The College of Family and Consumer Sciences celebrated 100 years of offering programming at the University of Georgia at its FACS 100 Gala in February at The Classic Center. More than 500 people attended the event, where the college recognized its Centennial Honorees and members of the Honor Hall of Recognition.
Centennial Honorees
Centennial Honorees were chosen by a nomination process that began in 2017.
These individuals embody conviction and commitment to the ideals of the college and through vision and hard work have been instrumental in advancing the college’s ability to serve students through its mission at UGA.
The Honor Hall of Recognition
The Honor Hall of Recognition, established in 1980, is the highest honor awarded by the college and is designed to give appropriate recognition to those who have made highly significant achievements in the fields of family and consumer sciences, who have impeccable character and commitment, and who have provided outstanding leadership.
All honorees were presented with a special centennial medallion at the gala and are recognized on the college’s centennial website.
“The University of Georgia is proud of your accomplishments, and we are grateful for your contributions to making the world a better place,” UGA President Jere Morehead told the attendees. “The future is very bright for the college and for our university. I look forward to everything that we will accomplish together in the next 100 years.”
Among the attendees at Saturday’s gala was UGA Provost Pamela Whitten; Charles Davis, Dean of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication; Sam Pardue, Dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Matt Auer, dean of the School of Public and International Affairs; and retired University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby.
Earlier in the day, Carolyn Jackson, chief executive officer of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, presented FACS Dean Linda Kirk Fox with a special commendation recognizing the college’s centennial.
The father-daughter team of Neal and Skye Estroff, both FACS grads, served as emcees for the event.
Centennial Video
The gala also marked the unveiling of a special centennial video that included an opening scene from the former home of the college’s first dean, Mary Creswell, the first female to receive an undergraduate degree from UGA in 1919. Years ago, The College of Family and Consumer Sciences's first dean Mary Creswell planted a ginkgo tree at her home on Milledge Circle. It serves as an apt metaphor for the beautiful growth of the college over the past 100 years. Throughout their centennial celebration, they want to hear how FACS has impacted your life.
“Our college’s next 100 years is our responsibility”
“To all the faculty and the college department heads and leadership, I express my sincerest gratitude for positioning us for a strong second century of teaching, research and public service,” Fox said. “We’re so proud of our many accomplishments, and we’re equally proud of the pervasive spirit of unity and family that has defined us since the beginning.”
Fox also announced the college’s establishment of the FACS Centennial Endowment for Student Success, a fund that will provide support for activities such as student leadership, travel, professional development, experiential learning and other activities that support and enhance the learning experience for FACS students.
Centennial honoree Tammy Gilland closed the event with a challenge to attendees to continue the college’s momentum into its next centennial.
“Our college’s next 100 years is our responsibility,” she said. “It’s our time to be brave and persevere. Let’s leave here proud of our past, inspired about our future and committed to being involved in helping future generations learn, grow and contribute.”
