Georgia Military College in Fayetteville was the first higher learning institution to build a campus in Fayette County. Opened in 2015, GMC on Aug. 20 held the grand opening for its new 11,000 sq. ft. expansion.

Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Rock Donahue, executive director of GMC’s Atlanta area campuses, began the ceremony noting that this summer marks the fourth anniversary of GMC’s presence in Fayette County.

The Aug. 20 ceremony came with the grand opening of the school’s expansion, one that includes a 10,808 sq. ft. building attached to the original building, and one that comes with six classrooms, a biology/chemistry lab, various other office and staff spaces and parking for another 70 vehicles.

Fayetteville Mayor Ed Johnson was one of the two speakers at the ceremony.

“On behalf of the City Council, we are extremely honored and humbled to be a part of celebrating this second milestone,” Johnson said. “(GMC’s presence here) represented a paradigm shift in the educational model in Fayette County, where a student can start here and go anywhere (having been provided) with an academically nurturing environment.

Johnson again applauded GMC on its second milestone, adding that “I’m confident that there are many more to come.”

The second speaker was GMC President Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William Caldwell, IV, who noted the need for the campus to expand due to continued increases in student enrollment.

“This is where students go to instill confidence in the challenges of life. Intellect and character will be shaped here,” Caldwell said.

GMC educates citizens who are contributing members of society, Caldwell said, noting the inscriptions affixed to the building’s exterior: Duty, Honor, Country — Character Above All.

Rounding out the ceremony, Donahue said, “Today is a great moment for the Fayetteville campus.”