{"id":7232,"date":"2019-06-12T09:23:05","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T13:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/?p=7232"},"modified":"2023-02-15T10:49:37","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T15:49:37","slug":"2019-alumni-award-honorees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/2019\/06\/12\/2019-alumni-award-honorees\/","title":{"rendered":"2019 Alumni Award Honorees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In one of its biggest events of the year, the Georgia\nSouthern University Alumni Association celebrated the achievements of\noutstanding alumni during a formal affair at the Nessmith-Lane Center in the\nspring. The distinguished guests attending the annual Alumni Awards gala\nincluded Georgia Southern University President Kyle Marrero. The 2019 awards\nbuild upon the alumni programs that had existed separately for decades at\nGeorgia Southern and Armstrong State University. The current program\nincorporates all new awards that recognize the highest levels of achievement\nand service among alumni from across the entire University. The top graduating senior\nis also recognized as part of the Alumni Awards, in anticipation of this\nindividual\u2019s ongoing achievements and support for Georgia Southern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meet the 2019 recipients…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Karl Peace, Ph.D. (\u201963) <\/strong>This award is presented to the alumnus, who through volunteerism and\/or philanthropy, has made the greatest contribution to the advancement of the University. Karl Peace is the Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar, senior research scientist and professor of biostatistics in the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern. He created an endowment to establish the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, the first college of public health in the University System of Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A native of Baker County, Georgia, Peace is the architect of the Master in Public Health program in biostatistics and the founding director of the Karl E. Peace Center for Biostatistics in the college. The renowned philanthropist has created 21 endowments at Georgia Southern, the Medical College of Virginia, the University of California at Berkeley, Randolph-Macon, and the International Chinese Statistical Association. Peace has had distinguished teaching and research careers at several universities and enjoyed an illustrious career in research, technical support and management in the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This award recognizes an alumnus who has shown remarkable achievements in local, regional, national and international service. Johnson, from Savannah, served eight years as the 64th mayor of Savannah. While mayor, Johnson provided leadership for the creation of Step Up Savannah, Inc., a poverty reduction initiative, and Healthy Savannah, an initiative that promotes healthy lifestyles. Johnson has devoted his professional career to making conditions better for low-wealth families in Savannah and the South. He was the first African-American to graduate from Armstrong State. He began teaching at Savannah State University in 1971 where he organized the undergraduate program in social work. He has served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Savannah State and is currently a scholar-in-residence there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This award is presented to the alumnus who has made the greatest achievement in his or her career. Ann Levett, a Savannah native and proud product of its public schools, was appointed as superintendent of Savannah Chatham County Public Schools in 2017, having previously served as deputy superintendent and chief academic officer. Previous positions include executive director of the School Development program at Yale University School of Medicine and dean of Middle Georgia State College\u2019s School of Education. She also led educational and community development projects across the United States and its territories as well as in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and the British Virgin Islands. She serves as a panelist and site visitor for the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s National Blue Ribbon Schools program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spence (\u201970) and Sheila (\u201971) M.Ed. (\u201975) Hoynes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This award is presented to a couple who are both alumni and who, together or separately, have supported the University through philanthropy, service or professional work. Spence and Sheila Hoynes have been married for almost 47 years and live in Savannah and Eatonton, Georgia. Although they did not know each other while they were at Armstrong and Georgia Southern College respectively, they met in Savannah and their first date was the last basketball game that the two colleges played against each other in 1971. Sheila has served as president of the Georgia Southern Alumni Association and as a member of the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation Board of Directors. Spence has been president of the Armstrong Alumni Association and was recognized as an Armstrong Notable Alumnus in 2013. He retired as an assistant commissioner for the Georgia Department of Labor and Sheila from teaching first grade for 30 years. The Hoynes attend many athletic and alumni events and are annual Foundation donors contributing to the Georgia Southern Statesboro and Georgia Southern Armstrong programs. They are members of the Marvin Pittman Society, 1906 Society and the Legacy Society, having endowed scholarships in both of their wills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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TALON AWARD<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
James\n(Jimmy) Childre Jr. (\u201976)<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Talon award is considered the highest honor bestowed upon a Georgia Southern graduate who best represents\nexcellence in their career\nfield, service to their alma mater and service to\nthe community. James Childre Jr.\ngrew up in Georgia and\nis a third-generation auto dealer.\nAt age 25,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
he founded Childre Ford, Inc., in Sandersville, Georgia. He has won numerous awards including Ford Motor Company\u2019s prestigious Chairman\u2019s Award for being one of their top performing dealerships. Childre served for 15 years as a board member, chair and CEO of Washington County Regional Medical Center. In 2009, he was named Washington County Citizen of the Year. He is also an unwavering supporter of the University. Childre is chair emeritus of the Georgia Southern Foundation, having served 28 years including two terms as chair. He also served on the Parker College of Business Advisory Board, the Alumni Association Board, the Center for Entrepreneurial Learning and Leadership, and the Athletic Foundation Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The prestigious Talon Award is a bronze medallion infused with both the strength and beauty of our Eagle mascot. The medallion features the University logo surrounded by feathers and talons. The original design was created by Steve Hein, wildlife artist and director of Georgia Southern\u2019s Center for Wildlife Education. The medallion was crafted by Madeline Shelor, an alumna and a Master of Fine Arts student who specializes in metalsmithing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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