AUGUSTA, Ga – College Sports Communicators (CSC) has announced its Academic All-District teams for the 2023-24 men’s track & field seasons. From Augusta University, Ryan Lee, Noah Shepherd, Andrew Cole, Andrew Todd, and Patrick Motes were all honored on the list.

Nominated by CSC members, the Academic All-District men’s and women’s track & field teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performance on the track, in the field, and in the classroom (minimum 3.50 GPA). To be considered, athletes must finish in the top 50 in the region in their respective events. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes men’s track & field honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. 

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Hundreds of people cheered on numerous floats and participants at the 14th annual Augusta Pride Parade.

The parade was held downtown on Saturday.

The parade started at the James Brown Arena and it was followed by the pride festival.

The streets were filled with kids throwing candy, an array of decorations, colors and people out having a good time dancing to music.

Caleb Hawkins said Saturday’s Augusta Pride Parade and festival marked five years for him.

He said every year encourages him more.

“Every year the parade gets bigger. Last night was amazing. The parade this year has been amazing, versus my first year where it was kind of like, you know, pride, but this year, it’s like, everybody’s coming out. You know, it’s not just the LGBTQ+ community. It’s also allies, which I really love that,” said Hawkins.

It was Megan Barlow’s first pride event and she said she could feel all the heart from the community and people who traveled to this event.

“All of the love and support like people just handed out so many things like we got so many stickers and pins and just just a surreal feeling of just just how happy and pleasant everybody was, ” said Barlow.

Organizers like James Mintz said it’s really about representing the LGBTQ+ community and remaining visible to our peers.

“We’re part of your community where your neighbors, your friends, family members, friends, colleagues, and we just want to be a visible part of the community. Because if they believe that you don’t exist, they’ll try and take away your rights,” said Mintz.

Hawkins hopes for more community engagement where these events can continue to flourish, but in the meantime, he said he likes where things are so far.

“I always think that there can be more representation, you know, with our community. But when it comes down to it, like I said, I feel supported, I feel I trust my community to you know, have my back,” said Hawkins.

After the parade, people gathered at the Augusta Common to continue the celebration for the festival.

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AUGUSTA, GA. (WJBF) – Georgia’s second-largest pride event continues with a parade and festival to celebrate pride month.

The Augusta pride parade took a new route on Greene Street but did not change its purpose for all to stand together. 

“To be able to come out and just like be with people who are like me and celebrate people like me. Then I can show those that might be scared that it’s okay to be out and be who you are,” said Desiree Banzanten, an attendee.

After living in another country, one attendee got emotional seeing the unity downtown.

“I’ve never been here before, and during the parade, I actually cried because I thought it was so beautiful that a sense of community was felt. Coming here this year and seeing how people are so willing to love each other and be so bold in their love for humans and each other is really refreshing,” said Beth Zinkhan, an attendee.

 Two best friends were able to celebrate pride for the first time.

“I’m glad I was able to express myself to the people I love and hang out with some really cool people,” said attendee Roneisha Moore.

One best friend was happy to support and celebrate her friend and others.

“I’m glad she was able to come out to her friends and family and just celebrate with people,” said Courtney Etheredge, an attendee.

Some people traveled to Augusta to enjoy the Parade and Festival because there is nothing like it where they live.

“We’re so happy to be able to come out here, and I know Augusta isn’t always the safest place sometimes, but I feel so safe here. And to be able to just a thirty-minute drive and it’s like a whole different world,” said Elizabeth Hobbs, an attendee.

Attendees felt safe and overjoyed to have a place where they felt accepted.

“In our community, we’re not really recognized and were always shunned upon, so being out here and actually having something blocked off and dedicated to us all day, that’s like great, “said Kiera Lambert, an attendee.

In all people want to remind others to spread love, not hate.