Distinguished Alumnus Award. This is the highest honor given by the Alumni Association and recognizes an individual who has distinguished themselves in an outstanding manner and has brought honor to themselves and to GMC. It is presented for service to humanity and dedication that exemplifies the core values of “Duty, Honor, Country” and the regimental accolade of “Character Above All” in their personal and professional life.
Randy New’s service to GMC exemplifies “Duty, Honor, Country” and “Character Above All” at the highest level. Mr. New is a proud alumnus of GMC, graduating from the GMC Prep School in 1971 and the Junior College in 1973. He was also commissioned with the GMC Corps of Cadets as a 2LT in the U.S. Army. He served on the GMC Foundation and then as a representative of District 2 on the GMC Board of Trustees from 1992 to 2020 and was Board Chairman from 1998 to 2020.
Mr. New holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics from Georgia College. He is the co-owner of Bayne’s Army Store, managing partner in VBRN Investments, and a partner in the Old Capitol Gun Club and BNS Properties. Mr. New has also given his time to several other organizations including the Milledgeville/Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, Milledgeville Main Street, the Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, and the Empty Stocking Fund.
The astounding growth of GMC during his many years of leadership has been a testament to Mr. New’s steadfast commitment. The Prep School added 4th and 5th grade in 2018 and then 3rd grade in 2019 with enrollment increasing from 417 students in the 1998-1999 school year to 751 students in the 2019-2020 school year. Enrollment at the Junior College increased as well, from 12,438 students in the 2014-2015 academic year to 16,351 students in the 2019-2020 academic year, this due to the addition of several campuses in Stone Mountain, Fayetteville, Dublin, Eastman, Albany, and Zebulon, as well as the GMC Global Online Campus. Several campuses also saw improvements by being relocated and/or opening new buildings. GMC Junior College added in 2015 its first-ever Bachelor of Applied Science degree program with a total of 108 program graduates by July 2020. GMC received the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges 10-year accreditation two times both in 2007 and 2017 without any follow-up recommendations during Mr. New’s tenure.
Many major facility projects were completed at GMC as well under Mr. New’s leadership. The Old Capitol Building restoration was completed in 2000. Craig Field was constructed in 2003 and Ruark Athletic Complex, Couch Field and Horace Ray Field House in 2005. Boylan Hall was also constructed in 2005 and Baugh Barracks the following year. Usery Hall opened in 2010. In 2014, the KIDD Health and Wellness Center and the Indoor Training Facility for baseball, softball and golf were constructed. The renovation of the Cordell Event Center also took place that year. In 2017, the Center for Ethics and Servant Leadership was built. Then, in 2019, the Prep School Annex was constructed and Jenkins Hall renovated. Mr. New’s mark on this institution is evident in the abundance of institution-wide accomplishments that were made during his tenure and will continue indefinitely.
Mr. New and his wife are life-long residents of Milledgeville. He and Cynthia, both graduates of GMC Prep School, met at the historic campus. Their daughter, Diana graduated from the Prep School in ’00 and son Corey from the Prep School in ’02 and the Junior College in ’04. They have four grandsons.
