In a moment that perfectly blended pride, perseverance and the power of family, a father and daughter crossed the stage together at the University of West Georgia’s commencement ceremony on Saturday morning, earning their degrees side by side

After supporting each other through late-night study sessions, shared dreams and many lessons on technology, their journey culminated in a celebration of love and determination, proving it’s never too late to chase your dreams. 

Greg Camp was a student-athlete at UWG in 2002 when his daughter, Addison, was born. A Rome, Georgia, native, Greg fell in love with the area – and wife Lori ’01 – after arriving at UWG and decided Carrollton would be a great place to raise a family. He’d always had a head for business, and when he wasn’t studying or playing football, he would go door-to-door offering construction and landscaping services. 

“I met a couple of good people in the community who helped get me going with a variety of odd jobs,” Greg recalled. “This eventually led to general contracting, which is vital in the construction projects, both residential and commercial.” 

At the time, no one in Greg’s family had a college degree. Determined to be the first, he made the switch to part-time student while earning money to support his wife and newborn. 

“When Addison entered the world, I realized having a kid was more important than college,” he said. “But in the back of my mind, I always wanted to graduate and possibly share some of what I’ve learned by being a part-time professor. Of course, at that time, I didn’t know if it would happen.” 

Fast forward to early 2024: Greg is the owner and founder of two successful companies, Southern Standard Construction and Halo Waterfowl, and Addison is in her senior year at UWG as a marketing major. One day she approached Greg and Lori with a confession – she didn’t want to walk at graduation.  

Mom and Dad were flabbergasted.

“We all started laughing, but then I told her, we paid for your education and you’re walking,” Greg vowed. “I made her a deal. I’d re-enroll, earn my final credits to graduate, and we’d walk across the stage together. She grinned ear-to-ear and said, ‘It’s a deal.’” 

Addison said that this shared academic experience with her dad has not only strengthened their relationship but has also enhanced her entire college experience. 

“I don’t think there are many dads out there who would go back to school with their daughter when they’re already running successful businesses,” she beamed. “This has shown me how much of a hard worker he truly is, which motivates me and makes me want to be more like him.” 

It has also created a better synergy for the duo, who work together at Halo Waterfowl, Greg’s lifestyle apparel company. He said it’s created a better level of trust and understanding of what Addison is capable of. 

“It’s been really eye-opening to see how intelligent she really is,” he explained. “For a dad, it gives me chills to see my daughter not only do well in school but to also apply it in real-world scenarios.” 

She’s also helped her dad in situations where his generation gap begins to show the most – with technology. 

“I always kid everyone and say I’m living ‘Back to School’ with Rodney Dangerfield,” Greg laughed. “The challenges for an old-timer these days are electronics. Countless times I asked my daughter and her fiancé, Jacob, to help turn my computer on and log me in. I have a whole new respect for online students.” 

It’s been fun to walk Greg through how college courses are now with all the technology involved, Addison said. 

“It’s crazy to see the difference in the way different generations learn and work,” Addison added. “I’m very organized with good time management skills. Dad is the opposite, but he is still very successful. He somehow runs several businesses without a laptop – he borrows mine for school assignments!” 

Greg also received a lot of support from others in the UWG community. Originally a business management major, he switched to an interdisciplinary degree to complete his education in the time desired.  

“To get involved in a different program and execute it has been challenging but fun,” he explained. “It wasn’t easy to figure out how I’d cram it all into one year, but some very strategic people at the university helped me figure out a path forward to make my dream come true.” 

As Greg and Addison turned their tassels, the moment symbolized more than just academic achievement – it was a testament to the bond father and daughter share and the journey they took together. 

“As a dad, what I hope Addison learns from this is to trust yourself,” Greg concluded. “If you want something, go get it, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Don’t let anything stand in your way. That’s what I hope she carries with her long after I’m gone.”