Sarah Dillard from Atlanta, Georgia, and Marcus Givens from Dublin, Georgia, each received the President’s Second Mile Award at the 192nd commencement ceremony for Savannah State University on May 5, 2018.  The award, which recognizes remarkable leadership on campus, in the Savannah community and beyond, is open to graduating seniors.

Sarah Dillard, a civil engineering technology major, also earned a certificate in transportation studies. She served as a volunteer at the Frank Callen Boys and Girls Club, America’s Second Harvest, and the Inner City Night Shelter. On campus, she was a member of the student government association as chief justice and president and led the residence hall association.

Dillard was a member of the first cohort of the White House HBCU All-Star program, and was the recipient of the Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship and the Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation fellowship. Focused on transportation and planning, Dillard completed internships at Georgia Power and Maupin Engineering. She has accepted a position with the Georgia Department of Transportation in Traffic Operations.

Marcus Givens, a civil engineering technology major, volunteered with numerous community organizations, including Old Savannah City Mission, Park Place Outreach, Salvation Army and Inner City Night Shelter. On campus, he served as president of the SSU NAACP chapter, a student director of the Wesleyan Gospel Choir, an executive officer for the residence hall association, and as a Tiger Ambassador, a student-led organization that gives tours to visitors.

As a STEM student, Givens participated in transportation research with a PSLSAMP fellowship and acted as a mentor for STEM high school students in his hometown. He has already landed a job at an engineering firm in Greenville, South Carolina.