Georgia Power has announced the recipient of the third annual Preston Arkwright Award for service – Denise Hamrick, northeast region energy services team lead for Georgia Power. The company created the award to spotlight and recognize the exceptional commitment to service demonstrated by thousands of employees working every day in communities across the state. Wes Singletary, land acquisition coordinator in Atlanta, was also selected as a runner up for the award during a special ceremony held at the annual Citizens of Georgia Power statewide meeting on Saturday. The Citizens of Georgia Power is the company's statewide, employee-driven community service organization.

"Enriching our neighborhoods and improving the lives of those around us is a passion shared by all Georgia Power employees – not just today, but since the very beginning of our company," said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "As our employees continue to fulfill our mission to be a citizen wherever we serve, I am proud of Denise and Wes' dedication to their communities and recognize the impact they have made for so many."

Hamrick has worked for Georgia Power for more than 13 years and has served her community more than 40 years. As president of the Citizens of Georgia Power - Thomson chapter, Hamrick has coordinated and led the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service project at Boy Scout Camp Knox and has also led the chapter's Earth Day project at the McDuffie Environmental Education Center. She also has led a support effort for golfers that have cerebral palsy.

The Preston Arkwright Award was created in honor of Preston Arkwright, the company's first president who coined the phrase "A Citizen Wherever We Serve" more than 100 years ago. Employees were nominated by their colleagues for the award, with finalists selected by a panel and winners chosen by employee voting. As part of the award, Hamrick will receive a $5,000 donation to a nonprofit of her choice. Singletary will receive a $1,500 donation to a nonprofit of his choice.

For more than 130 years, Georgia Power has been dedicated to giving back to Georgia communities. In 2017, Georgia Power's total community impact included more than $21 million invested by the company, The Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. and employees in Georgia communities and non-profit organizations throughout the year. Last year alone, 6,000 Georgia Power employees and retirees donated their time to help their neighbors and improve the quality of life in their communities by completing more than 147,000 volunteer hours.