Augusta, GA
After 30 years, Augusta University graduate finishes college
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Walking across the stage at graduation is an accomplishment for many.
Augusta University welcomed its newest class of alumni on Friday.
For a lot of the four-year graduates, it’s their first graduation ceremony due to their high school graduation getting canceled during COVID.
For one graduate, who also happens to be a mom of seven, she’s waited 30 years for this moment, proving you can finish what you started.
“30 years. I did my first half of school in the early 90s at Augusta College,” said Paige Boutwell.
Then life happened.
“Went into labor with my first child at 24 weeks and ended up in the hospital and on bed rest. My incompletes turned to zeros, which affected my GPA,” she said.
As her family grew, Boutwell decided home was where her heart needed to be.
“I have a very well-educated family. And it was not in the plan for me not to finish school,” said Boutwell.
But life has a funny way of working out.
“Fall of 2021, it hit me about Thanksgiving. It was one of those things where you make a decision, and you don’t look back,” she said.
It brings her here, graduating with a degree in sociology and joining thousands of other AU alums, including two of her daughters.
“I guess it was kind of my fault that she didn’t get to graduate or finish school almost 30 years ago,” said Raleigh Hornung, Boutwell’s daughter. “I’m glad that she’s actually gotten to fulfill this dream of hers. Despite all of that pain that she went through 30 years ago for me,” said Hornung.
If you ask Boutwell, every kick turned into a boost.
“I’m glad to have that behind me and that chapter closed,” said Boutwell.
Friday marks the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.
The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.
All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.
We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.
Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.
“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.
There were also several vendors providing resources to families.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.
AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.
But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.
He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.
He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.
His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.
Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.
“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”
AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said a person has died after a shooting on Division Street Saturday afternoon.
Officials say the shooting happened at the 2100 block around 4 p.m.
The victim was shot at least one time and taken to Wellstar MCG, where he later died, the coroner’s office says.
The sheriff’s office also went to Division Street at approximately 4 p.m. in reference to the incident, deputies say.
An autopsy has been scheduled.
No further information is available at this time.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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