MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Georgia College & State University men's basketball forward Oscar Lynch is one of four Bobcat student-athletes who are among the 23 valedictorians from across the university's four academic colleges who will graduate this week.

Along with women's cross country runner Emily Wright, women's soccer player Natalie Eydam and men's basketball player Aidan Kudlas, the Bobcats now have had 13 student-athletes recognized as valedictorians since 2015. Lynch and Kudlas are the first men's basketball players to earn the accolade. They are also the first male student-athletes to be honored as a valedictorian.

GCSU valedictorians are students who complete their academic career with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. Lynch is one of three valedictorians from the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology that will hold their commencement ceremony Thursday (May 14) at 10 a.m. inside the Centennial Center.

The native of Cumming, Georgia, will earn his bachelor's degree in marketing with a minor in finance. He plans on working as a project accountant for Rogers Electric as he prepares to get married in June 2027.

Lynch shares why he chose GCSU apart from other college and universities.
 
"When I came on a visit here, it felt like home," said Lynch. "I really liked the coaches, and the players that I met were super welcoming. I loved the campus and knew that Georgia College had pretty good academics as well.

"My dad told me when I was choosing where I wanted to go for basketball, he said, "Pick a school that if you got hurt and could never play basketball again, you would still be very happy at," added Lynch. "I knew instantly that GCSU was the place for me and decided pretty soon after to commit here."
 
He chose marketing as his major because it combines photography and business.
 
Lynch has one thing he would share with fellow student-athletes.

"The biggest skill to learn is time management," said Lynch. "A lot of people tend to put too much focus on only one aspect, so the other commitments they have sometimes take a hit. College is not easy, but being able to balance school with sports and a social life is so important for your overall success and well-being.

"Applying yourself in the classroom is also so important," added Lynch. "Pay attention, take notes, put in some effort, and you will do a lot better than if you just go through the motions because you have to go to class."
 
GCSU has left a lasting impact on Lynch.
 
"It has made me into a better person and the man I am today," said Lynch. "While at GCSU, I grew tremendously in my faith through the Campus Catholics, I grew on the basketball court as an athlete, I grew in the classroom as a student, and I grew as a person in how I interact with others.

"I have made so many amazing memories during my four years at GCSU, one of which is getting engaged to my beautiful and amazing fiancé," said Lynch.

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 11 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 four-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.