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Distinguished Alumni Awards

Excellence in Our Ranks

GET TO KNOW THE 2024 WINNERS

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Dan Alban (00C)

Dan Alban (00C) is a constitutional litigator at the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit public interest law firm that represents individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated by local, state or federal government. He specializes in litigating cases involving civil forfeiture, eminent domain abuse and occupational licensing regulations, helping clients recover seized property in federal and state court cases across the country. He also co-directs the institute's National Initiative to End Forfeiture Abuse. He frequently discusses legal issues on TV and radio programs and podcasts such as FoxNews.com, CNBC's The Kudlow Report, and CSPAN's Washington Journal and has testified before Congress on multiple issues.

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ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT AWARD

Leroy Hite (08C)

From the seed of a side business, Leroy Hite (08C) has grown his luxury firewood brand into one of Atlanta's fastest growing companies, increasing revenue by 600% in just four years. Cutting Edge Firewood delivers high-quality firewood with white-glove customer service. The operation now has more than two dozen employees, and Leroy has transformed delivery through a patented covered delivery rack that increases efficiency. He gives Berry's entrepreneurship program full credit for giving him the "entrepreneurial bug." The program taught him the skills required to establish several businesses, including another focused on firewood that sparked his appreciation for the "universal and primal" love of fire.

Jen Welch (08C)

Being a Bonnor Scholar at Berry ignited a passion for helping others that launched Jen Welch (08C) into what she describes as "a lifestyle of service." After graduating, she served two terms with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps before becoming AmeriCorps program coordinator at Clayton State University, growing the then-new program to make meaningful service experiences that developed students into servant leaders. Through her current role as deputy executive director of Gwinnett/Walton Habitat for Humanity, Jen played a lead role in doubling the number of houses built and increasing the number of homes they can support by more than 400%. Under her leadership, Gwinnett/Walton Habitat received the Georgia Affiliate Hammer Time Repair Award for excellence.

Josh Etress (09C)

Josh Etress (09C) strives to live out Berry's motto throughout his life and career. As COO of Anchor Investments, he's passionate about building "America's Most Generous Real Estate company." Their Mission Hotels brand directs profits to aid those experiencing homelessness, aiming to provide one million meals, beds and showers by 2028. Josh's guidance earned Anchor the Nashville Business Journal's "Best Places to Work" award and himself Rent Magazine's "Best Real Estate Investment Expert" in 2023. He actively serves in community organizations and mentors young professionals seeking guidance and growth. The devoted husband and father of four is thankful for Berry College's impact on his life and his desire to serve others.

Distinguished Achievement

Given for outstanding leadership within a local or a national organization or for distinguished accomplishments within an occupational field. The nominee must have achieved success far beyond what might be recognized as normal or average.

2024: Dan Alban (00C)
2023: Robert Carpenter (87C)
2022: Genny Castillo (08C)
2021: Bridgette Stewart (98C)
2020: Dr. Beverly Smith (69C, FFS)
2019: Alexander "Whit" Whyte Whitaker IV (81C)
2018: Dr. C. Randall Clark (67C)
2017: Kelly M. Fite (68C)
2016: Roger W. Lusby, III (79C)
2015: David L. Grindle (93C)
2014: Dr. Rayford H. Boyett (58C)
2013: Angela R. Dickey (75A, 79C)
2012: T. Ray Fewell (58C)
2011: Dr. Jimmy T. Bell (60C)
2010: Karen Holley Horrell (74C)
2009: J. Lowell Loadholtz (60C)
2009: H. Oliver Welch (52H, 56c)
2008: Dr. Joe A. Elder (63C)
2007: J. Barry Griswell (71C)
2006: Jack A. Jones (57C)
2005: Dr. John Barge (88C)
2004: Dr. Philip D. Whanger (59C)
2003: W. Buford Jennings (58C)
2002: Dr. E. Dwight Adams (53C)
2001: Dr. L. Doyle Mathis (58C)
2000: B. Leon Elder (54C)
1999: Dr. Natholyn Harris (61C)
1998: Dr. Jerry W. Young (57C)
1997: Dr. James K. Miller (53C)
1996: Dr. James R. Scoggins (52C)
1995: Dr. Ouida Word Dickey (50C)
1994: Reba Shropshire Wilson (35c)
1993: Dr. Koji Yoda (65C)
1992: Norman D. Burkett (46c)
1991: Dr. Quincey L. Baird (52C)
1990: W. Joseph Biggers (45H)
1989: Dr. E. Kay Davis (57C)
1988: Leland R. Dean (41C)
1987: John Lie-Nielson (54H)
1986: Rear Admiral Lewis A. Hopkins (39C)
1985: Drs. Kenneth (53C) and Betty Whitten (60c)
1984: David E. Estes (39C)
1983: Dr. Milton S. McDonald (38C)
1982: Dr. Horace D. Brown (39C)
1981: Amile Chastain Graves (29C)
1980: Roy Richards (30H)
1979: Herman A. Watson (24H)
1978: Dr. Ann Fite Whitaker (61C)
1977: Charles T. Ray (48C)
1976: J. Dewitt Purcell (31H, 36C)
1975: E. Grant Fitts (34H)
1974: Dr. Dale Purcell (38H)
1974: Dr. Clayton C. O'Mary (43C)
1973: J. T. Parker, Jr. (37H)
1973: Dr. Reavis C. Sproull (30C)
1972: Joseph A. Shropshire (30H)
1972: Dr. J. Kenyon East (35C)
1971: Dr. J. Theodore Phillips (29H, 33C)
1970: Dr. T. Latham Smith (12H)
1970: Dr. Thomas W. Gandy (39H, 42C)
1969: Dr. John L. McDaniel (39C)
1969: General George A. Carver (28C)

