Bettina Tate, Title 1 Program Manager, and Jeffrey Fortson, a teacher at Savannah Arts Academy, have been named recipients of the Student Leadership Program (SLP) Adviser Excellence Award. SLP is a partnership among Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, businesses and non-profit organizations in Chatham County. SLP is open to sophomore, junior and senior students in Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools and teaches students the important work and leadership skills necessary to be successful in today's competitive employment market. These skills are taught through fun and energetic leadership workshops, which expose students to high demand career opportunities at companies and businesses in Chatham County.

“Each year we recognize one teacher and one community adviser in SLP," said Chris Nowicki, Public Affairs and Community Investment Consultant, Gulfstream. “We look for advisers who are energetic, committed and engaged with the program and students. Bettina and Jeffrey are most deserving of this award. As volunteers with the Student Leadership Program, they perform an invaluable service to our participants."

Tate has volunteered with SLP since its inception in 2008. “It's an honor to receive this award," she said. “In addition to volunteering for programming, I have served on the Steering Committee. I love working with our young scholars to help them become life and career ready!"

“In early 2016, when I was asked to join the group of SLP Teacher Advisers at Savannah Arts Academy, I had no idea what sort of an adventure I was signing up for," Fortson said. “That year I received a group of 12 freshmen from our school and I was given the opportunity to spend the next four years working with them through the SLP program. By the time they graduated from the program, I was amazed at their growth as leaders and at the bond they had formed with me and each other. This year marks my fifth year of participation in the program and I am excited to see what awaits my new group of SLP sophomores!"

Both Tate and Fortson will attend the National Mentoring Summit in Washington, D.C., in 2022.