“Geaux Day 2025: LSU, Southern University, and Louisiana Attorney General Unite to Inspire Over 200 Baton Rouge Youth in Powerful Community Celebration”
The heart of Baton Rouge beat a little louder and brighter this past weekend as more than 200 local children stepped onto the Louisiana State University campus for the fourth annual Geaux Day, a collaborative community initiative co-hosted by LSU, Southern University, and the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General. Designed as a day of education, empowerment, inspiration, and fun, Geaux Day has quickly grown into one of the capital city’s most impactful youth outreach events—one that not only opens doors to new possibilities but reinforces the deep ties between Louisiana’s top institutions and the communities they serve.
At its core, Geaux Day is about planting seeds. Seeds of confidence. Seeds of curiosity. Seeds of leadership. And for the over 200 kids from various corners of Baton Rouge—many of whom had never set foot on a college campus—the experience was transformative. From interactive sessions with student-athletes and campus leaders, to motivational speeches from public servants and law enforcement officials, the event served as a vibrant introduction to what’s possible when young people believe in their futures and see that belief reflected back at them by their community’s most trusted leaders.
The day began with a warm welcome and enthusiastic cheers as the kids arrived on campus, greeted by volunteers and organizers clad in LSU purple and gold and Southern’s signature Columbia blue. Spirits were high, and the air buzzed with anticipation. For many of the kids in attendance, Geaux Day offered something beyond a field trip—it was a rare and empowering opportunity to interact with college students who looked like them, came from similar backgrounds, and had overcome similar challenges. Representation was a theme that echoed throughout the day, from opening remarks to panel discussions, reminding these young guests that higher education, civic leadership, and personal success are well within reach.
LSU and Southern University—often seen as friendly rivals in academics and athletics—joined forces for this special occasion, blending their institutional strengths to create a truly inclusive and engaging experience. LSU’s sprawling campus offered the perfect venue for the day’s activities, while Southern’s staff and students added their dynamic energy and unique perspective as a historically Black university deeply rooted in the Baton Rouge community. That collaboration symbolized something important: unity across institutions, shared purpose, and a collective investment in the future of Louisiana’s youth.
Keynote addresses and breakout sessions were tailored to inspire and uplift. Officials from the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General spoke candidly with the young attendees about self-worth, community values, public service, and the importance of education. They stressed the power of choices and the role that character plays in leadership and legacy. Rather than preaching, they connected. They listened. They shared stories of their own childhoods, their struggles, their triumphs, and the moments that changed the course of their lives.
Athletes from both LSU and Southern volunteered their time and energy, serving as mentors and role models throughout the event. These student-athletes led athletic drills and team-building exercises, creating a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect between participants. The children saw firsthand what it looks like to balance academics with athletics, responsibility with passion, and discipline with dreams. Whether tossing a football, shooting hoops, or sharing a high-five after a successful relay race, the message was clear: hard work, teamwork, and determination pay off.
Workshops focused on a range of topics including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), leadership development, anti-bullying awareness, and emotional well-being. One particularly popular station allowed students to conduct simple science experiments with university faculty members and student volunteers guiding the way. Their wide-eyed fascination and eagerness to learn was a powerful reminder that curiosity is best nurtured through hands-on engagement. Other stations encouraged artistic expression, public speaking, and storytelling. These creative outlets allowed participants to express who they are, what they dream of, and what they fear—sometimes for the first time in a supportive, affirming environment.
The presence of law enforcement was also pivotal, and perhaps one of the most meaningful aspects of Geaux Day. Officers from the Louisiana Attorney General’s office and other regional departments participated not as enforcers of rules, but as community allies and mentors. Dressed in casual uniforms with approachable demeanors, they played games with the children, answered questions about their careers, and shared why they chose to serve. The goal was to bridge gaps, dispel stereotypes, and show a different side of policing—one rooted in compassion, protection, and partnership.
As lunchtime arrived, the event turned into a celebratory community cookout. Music blared from loudspeakers as local artists and student performers took to the makeshift stage. Children danced alongside college mascots, families enjoyed free food prepared by volunteers, and students sat together with guests from the community, laughing and sharing stories. It was a vision of unity—of what Baton Rouge looks like when generations, backgrounds, and institutions come together with a shared purpose: to lift each other higher.
Parents in attendance expressed deep appreciation for the event and the access it provided their children to powerful role models and environments of excellence. Many noted that events like Geaux Day are critical to keeping kids motivated, engaged, and dreaming big—especially in neighborhoods where opportunities often feel limited or out of reach. One mother, watching her son try on a mock graduation gown at one of the booths, remarked, “He’s never said he wanted to go to college before today. Now he’s asking if he can go to LSU or Southern. That’s the power of today.”
Equally moved were the college students and staff members who served as hosts and volunteers. For them, Geaux Day was a reminder of why they do what they do. It reignited their sense of purpose, and for many, it affirmed the idea that their journey through higher education is not just about personal success—it’s about lifting up the next generation. Many volunteers shared that the kids’ enthusiasm and vulnerability left a lasting impact on them, reinforcing the idea that mentorship is a two-way street.
By the time the day wrapped up, each child received a backpack filled with school supplies, books, snacks, and swag from LSU and Southern. But what they really took home was something far more lasting: belief. Belief in themselves, belief in their futures, and belief that there are people and institutions who truly care about their success. Some children left with new heroes. Others left with new goals. All left changed.
The success of this year’s Geaux Day is a testament to what’s possible when universities, government, and community come together in true partnership. It’s not just an event—it’s a movement. A movement that says education is for everyone. That leadership starts early. That no zip code should define a child’s destiny. And that when Baton Rouge rallies behind its youth, the entire city grows stronger.
LSU President William F. Tate IV and Southern University President-Chancellor Dennis Shields both released statements following the event, praising the collaboration and pledging continued support for initiatives that expand educational access and opportunity for Louisiana’s youth. The Attorney General’s office also signaled its commitment to making Geaux Day an even bigger and more far-reaching initiative in the coming years, potentially extending similar events into other cities across the state.
If this year’s Geaux Day proved anything, it’s that progress doesn’t always require grand policy changes or billion-dollar investments. Sometimes, it starts with a simple invitation. An invitation to dream, to belong, to explore, and to grow. The children of Baton Rouge answered that invitation with open hearts and eager minds. Now, the torch is passed to the rest of us—to keep that flame of hope and possibility burning bright.
Geaux Day 2025 wasn’t just a day on the calendar. It was a declaration. A joyful, thunderous declaration that the future of Baton Rouge is in good hands—because it’s being shaped by those who care enough to invest in its most valuable resource: its children. And as long as LSU, Southern University, and the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General continue leading the way, the Geaux Day spirit will echo far beyond the campus green and into the very soul of the city.
