African American Alumni Council hosts “A Night Under the Stars” to honor alumni award and scholarship winners

The African American Alumni Council (AAAC) of Georgia College & State University hosted “A Night Under the Stars” Saturday, March 9. This annual event includes the presentation of awards to outstanding alumni and scholarships to current GCSU students.

Georgia College President Cathy Cox, J.D., welcomed the event attendees and Master of Ceremony Nadirah Mayweather, director of Alumni Relations, hosted the program.

“It is with great pride and sincere admiration that we extend our heartfelt recognition to these extraordinary individuals, each of whom has left an indelible mark on the communities they serve,” said Seth Walker, vice president for University Advancement.

The first awards of the night were three scholarships given to current Georgia College undergraduates Christiana Hughes, Faith Beamon and Kalin Cobb. Hughes, a Public Health major from Macon, received the Dr. Helen Hill annual scholarship. Beamon, a Mass Communication major also from Macon, was awarded the Promise Keepers annual scholarship. And Cobb, a Sociology major from Eatonton, Georgia, earned the AAAC annual scholarship.

Three Georgia College alumni were awarded the Trailblazer Dove award. These awards are given to minority alumni for outstanding achievements in bridging the gap between the community and university. Trailblazer Doves were awarded to Sabrina Ellis-Friday, Robert Fuller and Rep. W. Mack Jackson, Jr.

Ellis-Friday, ’99, earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Georgia College. Ellis-Friday’s law enforcement career included serving the Macon Police Department, the Montezuma Police Department as Chief of Police, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) as a Special Agent. Ellis-Friday recently began a nonprofit called Mother’s Nest to aid mothers and their children whose partners are incarcerated.

Fuller, ’79 and ’99, earned a Bachelor of Business Management from Georgia College, then later a Master of Public Administration. Fuller served the Macon Police Department for 26 years, rising to the rank of Captain. Fuller serves on the board of the Macon-Bibb County Employee Credit Union and is Vice President and Grant Administrator of the 100 Black Men Milledgeville-Oconee Chapter. Fuller currently serves on the GCSU Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Rep. W. Mack Jackson, Jr., ’79, a native of Sandersville, Georgia, earned his undergraduate degree from Georgia College in Political Science. Now retired from the Georgia Department of Corrections where he served 34 years as a probation officer, Rep. Jackson was elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives in November 2008.

The Keepers of the Promise Award is given to an alum for their outstanding commitment to creating educational and social opportunities for others. The 2024 Keepers of the Promise award recipient is Dr. Runee Sallad, a Georgia College alumna and 30-year veteran of public education in the state of Georgia who serves as Director of the Georgia College Early College program.

“Acknowledgment is owed to the African American Alumni Council Executive Board,” said Vice President Walker. “Their tireless efforts have culminated in an exceptional evening of celebration dedicated to honoring these outstanding individuals.”

Photo, from left: AAAC Award and Scholarship winners Dr. Runee Sallad, Faith Beamon, Christiana Hughes, Sabrina Ellis-Friday, Robert Fuller, Rep. W. Mack Jackson, Jr.