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High schoolers can learn about dual enrollment at GSU campuses
Georgia Southern eagles logo
Published: Nov 5, 2018, 4:00 PM

In search of more academic challenges, high school sophomore Kaylee McCook has found her niche at the Georgia Southern University Liberty Campus through Dual Enrollment, a program where high school students can enroll in college courses for little to no cost.

The 15-year old, who took extra steps to enroll in the program earlier than the minimum age requirement of 16, plans to earn an associate’s degree by the time she graduates high school, a goal that wouldn’t be possible without the help of Dual Enrollment.

Dual Enrollment is funded by the state of Georgia and is available to high school students in good academic standing who want to get ahead in their academic career and experience college life with minimal costs. Motivated high school students can challenge themselves through college coursework by taking one course at a time or enrolling as a full-time student.

McCook plans to continue her education at Georgia Southern after high school but doesn’t feel limited if she chooses another college or university.

“A degree will transfer to any college, whether or not I choose to stay at Georgia Southern,” said McCook. “It’s not that maybe this college accepts AP classes and maybe this other one doesn’t. I know my associate’s degree will go with me wherever I go.”

Alexandria Shearer, a freshman at Georgia Southern’s Statesboro Campus, dual enrolled on the Armstrong Campus as a high school student. A free education and free books sounded appealing to Shearer, but so did the opportunities dual enrolling offered for her future.

“Because I got a lot of required courses out of the way while I was dual enrolled in high school, I have the ability to double major in exercise science and Spanish, while still being able to use my Zell Miller scholarship,” she said. “So it’s definitely going to have a really good impact on where I go with life. Because I wasn’t even thinking about double majoring in Spanish before.”

Dual Enrollment Information Sessions hosted at all three campuses gives high school students and their parents the opportunity to learn more about this unique program. Sessions will take place from 6-7 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8 on the Statesboro, Liberty and Armstrong campuses, respectively. Interested high school students should apply for Spring 2019 enrollment by Dec. 1.

For more information about these events, or to register, visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu/admissions/visit and click the “events” entry.

 

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UPDATE: Final missing soldier found
Lithaunia search Tuesday
A bulldozer moves gravel to pave a roadway within the area following the recovery of a U.S. Army M88 Hercules recovery vehicle that had been submerged under several meters of water in a swamp near a training area in Pabradė, Lithuania.
Updated: Apr 1, 2025, 8:51 PM
Published: Apr 1, 2025, 2:22 PM

The fourth U.S. Army soldier assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division was found deceased near Pabradė, Lithuania the afternoon of April 1.  

The soldier’s identity is being withheld pending confirmation of notification of next of kin.  

The 3rd ID identified on its X account the other three soldiers as Sgt. Edvin Franco, Sgt. Jose Duenez and PFC Dante Taitano.

"First and foremost, we offer condolences to the loved ones of our soldiers,” said Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. “I can't say enough about the support our Lithuanian Allies have provided us. We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian Allies - and our own sailors, airmen and experts from the Corps of Engineers - have enabled us to find and bring home our soldiers. This is a tragic event, but it reinforces what it means to have Allies and friends.” 

The four soldiers, who were the crew of a M88A2 armored recovery vehicle, went missing in the early morning hours of March 25. Their vehicle eventually was found March 26 but it was beneath approximately 14 feet of water and sunk into more than six feet of mud.

Crews worked to drain the area around the vehicle to make it stable for heavy equipment needed to pull out the M88. U.S. Navy divers were flown in and attached cables to hoist points so the submerged vehicle could be lifted out of the bog.

"This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd ID commanding general. “Though we have received some closure, the world is darker without them.” 

The soldier was found after a search by hundreds of rescue workers from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Lithuanian Armed Forces, Polish Armed Forces, Estonian Armed Forces, and many other elements of the Lithuanian government and civilian agencies. 

“We are incredibly relieved that we were able to bring this recovery to an end and bring closure to all the families, friends and teammates of our soldiers,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division, who also grew up on Fort Stewart. “We cannot thank our Allies and fellow service members enough, especially the Lithuanians, who spared no resource in support of this mission. Together, we delivered on our promise to never leave a fallen comrade.” 

Throughout the seven-day recovery effort, the combined and joint team worked day and night to find the soldiers. 

“As the fourth and final soldier has been recovered from this tragic accident, we will continue to mourn their loss as we work to quickly return our Dog Face Soldiers home to their families,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commanding general of V Corps and former Fort Stewart and 3rd ID commanding general. “It has been truly amazing and very humbling to watch the incredible recovery team from different commands, countries and continents come together and give everything to recover our Soldiers. Thank you, Lithuania, Poland, Estonia, the U.S. Navy and the Army Corps of Engineers. We are forever grateful.” 

All four soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve to provide credible ground deterrence alongside Allies and partners, and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart. 

“I'm immensely proud of our entire team. They have been relentless in their efforts to search and recover our soldiers and get every capability and asset necessary to enable this effort,” Gen. Donahue said. 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also posted on X his sorrow at the loss of the four soldiers.

“I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen Soldiers,” he wrote. “Our hearts are heavy across the Department of Defense. We are deeply grateful to our brave servicemembers who enabled this difficult recovery and to our Lithuanian hosts who labored alongside them. The recovery was conducted with urgency, resolve and deep respect for the fallen. We will never forget these soldiers — and our prayers are with their families.”

The U.S. Army is investigating the cause of the accident. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. 

"We continue to stand by the families and loved ones through this incredibly difficult time,” said Maj. Gen. Norrie. “Now, it’s time to bring them home.” 

 

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