Georgia Southern graduate uses history to leave a legacy

Some students come to college determined to earn their degree. Spring graduate Jaylee Kilgo was determined to leave a legacy.

Arriving on Georgia Southern University’s campus, Kilgo already loved storytelling. Michael Van Wagenen, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of History, showed her how a degree in history could help her preserve and share stories in a meaningful way.

“Dr. Van Wagenen showed me all the things I could do with a history degree,” she said. “I had already been thinking about changing my major, and I felt like it was a sign. He helped me get an internship and really changed the direction of my education.”

Through her program, she received hands-on experience in research, preservation and interpretation of historical artifacts. Kilgo was especially drawn to projects featuring the stories of influential women at Georgia Southern. Her drive to uncover and share overlooked stories served as a defining part of her collegiate experience, leading her to work on projects including Georgia Brown Watson, the “True Blue Women” exhibit and a World War II memorial.

“One of my favorite things has been preserving the history of Georgia Southern,” she said. “I want students years from now to still have the opportunity to learn about the people and stories that helped shape this institution.”

Kilgo took her passion for history further by studying abroad at Georgia Southern’s Learning Center in Wexford, Ireland.

“Ireland was unlike anything I had ever experienced,” she said. “That was the first time I’d been abroad. The architecture is just absolutely beautiful in Ireland, and being able to walk to class while also walking in the middle of a town was really cool and unique to experience.”

While in Wexford, Kilgo attended classes and took educational excursions throughout Ireland. The unique structure allowed her to connect classroom lessons directly to real-world applications.

“Being able to learn about something in the classroom and then go see it for yourself was incredible,” she said. “Learning hands-on from the native Irish communities and experiencing their history, culture and landscapes was extraordinary.”

Kilgo never expected her college path to include so many opportunities for leadership, research and service, but she seized each one that came her way. From studying abroad in Ireland to serving as a Southern Ambassador, earning a role as Panhellenic president and preserving University history through archival projects with Special Collections, she met every chance with open arms.

“I’ve lived every single day to the fullest that I could,” she said. “I have no regrets about my time here at Georgia Southern.”

Her engagement, including work with the Alumni Association, helped her appreciate just how special the Georgia Southern community really is. It was that bond to the Georgia Southern community that became the foundation for her experience.

She credits faculty members Howard Keeley, Ph.D., Brian Feltman, Ph.D., William (Bill) Allison, Ph.D., and Shana Bridges, Ph.D., as well as her advisors and staff members Daniel McBurney and Megan Bowen, and the teams within Special Collections and Fraternity and Sorority Life, as key to her success. From helping her navigate graduate school applications to supporting her research ideas or simply assuring her that she is doing amazing things, these mentors were crucial to her.

“There were plenty of times I would walk into someone’s office and just need guidance,” she said. “The people at Georgia Southern are always willing to help.”

When asked how she hopes to be remembered, Kilgo doesn’t point to titles or accomplishments, but to her impact.

“I want to leave behind a legacy of someone warm and kind, but also made a difference in the people around her,” she said. “Having the opportunity to continue to have an impact on the institution through preserving Georgia Southern history and that potentially being a learning outcome for someone years down the road, that’s what I want to leave a legacy of.”

Having crossed the stage at commencement, Kilgo leaves not only with a history degree and a communication studies minor, but also with a collection of memories. As she prepares for graduate school in Tennessee, she believes it is time to carry the impact of Eagle Nation beyond her home state of Georgia.

“My impact has already been made here,” she said. “Now it is time for me to go do that somewhere else.”

As for future students searching for their place on campus, her advice is simple.

“Just do it,” she said. “Get involved. Talk to people. Don’t be afraid to try something new. You only have a few years here, and before you know it, you’ll be graduating. Make every opportunity count.”