Release Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2005

SOUTHERN BUSINESS SCHOOL ASSOCIATION HONORS TERRY COLLEGE EXECUTIVE MBA STUDENT WITH COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

ATHENS, Ga. — Alfred Blanco of Gainesville, Ga., an Executive MBA student in the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business, was selected by the Southern Business Administration Association as the graduate student winner of the SBAA's Student Community Service Award. The annual honor recognizes students for exceptional achievement in academics and significant contributions to their communities.

The award was presented, along with a $1,500 scholarship, at the SBAA's annual meeting held November 7 in Atlanta.

A native of Venezuela, Blanco volunteers with the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, working with underprivileged Latino children in Hall and Dawson counties in northeast Georgia.

"Blanco acts as a role model for children who have been seriously disappointed by their families, friends and by the system itself," said Connie Stephens, executive director for the Hall-Dawson CASA program. "His tireless efforts have provided the children he serves with newfound hope, self-esteem and a positive outlook on what the future holds for them."

SBAA President Craig McCallaster, dean of the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College, said the purpose of the service awards is to spotlight graduate and undergraduate students whose goals include improving their communities as well as furthering their educations.

"Through their example, we hope to encourage and reinforce to business students across the region that successful leaders have a responsibility to their community," he said.

The Southern Business Administration Association is the regional association of collegiate business programs in the Southeast. Its members represent close to 200 colleges and universities.

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