Distinguished Service

Honors selfless service to humanity over and beyond one's normal obligations. The service must have been of significant value, although it may have attracted little public attention or recognition.

2024: Jen Welch (08C)
2023: Mark Banta (82C)
2022: Stewart Fuqua (80A)
2021: Patricia Jackson (82C, FFS)
2020: Dr. Melanie Bliss (96C)
2019: Rebekah "Bekah" Fortney Baxter (18C)
2018: Jennifer Dickey (77A, 80C)
2017: Cecil "Buster" Wright III (73C)
2016: Joy Bernice Ogle Whaley (53H)
2015: Joy Padgett Johnson (73C)
2014 : John Shahan (64A, 69C)
2013: F. Mack Gay (59C)
2013: Walter O. Maine (59C)
2012: Amy M. Williams (03C)
2011: Jack A. Jones (57C)
2010: Dr. Harlan L. Chapman (58C)
2010: Ruth King Martin (65C)
2009: Dr. Larry G. McRae (60C)
2008: Robert L. Huff (51C)
2007: W. Glenn Cornell (62C)
2006: Jerry W. Shelton (58C)
2005: Gayle G. Gmyrek (67C)
2004: Carolyn T. Smith (53C, FFS)
2003: Tim Howard (82C)
2002: Nettie Ruth Brown (52C)
2001: Linnie Lane Gibson (51C)
2000: Frances Denney Barnett (49c)
1999: Lillian C. Farmer (42C)
1998: Earl D. Tillman (52H)
1997: W. Milton Chambers (78A, 82C)
1996: Ellen McGehee Doughtery (52C)
1995: John R. Lipscomb (40H, 44c)
1994: Virginia Webb (44c)
1994: Billy Smith (39H)
1993: W. Carl Paul (36C)
1992: G. Monroe Guyton (30H)
1991: Earl W. Williams (41C)
1990: Albert Lawton Dean (39C)
1989: Dr. Herchel H. Sheets (49C)
1988: Mary Sheffield Banks (36H)
1987: Geneva Craig Jarrett (31H, 36C)
1986: James Noble Finley (42C)
1985: Paul E. Smith (48C)
1984: Leary Bell Doss Finley (44C)
1983: Talmadge R. Tucker (35C)
1982: Ehrman H. Young (20H)
1982: Mildred McWhorter (51C)
1981: Wallace (39c) and Frankie Hopkins (39H, 43c)
1980: Kankakee Anderson (25H)
1979: A.B. "Gus" Jarrett (33C)
1978: Martha Page Cousins (37C)
1977: Benjamin F. Wardlow (35C)
1976: Dr. Garland M. Dickey (42C)
1975: Raymond E. Henderson (23H)
1974: Sam W. Gray (24H)
1973: Dr. George G. Young (35c)
1972: Eugene P. Gunby (19H)
1972: Mary Alice Barnes (18H)
1971: Walter A. Johnson (12H)
1970: John C. Warr (37C)
1970: Dr. Inez Wooten Henry (21H)
1969: H. Grady Hamrick Sr. (12H)

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Recognizes and honors alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to turn a dream into reality, the vision to create an enterprise, the courage to assume risks, and the ability to make changes and take advantage of new opportunities.

2024: Leroy Hite (08C)
2023: Robert Swarthout (04C)
2022: Joy Schmidt (11C)
2021: Hester Parks (95C)
2020: Karen Houghton (01C)
2019: Tim B. Lusby (84C)
2018: Alton H. Christopher (61c)
2017: Jim Johnson, Jr. (85C)
2016: Tricia M. Steele (09C)
2015: Jeff M. Jahn (07C)
2014: Andreas Economopoulos (97C)
2013: Sheryle J. Bolton (68c)
2011: Richard Lee Jennings (85C)
2011: Dr. Lisa D. Miller (83C)
2010: Dennis J. DaSilva (74A, 78C)
2009: Nona Sparks Patterson (58C)
2008: Robert H. Williams (62H)
2007: Roy N. Miller (58C)
2006: Ty Tomack (87C)
2005: J. Ronald Thornton (61C)
2004: Steven J. Cage (74C)
2003: Karen Christensen Fenaroli (83C)
2002: Faye Junkins Gibbons (61C)
2001: Richard E. Pickering (84C)
2000: Frances E. Richey (83A, 87C)
1998: Fontaine McFerrin Souther (71C)
1997: Arthur E. Pugh (52H, 56c)
1995: Harold D. Kilpatrick (60c)
1994: T. Mack Brown (82C)
1992: R. Wayne Shackelford (55C)
1991: Smith R. Foster (49H)
1989: Forrest H. Ingram (39c)
1987: Billy Smith Sr. (39H)

Outstanding Young Alumni

Recognizes and honors young alumni (graduated in the past 20 years) who have distinguished themselves by unusual success and significant accomplishment.

