The Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) recognized leadership and generosity to the program during the District 6900 Conference at Lake Lanier during the Youth Services portion of the conference April 18.

The District 6900 Jake Cheatham Memorial Awards honor past GRSP Secretary and Treasurer, Jake Cheatham, a member of the Rotary Club of Griffin who faithfully guided GRSP through 30 years of growth. Sponsored and presented by the Rotary Club of Griffin, the awards recognize a club in each category for the highest per-capita giving to the GRSP Foundation through March 31, 2026. The Griffin Rotary Club President Natalie Marshall recognized the following clubs with the Jake Cheatham Memorial Award for the highest per-capita-giving in each category:

1. Sandy Springs
2. North Columbus
3. Dunwoody
4. Thomasville

Rotary Club of Sandy Springs President Megan Harris presented the Frank E. Bentley GRSP Leadership Award in honor of Frank E. Bentley, Sr. to Joe Jones from the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs. They are pictured here with GRSP Chair Ian Bond. Joe was named a GRSP Endowment Trustee in 1991 and served as the Endowment Chair from 2001 to 2021. Joe was the first president of the GRSP Foundation Inc., from 2021 to 2023 and was named Trustee Emeritus at the 2023 GRSP Summer Trustee Business Meeting. In his 32 years serving GRSP, he contributed to the success of countless international college students by promoting positive relationships among students, host families, sponsoring clubs and the program. He and his wife Ellen have served as a host family to several students.

The Frank E. Bentley GRSP Leadership Award is presented to a District 6900 Rotarian who has displayed outstanding Leadership in the promotion of the Georgia Rotary Student Program. Frank E. Bentley, Sr. passed away in December 2000 after a year-long battle with Leukemia. Frank selflessly served Rotary in many capacities including President of the Rotary Club of Sandy Springs, District Governor of District 6900 (1983-1984), and Georgia State Endowment Chairman for the Georgia Rotary Student Program. Sandy Springs contends many Rotarians have contributed to the tremendous success of GRSP, but few have shown more love and concern for the GRSP than Frank E. Bentley, Sr.