“If it scares you, you’re meant to try it:” Georgia Southern graduate earns degree after nearly 30 years of challenges, triumphs and self-discovery

“If I can run 100 miles, I can finish this degree,” said Katie Logsdon, a recent graduate of Georgia Southern University, avid ultramarathon runner, local business owner, and, proudly, a mother of four children.

In December 2025, Logsdon earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Georgia Southern at 47 years old – a finish line she reached nearly 30 years after she began. Like many students, after graduating high school, she began taking college courses at what was then Armstrong State College and had completed all of the prerequisite courses required for her degree. With one final left to go in the semester, she looked forward to completing her program in the near future.

“The final was supposed to be in early December 2002, but it got pushed back. I took it days before my water broke, and I was in labor for 18 hours,” stated Logsdon.

After her daughter was born, she made the difficult decision not to return to school. At the time, she felt that motherhood seemed more important than finishing her degree. When her youngest was born, Logsdon discovered that her daughter had multiple exceptionalities that required ongoing medical care.

“After the birth of my first child, I wasn’t sure I wanted to finish my nursing degree,” she said.

Motherhood was fulfilling, but the desire to finish college stayed with her – shadowed by insecurity about whether she was capable of doing it. For years, doubt outweighed ambition.

But the obstacles Logsdon faced throughout her life were a reminder of her incredible ability to overcome and persevere.

“I was meeting my daughter, who is also a student at Georgia Southern, across the street from the Armstrong Campus one day, and chose to walk into the Admissions Office and see if any of the credits I earned years ago might transfer.”

That single decision would lead to a new, exciting chapter for Logsdon.

Following a conversation with Georgia Southern admissions and financial aid officers, she was told that with two children also attending college, she could receive substantial financial aid to return to school. Additionally, many of those credits she had earned nearly 30 years ago could transfer toward a degree.

“Between my former pre-requisites for the nursing program and taking care of my youngest daughter, I had an interest in the medical field, but felt nursing school wasn’t exactly the right path for me at the moment. Owning my own business and being a single mom, I needed a flexible program that could be done online that capitalized on my lived experiences,” she said. 

With guidance from Georgia Southern’s admissions counselors, she was able to find a degree program that could build on her completed courses, while also complementing her experience as a business owner. 

“That’s when I found out about a bachelor’s degree in an interdisciplinary studies program where I could choose a concentration of human development and family science, health promotion and business.”

Logsdon’s determination goes beyond academics. As a dedicated ultramarathon runner and active member of Savannah’s Rough Runners, supporting others who use running as therapy comes naturally. She aims to set a precedent for her family and anyone facing similar challenges.

“I think of myself as an example, not just for my children, but the people around me,” Logsdon explained. “If I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it.”

And, in December 2025, she reached the finish line of a goal she set nearly three decades ago. 

Crossing the stage, Logsdon proudly carried the ashes of her father and stepfather while her mother and four children watched her receive the degree she fought so hard to earn. An emotional moment for all, she was thankful her family always had her back and could be with her in person and spirit during the ceremony.

Above all else, Logsdon wants people struggling with the idea to go back to school to know, “If it scares you, that means you’re meant to try it.”