What do the Georgia Southern Wildlife Center, and Parker College of Business all have in common? Spring 2026 graduate Kirsten Smith. 

As a young girl growing up in Loganville, Georgia, just south of the Gwinnett County line, Smith was introduced to horse riding by a family member. 

鈥淏eing an animal lover for as long as I could remember, I have wonderful memories of riding horses. It got me out of my comfort zone, it allowed me to discover a new side of myself,鈥� she recalled.

Smith said that being an athlete wasn鈥檛 always something she considered doable. Struggling with hand-eye coordination, she felt as though there were too many barriers to participating in team sports. 

Even when the opportunity to participate in a collegiate Equestrian team arose, those years of self-doubt almost proved too strong. 

鈥淲hen I came to Georgia Southern, I wasn鈥檛 sure that I was capable of balancing classes and extracurricular activities,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚 missed the deadline to try out for the Equestrian Team, but my mom encouraged me to reach out to the coaches anyway.鈥�

That single decision would shape the next four years of her undergraduate experience. 

鈥淚 was welcomed onto the team freshman year despite the late start. Being on the team helped me find most of my friends here. I even met my roommate through the Equestrian Team. A lot of the members chose Georgia Southern because of the incredible opportunity to be part of this sport,鈥� Smith followed. 

Founded in 1993, the Equestrian Team, a club sport at Georgia Southern, allows riders to compete throughout their college career, regardless of riding level. The team moved to Evermore Farm in Brooklet, Georgia in 1998. Students compete through the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) equestrian program which allows riders to participate in the sport without the higher cost of horse ownership.聽

鈥淓leanor Ellis, the owner and head trainer of Evermore Farm, has multiple programs taking place on the property. Today, there are opportunities for riders as young as elementary school age to learn the importance of caring, showing and bonding with horses,鈥� Smith explained. 

Evermore Farm isn鈥檛 only the home base for the University鈥檚 Equestrian Team. It鈥檚 a place that values both horsemanship and mentorship for all ages. 

Smith said, 鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 not unusual for Georgia Southern students to be on the premises at the same time as younger riders, we act as a kind of mentor, showing children how passionate and committed Georgia Southern鈥檚 Equestrian Team can be.鈥�

According to Smith, horses provide a unique experience for every rider, often capable of detecting the slightest changes in emotions and behavior, while also providing a nonjudgmental and nurturing experience for each equestrian. 

鈥淲e like to call them big dogs. They have big personalities, but are also all special in their own way. Horses help you become a better rider and a better person,鈥� she explained. 

As a double major in business administration and accounting, Smith understands that planning, preparation and passion go hand in hand. Along with succeeding in the classroom and athletically, during her time on campus, she also supported the Georgia Southern Center for Wildlife Education as a student assistant under the direction of Executive Director Steve Hein.

鈥淚 love working for Steve; he鈥檚 a fantastic director. The Wildlife Center has great volunteer opportunities for people older than 18, and it鈥檚 a great way to learn more about local wildlife while learning how to be a good steward of the environment,鈥� Smith said.  

Though her future will likely involve animal caretaking in some capacity, Smith isn鈥檛 finished with Eagle Nation just yet. 

鈥淚 am looking forward to taking on a master鈥檚 in accounting through Georgia Southern鈥檚 online program and plan on building my career alongside my supportive mom, who has had a long career in office and accounting management, and inspired me to pursue a similar path,鈥� she added. 

A new symbol of Eagle spirit stands at the entrance of after 快猫app短视 unveiled 鈥淔reedom to Soar,鈥� a life-size bronze statue honoring Freedom, the University鈥檚 beloved bald eagle mascot who passed away in March 2025. 

The sculpture has a wingspan of approximately eight feet and weighs 385 pounds. It sits atop a custom cast and polished concrete pedestal that weighs 6,000 pounds. The inspiration for the final look is one that Eagles football fans will find familiar.

鈥淭he plinth is designed to reflect Freedom flying over the stadium,鈥� said Jason McCoy, studio technician in the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art. 鈥淚t has the terracing of the seating inside the stadium, and Freedom is flying at an angle and soaring down to the field. So, it’s designed to mirror the stadium and Freedom’s Flight over the stadium.鈥�

For more than two decades, Freedom was more than a symbol on game days. He embodied strength, pride and the True Blue spirit of Eagle Nation. His story inspired thousands of alumni, students, faculty, staff and fans, and his presence at community and University events uplifted generations of Eagles. As an ambassador for Georgia Southern, wildlife and as a symbol of our nation, Freedom inspired thousands annually at , the in Savannah, , community events and other appearances across the State of Georgia and .

