For the third year in a row, the International Town and Gown Association (ITGA) has awarded the University of Georgia one of its five annual awards, further establishing UGA as a national leader in community engagement and university-community partnerships.

This year, Jason Edwards, public service faculty member in the UGA J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, received the Emerging Professional Award at the ITGA conference in College Station, Texas. This award recognizes early-career professionals who demonstrate leadership in building partnerships, addressing community challenges and fostering collaboration between higher education institutions and local communities.

Edwards was recognized for his ongoing work in youth leadership development through programs such as the UGA-CCSD Sports & Tutoring Program, Innovate U and Georgia Possible, which help students develop leadership skills, build confidence and explore future educational and career opportunities.

“Service has always been a guiding principle in my life,” Edwards said. “I believe that service is about investing in people, building relationships and fostering change through collaboration. The University of Georgia has given me incredible opportunities to put that belief into action through my work with students and communities across Georgia.”

As a graduate student, Edwards helped launch a middle school sports and tutoring program at UGA. Now, as a faculty member, he supports youth through Innovate U, a program in which students from local schools participate in leadership development experiences designed to strengthen self-awareness, communication and problem-solving skills. Georgia Possible, another program coordinated by the Fanning Institute, introduces Clarke County high school students to college and career pathways through mentorship, leadership development and hands-on learning experiences.

In 2024, UGA’s Office of Service-Learning received the ITGA Presidential Excellence Award for Experience UGA, a partnership with the Clarke County School District that brings students to campus for educational experiences tailored to each grade level. Since launching in 2012, the program has welcomed more than 100,000 students to UGA.

In 2025, the Office of Service-Learning and the Athens Community Council on Aging were recognized for their longstanding partnership supporting thousands of older adults through volunteerism, service-learning and community engagement initiatives that support the well-being of older adults

Together, the three awards highlight the breadth of UGA’s commitment to strengthening communities through education, leadership development and public service.

“As a land-grant and sea-grant institution, UGA has a unique obligation to reach beyond campus borders to engage and partner with the community and the state it calls home,” said Stacy Jones, vice president for public service and outreach. “The ITGA awards demonstrate UGA’s commitment to public service and the impact that comes from sustained relationships.”

The lives changed by these programs are what brings meaning to the awards.

“I’ve never been to a program like this before that’s allowed me a chance to cultivate my creativity in this way,” said Antonio Starks, a rising junior at Clarke Central High School who participated in Innovate U with Edwards. “I’ve gained confidence and it’s been a great program to be a part of.”

From introducing K-12 students to college opportunities to supporting older adults through community partnerships, the ITGA awards highlight how UGA helps support meaningful change beyond campus.

The International Town and Gown Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing partnerships between universities and their communities through professional development, networking and the sharing of best practices.