Feb. 26, 2008

Bryant is GSW's first Featured Public Servant

AMERICUS—The policeman’s motto is “to serve and protect.” No one exemplifies that creed better than Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) Public Safety Director Oris W. Bryant, Jr. His career has been dedicated to service as a leader, guardian, mentor and, yes, a chef.

As result, and to the surprise of few, GSW President Kendall Blanchard today announced that Bryant has been selected as the first recipient of GSW’s Featured Public Servant Award.

“It is indeed an honor to be chosen for this award,” said Bryant. “When I was of college age, someone helped guide me along, and it brings me pleasure knowing that I can help other people in that same way.”

Initiated this year by President Blanchard, this award will be presented each subsequent year to an employee of Georgia Southwestern State University who has distinguished him or herself by contributing to the life of the University and the larger community it serves.

The Featured Public Servant Award is designed to recognize those among the Georgia Southwestern employee ranks who make valuable contributions to the community where they live and work. It is also a way to remind the larger Americus community that Georgia Southwestern faculty and staff play an important role in the social and cultural life of that community.

“I was genuinely pleased to learn that the Featured Public Service Award committee had selected Chief Oris Bryant as the first recipient of this award,” said Blanchard. “Chief is much more than simply the head of the GSW public safety team.  He is a public servant in the finest sense of the word, going well beyond the requirements of his job description to support our students, his colleagues on the faculty and staff, and individuals and organizations across the community.”

Bryant has been serving the Americus and GSW community since his first day as Campus Safety Director in January of 1995. His service in the last year alone has been extensive. He served as a board member of the New Horizon’s Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, logging over 100 hours of service; he organized and prepared for countless campus-wide cookouts and dinners; Bryant served on the Americus/Sumter County Arts Council Board; he served as treasurer of the Americus/Sumter County Red Ribbon Committee; he mentored two students within the Sumter County School System; he was a regular blood donor for the Americus Chapter of the American Red Cross; he sponsored two members from the Americus/Sumter County Girl Scouts; he assisted public safety agencies in Sumter County with their outreach initiatives; and he acts as an advisor to several campus organizations.

“From time to time, I get phone calls from GSW alumni saying thank you for helping them while they were here,” added Bryant. “That’s why I go to work every day.”

As the recipient of the award, Bryant was selected by a committee made up of five persons: two members of the faculty, selected by the faculty senate, two members of the staff, selected by the staff council, and one member of the off-campus community, selected by the president.

“I am grateful to all the members of the Featured Public Servant Committee for their work in selecting this year's award winner,” said Blanchard, “but I want to publicly thank Ms. Karen Holloway for managing the entire process and Dr. Millard Fuller for chairing the committee as it made the selection from among the many outstanding candidates.”

Bryant is originally from Thomasville and is a 1975 graduate of Fort Valley State College with a degree in Business Management. He and his wife, Thedis, have two children.

A reception to honor Bryant will be Wednesday, March 5 at 4 p.m. in the Rotunda of the Wheatley Administration Building.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event.

PHOTO AVAILABLE                                  

Chief Oris W. Bryant, Jr., GSW Featured Public Servant 2008

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