Dr. Joseph and Patricia Samprone of Gold Canyon, Ariz., were named Sept. 12 as recipients of the University System of Georgia’s 2024 Regent's Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award during the 20th annual Regents’ Scholarship Gala.
The Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award is given to an individual or couple known for championing academic excellence and access to higher education in Georgia. Nine recipients, including five individuals and two couples, were inducted this year into the Regent’s Hall of Fame.
Affectionately known around the Georgia College & State University (GCSU) campus as simply “Joe and Patti,” the Samprones were nominated by Georgia College for more than 40 years of campus involvement.
“The breadth and depth of their commitment to and support of Georgia College & State University and its students makes Joe and Patti Samprone uniquely deserving of the Regent’s Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award,” said GCSU President Cathy Cox.
Joe Samprone taught economics from 1983 to 2003 in what was then known as the J. Whitney Bunting School of Business, while Patti Samprone earned her MBA from GCSU in 1988 and worked in human resources at Vought Aircraft Industries, now Qarbon Aerospace, in Milledgeville.
Joe also served as head coach of the GCSU Bobcat cross-country team for 14 years, well into his retirement. In 2007, he earned Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year honors. Meanwhile, Patti co-chaired the university’s most recent capital campaign, which concluded in May 2020 with more than $50 million in philanthropic support.
Through all these endeavors, the Samprones became beloved figures to hundreds of Georgia College students each year, many of whom they remain in contact with years after graduation.
As part of their lifetime commitment to the university, the Samprones started making charitable donations in 1989. They currently sponsor eight of GCSU’s flagship Presidential Scholarships, which include a stipend for study abroad. They also fund one of the university’s first endowed professorships for junior faculty members, as well as endowed scholarships for first-generation students and athletes in women’s basketball, volleyball, and golf.
“It’s quite an honor to showcase people who’ve made such a big impact here and statewide. It also shows how alumni can express their love and deep appreciation for the university and its uniqueness,” said Seth Walker, vice president of GCSU’s Office of University Advancement.
“The Samprones understand that without philanthropy, we would be much more limited in what we can offer our students,” Walker said.
“They love and appreciate our uniqueness as the state's designated liberal arts institution.”
– Contributed