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FVSU Scholarship Luncheon Recap: A Celebration of Excellence in Giving

Posted on Feb 20, 2025

Fort Valley State University proudly hosted its 38th Annual Scholarship Luncheon, drawing more than 700 attendees in celebration of philanthropy, academic achievement and the University’s legacy of excellence. This year’s theme, "130 Years of Excellence in Giving," reflected the institution’s enduring commitment to empowering students through education and scholarship support. 

The goal for this year’s luncheon was to raise $1 million to support FVSU students. At the time of the event, an impressive $826,192.40 had already been raised. To help reach our goal of $1 million, you can still give through June 30 at this link: bit.ly/FVSU38ScholarshipLuncheon. 

This year’s luncheon recognized distinguished honorees whose generosity and leadership have significantly impacted FVSU and its students. The Honorable Calvin Smyre and the Honorable Sanford Bishop Jr. presented awards during the event. Among those honored were Rosie Petties and Shawn Stafford who received the Maggie Davis Legacy Award. The Honoree Award recipients were Rose Holton, MD, Ruben Jordan, David Jones, and Mary Ford – who received a special shoutout as she will celebrate her 90th birthday this month. Their dedication to the University continues to shape the future of countless students and strengthen FVSU’s legacy. 

The event, proudly sponsored by Aflac, Incorporated highlighted the company’s commitment to education and student success. Virgil Miller, president of Aflac, delivered an inspiring keynote address, sharing the "ABCs of Life" which stands for Antecedents, Behavior Consequences. He provided three key antecedents for success: 

1. Increase your input to get maximum output, 

2. To be good at the game, you must get in the game and  

3. Create a legacy that will live even when you are gone.  

As a bonus, he reminded attendees that everything you do in this life should be about people. 

The Scholarship Luncheon is a pivotal part of FVSU’s yearlong celebration of its 130th anniversary, marking more than a century of success, scholarship, and sustainability. To view a video of some scholarship recipients, click here.  

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