Golden, House members help celebrate VSU centennial

August 15, 2006 -- Valdosta, GA --State Senator Tim Golden (D-Valdosta) will join other members of the Lowndes County legislative delegation Friday in ceremonies commemorating the 100th anniversary of Valdosta State University.

During the 2006 legislative session, Golden sponsored Senate Resolution 1281, which designates August 18th as Valdosta State University Day in Georgia. Reps. Jay Shaw (D-Lakeland), Ron Borders (D-Valdosta) and Ellis Black (D-Valdosta) sponsored similar legislation, House Resolution 1986.

“I am proud to see the growth VSU has made over the years and am honored to be a part of it,” said Golden, a Valdosta State graduate who was named the university’s Distinguished Alumnus in 1993. “We have come a long way.”

As a member of the state House of Representatives in the early 1990s, Golden led the successful legislative effort to enable VSU to attain its Regional University Status. Since then, the university has received more than $100 million in capital projects and seen the student population grow to almost 11,000. Today, VSU has a $331 million economic impact, which is more than 11 percent of total personal income in the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area.

“I am honored to be a part of this distinguished university whose mission is to provide students with a strategic planning process to enhance their educational, cultural and economic development,” Golden said. “As a member of the State Senate and a Trustee on the Board of Directors of the VSU Foundation, I will continue to work in support of this outstanding, world class institution of higher learning.”
Golden represents Georgia’s 8th Senate District, which includes Lowndes and Brooks counties and parts of Cook and Thomas counties.