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) – On Friday, a total of seven of our local baseball and softball teams hit the diamond with a chance of getting one step closer to making their dreams of winning a state title a reality.

See the highlights for Harlem, North Augusta and Midland Valley above.

Friday night scores include:

Baseball

• Game 1: Harlem 6, Oconee County 1; Game 2: Harlem 5, Oconee County 3
• Mid-Carolina 5, Strom Thurmond 4
• Postponed: Augusta Christian, Pinewood Prep
• Postponed: Fox Creek, Gray Collegiate

Softball

• North Augusta 8, Indian Land 2
• Midland Valley 4, Airport 3
• Postponed: Strom Thurmond, Gray Collegiate

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A nursing shortage is hitting everywhere across the United States.

By 2035, Georgia is expected to have a 21% shortage of registered nurses.

Right now, only 10% of registered nurses identify as Black, and 9% of the total nursing population identify as male.

Now, one Augusta University graduate is looking to become a role model to get more Black males into the field.

“I’m here to be the light to other guys looking to go into the healthcare system because I noticed not a lot of us going into the nursing but I want to be inspiring to other males that look like me,” said Luke Anderson.

Anderson was the student speaker for the AU’s afternoon commencement ceremony, sharing how he couldn’t have been here today without the support of his two parents.

His mom says she is grateful to see her son graduate.

“My heart is so full of joy,” said Daphanie Harper, Anderson’s mom.

She battled breast cancer twice.

“(The doctor said) Daphanie you can beat it or you can die, and I chose to live. So I’m standing here,” said Harper.

Through her treatment and battle, Anderson says one thing that stuck out to him was how caring the nurses were and how they were able to remain positive while saving his mom’s life. He says seeing that is what started his journey to have a cap and gown.

“Being a blessing to somebody else because you never know what somebody else is going through,” said Anderson. “So, having the capacity to do that for other people that are in need is just truly heartwarming to know because, at the end of the day, nursing is we’re here to serve and be the light to other people.”

Anderson will begin his nursing career working in the emergency ICU at the Piedmont Hospital System.

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