鈥淭here’s this continuation of Freedom’s legacy that is connected and ingrained into the Georgia Southern community,鈥� said Jeff Garland, associate dean of faculty affairs and research. 鈥淭hat’s the legacy of this sculpture. It鈥檚 a great way to show that legacy and show we will have him forever.鈥�

Restoration and preparation of the statue began in April 2025, and were carried out by an eclectic team from all corners of the Georgia Southern community. Students, faculty and staff from the BFSDoArt, Master of Fine Arts student Tanner Maxey, Associate Professor Matt Mogle, in addition to Garland and McCoy, contributed work to the monument. Steve Hein, executive director of the Center for Wildlife Education, served as consultant throughout the project. Additionally, Georgia Southern鈥檚 Division of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction, led by Project Manager Sandi Wilkinson, was supported by Dabbs Williams General Contractors to help with the landscaping and installation process.

Designers wanted even the smallest details included in the piece, all the way down to counting the number of feathers along the edges of the wings.

鈥淵ou want all parties involved to agree on what’s happening so that everybody’s happy with the final outcome,鈥� said McCoy. 鈥淚t takes a lot of people to get stuff like this done. It’s a memorial piece for the University mascot, so it’s going to mean a lot to a lot of people.鈥�

The statue stands alongside the Erk Russell statue in the plaza at , which will unite two enduring symbols of Eagles football.

Friday’s ceremony featured the unveiling of the statue, as well as speeches and stories from those who worked closely with Freedom and the Wildlife Center. Speakers included Hein, Garland, 快猫app短视 President Kyle Marrero, Alumnus David Ball, Hein鈥檚 longtime mentor Steve Layman, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Jon Burns, Georgia State Senator Billy Hickman and Athletics Director Chris Davis.

鈥淔reedom wasn鈥檛 just a mascot,鈥� said Marrero. 鈥淗e was a symbol of strength, of unity and of that True Blue pride that defines Georgia Southern. In true Eagle fashion, he grew into something bigger than anyone expected. As we unveiled this new statue in Freedom鈥檚 honor, we celebrated not only his life but the tradition and spirit he leaves with us.鈥�

Georgia Southern is launching a new brand and merchandise line that will benefit and honor Freedom, the University鈥檚 live bald eagle mascot that flies before each home game in what many call the 鈥渕ost exciting 30 seconds in college football.鈥�

Unable to survive on his own because of an injury to his beak as a newborn, Freedom came to Georgia Southern in 2004 and now lives at the University’s Center for Wildlife Education in Statesboro alongside other eagles, raptors, reptiles and waterfowl. He will celebrate his 20th birthday this December.

As an ambassador for Georgia Southern and symbol of our nation, Freedom has inspired thousands annually at the Center for Wildlife Education, Georgia Southern football games, the St. Patrick鈥檚 Day parade in Savannah, commencements, community events and other appearances, such as at the Charles Swab Classic PGA tour event earlier this year in Texas.

To support Freedom and the Wildlife Center, University Communications and Marketing, Georgia Southern鈥檚 office of Athlete Brand Management and Licensing, the Wildlife Center and the university鈥檚 retail partners are collaborating to launch a new line of merchandise featuring Freedom. One shirt includes 鈥淔reedom鈥檚 Ride,鈥� and depicts Freedom perched in the back of a 1977 International Scout often seen around town as it鈥檚 owned and driven by handler and Wildlife Center Executive Director Steve Hein.   

鈥淔reedom belongs to Georgia Southern students, faculty, the Statesboro community and all those he encounters鈥� Hein said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 natural to want to express a unique relationship spanning 20 years and what better way to do this than by making his image available for people to wear and promote. I鈥檓 excited about this program, honored to be his plus-one, and greatly appreciate everyone鈥檚 support for Freedom, his care and his future.鈥�

The Freedom merchandise is designed to be both inspirational and stylish. Items are in development, but initial offerings could include:

• Hats
• T-Shirts
• Hoodies
• Posters
• Postcards

Proceeds will benefit the Wildlife Center and Freedom鈥檚 care. Items will be available starting this week at near the Georgia Southern campus in Statesboro and will be available soon at the on the University鈥檚 Armstrong and Statesboro campuses and in the gift shop at the located on the Statesboro Campus.

Carson Moore never wanted to go to college.

Moore, a graduating senior with a keen interest in animals, will receive a BS in biology from Georgia Southern at Paulson Stadium on Dec. 13. 

Growing up, Moore worked in a horse barn for twelve years and volunteered for a mini-zoo in her hometown of Macon, Georgia. She did not want to leave her work with animals behind to go to college.

