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Alumni Awards

Aeolian Recipient

Aeolian Award

This award is chosen based on outstanding lifetime achievement as a distinguished alumni and community leader.

Visionary Award

Visionary Award

This award is given to entrepreneur and/or innovator for significant contribution to the advancement of a business or enterprise.

Young Alumni of the Year

Young Alumni of the Year

This award is given to an emerging leader making waves in his/her field, positive role model and reflection on the university.

Family Legacy Award

Family Legacy Award

This award recognizes one family with a tradition of attending GSW – award given in recognition of a multi-generational family that has shown continued interest in and support of GSW.

Finklea award winner

Leewynn J. Finklea Award

Named in honor of our first alumni director, this award recognizes outstanding alumni service to GSW. This award is nominated by members of the Alumni Association.

Professor of the Year

Canes Community Champion

The Canes Community Champion Award recognizes a dedicated servant of the community who shows a fervent record of collaboration with and advocacy for GSW.

Make a Nomination for Outstanding Alumni

The annual Outstanding Alumni Awards celebrate Georgia Southwestern State University alumni who have distinguished themselves as community leaders, innovators, and civic-minded individuals who are positive role models in their personal and professional lives. 

Make a Nomination

Previous Award Recipients

Aeolian Award

  • 2023 – Rick Whaley '89
  • 2022 – Leon Holloway '73
  • 2021 – Susan Parker Welch ’73 & ‘75
  • 2020 – Ronnie Nix ‘72
  • 2018 – Pam Carswell ’78
  • 2016 – Sparky Reeves ’71
  • 2015 – Eric Holland ‘00
  • 2014 – Betty Anderson ’46
  • 2012 – Glenn Mathis ’51
  • 2011 – Jerry Newman ’59
  • 2010 – Earl ’50 and Barbara ’51 Gammage
  • 2008 – Barry Blount ’78
  • 2007 – John Pate Bridges ’59
  • 2006 – Rudolph N. Patterson ’59
  • 2005 – George Hooks ’65
  • 2003 – Wallace Mays
  • 1998 – Jimmy Skipper ’74
  • 1995 – Emory Parker, Jr. ’84
  • 1993 – Don E. Carter ’36
  • 1988 – J. Frank Myers, Jr. ’39
  • 1981 – Robert Jordan ’36
  • 1977 – Griffin B. Bell ’36
  • 1975 – Rosalynn Smith Carter ’46

Visionary Award

  • 2023 – Eshonda Blue '98, '99
  • 2022 – Hugh Yaughn '72
  • 2021 – Jaha Dukureh ‘15
  • 2020 – Robert Martin Sr. ’90, ‘91

Young Alumni of the Year

  • 2023 – Kelsie Deiter '06, 07
  • 2022 – Qaijuan Willis '15
  • 2021 – Ryan Garnto ‘13
  • 2020 – Heather Burgess Simpson ‘07

Family Legacy Award

2023 – The James and Dawn Smith Family

2022 – The Turner Family

  • Terrell Turner, joined GSW in 1967 as Mathematics Instructor
  • Janie Turner ’74
  • Dr. Jim Turner ‘83
  • Dr. Bobby Turner ’79 and his wife Lisa Turner ‘80
  • Cheryl Turner Fletcher ’82, ’91 and her husband Mike Fletcher ‘78
  • Michael Fletcher ‘08
  • Maggie Fletcher Moore ’12, ‘20

2021 – The Roderick Family:

  •   Mr. Randall “Randy” Roderick ‘81
  •   Mrs. Debora Durrence Roderick ‘81
  •   Mr. Richard “Ric” Roderick ‘10
  •   Mrs. Shelley Tondee Roderick ‘10

 

2020 – The Watford Family:

  •  Dr. John Watford ’86, ‘89
  •  Mrs. Barbara Watford ’85, ‘89
  •  Dr. Lettie Watford ‘82
  •  Mr. Mark Watford ‘13

Leewynn J. Finklea Award

  • 2023 – Will Peterson '00, '04
  • 2022 – Amy Benton '90
  • 2021 – Lamar Radford ‘03
  • 2018 – Jimmy Peel ‘80
  • 2017 – Liz Ruf, ‘76
  • 2016 – Kathleen Lang Tucker, 2000
  • 2015 – Mary Wysochansky, ’87 & ‘93 
  • 2014 – Arthur Clark, 2000
  • 2013 – Len Hicks ‘75
  • 2012 – Sonja Duggar ‘79
  • 2011 – Guerry (’74) and Michelle (’76) Mashburn
  • 2010 – Doug Moses ‘97
  • 2009 – Harold Holloway ’58, ‘63
  • 2008 – Daphne Ann Chambless ‘50
  • 2007– Janice Cliett ’84, ‘89
  • 2006 – Ginger Starlin ‘72
  • 2005 – Sam Hunter, Jr. ‘73
  • 2004 – Jimmy Skipper ‘74
  • 2003 – Betty Hamilton Anderson ‘46
  • 2002 – Glynn Mathis ‘51
  • 2001 – Sybil Smith ‘94
  • 2000 – Emory Parker, Jr. ‘84
  • 1999 – Jerry T. Perkins ‘83
  • 1998 – William L. Tietjen ‘56
  • 1997 – G. Stanley Wicker ‘37
  • 1996 – Rick Davis ‘86
  • 1994 – Jerry B. Newman ‘59
  • 1993 – Griffin B. Bell ‘36
  • 1992 – Jody Monts, Jr. ‘43
  • 1991 – Ronald D. Scott ‘71
  • 1990 – Louise Byrd Oxford ‘69
  • 1989 – Martha H. Westbrook ‘29
  • 1988 – Bette Gatewood Duke ‘46
  • 1987 – Earl Gammage, Jr. ‘50
  • 1986 – Elizabeth Mathis Cheatham ‘36

Canes Community Champion

  • 2023 – Sandra Daniel '74, '76
  • 2022 – Barry Blount '78