“We are very proud of these individuals and their remarkable careers. They have impacted our community and our world in positive ways and we are so happy to have them linked to our university,” said Brenda Mason, chairwoman of the Alumni Awards Committee.

The decision process is always hard because of the quality of the resumes, according to Mason.

The awards committee receives nomination letters from friends, colleagues and pervious professors. After nomination letters, resumes, vitas, biographies, documentation of exceptional career, community and volunteer achievement and recognition are complied the committee selects the winners.

Award recipients will be recognized at a special ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 4 in Magnolia Ballroom. Cocktails will be served at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Georgia College President Dorothy Leland will host the ceremony.

Donald Rhodes, President of the Alumni Association, is very excited about the upcoming Alumni Awards Ceremony.

“This event provides the association a wonderful opportunity to honor many GCSU alumni that have achieved much success in many areas of endeavor. These individuals continue to serve as great representatives of the excellence of GCSU,” Rhodes said.

Awards to be presented include:

Nancy Cobb has been awarded the 2008 Alumni Achievement Award, awarded to graduates who have excelled in a particular professional field and attained prominence by having a positive effect on either the state, regional or national level. Cobb received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in 1991, as a non-traditional student, working and caring for a family of three children. Since graduating from Georgia College, Cobb served as controller for Cellular Plus and Corporate Accounting Management for Dublin Construction Company. She became the start-up finance officer of OneGeorgia Authority and later served as interim director. In July 2002 Cobb was sworn in as Executive Director of OneGeorgia Authority. Gov. Sonny Purdue reappointed her position in 2003. Cobb still holds the position of executive director and was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Southern Growth Policies Board.

Donald E. Rhodes has been awarded the 2008 Alumni Service Award, awarded to graduates who have rendered the greatest service in recent years to both the university and the Alumni Association. Rhodes received a Masters of Public Administration in 1988 from GCSU. Rhodes has been involved with GCSU since attending as a graduate student in 1988. He has taken on leadership roles within the Alumni Association and currently serves as president. Under Rhodes’ guidance and leadership, the Alumni Association has enhanced outreach initiatives and increased alumni participation and attendance at alumni events. Rhodes is employed as an area director for the Georgia Small Business Development Center, where he assesses the needs for small business in the middle Georgia area. He received a Bachelors of Arts in Economics from Mercer University in 1984 and received a Specialists of Education in Leadership from the University of Georgia in 1998.

William M. “Matt” Cardoza has been awarded the 2008 Outstanding Recent Alumni Award, awarded to alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years and have established notable recognition in a professional or business career and are promising for continued success. Cardoza received a Bachelors of Science in public administration in 1998 followed by a Masters of Public Administration in 2000. Cardoza is a communication and marketing coordinator for the Georgia Department of Education. Prior to his current position, Cardoza was the executive director for the Rockdale Medical Center Foundation. He also worked as the director of public relations for Rockdale County Public Schools.

Betty Snyder has been awarded the 2008 Ethel Rae Mozo-Stewart Alumni Community Service Award, awarded to honors alumni with a history of service that resulted in visible improvements within their community. The award was established to honor an alumna from the class of ’46. Snyder graduated in 1973 with a Bachelors of Art in Art. Snyder has dedicated her life to preserving her community through cultural research and humanities education. Snyder was the founding director of Allied Arts, Inc. and has directed the restoration projects of several buildings in Milledgeville’s historic district. She has also served as president of the Antebellum Historical Society and honored for her historic preservation efforts in Milledgeville and her contributions to the establishment of the Old Capital Museum. Snyder received the Governor’s Award in Arts in 1982 and was later awarded the Governor’s Award in Humanities. Snyder was also awarded the 1990 William Bone Golden Key Award by GCSU. Snyder is also a notable historian and often lectures about the history and architecture of Milledgeville. Prior to her degree from Georgia College, Snyder received an Associates of Arts in General Studies from Mars Hill College in 1949 and a Bachelors of Arts in English and Religious Education from Tift College in 1951.

J. Michael “Mike” Augustine, Georgia College Director of Admission, has been awarded the 2008 Honorary Alumnus Award, awarded to a distinctive honor reserved for non-graduates who have contributed outstanding service to the university by working with the GCSU Alumni Association. Augustine, a 1989 and 1991 graduate of the University of Georgia, has been employed by the Office of Admissions since November of 1991. Prior to being promoted to director of admissions in July of 2004, Augustine held the positions of assistant director of admissions, associate director of admissions and director of recruitment. Augustine’s efforts have led to significant student and alumni initiatives at GCSU. Augustine’s diligence in the Office of Admissions has been marked by an increases in freshman applicants, enrolled freshman, average incoming SAT score and incoming HOPE scholars. Augustine also founded the Student Ambassador Team and an alumni outreach initiative called the Alumni Admissions Recruiting Program. AARTist allows for alumni to contribute to the recruitment process of potential students.

Maxine Goldstein has been awarded the 2008 William Bone Golden Key Award, presented from time to time and reserved to honor friends of GCSU who have rendered to be alumni or connected to the Alumni Association. This award was established to honor alumna William Thomas Bone of the class of 1910. Goldstein is a native of Augusta, Ga., and University of Georgia graduate, class of 1946. Goldstein is currently a member of the GCSU Foundation Board and serves on the fund raising committee. Her personal endeavors and work with the Foundation Board have been instrumental in additions to the GCSU community. She has been an active volunteer with the Democratic Party since the 1960’s and served as a presidential elector in 1980. Goldstein has been involved with Girl Scouts, The Georgia Federation of Women’s Club and the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. She co-founded the Milledgeville’s Junior Women’s Club, the Civic Women’s Club and the Harriet Goldstein Greenhut Chapter of Hadassah.