VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) — The Valdosta State University Foundation has launched a new regional initiative aimed at establishing an endowed scholarship in every county the university serves.

Blaze the Trail targets 41 counties to build a direct pipeline between surrounding communities and Valdosta State while keeping local talent close to home.

Rick Munroe, Vice President for University Advancement CEO of the VSU Foundation said, “When we raise the money for that county, it stays in that county supports students from that county. This gives everyone an incentive to give, and they can give every year if they want to for it to continue to grow.”

Munroe says the long-term vision extends beyond college access it aims to encourage graduates to bring their degrees and skills back to their hometowns.

The campaign officially got underway on Aug. 18 in Clinch County during the inaugural Blaze the Trail fundraising event. The kickoff brought together VSU leadership, area residents, and local educators to celebrate and present the program’s first scholarship to Clinch County student Ta’khyria Cole.

“I’m so glad that we chose to pilot it there. The amount of strength that community has, they rallied around this scholarship because they really care about their community and they care about their young people, and they want to send their young people to Valdosta State University,” Savannah Sanders, Development Officer for University Advancement said.

Clinch County Superintendent Dr. Lori James shared that the initiative’s ultimate mission is to help students attend college and then return home to “live, work, lead, and serve.”

The goal is to raise one million dollars to support graduating high school seniors in the Southern Region.

Now, the initiative is turning its focus to Lowndes County.

A fundraising event to establish the Blaze the Trail Lowndes County Scholarship is scheduled for Dec. 8 at the VSU Alumni House. The scholarship will support graduating high school seniors who reside in Valdosta and Lowndes County.

Organizers are inviting local education leaders, superintendents, and community members to attend and support the scholarship fund.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X. For more south Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.