The Emerging Young Alumni Leader Award is given to an alumnus of GMC who has graduated within the past 10 years, is no more than 35 years of age, and has accomplished one or more of the following: has demonstrated continuous support of the Alumni Association and GMC through contributions of time and/or gifts; has made outstanding contributions to a chosen profession; has achieved in such a way that has brought great honor to the individual and the College; has demonstrated service and a commitment to the community; has fostered the ideals, goals, and values of GMC.
As a student, valued employee, and public servant, Mr. Addison has given tirelessly of himself to both GMC and the local community. Graduating from GMC in June of 2011 with an Associate Degree in Business Administration, Mr. Addison came back to his alma mater two years later as a Financial Aid Assistant. Upon graduating with a BBA in Economics from Liberty University, he was promoted to Financial Aid Counselor in 2014. In 2018, he was then promoted to Assistant Director of Financial Aid and in July of 2019, became Deputy Director of Financial Aid. In 2015, Mr. Addison was presented with GMC’s Customer Service Excellence Award. Soon after in 2016, at the age of 26, he was elected as Georgia’s youngest County Commissioner and is currently serving as Putnam County’s Vice Chairman and District 4 Commissioner in his second term. After being elected, he earned his County Commissioner Certification from the University of Georgia in 2017 and was concurrently appointed to the Republican Leadership of Georgia Program. This invitation-only program is based on the vision of the late Senator Paul Coverdell and is designed to fill the ranks of Georgia’s Republicans with trained leaders.
In 2019, he was selected as the GMC Resource Management Employee of the Year. He also represented GMC at our State Capital regarding higher education policy and bills taken up by the House of Representatives and the Senate. Additionally, Mr. Addison is a member of the Georgia Association of College Financial Aid Administrators and the National Association of College Financial Aid Administrators, where he holds eleven Financial Aid Credentials.
Mr. Addison’s commitment to his community is ceaseless as he continues to serve local organizations in various capacities. He currently serves on the Steering Committee of the Putnam County Republican Party and as a Board Member on the Sinclair Water Authority, TenderCare Clinic and Central Georgia Joint Development Authority. He also previously served on the Board of the Eatonton Elks Lodge, a non-profit that devotes its time to serving United States Military Veterans and elementary school children.
Mr. Addison and his wife, Pelar, reside in Eatonton.