Scholarship recipients speak at Advance UGA Conference

As we near commencement, with so many Franklin students [more than 1,850] preparing to enter the next stage of their lives and careers, many are reflecting on the impact of their campus experiences and especially those afforded by scholarship opportunities. 

A few of those were celebrated on Monday, April 30 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education at the Advance UGA Conference. Sponsored by the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, with welcoming and opening remarks were made by Kelly Kerner, VP for DAR, and President Morehead, the event featured speakers as well as workshops.  To close the event, two Franklin College students presented remarks on why donor giving afforded them the opportunities they have as students at UGA.

Bekah Stephens, Howard Ivester Scholarship Recipient, is a member of the UGA Class of 2020, double majoring in Biology and Spanish.  She is a Gainesville, Georgia, native and the recipient of one of two Howard Ivester Scholarships.  This pair of scholarships were established by the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation in memory of the late Howard E. Ivester, a World War II veteran and father of former Coca-Cola chairman and CEO Doug Ivester (BBA’69).  The scholarship supports UGA students who attended high schools in Gainesville of Hall County.

Savonte Wilson, Beth and Barry Storey Scholarship, is a member of the UGA Class of 2021 and is majoring in Psychology.  The Moultrie, Georgia , native is the first recipient of the Beth and Barry Storey Scholarship.  Barry Storey is the chair of the UGA Foundation’s Real Estate Committee, and a past chairman of the Terry College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council.  Barry and his wife proudly established this Georgia Commitment Scholarship and have already had the opportunity to meet Savonte and learn more about his plans for his time at UGA and beyond.

The Franklin College is grateful for these terrific students and appreciative of their willingness to share their stories. Wonderful donors matched with extraordinary students advance the forward momentum at the heart of UGA.

Willson and Stephens are pictured here. Many thanks to our colleagues Debbie Daniel and Brittany Adams for sharing the news and the photo.