The Alumni Association will honor desegregation pioneer Mary Frances Early, Korea expert and UGA professor Han S, Park, former UGA vice president for development H. Perk Robins and the family of Charles S. Sanford Jr. at its annual awards luncheon April 15 at noon in the Grand Hall of the Tate Student Center. Luncheon tickets, which are $30, may be purchased from the Alumni Association at (706) 542-2251 or the day of the event.
“We are honored to recognize these alumni and friends for their service, contributions and accomplishments,” said Deborah Dietzler, executive director of the Alumni Association. “They bring integrity and distinction to our university, state, nation and the world.”
Early, this year’s recipient of the Alumni Merit Award, was the first African American to graduate from UGA when she received a master’s degree in music education in 1962. She later earned an education specialist’s designation in 1967.
A retired music educator, Early spent 37 years in the Atlanta Public School system and several more years as an adjunct music professor at Morehouse and Spelman colleges. She also served as music department chair at Clark Atlanta University for eight years.
Park, this year’s recipient of the Faculty Service Award, is professor of public and international affairs and director of the Center for the Study of Global Issues. During his 40 years at the university he has worked tirelessly to bring peace to a divided Korea. Through his work with GLOBIS, Park uses study-abroad programs in Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa to expand his students’ awareness of global issues.
Park has been instrumental in brokering peace talks, facilitating humanitarian aid and leading collaborative efforts in agriculture and science between North Korea and Western nations. In 2010 Morehouse College awarded him its Gandhi, King, Ikeda Community Builder’s Prize for his contributions to promoting peace.
This year’s recipient of the Friend of UGA Award is H. Perk Robins, former vice president for development and university relations at UGA. Robins laid the ground work for the university’s first capital campaign, the Bicentennial Fund, to coincide with UGA’s 200th anniversary. The $50 million goal was surpassed by more than $25 million. He also directed UGA’s next capital campaign, the Third Century Fund in 1987, a five-year, $200 million effort.
The association’s Alumni Family of the Year is the family of Charles S. Sanford Jr., retired chairman and chief executive officer of both Bankers Trust Corp. and its principal subsidiary, Bankers Trust Co. Sanford and his wife, Mary, graduated from UGA in 1958 and 1959, respectively.
The Sanford family has a rich history at UGA that goes back more than 100 years. Sanford’s grandfather, S.V. Sanford, came to UGA in 1903 to teach English and was later named president of the university.
In 1993, the Sanfords committed a lead gift to build Sanford Hall for the Terry College of Business. They also established the Charles S. Sanford Sr. Chair in Business to honor Sanford’s father.