鈥淏ut my mom asked me 鈥榳hy don’t you just tour Georgia Southern?鈥欌�� said Moore. 鈥淪o when I came to look, I fell in love with the campus and then I found out there was a Wildlife Center, and I was like, oh yeah, this is it.鈥�

That 鈥渋t鈥� moment pointed her in the direction of a career path that includes her passion for animals.

鈥淲hen I came on the Georgia Southern tour, I showed up at the Wildlife Center and met Steve Hein [executive director] and asked if he could give me a job. And he said 鈥業 don鈥檛 know, maybe.鈥� So I just kept emailing everybody at the Center constantly and eventually, to my luck, I was able to start at the Wildlife Center the very first week of my college career.鈥�

In addition to her heavy course load as a biology major, Moore continued as a student worker at the Center for Wildlife Education and the Lamar Q Ball Jr. Raptor Center. She鈥檚 done it all, from educational programs, to feeding the wild animals, to the messy job of cleaning up after them.

鈥淚 think being a STEM major is difficult. But any time I had questions with anything, my advisors, my professors, everyone was always so helpful and guiding. You know, I really didn’t want to go to college, but having all these people encourage me to keep going was just very, very impactful.鈥�

Moore works with the public nearly every day at the Wildlife Center. Frequently, elementary, middle and high schools come on field trips for the educational programming at the Center. 

鈥淲orking with the animals, presenting programs to the public and doing off-sites where we take animals and educate people are my favorite things鈥�, explained Moore. 鈥淚 have been everywhere and met lots of different people, that鈥檚 super fun. And then also I’ve met all of my best friends through the Wildlife Center. I fit right in and I have really enjoyed it.鈥�

Moore likes to specialize in the birds of prey, although she works with all the animals at the Wildlife Center.

鈥淚 think my favorite animals to work with are definitely the birds of prey, but probably the eagles just because they’re very impressive,鈥� said Moore. 鈥淚n fact, I got to have Freedom [the Georgia Southern live mascot] in my graduation photos on Sweetheart Circle.鈥�

Moore has been a student worker at the Center for Wildlife Education for the duration of her college career and has loved every minute of it. After graduation, her work with animals is about to continue.

鈥淚 am in the process of applying for a full-time position at the Wildlife Center as the education assistant. So that鈥檚 very exciting. I’ll just be continuing what I love to do.鈥�

Georgia Southern and the Wildlife Center have had a huge impact on Moore鈥檚 life.

鈥淚 wouldn’t be in the place that I am right now without Georgia Southern. To have a wildlife center that is connected to the University is just a huge benefit and it’s something that’s really unique. A lot of universities don’t have all the opportunities that Georgia Southern has along with its beautiful campus.鈥�

Now that Moore is graduating, how does her mom feel about her future at the Wildlife Center?

鈥淥h, she’s absolutely over the moon about it. She’s always encouraged me to follow my passions and she knows I love animals. So if I’m happy, she鈥檚 definitely happy.鈥�

快猫app短视鈥檚 famed Center for Wildlife Education Center and the Lamar Q Ball, Jr. Raptor Center will reopen Monday, Oct. 5, at 9 a.m.

Closed since the pandemic hit in March, workers have used the time to refurbish many areas of the center and finish a new observation deck at the waterfowl exhibit. Visitors will be able to enter the enclosure and view 125 ducks representing 16 species, the largest collection of waterfowl in Georgia.

鈥淭his new area is so serene 鈥� it鈥檚 almost like a painting in motion,鈥� said Steve Hein, the center’s executive director. 鈥淲e are so excited to finally welcome people back to the wildlife center, and to reintroduce them to this idyllic spot in the middle of the campus in Statesboro.鈥�

The exhibit is the focal point of the Wetland Preserve, a project that began in 2009 and focuses on hydrology and ornithology. Located opposite the waterfowl pond is the Cypress Swamp, a great location to catch a glimpse of wading birds like egrets and herons.

As the center prepares to reopen, some new guidelines are in place to ensure the safety of visitors and of the wildlife center staff.

鈥淯nfortunately, we are not yet able to open up our playground or campground area and we have had to temporarily suspend our daily programs,鈥� said Hein. 鈥淏ut this could be a perfect place to get outside while still remaining socially distant since we have about 17 acres of property here, a wide assortment of birds and animals, and a discovery nature trail.鈥�

Some spaces in the center have been modified to meet state and local social distancing guidelines. Face coverings are required while inside the main building. 

The Center for Wildlife Education is located on the Statesboro Campus at 1461 Forest Drive. It is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m – 4:45 p.m. For more information, visit . 

快猫app短视, a public Carnegie Doctoral/R2 institution founded in 1906, offers 141 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit .