COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Columbus State University Alumni Association recognized 10 people during its annual Homecoming awards luncheon, including Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman, Micah's Promise co-founder Bobbi Starr and philanthropists Jack and JoRhee Pezold. The awards were presented Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, as part of the university's Homecoming Week activities, according to an announcement published by Columbus State on Oct. 20. The university recognized recipients for achievements in public service, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, professional careers, university service and community involvement.

The honors included the Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Frank D. Brown Achievement & Leadership Excellence Award and the Distinguished Alumnus in Military/Public Service Award. Columbus State also recognized a Young Alumni Award recipient, university employees and individuals associated with Ride for Miracles. The university's announcement identified the recipients and their connections to Columbus State and the surrounding community.

Bobbi Starr Receives University's Top Alumni Award

Bobbi Starr, a Columbus State graduate from 2014 and 2016, received the Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award, according to the university's Oct. 20 announcement. Columbus State identifies the award as its most prestigious alumni honor. Starr is the executive director and co-founder of Micah's Promise, an organization that works against the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

The recognition connects Starr's alumni achievements with the leadership of Micah's Promise. According to Columbus State, Starr's work includes serving as both an organizational co-founder and its executive director. The university selected Starr for the award that occupies the highest level of distinction within its annual alumni recognition program.

The Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award was one of several honors presented during the Oct. 16 luncheon. While other categories recognized professional achievements, military and public service, and university contributions, Starr received the association's top alumni distinction. Columbus State's announcement identifies the nonprofit leadership as part of the background accompanying the recognition.

Micah's Promise is described by Columbus State as an organization focused on combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The university's announcement describes the organization's mission in those terms. Starr's recognition places that nonprofit work among the achievements highlighted at this year's Homecoming awards.

Jack and JoRhee Pezold Honored for Leadership and Philanthropy

Jack and JoRhee Pezold received the Frank D. Brown Achievement & Leadership Excellence Award, according to Columbus State University. The university describes the honor as an award presented only when extraordinary achievement merits recognition. The Pezolds were identified as entrepreneurs and philanthropists whose support helped make possible the Pezold Center for Emergent Technology.

Their recognition highlights a connection between private philanthropy and university development. Columbus State specifically identified the Pezold Center for Emergent Technology when describing the couple's contributions. The university's announcement presents their entrepreneurial and philanthropic work as the background for their selection.

The Frank D. Brown Achievement & Leadership Excellence Award is separate from the Distinguished Alumnus categories. According to Columbus State, it is given when achievement reaches the level established for that distinction. The university included Jack and JoRhee Pezold among the recipients at its October Homecoming luncheon.

The Pezold Center for Emergent Technology is the university project directly associated with their recognition in the Oct. 20 announcement. Columbus State credits their support with helping make that center possible. No contribution amount is given in the information available for this story, which instead focuses on the couple's leadership and philanthropic involvement.

Sheriff Greg Countryman Recognized for Public Service

Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman received the Distinguished Alumnus in Military/Public Service Award, according to Columbus State University. Countryman, a 2007 graduate, previously served for 16 years as Muscogee County's elected marshal. Countryman has served as Muscogee County sheriff since 2020.

The university recognized Countryman in an award category focused on military and public service. Countryman's background includes service in two elected county offices, as identified in Columbus State's announcement. The honor was presented as part of the Alumni Association's annual awards rather than as an announcement concerning county government operations.

Countryman's recognition places Countryman among alumni whose professional careers are connected to public institutions. According to the university, Countryman's years as marshal preceded service as sheriff. The award acknowledges the public service background within the association's established recognition categories.

The Distinguished Alumnus in Military/Public Service Award was one of the principal honors presented at the Homecoming luncheon. Columbus State's announcement identified Countryman alongside recipients recognized for nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, professional achievement and university service. The inclusion reflects the range of career fields represented in the annual awards program.

Eboni Thomas Receives Young Alumni Award

Eboni Thomas received the Young Alumni Award, according to Columbus State University's Oct. 20 announcement. Thomas, identified with graduation years of 2009 and 2024, works as a strategic planning specialist at Columbus Water Works. The university describes the Young Alumni Award as recognizing graduates from the preceding 15 years.