2024: Josh Etress (09C)
2023: Caroline Gettis Huffaker (09C)
2022: Aaron Chastain (15C)
2021: Dr. Carson Kay (16C)
2020: Chad Michael Nash (13C, FFS)
2019: Adam Newton (07C)
2018: Aitana Vargas (03C)
2017: Ashley Harp Sheppard (01C)
2016: Christopher R. Hayes (04C)
2015: Brin Enterkin (12C)
2014 : Heather Henderson (03C)
2013: Beth Collins Earnst (93C)
2012: John W. Coleman (04C)
2011: Casey T. Smith (00C)
2010: Michael D. Williams (03C)
2009: Jonathan T. Trapp (99C)
2008: Brian Brodrick (97C)
2007: Timothy J. Goodwin (03C)
2006: Celeste Creswell (93C)
2005: Mark W. Maguire (95C)
2004: Jason E. McMillan (98C)
2001: Allen Bell (95C)
2000: Bart Cox (92C)
1998: M. Scott Breithaupt (91C, 96G)
1997: Kendra D. Grimes (93C)
1996: Dr. William R. Holcomb (86C)
1995: Leigh E. Patterson (86C)
1994: Dr. Dante L. Tomaselli Jr. (85C)
1993: Gregory R. Hanthorn (82C)
1992: Patty J. Etchison (77C)
1992: Timothy R. Howard (82C)
1991: D. Frank Pitts (76C)
1990: G. Bert Clark Jr. (82C)
1989: Elise Alewine Baggett (81C)
1987: Karen Holley Horrell (74C)

ABOUT THE DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS

On an annual basis, the Berry Alumni Association solicits nominations for five Distinguished Alumni Awards. Learn more about the requirements for each of these awards below.

Distinguished Achievement Award

This award shall be given to a nominee who has achieved success far beyond average.

Distinction may be interpreted as: Notability for outstanding leadership or success within a locale, recognition or honors within an occupational or professional field, or outstanding leadership within a significant organization above local level.

Distinguished Service Award

This award shall be given for selfless service over and beyond normal obligations. Requirements are as follows:

The service must have been of significant value, although it may have attracted little public attention or recognition.
The length of involvement in this type of service shall be noted. (For example, a service rendered over forty years would have more weight than service for a period of a year.)

Outstanding Young Alumni Award

This award shall be given to an outstanding young alumni based on the following criteria:

The nominee must have attended Berry within the past twenty years.
Outstanding distinction in one's career and/or community will characterize the recipient.
The recipient shall have made contributions to the general welfare of his/her community and represent Berry's motto of "not to be ministered unto; but to minister."
Service contributions to Berry will be considered. These contributions may include involvement in alumni chapters, participation in alumni events, volunteer service in various projects, and /or membership on the Alumni Council.

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award

This award shall be given for significant contribution to the advancement of a business or enterprise with the following criteria:

This individual demonstrated a commitment to turn a vision into reality, the courage to assume risks, and the ability to make changes and take advantage of new opportunities.
The length of time the individual has been involved, as well as the role played, will be considered. (For example, involvement over a period of years would be more significant than involvement for a year.)

Ouida Word Dickey Heritage Award

The Berry Alumni Association gives the Ouida Word Dickey Heritage Award in memory of Dr. Ouida Word Dickey—Berry alumna, long-time faculty/staff member, and the longest continuously serving member of the Berry Alumni Council, having served as historian, President-elect, President, Past-President, elected member, committee chair, Vice-President, and volunteer.

Recipient(s) should:

Exhibit the exemplary character and integrity reflected by Dr. Dickey throughout her life.
Support the work of the Alumni Association, and like Dr. Dickey, act as an ambassador for preserving Berry's past to ensure a future of excellence in the education of its students.
Promote the preservation of Berry's history through any of the following means: research, publication, education, time, service, and/or financial support.

Alumni, alumni organizations/affiliates, Berry faculty/staff, students, trustees, donors, and friends are eligible for the award. This award is to be considered unique and not necessarily awarded on an annual basis.

Nominate a Berry Alumna/us

To nominate a deserving alumna/us for one of the five Distinguished Alumni Awards, complete and submit the nomination form below, or print, complete and mail the form to the Office of Alumni Relations at P.O. Box 495018, Mount Berry, GA 30149-5018.

Nominations should be submitted before March 1 to be considered for that academic year. Award recipients will be honored at a special luncheon each fall in conjunction with an Alumni Council meeting, and nominees not selected remain on the Distinguished Awards slate for a period of three years.

NOMINATE AN ALUMNA/US

I've Been Nominated

If you have been nominated for an alumni award, please complete a nominee information form: