Valdosta State University College Republicans will host an informal meet and greet with U.S. Rep. Austin Scott at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, in Student Union Ballroom A. Faculty, staff, students, and the general public are encouraged to attend.

A Republican representing Georgia’s 8^th Congressional District, Scott is serving his second term in the United States House of Representatives. He was first elected on Nov. 2, 2010, defeating Democratic incumbent Jim Marshall, and ran for re-election two years later without opposition. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, actively serving on the Military Personnel, Readiness, and Oversight and Investigation subcommittees, and a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, serving as chairman of the Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture and a member of the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management and Department Operations, Oversight, and Nutrition subcommittees.

Scott was born on Dec. 10, 1969, in Augusta and lives in Tifton with his wife, Vivien, and son, Wells. He graduated in 1993 from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in risk management and insurance and has owned and operated an insurance brokerage firm for nearly 20 years.

According to his House biography, “He is known as a conservative on both economic and social issues and as a fierce defender of limited government, a strong national defense, and our Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.”

Described as a rising Republican Party star, Scott’s political career began at the age of 26 when he was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives. In 2009 he entered the Georgia governor’s race but dropped out in April 2010 to run against Marshall.

Scott is expected to speak briefly at Monday’s event and then mingle with those in attendance, noted Ryan Baerwalde, vice chairman of VSU College Republicans and southwest region director of the Georgia Association of College Republicans. Light refreshments will be served.

“The mission of College Republicans is to spread and support the conservative ideals of the Grand Old Party on college campuses,” Baerwalde explained. “We do this by volunteering on local, state, and national campaigns; hosting events, such as the one with Austin Scott; and debating or discussing politics within our own organization and with other students. College Republicans is open to all VSU students, but our meetings are open to all.”

Contact Ryan Baerwalde at [email protected] to learn more.