The recognition brought another local professional field into the university's annual alumni awards. Columbus State identified the position at Columbus Water Works as part of the information accompanying the honor. The announcement also listed both graduation years in connection with the award.

The Young Alumni Award is a separate category from the Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished Alumnus Award and the public service recognition presented to Countryman. According to the university, the category focuses on alumni within its specified graduation period. Thomas was the recipient identified for the award during the 2026 Homecoming luncheon.

The university's awards announcement associates Thomas with strategic planning through the position at Columbus Water Works. The details available for this story are the professional role and the educational connection to Columbus State. No specific project is cited as the basis for the recognition in that information.

Two Columbus State Employees Receive Appreciation Awards

Columbus State University also honored two employees through its Employee Appreciation Award, according to the university's announcement. The recipients were Dr. Kerri Shelton Taylor, a chemistry professor, and Debra Tommey, an academic operations coordinator in the Joyce & Henry Schwob School of Music. Both were recognized during the Oct. 16 Homecoming awards luncheon.

Taylor's role is in chemistry instruction, while Tommey's position is connected to academic operations in the university's music school. Columbus State identified both employees by name and position when announcing the awards. Their recognition was included alongside alumni honors presented for professional careers and contributions outside the university.

The Employee Appreciation Award extends the association's annual recognitions to individuals working within Columbus State. According to the university, Taylor and Tommey received the honor in the same awards category. The announcement identifies each recipient by name and university position.

The presence of two recipients also distinguishes the Employee Appreciation Award from several categories that named a single honoree. Columbus State presented the recognition to both a faculty member and an academic operations professional. Their inclusion reflects the university's acknowledgment of employees as part of the annual Homecoming awards program.

Marion Scott and Miracle Riders Receive Special Recognition

Marion Scott, a 1975 Columbus State graduate, received the Alumni Service Award, according to the university. Columbus State recognized Scott for longstanding support of Ride for Miracles. The award was part of the association's Homecoming recognition of service connected to the university community.

The university also granted honorary alumni status to Howard Miles and Will Stephenson. Both were identified as Miracle Riders who participated in a recent cross-country fundraising motorcycle ride. Their recognition was separate from Scott's Alumni Service Award but connected to the same broader fundraising activity.

According to Columbus State, Scott's award reflected longstanding involvement with Ride for Miracles. Miles and Stephenson received honorary alumni status rather than one of the principal alumni achievement awards. The October announcement placed those recognitions among the additional honors presented during the annual luncheon.

Ride for Miracles appeared in multiple portions of the university's recognition announcement through Scott, Miles and Stephenson. Columbus State identified Scott's continuing support and the motorcycle fundraising participation of the two honorary alumni. Those connections formed the basis of the university's descriptions of the recipients.

Alumni Association Also Recognizes Outgoing Directors

The Columbus State University Alumni Association recognized five outgoing directors in connection with its annual awards activities, according to the university's Oct. 20 announcement. Those individuals were Al Bruni, a 1982 graduate; David Britt, a 2003 graduate; and Melissa Ingle Hammer, a 2005 graduate. The university also identified Troy Jackson, a 2011 graduate, and Twilya Toombs, a 2005 graduate.

Their recognition was separate from the main alumni awards and special honors described during the Homecoming activities. Columbus State identified them as outgoing directors of the association. The announcement provided their names and graduation years as part of its acknowledgment of their service.

The recognition of outgoing directors accompanied awards for achievements in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, professional careers, public service and university employment. According to Columbus State, the Homecoming luncheon served as the occasion for presenting the association's annual honors. The university's Oct. 20 news release documented the recipients, their roles and the categories in which they were recognized.

The alumni honors included graduates from different years, university employees and individuals granted honorary alumni status. Columbus State presented the recognitions during Homecoming Week on Friday, Oct. 16, and published its announcement four days later. The university maintains its official news coverage, including the alumni awards announcement, at news.columbusstate.edu.