Augusta, GA

After 30 years, Augusta University graduate finishes college

Published

2 years ago

May 11, 2024

Press Room

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.

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Augusta, GA

Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident

Published

11 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident | News | wfxg.com

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Augusta, GA

Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

Published

23 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Press Room

Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.

Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.

Campaign priorities

Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.

“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”

Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta Prep student was arrested on a charge of terroristic threats over a picture of a LEGO gun he posted on social media.

It happened Wednesday, according to an incident report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Eric Hedinger, the principal of Augusta Preparatory Day School, told deputies a student had uploaded a picture to Snapchat of a “pistol” with the caption “shooting up the school so I don`t have to take the stats exam tomorrow. Don`t come yall!”

The principal said he spoke to the student and his father about the photo.

The principal also provided deputies with the student’s address in Grovetown.

A deputy went there and was told by the student that the “pistol” was a LEGO set that he had built.

He also said the comment he made was supposed to be a joke because he was not looking forward to taking his Advanced Placement statistics test this week.

The student showed the deputy the box that the LEGO set came in, and how the set was already disassembled.

The deputy also looked in the boy’s room to make sure he was not in possession of any weapons.

The mother advised that there was one firearm in the residence but it was locked up.