The 20^th annual Regents’ Scholarship Gala has raised $1.85 million from generous sponsors to support and provide need-based scholarships for University System of Georgia (USG) students across the state.

The USG Foundation also announced a $10 million partnership with Fostering Success Act, Inc., to establish a first-of-its-kind scholarship fund within the system for foster youth in Georgia. The partnership is the foundation’s largest single gift in its history.

At the gala, Dan T. Cathy, chairman of Chick-fil-A, Inc., received the foundation’s Elridge McMillan Lifetime Achievement Award. This is the highest honor the USG Foundation bestows, and it is awarded annually at the event, which this year included Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, as well as donors, legislators, students, members of the Board of Regents and USG presidents. 

The foundation additionally honored 13 faculty, alumni and friends for their teaching, dedication and support for USG students and institutions around the state.

“Through Fostering Success Act, Inc., Rick Jackson’s generosity will be life-changing for hundreds of deserving students who are coming out of foster care and seeking a college experience that will have a million-dollar impact on their lives,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “At the same time, Dan Cathy’s longtime investment in educating Georgians has taught us all something about being here to serve, and I’m honored to call him a friend.”

“Dan and Rick’s generosity only reinforces the work of the foundation to raise millions of dollars in need-based aid and help our institutions support the success of USG students across Georgia,” Perdue said. “It’s incredible to see, and we’re grateful to Governor and First Lady Kemp, our Board of Regents and all our donors for joining us for our most successful gala ever.”

The $10 million partnership will be leveraged as a dollar-for-dollar challenge match to provide financial support for the educational costs of foster care students at all of USG’s 26 public colleges and universities.

The scholarships, ranging in award size up to the full cost of attendance, will initially be available to students who have aged out of the foster care system. The program is expected to expand next year to include students who were in foster care at age 14 or older. Recipients will be selected in cooperation with the foundation and individual financial aid offices at all USG institutions.

“My lifelong work at its core has been about finding the best way to provide resources and support, as well as give a voice to these young people who have aged out of the foster care system,” said Jackson, who is chairman and CEO of Jackson Healthcare. “I’m passionate about this because it’s my own story. On behalf of Fostering Success Act, Inc., I’m thrilled to be partnering with the USG Foundation to positively impact these students’ trajectories and tangibly improve their lives.”

Jackson is a former foster child who has worked throughout his life to instill hope and opportunity into the lives of underserved children and young people. He founded Fostering Success Act, Inc. as a nonprofit focused on providing resources and support to young people aging out of Georgia’s foster care system. 

He additionally is co-founder and chairman of FaithBridge Foster Care, and is also the founding chairman of goBeyondProfit, a first-of-its-kind business leader-to-leader initiative that promotes the belief that giving back is good for both business and for Georgia.

Governor Kemp presented the Elridge McMillan Lifetime Achievement Award to Chick-fil-A, Inc.’s Cathy for his extraordinary contributions to business, education and community. In another bit of history-making for the foundation, Cathy joined his late father, S. Truett Cathy, as a recipient of the award, marking the first time a father and son have both been so honored.

“Chick-fil-A’s investment in higher education has always been in service of developing our communities and our people, and leading by example,” said Cathy, whose company awarded more than $26 million in scholarships for Chick-fil-A restaurant team members in 2024 – the highest annual investment in more than 50 years of scholarship giving. “If we do it well, then we are providing meaning and purpose and significance so that it may inspire others to do the same thing. I’m humbled and honored to join my father as a recipient of this award.”

During the gala, the foundation recognized the following recipients of the Regents’ Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award. This award is presented to outstanding alumni and friends for their dedicated service and support to a USG institution:

• Mr. Larry Benson, nominated by University of Georgia

• Mr. Joseph W. Evans, nominated by Gordon State College

• Mr. Thomas Holder, nominated by Georgia Institute of Technology

• Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, nominated by University of North Georgia

• Joseph and Patricia Samprone, nominated by Georgia College and State University

• Douglas and Robin Shore, nominated by Kennesaw State University

• Dr. Jacquelyn W. Stephens, nominated by Savannah State University

Six USG faculty members were honored with the Felton Jenkins Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award. This prestigious teaching award recognizes faculty’s important contributions to their schools and fields of study and for their strong commitment to teaching and student success. The awardees were:

• Dr. Todd Fernandez, Georgia Institute of Technology, Biomedical Engineering

• Dr. Natalie Johnson, Dalton State College, Criminal Justice

• Dr. John A. Knox, University of Georgia, Geography

• Dr. Sabrina Wengier, Middle Georgia State University, French and Humanities

• Dr. Sara Evans, Kennesaw State University, Criminal Justice

• Dr. Yi Jin, Kennesaw State University, Instructional Technology

The additional $1.85 million raised from the gala, which was held Thursday evening, will go toward need-based scholarships to be awarded for the 2024-25 academic year. Each institution’s president selects scholarship recipients at their respective campuses.

“I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey to raise this money for need-based aid across the system, with a special thank you to our USG Foundation Board members, Chancellor Perdue and the Board of Regents,” said Regent Cade Joiner, who also serves as chairman of the USG Foundation Board of Trustees. “These scholarships are not just investments in individual futures, they are investments in a more robust and dynamic workforce that will drive Georgia’s economic growth. The support shown tonight and throughout the year is truly making a difference, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Over the past 19 years, the USG Foundation has awarded more than $16 million to support need-based scholarships for over 16,000 students.