ATLANTA – State Representative Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) today announced that she has selected Sandy Purkett as a recipient of the Yellow Rose/Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award. Rep. Davis will present Purkett with the award during a ceremony on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, from 8 – 9:45 a.m. in the Blue Room of the Georgia Freight Depot (65 MLK Jr. Dr. SW) in Atlanta.
“Sandy Purkett deserves the Yellow Rose Award for her energy, dedication and determination to help students excel in school, which is critical to excelling in life,” said Rep. Davis. “For more than two decades, Sandy has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships to students striving for a higher education. She is an unsung hero who spends countless hours investing in our students.”
Sandy Purkett has served students in DeKalb County for more than 25 years. In 2004, she founded the “Preparing Innovative Leaders for Tomorrow” (PILOT) program to teach students leadership skills. The program’s focus is to adequately prepare students for post-secondary education or vocational fields of study. Sandy Purkett is also a volunteer for the Redan High School Blue Thunder Band.
She also established the William E. Purkett II Scholarship Foundation in memory of her son who was killed in an auto accident on South Hairston Road. Through this scholarship program, Sandy is able to keep her son’s memory and legacy alive by funding students’ college educations.
Purkett is a retired federal investigator for the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. She is a graduate of Elizabeth City State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Education. She is a 2011 “Investing In Dreams” honoree from the DeKalb Technical College.
This award was created in honor of former State Representative Nikki T. Randall, who became the first African American female elected to the Georgia General Assembly. Former Rep. Randall served as chair of the Georgia Legislative Women’s Caucus. Every year during Women’s History Month, this caucus recognizes outstanding women in Georgia who exemplify the leadership and inspiration embodied by former Rep. Randall.
Rep. Davis also introduced a privileged resolution, House Resolution 307, to honor Sandy Purkett.
*Editor’s Note: Sandy Purkett’s full biography is attached for your convenience.
Representative Viola Davis represents the citizens of District 87, which includes portions of DeKalb County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and currently serves on the Defense & Veterans Affairs, Insurance, Interstate Cooperation, Natural Resources & Environment and Urban Affairs committees.
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