Augusta University (AU) officials visited A.R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet School on Wednesday morning to congratulate 19 seniors who have been accepted for early admission.
This year, A.R. Johnson boasts the largest number of students accepted for early admission to AU across the entire Richmond County School System; Lakeside High School has this year’s highest number of early admission students for AU in the Columbia County School District at 47.
The university’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Nathan Rice, said on Wednesday that they’ve seen a larger turnout of early applicants this year than in past years.
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“It is the biggest, most competitive class we’ve ever had for early action at Augusta University,” he said.
Whether or not these students will commit to becoming Jaguars in the fall is not yet certain, but it’s clear that the class of 2025 is getting a head start on chasing their educational dreams.
What is early admission?
Early admission allows high school seniors to apply for colleges and receive admission to those colleges early, while still allowing them to apply for other schools. This process is nonbinding and gives upcoming graduates a chance to take action regarding their future.
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Augusta University’s deadline for early admission applications was Oct. 31.
What’s special about the Class of 2025
A.R. Johnson school counselor Alicia Rocker said this year’s senior class is set apart from others in the way that their individual leadership styles complement each other.
“They just blend,” she said.
Rocker said the school has been working with students to build an understanding of what college is like rather than letting it become “an abstract idea.”
She also said that she hopes the students will consider choosing Augusta University – her alma mater and where she earned all three of her degrees – as their post-secondary home.
“Augusta University is a great school…just because it’s in your backdoor doesn’t make it a bad school…it’s okay to stay in your community and go to school,” she said.
Rocker said she finds a bit of humor in the way students seem to become more focused on what comes after graduation when they return for their junior year, saying that many students come back from their sophomore summer as “a different person.”
“I’ve laughed and thought, okay, last year you were really an underclassman,” she said. “And now, this year, you’re so mature.”
Students recognized
A.R. Johnson students accepted through early admission include Eryaunna Allen, Ken Blackwell, Alyssa Bryant, Gabriella Carter, Kam Davis, Andrew Direnzo, Anika Halder, Jasmine Johnson, Kynnedi Keith, Maria Ladino, Jojo Mcgrath, Addyson McPhee, Brayden Pringle, Zyani Recendiz-Rodriguez, Kahlik Robinson, Antoniyah Rolland, Jamia Simon, Zaria White and James Williams
