GASFAA Awards

Your GASFAA Award recipients for 2025-26!

   

 

Award Recipients List

GASFAA Executive Board's Award for the Outstanding New Professional
Recipients of the GASFAA Executive Board's Award for the Outstanding New Professional have served not more than three years in a full time position as a professional student financial aid officer and are judged on contributions to GASFAA and to their institutions. Recipients exemplify creativity in raising the profession to a higher level.
Jennifer Batchelor Lanier Technical College 2026
Wilmani Humphries University of West Georgia 2020
Roslyn Smith Fort Valley State University 2018
Joe Buchholz University of West Georgia 2016
Amber Singletary Georgia Southern University 2013
Linda S. Casey Bainbridge College 2002
Noel Brock Augusta State University 1997
Past President's Award for Distinguished Service
The Past Presidents' Award for Distinguished Service recipients are GASFAA members with at least ten years of service to the Association who exemplify leadership performance and have demonstrated contributions above and beyond the normal service required by positions of leadership. Recipients of the Past Presidents' Award for Distinguished Service are nominated and selected by the Past Presidents' Council (Past Presidents of GASFAA).
Tracy Ireland University System of Georgia 2025
Maria Hammett Mercer University 2023
Patricia J. Barton Clayton State University 2016
Jody Darby Chattahoochee Technical College 2015
Donja Tripp Georgia Southwestern State University 2006
Steve Langston Gainesville State College 2004
Marvin E. Reid Macon State College 2002
Ray Tripp University of Georgia 1997
The Donald E. Payton Award for Lifetime Achievement
The Donald E. Payton Award for Lifetime Achievement is awarded by the Executive Board to individuals who have been GASFAA members for 15 or more years (current or former members) and who have demonstrated life long significant and consistent contributions as members of GASFAA, a high level of competency in Student Financial Aid, and leadership in community and institutional affairs.
Jill Rayner University of North Georgia 2025
Pennie Strong Georgia Student Finance Commission 2025
Susan Smith University of North Georgia 2022
Cathy Crawley Georgia College and State University 2019
Marie Mons Georgia Institute of Technology 2018
Doug Tanner Valdosta State University 2017
Gary Mann Southern Polytechnic State University 2011
Rondall Day Kennesaw State University 2011
Susan D. Little University of Georgia 2007
William A. Flook Georgia Student Finance Commission 2005
Deborah R. Barbone North Georgia College and State University 2003
Jerry McTier Georgia Institute of Technology 2002
Ray Tripp University of Georgia 2001
Em McNair Southern Polytechnic State University 2001
Tommy A. Moore Valdosta State University 2000
William M. Pouncey Georgia Institute of Technology 1999
Kitty C. McDonald Georgia Student Finance Commission 1997
Robert G. McCants Georgia Student Finance Commission 1994
Cheryl W. O'Keeffe Medical College of Georgia 1992
W. Arnold Hulsey North Georgia College 1991
Donald E. Payton (posthumously) Georgia Student Finance Commission 1988
Achievement Award for Outstanding Service to Students
Recipients of the Achievement Award for Outstanding Service to Students are chosen by the Awards Committee of GASFAA. Recipients have demonstrated evidence of successful student advocacy, a genuine and sincere sense of caring and concern for students, and a commitment to personalize student experiences and humanize the campus community. Recipients have demonstrated high quality interaction with individuals and student groups and performance "above and beyond the call of duty" while serving multiple roles within the campus community.
Cathy Nix Piedmont University 2026
Emma Stich Mercer University 2025
Jill Towns Georgia Military College 2023
Kimberly Jordan Georgia Gwinnett College 2022
Syreeta Monroe Savannah State University 2018
Sheryl "Mandy" Branch University of Georgia 2017
Suzanne Pittman Georgia College and State University 2014
Caylee French Georgia Student Finance Commission 2012
Dianne Cox Dalton State College 2009
Kathleen Caldwell Albany State University 2005
Sabina G. Presley Medical College of Georgia 1998
Johnny Nimes Morehouse College 1997
GASFAA Service Award
The GASFAA Service Award is awarded by the GASFAA Executive Board to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service and made significant contributions that further the goals of GASFAA.
David McMillion Georgia Student Finance Commission 2026
Joe Buchholz Ellucian 2025
Georgia Student Finance Commission  2018
Pennie Strong Georgia Student Finance Commission 2017
David Bartnicki Department of Education 2016
Lifetime Members
Lifetime Membership is bestowed upon Past-Presidents of GASFAA who are no longer involved in the administration of student financial aid.
Susan Smith University of North Georgia
Stephen Andersen Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Lenora Jackson Spelman College
Deborah Barbone North Georgia College and State University
Deborah Clark Atlanta Technical College
Dean Dalton (deceased) Georgia State University
Jean (Dobson) Farnsworth Emory University
James Garner Georgia Institute of Technology
Freida Jones Fort Valley State University
William T. Lee Georgia Institute of Technology
Susan D. Little University of Georgia
T. Jerry McTier Georgia Institute of Technology
Tommy Moore Valdosta State University
Cheryl O’Keeffe Medical College of Georgia
Tom Patterson Kennesaw State University
Marvin E. Reid Macon State College
Ruth Rich Georgia Student Finance Commission
Lee Anne Seawell (deceased) University of Georgia
Ray Tripp University of Georgia
Honorary Members
Honorary Membership is bestowed by the Executive Board for outstanding service in the field of support and/or administration of student financial aid.
Clark Aldridge Columbus College
Mamie R. Argo South Georgia College
Nancy Barnett Georgia Student Finance Commission
Janis Bowles Columbus State University
Betty Coen Costal Georgia Community College
Joe Creech College Scholarship Service
Ron Day Reinhardt College
Aurelia Dykes Georgia College
J. Shelton Evans Georgia Southern University
Terry Faust Kennesaw State University
Betty Fowler (deceased) Reinhardt College
Sandra Fowler Medical College of Georgia
Bill Fron Berry College
Sylvia Graves Dalton State College
Barbara Green East Georgia College
Patsy Griffin Lanier Technical College
Sally Griffin Wesleyan College
Barney W. Hendricks, Jr. Middle Georgia College
Mildred Hill Georgia Student Finance Commission
Jerrie Huewitt Savannah College and State University
W. Arnold Hulsey (deceased) North Georgia College
Kingston Johns College Scholarship Service
Eddene W. Johnson (deceased) Albany State College
Ross Jones Thomas Technical Institute
Nadia Keyes Georgia Student Finance Commission
Meta A. Kirsch (deceased) Atlanta Metropolitan College
Gary Lewis University of Georgia
Steve Langston Gainesville College
John Marotta Barnett Bank
Ruth McAdams Georgia Student Finance Commission
Robert G. McCants Georgia Student Finance Commission
Thomas F. McDonald University System of Georgia
Rebecca L. McNeill Georgia Southwestern College
Tommie Mitchell Savannah State College
James "Jay" Mooney University of Georgia
Bruce Pounds (deceased) Floyd College
Sabina Presley Medical College of Georgia
Margaret Prince Medical College of Georgia
Michael C. Rayburn Southwest Georgia Technical College
Betty Reid-Matthews Augusta Technical Institute
John W. Rogers, Jr. Columbus College
S.C. Searl Emory University
Patricia Simmons Macon State College
Guy Snavely (deceased) Pickett and Hatcher Educational Fund, Inc.
James Stallings Augusta College
Kaye Storey LaGrange College
Sarah Twiggs Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Gary Waters Berry College
Doris H. Westbrook DeKalb College
J. Don Wilson (deceased) East Georgia College