At the Georgia Museum of Art, our community of supporters means everything. Truly. For the last 75 years, artist, patron, donor and volunteer support for the museum have helped us create and sustain a creative community. As a testament to the volunteer effort behind the scenes at the museum that has been tantamount to our overall success for three quarters of a century, we recognize one volunteer each year with the M. Smith Griffith Volunteer of the Year Award, lovingly known as the “Smitty.”
The museum’s volunteers are often the unsung heroes of the success of our efforts, which is one of the reasons we’ve been recognizing our volunteers’ efforts for more than 25 years. The Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art presented the 2023 M. Smith Griffith Volunteer of the Year Award at their annual meeting in August. Held in person for the first time since 2019, the meeting served as a review of the past year and a chance to discuss new business and induct new board members.
The “Smitty” award acknowledges outstanding museum volunteers and contributors each year, and this year’s recipient was longtime museum supporter Maggie Hancock. Ever the supporter for all things artistic, Hancock returned to Athens roughly a decade ago after having received her degree in interior design from the University of Georgia (BFA ’77).
She was drawn to and quickly became involved with the Georgia Museum of Art.Hancock served as a member of the Friends board of directors from 2014 to 2020, where her love of design drew her to our signature fundraising event, Elegant Salute. She served as décor chair for Elegant Salute XIIII: An Elegant Salute to Georgia, in 2015, then took on the role of event chair for Elegant Salute XV: A Night of Tropical Splendor, in 2017. Since then, she has returned as décor chair for Elegant Salutes XVI and XVII, where her creative vision and impeccable attention to detail have become synonymous with the caliber of event our donors and guests have come to enjoy.
Hancock’s commitment and devotion to Elegant Salute has truly been an inspiration, and the overwhelming success of this year’s Elegant Salute made her the perfect recipient for this year’s award.
Sarah Peterson, outgoing president of the Friends board, acknowledged board members who have completed their term of service: Cassie Bryant, Sige Burden Jr., Lacy Middlebrooks Camp, Teresa Friedlander, Jeffrey Goodwin, Katharine Hable, Melissa Harshman, Jean Petrovs, Shenara Sexton and Ron Thomas.
Lauren Schlesinger was approved as president-elect of the board and Christina LaFontaine as treasurer (a position that became vacant with Schlesinger’s shift to president-elect).
The new Friends board members, each serving a three-year term, are:
Kathleen Belknap
Belknap works for an interior design firm in Athens and has previously worked as a development director, major gifts officer, annual fund manager and marketing associate. She is also treasurer for the Parent-Teacher Association at her children’s school and membership chair of her neighborhood garden club and served on the 2023 Elegant Salute Dance Party Committee.
Cornelya Dorbin
Dorbin has worked in health promotion, public relations, volunteerism and administration for more than 25 years. She previously led the Arkansas Cancer Coalition as executive director, acquiring national honors twice within three years. In that role, she spearheaded the coalition’s grassroots campaign to support the passage of a tobacco excise tax that paid for nearly $180 million in expanded health programs. Dorbin has also been involved with the Effort Foundation, Lydia’s House and Cannon United Methodist Church.
Susanna Drennen
Originally from southern California, Drennen was previously an event planner for the Getty family and in Prague. Locally, she has been involved with the Athens Area Arts Council and the Chase Street Elementary School’s Garden Club and was a participant in 2015’s Dancing with the Athens Stars.
Kira Epstein
Epstein serves on the Parent-Teacher Organization for Chase Street Elementary School in Athens, where her daughter is in first grade. She has also participated on committees and as a board member for professional societies related to service in veterinary medicine. At the museum, she was a member of the 2023 Elegant Salute Dance Party Committee and the 2022 Nominating Committee for the Friends board.
Alec Hodson
Hodson is a graduate of the University of Georgia Honors Program and its School of Public and International Affairs (AB ’99) and presently serves as resident and principal attorney at Quarterman, Hodson, Triplett & Leach, P.C. He has served as a volunteer for and supporter of the Georgia Museum of Natural History, founded a local nonprofit that helps supply heart and diabetes medications and humanitarian relief to Ukrainian refugees and offers pro bono legal services to local nonprofits and artists.
Courtney Khail
Khail graduated from UGA’s Lamar Dodd School of Art with a a degree in scientific illustration (BFA ’07) and currently owns and operates the Athens-based art studio Courtney Khail, LLC, where she creates paintings and murals for collectors across the world. She serves on the board of C.I.A.O (the alumni organization for UGA’s study-abroad program in Cortona, Italy) and on the executive board of the Athens-Clarke County Democrats as vice chair of communications. Khail also volunteers with the Lamar Dodd School of Art, the University of Georgia’s Mentoring Program and UGA’s Give That Dawg a Bone campaign and is a member of the museum’s Collectors group.
Anita Pratt
Pratt is an active member of Ebenezer Baptist Church-West, serving with the usher/hospitality ministry. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., previously serving as the chair of its women’s healthcare and wellness committee and the lead planner for the men’s hospitality suite/events for AKA’s 2016 International Conference. Pratt is also an active member of the Bon Bons Social & Civic Club of Athens, where she previously served as president.
Mary Prickett
Prickett is a preschool teacher and painter who graduated from UGA with a degree in printmaking (BFA ’03) and has a master of arts degree in art education from Piedmont College. She volunteers at her son’s school and donates her artwork to help raise money for multiple charitable organizations. Prickett was also a member of the 2023 Elegant Salute Dance Party Committee and helped with the 2021 Friends Appreciation Month Kick-off event.
Amy Wraga
Wraga is a mixed-media artist who also serves as volunteer coordinator for the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation board of directors. She has previously been involved with the Athens Area Diaper Bank, the Nancy Travis Childcare Project, Children First Inc., the Georgia Preschool Association board and the Georgia Association for the Education of Young Children board. She serves on the Friends outreach and engagement committee, assisted with the Friends Appreciation Month Kick-off event in 2021 and 2022 and enjoys walking through the galleries on Sunday afternoons.
Authored by:
Hillary Brown
