MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | Georgia College & State University women's cross country runner Emily Wright 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 soccer player Natalie Eydam,  and men's basketball players Oscar Lynch and Aidan Kudlas, the Bobcats now have had 13 student-athletes recognized as valedictorians since 2015. Wright is the second women's cross country student-athlete to be named a valedictorian.

GCSU valedictorians are students who complete their academic career with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. Wright is one of 16 valedictorians from the College of Arts & Sciences that will hold their commencement ceremony Thursday (May 14) at 3 p.m. inside the Centennial Center.

The native of Evans, Georgia, will earn her bachelor's degree in philosophy and political science with a pre-law concentration. He plans on on attending medical school in the future after taking a year off to marry his fiancée, Emma Claire.
 
Wright, from Evans, Georgia, is a double major, Philosophy and political science, with a pre-law concentration. She plans to get a PhD in public policy and after attaining this she hopes to work in a policy advisory roles at an international immigration non-profit or return to academia as a professor and researcher.
 
She chose GCSU for the "renowned pre-law concentration in the philosophy department and to further my athletics career."
 
GCSU has impacted Wright in many ways, but one way was showing Wright a pathway to public policy research.
 
Wright shares more on how GCSU has impacted her.
 
"If it weren't for those professors who saw something in me and pushed me out of comfort zone, I wouldn't have discovered this calling," said Wright. "I attribute that to the learning environment offered at GCSU. With small classes and diverse course options, I have the opportunity to develop close relationships with my professors and complete meaningful work under their leadership."

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.