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JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. (Sept. 9, 2026) - The Georgia Education Advancement Council has announced the award recipients for 2026. The winners will be honored during GEAC's Annual Conference Awards Dinner on Tuesday, November 10 on Jekyll Island, Georgia. "This year’s honorees exemplify the very best of higher education advancement in our state,” said GEAC President Frances Beussee of Kennesaw State University. “We are proud to recognize their outstanding commitment, innovative leadership...

LAGRANGE, Ga. (Jan. 16, 2026) – Sonya Hunte-Vandroff, Ed.D., executive director of the Georgia Piedmont Technical College Foundation, received the award for Excellence in Advancement Services at the 2025 GEAC Conference in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Hunte-Vandroff has made several early contributions to fundraising following her recent appointment with the Foundation. She joined GPTC in mid-2025 and quickly assumed leadership of the institution’s annual fundraiser, a formal gala held...

LAGRANGE, Ga. (Jan. 16, 2026) – Jordyn Reidmiller, graphic designer at Central Georgia Technical College, received the award for Excellence in Marketing and Communications at the 2025 GEAC Conference in Pine Mountain, Georgia. This award is reserved for those who have served at least five years in the field of higher education. The GEAC Awards are intended to honor higher education professionals in Georgia who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields. In making its...

LAGRANGE, Ga. (Jan. 16, 2026) – Emily Palubeski, Director of Student and New Alumni Engagement for the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, received the award for Excellence in Alumni Relations at the 2025 GEAC Conference in Pine Mountain, Georgia. In her role, Palubeski leads several of the Alumni Association’s major engagement initiatives, including oversight of the GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Council. Her team also supports three student organizations - the Student Alumni...

LAGRANGE, Ga. (Jan. 16, 2026) – Kathy Bangle, former senior director of development for constituent programs in the University of Georgia’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations, received the award for Excellence in Education Fundraising & Development at the 2025 GEAC Conference in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Bangle has served UGA for 33 years, providing strategic leadership to development professionals representing schools, colleges and units across campus. At the time of her...

LAGRANGE, Ga. (Jan. 16, 2026) – Brandi Wood, director of marketing and communications at Truett McConnell University, was awarded the Outstanding Newcomer Award at the 2025 GEAC Conference in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Since joining Truett McConnell University, Wood has led efforts to expand national brand awareness for the university. Under her leadership, TMU produced professional commercial campaigns that aired on national platforms including Fox News, Hulu and Spotify. As a result of...

LAGRANGE, Ga. (Jan. 16, 2026) – The University of North Georgia’s Advancement team was awarded the Overall Institutional Excellence in Advancement Award at the 2025 GEAC Conference in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Over the past six year, the UNG team raised more than $74 million from over 13,000 donors, representing a 181% increase in total giving and a 33% increase in unique donors compared to the previous six-year period. The results were achieved while the team operated with fewer staff...

Susan Sealy, Executive Director of Advancement at Columbus Technical College, has received the Outstanding Excellence Award for Educational Fundraising & Development at the 2024 GEAC conference! This award is reserved for those who have served at least five years in the field of higher education. The GEAC Awards are intended to honor higher education professionals in Georgia who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields. In making its selection, the GEAC Awards Committee...

Wes Zamzow, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving at Augusta University, received the Outstanding Execellence Award for Alumni Relations at the 2024 GEAC Conference! This Award is reserved for those who have served at least five years in the field of higher education. The GEAC Awards are intended to honor higher education professionals in Georgia who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields. In making its selection, the GEAC Awards Committee looked for...

Ronnet Rice (center), Director of Advancement Services and University Stewardship at Columbus State University, has received the Award for Excellence in Advancement Services at the 2024 GEAC conference! This award is reserved for those who have served at least five years in the field of higher education. The GEAC Awards are intended to honor higher education professionals in Georgia who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields. In making its selection, the GEAC Awards...

Sydney Scott, Multimedia Specialist at Georgia Southwestern State University, has won the Award for Excellence in Marketing & Communication at the 2024 GEAC conference! This award is reserved for those who have served at least five years in the field of higher education. The GEAC Awards are intended to honor higher education professionals in Georgia who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields. In making its selection, the GEAC Awards Committee looked for consistent...

Savannah Lockman, Director of annual giving at Kennesaw State University, was awarded the Outstanding Newcomer Award at the 2024 GEAC Conference! This category is meant to honor higher education professionals who have served less than five years in the field of higher education. The GEAC Awards are intended to honor higher education professionals in Georgia who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields. In making its selection, the GEAC Awards Committee looked for...