COVINGTON, Ga. — One final scholarship signing was held inside the walls of Eastside High School at its original building. Caroline Meakins inked her scholarship to continue her golf career at Truett McConnell University on May 12.
Putting pen to paper was a surreal experience for Meakins.
“It is really cool to have a plan and to be sure about what I'm going to be doing,” Meakins said. “Because not a lot of high schoolers get that right after graduation. There's a lot of uncertainty and I'm so thankful I don't have to experience that.”
Meakins said that, as soon as she stepped on Truett McConnell’s campus, she felt “right at home.”
“I visited the campus at the end of April and I've never felt so welcome in my entire life,” Meakins said. “Everyone was so kind and coach [Steve] Patton was extremely enthusiastic and introduced me to a lot of the other girls on the team. It was just such a warm atmosphere.”
When she arrives to campus, Meakins plans to major in criminal justice with a concentration in pre-law.
But her passion is to play golf on the collegiate level.
Meakins has played golf since her freshman year at Eastside and said that she doesn’t like any other sport — it’s always been golf for her. Meakins credited her dad as the fuel behind her desire to play golf.
“He's my biggest supporter and he's the reason I'm going to play in college,” Meakins said.
Her dad isn’t the only one Meakins credited in helping her reach the next level.
Meakins highlighted how Eastside has played a pivotal role in her development as both a student and an athlete. On top of that, Meakins recognized how she’s going to miss her teammates, coaches and teachers the most.
“I will miss the girls I played with and the sisterhood we created from playing together,” Meakins said. “It's an amazing bond that I'll miss dearly. I definitely appreciate the efforts that the teachers put in. Most of my family members are teachers and I understand more than anyone the thought and the love that goes into teaching. I will miss my teachers the most for sure.”
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