Legacy Celebration honors 12 campus, community leaders

March 27, 2025

Columbus State University honored a dozen students, employees, alumni and community leaders on Wednesday, March 26, with its annual Legacy Awards at its annual Legacy Celebration Banquet. Recipients of these awards (pictured in the accompanying graphic in alphabetical order) were:

W.D. FEENEY AWARD

Erin Billiot received the W.D. FEENEY AWARD. Like the 2013 Columbus State alumnus and former university employee for whom the award is named, Billiot is known for her unwavering commitment to creating an environment where all individuals, regardless of ability, can thrive. She is a sophomore from Columbus majoring in interdisciplinary studies major.

JOHN TOWNSEND ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The JOHN TOWNSEND ACHIEVEMENT AWARD is bestowed on the undergraduate male and female students of African American descent with the highest GPA. It is named after CSU’s first African American student alumnus, Dr. John Townsend, who, after graduating in 1965, devoted 38 years to teaching and school leadership in the Clark County (Georgia) School District. This year's recipients include Zachary Brundidge, a senior from Columbus majoring in history, and Essence Simpson, a senior from Lawrenceville, Georgia, majoring in communication.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AWARD

The Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley received the CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AWARD. It is presented to a Columbus-area business or organization that advocates for or is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion. A catalyst for doing good throughout the region, the foundation leads critical community conversations, advocates for inclusion, and makes strategic grants that address key issues facing our area.

ALUMNI AWARD

Lionel Haynes Jr. ’06, ’07 received the ALUMNI AWARD. It is presented to a CSU graduate who has demonstrated service in the community and/or to the university. The two-time Turner College of Business & Technology graduate Haynes was selected for his steadfast commitment to strengthening alumni engagement and university initiatives, and for his active engagement in the community.

TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Vinh Huynh ’24 received the TRAILBLAZER AWARD, presented for the first time this year. It is given to alumni who have created a legacy by creating an equitable environment for students on campus through their leadership, community involvement, and service to campus. The 2024 art graduate was selected for his work as an artist and an educator, which provide meaningful platforms for marginalized voices—exemplified by his award-winning participation in the Columbus State’s Art of Journeys: Mental Health Awareness through Art Competition. His impact extends to mentoring and educating others, having organized and led printmaking workshops at Columbus State and Brookstone School, where he has empowered students through creative expression.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AWARD

Kennedy Larkin received the WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AWARD. It embodies the leadership and advocacy benefiting female causes for which the award is presented. Larkin demonstrates exceptional leadership and a steadfast commitment to advancing campus causes supporting women and girls. She is a senior from Albany, Georgia, majoring in elementary education.

OUTSTANDING FACULTY/STAFF AWARD

Elizabeth “Libby” McFalls received the OUTSTANDING FACULTY/STAFF AWARD. The award recognizes a CSU employee for demonstrating and promoting leadership and service. As a professor in the Department of Art, she has been instrumental in shaping its foundational curriculum, fostering an environment that encourages creativity and critical thinking among students. Beyond her departmental contributions, McFalls has leadership as the Faculty Senate’s 2023-24 executive, which marked her third year of service on the Senate. She now serves as acting director for academic success experiences, overseeing the implementation a new The River core curriculum course sequence to support incoming first-year students' transition to college life.

KIONGOZI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Laury Petit received the KIONGOZI AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP. Modeling “kiongozi,” or “leadership” in Swahili, it is bestowed by the Center for Global Engagement on a graduating international student who has demonstrated campus involvement and academic leadership. Petit, a native of Vaureal, Frances, is a first-year graduate student studying organizational leadership with a focus in servant leadership.

GOIZUETA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Millie Soria received the GOIZUETA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARD, which recognizes a student of Hispanic or Latino heritage with family residing in the U.S. The Office of Admissions and the Columbus State University Hispanic Association (CHISPA) select recipients of this award. Soria is a senior from Albany, Georgia, majoring in nursing.

FAITH-BASED & HUMANITARIAN AWARD

Zoey Tharpe received the FAITH-BASED & HUMANITARIAN AWARD. It is presented to an individual recognized for building strong, faith-based communities, breaking down religious barriers and seeking commonality in others despite apparent differences. As the founder of the Columbus State chapter of Delight Ministries, Tharpe has fostered a faith-based campus community rooted in inclusivity, connection and spiritual growth. A sophomore from Columbus, she is majoring in kinesiology.  

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AWARD

Britney Yann received the COMMUNITY OUTREACH AWARD. It is presented to a student who demonstrates leadership aptitude while embodying a sense of service. Yann has dedicated herself to making a tangible impact in the community through her volunteer work at Piedmont Columbus Regional’s Emergency Trauma Center, MercyMed Farm and Wellness Center, and Animal Ark Rescue. She is a senior from Warner Robins, Georgia, majoring in biology.

Photos from the event are available for download from the university's Flickr account.

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Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729, mtullier@columbusstate.edu