relationship for years to come." 

The partnership will run through 2031, bringing Exchange Bank's support of academics and athletics together under one comprehensive commitment to Georgia College & State University. 

About Exchange Bank 
Founded in Milledgeville, Georgia, in 1903, Exchange Bank is a locally owned community bank serving individuals, families and businesses across Middle Georgia and Northeast Georgia. With locations in Milledgeville, Gray, Lake Oconee and Braselton, Exchange Bank combines modern financial services with the personal relationships and local decision-making that have defined the bank for more than 120 years. Guided by its commitment to being "Where Community Matters," Exchange Bank invests in the people, businesses and organizations that help its communities thrive. Exchange Bank is a member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. 

About GCSU Athletics 
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for five consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 13 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won six consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and six-time winners of the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in postseason competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports or subscribe to the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.