Carson Fields named GSW Outstanding Scholar, recognized at April Regents meeting

2017 Mar 15

Carson Fields was recognized today with Georgia Southwestern State University's (GSW) highest academic honor during the March 2017 meeting of the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents. In a special ceremony, Chancellor Steve Wrigley recognized the top students from each USG campus.

Fields, a junior accounting major from Athens, Ga., currently holds a 4.0 GPA, which puts him at the top of his class.

"It's an honor to receive this award from GSW and the Board of Regents," Fields said. "I have always strived to do my best with anything that I have been given, and I feel like this award reflects my work ethic."

The Outstanding Scholar Award represents superb scholastic achievement. A student must have a near-perfect GPA even to be considered for this award.

His dedication to his studies and to GSW were among the many reasons Fields is being recognized.

"I am extremely proud of Carson Fields' designation as Outstanding Scholar," said GSW Interim President Charles Patterson. "Carson not only represents excellence in the classroom with a flawless academic record, he also serves as a leader in his fraternity and in his residence hall as a Resident Assistant. His passion for GSW is evident in everything he does. It is only fitting that Carson is Georgia Southwestern's 2017 Outstanding Scholar."

Fields has served as the president of the Chi Phi fraternity and a Resident Assistant for GSW; has been named the 2016 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year; the Peach Belt Gold Scholar Athlete in Tennis in 2014, 2015 and 2016; and has received numerous scholarships, including the James Deriso Scholarship, the Belford Scholarship and the Wheatley Scholarship. He also holds a black belt in karate.

He credits much of his success to GSW.

"Choosing GSW was one of the best decisions I have ever made," Fields said. "I have grown up so much as an individual in just my three years here thus far. Coming out of high school, I never imagined that I would be involved in so many organizations in college. I have met so many new friends and consider Americus a second home away from Athens."

As the recipient of this award, Fields was honored during the annual Academic Recognition Day in the Georgia General Assembly, and he will receive a signed resolution from both the Georgia House of Representatives and the Senate.

- GSW -

Georgia Southwestern State University, located in Americus, Ga., is a public, four-year unit of the University System of Georgia with nearly 3,000 students. Georgia Southwestern offers outstanding professional programs of study as well as degrees in the arts, humanities, sciences and graduate programs in business, computer science, education, English, and nursing. Founded in 1906, Georgia Southwestern is recognized as one of the best value small colleges in the nation. Visit www.gsw.edu for more information.