Distinguished Alumni Award

Omari L. Hardwick ’92

Omari L. Hardwick ’92 is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for his career as an actor, founder of production company BRAVELIFE, and his commitment to community service. He earned recognition for his leading role in the Starz series “POWER”, winning the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series in 2018, 2019, and 2020. His one-man show “HerO: A Work in Progress” reflects his personal journey as a Black man growing up in Georgia, while his podcast “Poetics” explores poetry and verse with notable figures in rap music. A cofounder of The Lost Angels Actors’ Lounge and honorary founding member of Da Poetry Lounge at Los Angeles’s Greenway Court Theatre, Hardwick has been instrumental in supporting artistic communities and creating platforms for emerging talent. His commitment to service is evident in his cofounding of The Omari Hardwick bluapple Poetry Network, an after-school spoken word program for students in Broward and Miami-Dade County Public Schools. In 2020, he accompanied the late Congressman John Lewis on his final march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. In 2023, he received the inaugural John Lewis Service for Humanity Award from the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Sigma Sigma Chapter, honoring his contributions to education, youth development, and philanthropy. Through his artistry and service, Omari L. Hardwick ’92 continues to inspire and entertain audiences worldwide.

Outstanding Young Alumni Award 

Spencer L. Mitchell ’09  

The recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award is Spencer L. Mitchell ’09, CEO of TruckerCloud and board chair and cofounder of Heads up for Harry, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting young adults impacted by mental illness and their families. Alongside his wife, Katie Athaide Mitchell ’09, and other Marist School and University of Georgia (UGA) alumni, Mitchell established Heads Up for Harry in memory of their classmate, the late Harrison Willingham ’09. The organization implements programs within colleges, national fraternity organizations, and high schools, impacting thousands across Georgia. Mitchell earned his bachelor’s degree in genetics in the Honors Program at UGA. His professional journey began in consulting for cancer centers and nonprofits at PricewaterhouseCoopers. As CEO of TruckerCloud, Mitchell has spearheaded remarkable growth elevating trucking software into a leading startup within the trucking insurance sector. His achievements underscore his dedication to service and unwavering optimism, driving the transformation of innovative ideas into thriving organizations that enrich both local communities and national industries.

Father Hartnett Service Award 

Grace Starling ’12

Grace Starling ’12 is the recipient of the Father Hartnett Service Award for her exemplary service to Marist School. She is the Alumni Board vice president and co-chair of the Service and Spirituality Committee. After attending Marist, Starling graduated magna cum laude from Agnes Scott College with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Art History. She continued her education at Georgia State University (GSU) College of Law, graduating magna cum laude, ranking in the top 10% of her class, and receiving numerous honors and awards. She then served as a staff attorney at the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta. As an employment and civil rights attorney at Radford Scott LLP, Starling has twice been honored by her peers in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in Labor and Employment Law and Litigation”. As an advocate, Starling has led grassroots movements at state and national levels to oppose legislation harmful to sexual assault and gender-based violence survivors. Through her volunteer work, advocacy efforts, and career, she embodies the spirit of service, striving for the betterment of individuals and communities.

Call for Nominations

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