Alumni Association presents annual awards

Georgia College & State University Alumni Association announces its 2010 Alumni Award recipients:

Outstanding Recent Alumni Award

Georgia College & State University proudly announces Amanda Cagle, ’02, as the 2010 recipient of the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award. Her professors saw her dedication and predicted her success. “Amanda was a true asset to the music education division,” Dr. Patti Tolbert, professor of music education and graduate coordinator, writes, “she was one of those students who had a passion for teaching... Her dedication to the field is obvious from the awards that she has won.” In addition to this GCSU Award, Reinhardt College voted her the most outstanding music major, and Lamar County named her district teacher of the year for 2005-2006.

Since receiving her degree in Music Education in 2002, Cagle has looked beyond traditional teaching methods. By incorporating technology into her curriculum as an elementary music specialist, she established an interactive web site for her students in Cobb County. The music from the web site supports a variety of subjects and, “demonstrates how well music fits into an integrated curriculum,” writes, Dr. Richard Greene, a GCSU professor of music.

Her innovative teaching methods are currently inspiring elementary students. She has also helped foster music outside of her school in Kindermusik classes for toddlers through the Community Education Departments at Gordon College and Columbus State University. Cagle is currently a candidate for a master’s degree in music education at Boston University.

2010 Alumnae Heritage Award

Georgia College helped shape the life of Barbara J. Hendrickson Capizzo, ’62, long before earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and art education.

“My turn to arts was definitely born and fostered at the college’s Peabody Laboratory School where all sorts of music, visual arts and drama were offered,” said Capizzo, recipient of the Alumni Association’s Alumnae Heritage Award for 2010. “Here I was becoming comfortable with the creative.”

Not until her second year in college did Capizzo recognize the possibility of teaching.

“(At Georgia College) there seemed to be serious personal interest in each student’s growth. We were individuals, not numbers,” the Nantucket. Mass., resident said.

After earning her degree in 1962, Capizzo spent two decades as a junior high and elementary teacher. Along the way, she earned a master’s degree from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts.

In 1988 Capizzo left the classroom to operate a gallery to showcase her work as well as those of others. Today, she usually has a painting in progress with a focus on a personal show each summer at a Nantucket gallery.

Capizzo has served as president, administrative director and on the board of the Artist’s Association of Nantucket. She also is a charter member of the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.

Alumni Achievement Award

Georgia Trend Magazine placed Chris Clark, ’97, on its 2010 list of the “100 Most Influential Georgians.” Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources since 2008, Clark credits the time spent with the Georgia College & State University faculty for      helping him earn that distinction.

“Each member of the faculty seemed to honestly care about my future and went out of their way to help me,” Clark, who earned a master’s degree in public administration in 1997, said after being chosen as the 2010 recipient of Georgia College’s Alumni Achievement Award.

This year’s honor is Clark’s second from the Alumni Association. He was chosen as the Outstanding Recent Alumni of the Year in 2000.

Prior to being DNR commissioner, Clark was executive direc- tor of the state Environmental Facilities Authority from 2007-2008 and deputy commissioner with the state Department of Economic Development from 2003-2007.

A past president of the State Economic Developers Association, Clark began public service in 1997 as president of the Hawkinsville Chamber of Commerce. From 2000-2003 he was president of the Fayette County Development Authority.

“My time at Georgia College was pivotal for my professional career and introduced me to a world of opportunity in public service,” said Clark.

William Bone Golden Key Award

Max Crook’s background in finance covers more than 40 years, and Georgia College & State University has been the beneficiary of much of his expertise.

Crook, currently a financial advisor with Morgan Keegan, has served on the Georgia College & State University Foundation for 18 years. For his distinguished service to the university, Crook has been named winner of the William Bone Golden Key Award.

“He has worked tirelessly on our behalf in many financial endeavors,” said Amy

Amason, Vice President for External Relations and University Advancement.

Crook, who earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Georgia, was on the GCSU Foundation Board from 1991-2003 and again in 2004 to the present. He chaired the Foundation in 1996-1997 and led its effort to keep the Old Governor’s Mansion a part of campus. He currently serves as chair of the finance committee, chair of the GCSU Foundation on the Foundation property group and capital campaign solicitation committee.

A graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University, Crook currently serves as the chair of the Foundation’s finance committee.

This award is named in honor of alumna William Thomas Bone, Class of 1910.

Ethel Rae Mozo-Stewart Alumni Community Service Award

Angela C. Edwards, ‘90, marketing alumna, is the 2010 Georgia College & State University recipient of the Ethel Rae Mozo-Stewart Alumni Community Service Award. She exemplifies a spirit of service in Macon not only for youth in the area, but for the economic strength and vitality of her community.

Edward’s volunteerism and dedication to youth is illustrated in her work with the Children’s Miracle Network, the Children’s Hospital of the Medical Center

of Central Georgia, the Children’s Literacy Coalition, the Macon Volunteer Clinic and as advisor for the Phi Mu Mercer University Chapter.

For more than 15 years, Middle Georgia has supported her locally owned and operated, nationally recognized home furnishing business, Aunt Zelda’s Furniture. Edwards graciously gives back her time in an effort to improve her community by volunteering as an executive board member for the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, serving as chair for the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia, being a member of the board for the Macon Arts and Downtown Macon Rotary Club and as a 2003 graduate of Leadership Macon.

She also served as the 55th president and the second female president of the Georgia Home Furnishings Association. It is no surprise that for all of Edward’s strengths and exemplary service, she has been selected for Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals.

This award is named in honor of alumna Ethel Rae Mozo- Stewart, Class of 1946.

2010 Honorary Alumni Award

His degree may have come from Mercer, but Bernard “Ace” Parker has a rival for his college allegiance.

The former Baldwin County Commission chairman’s imprint can be found all around Georgia College & State University.

“I have always been a great supporter of GCSU,” said Parker, recipient of this year’s.

A Milledgeville resident since the mid- 1980s, Parker used his position on the county commission from 1996-2004 to help expand Georgia College’s physical plant. He was instrumen- tal in securing the old courthouse property for the university and passing bonds for the construction of West Campus.

After his graduation from Mercer, Parker was in real estate in Macon until the late 1950s when he joined the Federal Housing Administration as a staff appraiser for Middle Georgia. The World War II veteran served on the Macon City Council from 1956-1958.

For the past several years, he has played an instrumental role as the independent director of two GCSU Foundation property cor- porations. These limited liability corporations are responsible for the construction and associated debt of the campus residence halls, apartments, Irwin Street Parking Lot and the Student Activity Center. In his role as independent director, Parker over- saw the successful construction of the West Campus Center.