Alumni in the News

Brandan Harrell ’04

Brandan Harrell ’04 was named the 2022 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Two-Year College National Coach of the Year and awarded the Pat Summitt Trophy. He is currently in his tenth season as head women’s basketball coach at Georgia Highlands College in Rome, Ga.

(Donalsonville News)

Brandan Harrell ’04

Erin Wright ’93

Erin Wright ’93 of Effingham College & Career Academy was selected as STAR teacher by STAR student Karen Ji.

(Effingham Herald)

Sasha Heller ’08

Sasha Heller ’08 joined the Atlanta Jewish Times as an online content coordinator.

(Atlanta Jewish Times)

Clayton Watson ’91

Clayton Watson ’91 was profiled by Elegant Island Living as founder of Coastal Hospice of Georgia on St. Simons Island, Ga.

(Elegant Island Living)

Gena (Smith) Wilson ’06, ’11

Gena (Smith) Wilson ’06, ’11 was name chief human resources officer at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Ga.

(Middle Georgia CEO)

Colby Simpson ’09

Colby Simpson ’09 was named head coach of the varsity girls’ soccer team at Colquitt County High School in Norman Park, Ga.

(Moultrie Observer)

Rayetta Volley ’09

Rayetta Volley ’09 was named county administrator by the Sumter County Board of Commissioners in Sumter County, Ga. Volley has worked with the board since 2002 and previously served as the administrative assistant, the assistant county clerk, the county clerk, records manager, the general operations administrator, and the interim county administrator.

(Americus Times-Recorder)

Rayetta Volley ’09

Dean Daniels ’88

Dean Daniels ’88 joined Commercial Banking company as a lending officer and vice president at the Moultrie, Ga. branch location.

(Moultrie Observer)

Amanda Miliner ’11

Amanda Miliner ’11 was named principal of Quail Run Elementary School in Warner Robins, Ga.

(Middle Georgia CEO)

Josh Curtin ’01, ’02

Josh Curtin ’01, ’02 was named assistant vice president of student affairs at South Georgia Technical College in Americus, Ga.

(Americus Times Recorder)

Nancy (McKinney) Kofer ’85, ’90

Nancy (McKinney) Kofer ’85, ’90 of Crisp Academy in Cordele, Ga. was selected as STAR teacher by STAR student Elizabeth Williams.

(Cordele Dispatch)

Kierra Sparks ’15

Kierra Sparks ’15 was named director of financial aid at Albany Technical College in Albany, Ga.

(Albany Herald)

Dave Wills ’00

Dave Wills ’00 was placed on Georgia Trend’s “100 Most Influential Georgians” list for his role as executive director of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). Through ACCG, county leaders are able to create and present a legislative agenda to the General Assembly and advocate for their counties and their constituents.

(Georgia Trend)

Dave Wills ’00

Kristin (Martin) Ward ’13

Kristin (Martin) Ward ’13 was promoted to partner at the Conyers, Ga. accounting firm Antares Group, Inc.

(The Covington News)

Jake Mobely ’06

Jake Mobely ’06 joined Ameris Bank as a commercial banker in Moultrie, Ga.

(Moultrie Observer)

Kristy Johnson ’07

Kristy Johnson ’07 was named executive director for Halifax County Industrial Development Authority in South Boston, Va.

(The Gazette-Virginian)

Katherine (Hutchins) White ’16, ’20

Katherine (Hutchins) White ’16, ’20 joined Southwest Georgia Healthcare Clinics in Donalsonville Ga. as a family nurse practitioner.

(Donalsonville News)

Jon Dorminey ’99

Jon Dorminey ’99 was named director of operations at G&R Farms, famous for their Vidalia onions, in Glennville, Ga.

(The Produce News)

William Franklin “Frank” Griffin, Jr. ’96

William Franklin “Frank” Griffin, Jr. ’96 was named by Gov. Brian Kemp to represent the 2nd congressional district on the Georgia State Board of Education. He currently serves as president of Flint Community Bancshares, Inc. and as president and chief lending officer of Flint Community Bank in Albany, Ga.

(Valdosta Today)

William Franklin “Frank” Griffin, Jr. ’96

Misty (Bass) Tucker ’93

Misty (Bass) Tucker ’93 was named Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) director for Rome City Schools in Rome, Ga.(

WRGA)

J. Mike Davis ’10

J. Mike Davis ’10 was named to the newly created position of president of community banking for Colony Bank in Tifton, Ga.

(Metro Atlanta CEO)

Ashley Ferguson ’18

Ashley Ferguson ’18 was promoted to senior in accounting firm Draffin Tucker’s healthcare practice in Albany, Ga.

(Albany Herald)

Dorothy (Young) Ingram ’03

Dorothy (Young) Ingram ’03 was named superintendent of Webster County School District in Preston, Ga. Dr. Ingram’s main goals in her new role are student achievement, teacher support, and remaining financially sound as a school district. She previously served as assistant principal.

