LaGrange College President Dan McAlexander gave his tenth state of the college address Thursday morning, noting the college’s impact on the community.

His speech focused on how the college impacts LaGrange, how individual lives are transformed through LaGrange College and the ways students are giving back to the community.

He noted that nearly 60 percent of nurses at WellStar West Georgia Medical Center graduated from LaGrange College.

“It says something about the staying power of those who graduated from our nursing programs,” McAlexander said.

He also pointed out $37 million in construction projects at the college in the last six years, and all of the visitors LaGrange College brings to Troup County. 

“We have thousands and thousands of campus visitors each year,” McAlexander said. “A little over 2,000 students visit just to see the campus and see if they want to come here, with their families, but also people coming to all of our plays, all of our sporting events, the USA South conference [tournament].”

McAlexander also talked about how the college compares to other Southeast private schools, all Methodist schools in the country and public schools. 

“[Another impact] is a liberal arts curriculum that emphasize the kinds of things that everybody wants to see in a college educated adult,” McAlexander said.  

“We engage our students deeply in the learning process, not just by giving them information, but by giving them practical experience.”

A national survey of student engagement shows that LaGrange College compares favorably to other schools.

“On that survey, we consistently outperform the other peer groups we compare ourselves to,” McAlexander said.

During the speech, eight alumni were recognized for being featured in a local publication for their work in the community. Each of those alumni were asked to bring the LaGrange College instructor that they felt impacted their lives and each was introduced.