Augusta, GA
Five AU Volleyball Players Honored on PBC All-Academic Team – Augusta University
AUGUSTA, GA — The Peach Belt Conference has revealed the 2025 Volleyball All-Academic Team, previously known as the Team of Academic Distinction. The teams are part of the PBC’s larger initiative to celebrate the academic achievements of PBC student-athletes. Five Augusta volleyball players were named to the list: Libby Nickels, Layne Witherspoon, Sydney Harrington, Mia Saavedra, and Lauren Posa.
In order to be eligible for the PBC All-Academic Team, student-athletes must meet the following requirements:
1) Participate in at least half of his/her team’s events and be either a starter or significant contributor
2) Achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and
3) Student-Athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically
Transfer students are immediately eligible once they meet the above requirements. The Peach Belt Conference sports communications professionals oversee the program.
| PBC VOLLEYBALL ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAME | INSTITUTION | YEAR | HOMETOWN | GPA | MAJOR (MINOR) |
| Libby Nickels | Augusta | Sophomore | New Smyrna Beach, Fl. | 4.00 | Criminal Justice |
| Layne Witherspoon | Augusta | Junior | Wildwood, Mo. | 4.00 | Kinesiology |
| Sydney Harrington | Augusta | Junior | Albany, Or. | 3.75 | Business Administration |
| Mia Saavedra | Augusta | Senior | Tampa, Fl. | 3.80 | Business Administration |
| Lauren Posa | Augusta | Senior | Johns Creek, Ga. | 3.75 | Kinesiology |
| Cassidy Bloom | Flagler | Senior | Naples, Fla. | 3.74 | Business |
| Gracie Fleming | Flagler | Junior | Denver, Colo. | 3.5 | Marketing |
| Clare Sheedy | Flagler | Senior | Plymouth, Ind. | 3.97 | Political Science |
| Lexi Baum | GCSU | Sophomore | St. Petersburg, Fla. | 3.85 | Undeclared- Nursing Track (Global Health Studies) |
| Liv Diaz | GCSU | Junior | Snellville, Ga. | 3.66 | Undeclared- Nursing Track |
| Riese Johnson | GCSU | Senior | Cumming, Ga. | 3.61 | Biology |
| Sadie Parkerson | GCSU | Sophomore | Kennesaw, Ga. | 3.77 | Exercise Science |
| Hayley Shepherd | GCSU | Graduate | Kathleen, Ga. | 4.00 | Special Education (G)/ Psychology (UG) |
| Lexi Polychribes | GCSU | Senior | Adrian, Ga. | 3.51 | Undeclared- Nursing Track |
| Nya Warren | GCSU | Sophomore | Gray, Ga. | 3.86 | Undeclared- Elementary Education Track (Global Health Studies) |
| Sam Alwardt | Lander | Sophomore | Summerville, S.C. | 3.89 | Biology |
| Karson Browning | Lander | Sophomore | Boiling Springs, S.C. | 3.50 | Physical Education |
| Emmi Cheek | Lander | Sophomore | West Jefferson, N.C. | 3.68 | Biology |
| Ameila May | Lander | Sophomore | Vale, N.C. | 3.73 | Exercise Science |
| Katie Miller | Lander | Senior | Sugar City, Id. | 3.55 | Nursing |
| Alyssa Tegelar | Lander | Senior | Blairstown, Iowa. | 4.0 | Visual Art |
| Ryleigh Willard | Lander | Sophomore | Roebuck, S.C. | 3.73 | Exercise Science |
| Aubrie Beard | Middle Georgia | Sophomore | McDonough, Ga. | 3.61 | Nursing |
| Paige Collier | Middle Georgia | Senior | Winston, Ga. | 3.72 | Aviation Science & Management |
| Ellie Johnson | Middle Georgia | Senior | Canton, Ga. | 3.89 | Early Education/ Special Education |
| Noemi Combi | Salem | Junior | Castello Di Brianza, Italy | 4.00 | |
| Alli Bishop | USCA | Junior | Chesterfield, Mo. | 3.649 | Nursing |
| Chloe Duzenack | USCA | Sophomore | Loveland, Co. | 3.659 | Exercise and Sport Science- Health & Fitness Management |
| Sidney Hogan | USCA | Senior | Saint Louis, Mo. | 4.00 | Exercise and Sport Science- Allied Health |
| Ana Cate Loftus | USCA | Sophomore | Powell, Oh. | 3.554 | Mechanical Engineering |
| Avery Pearson | USCA | Sophomore | Wellington, Co. | 3.786 | Nursing |
| Lexi Rogers | USCA | Redshirt Sophomore | Moore, S.C. | 3.892 | Psychology |
| Anna Sommer | USCA | Senior | St. Louis, Mo. | 3.776 | Exercise and Sport Science- Basic Sciences |
Augusta, GA
Augusta Regional Airport hosts drone camp for students
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students showcased drones they built during a two-week summer camp at Augusta Regional Airport on Friday.
12 junior and high school students attended the camp, where they learned to fly and build drones designed to help others.
Anderson Puryear, a student, said the camp focused on delivering small medical supplies.
“It was focused on delivering small medical supplies like an EPI pen or glucose packet for like diabetics and for people with allergies in need in the real world that could obviously help save lives, and if people are like in a place in a boat or like in the desert or in the forest where they can’t easily access those supplies it can save their lives,” Puryear said.
The airport partnered with Georgia Tech, state troopers and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department for the Air Edu Summer Camp.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival draws crowds despite heat
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Augusta Dream Center sees surge in families needing food as summer begins
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Dream Center is seeing more families turn to its food pantry this summer as children lose access to school lunches.
Organizations like the Augusta Dream Center see a surge in families who relied on school lunches during the academic year, according to Hallie Kohan, assistant director.
“We see a lot more families that have young kids who are in need that simply don’t have those meals they are normally getting,” Kohan said. “We see an influx of families that come through.”
Demand is up, but the food supply is not keeping pace.
“Right now we are having some food distribution issues so while we are seeing an increase in families, we are seeing a decrease in the amount of food coming through our doors,” Kohan said.
The center is asking the community to host food drives or donate kid-friendly items such as mac and cheese and oatmeal.
Every Sunday the Dream Center opens its doors for a hot meal, serving as many as 120 people.
“Families can come in and get their hot meal. They sit down, it’s dignified, it’s a diner,” Kohan said. “It’s a welcoming experience for kids to come in and not feel like they are in need.”
No paperwork is required to receive help.
“Just because you think someone is in a great situation, in today’s economy you never know,” Kohan said. “It could be your neighbor, mom, or best friend.”
The Augusta Dream Center food pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. Hot meals are served Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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