(WRBL News 3)

Dorothy (Young) Ingram ’03

Betsy Kelly ’12

Betsy Kelly ’12 was named principal of Twin Rivers Middle School in Buford, Ga.

(Gwinnett Daily Post)

David Hicks ’93

David Hicks ’93 was named president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Elizabethton in Elizabethton, Tenn.

(Americus Times-Recorder)

Guy Daughtrey ’98

Guy Daughtrey ’98 was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp to the Georgia Board of Corrections.

(Office of the Governor)

Maggie Davidson ’13

Maggie Davidson ’13, interim director of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Authority in Moultrie, Ga., became a Certified Park and Recreation Professional.

(The Moultrie Observer)

Gay (Gibbs) Williams ’95

Gay (Gibbs) Williams ’95 of Seminole County Middle/High School was selected as STAR teacher by STAR student Will Pace.

(The Donalsonville News)

Tom Stallings ’81

Tom Stallings ’81 was named 2021 Southeast Cotton Ginner of the Year at the Southern Southeastern Annual Meeting. He purchased the company Funston Gin Co. in Funston, Ga. in 1987. He has held many leadership positions within the industry, including as past president of the Cotton Warehouse Association of America.

(Moultrie Observer)

Tom Stallings ’81

Pam (Jones) Postell ’07, ’17

Pam (Jones) Postell ’07, ’17, math teacher at Crisp County High School in Cordele, Ga., was selected as STAR teacher by STAR student Rohita Katla.

(Cordele Dispatch)

Tony Turpin ’13

Tony Turpin ’13 won the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Southern Regional Technical College Foundation in Bainbridge, Ga.

(Thomasville Times Enterprise)

Bronwyn Ragan-Martin ’94

Bronwyn Ragan-Martin ’94 was named by Georgia School Supt. Richard Woods to lead the new Office of Rural Education and Innovation at the Georgia Department of Education.

(AllOnGeorgia)

John E. Nichols, MD, ’83

John E. Nichols, MD, ’83 was profiled for his work as a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist across North and South Carolina.

(Yorkpedia)

Shakela Peak ’14, ’16, ’17

Shakela Peak ’14, ’16, ’17 was a finalist in the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Albany 40 Under 40” list in the Youth and Education sector. She is the math and science academic coach at Terrell County Middle School in Dawson, Ga., where she was also named 2019-20 Teacher of the Year.

(Albany Herald)

Shakela Peak ’14, ’16, ’17

Jonneshia Pineda ’11

Jonneshia Pineda ’11 was promoted to assistant coach for women’s basketball at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky.

(Louisville Cardinals)

James “Jim” Reid, Jr. ’81

James “Jim” Reid, Jr. ’81, president of Reid Brothers Irrigation and Equipment Co. LLC in Americus, Ga., was elected to the Irrigation Association Board of Directors.

(Americus Times-Recorder)

Tiwa Works ’02

Tiwa Works ’02 hosted the 18th annual Atlanta Greek Picnic, which he founded in 2004. This year’s event was held in partnership with Toyota.

(pr.com)

Vivian (Baxter) Barnes ’83

Vivian (Baxter) Barnes ’83, CFO and COO of Ackerman & Co. in Atlanta, Ga., was named to Atlanta Magazine’s Atlanta 500 list in the Real Estate category. The Dawson, Ga. native has been in real estate and financial services for over 25 years.

(Atlanta Magazine)

Vivian (Baxter) Barnes ’83

Daphne Anderson ’85

Daphne Anderson ’85 of Nashville, Tenn. toured in The Dave and Daphne Show, singing classic country, bluegrass, and gospel music.

(The Herald-Dispatch)

Zach Grage ’13

Zach Grage ’13 was named head football coach and director of football operations for Lowndes County Schools in Lowndes County, Ga.

(Valdosta Daily Times)

Jamie (Curles) Whigham ’17

Jamie (Curles) Whigham ’17, third grade teacher at Cross Creek Elementary School in Thomasville, Ga., was named Teacher of the Year for the Thomas County School System.

(Thomasville Times Enterprise)

Pete Garrett ’84

Pete Garrett ’84 was named president of United Bank’s Thomaston, Ga. division.

(Upson Beacon)

Diantha Virginia Ellis ’00

Diantha Virginia Ellis ’00 was awarded the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Excellence in Advising award at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga. She was also sworn in as an attorney.

(Tifton Gazette & Moultrie Observer)

Jeffery Harvey ’01

Jeffery Harvey ’01 was appointed as Georgia Farm Bureau chief administrative officer in Macon, Ga.

(Georgia Farm Bureau)

Monty Veazey ’75

Monty Veazey ’75 was placed on Georgia Trend’s “100 Most Influential Georgians” list for his role as president and CEO of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals. His work focuses on protecting access to hospital care for all Georgians.

(Georgia Trend)

Monty Veazey ’75

Paige (Kirksey) Ellis ’90, ’10

Paige (Kirksey) Ellis ’90, ’10 was named principal at Webster County Schools in Preston, Ga.

(Tri-County Journal)

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