Expand / Collapse search
☰

SCAD president selected by President Biden to receive Presidential Citizens Medal

By
Published  January 2, 2025 7:23am EST
Atlanta
FOX 5 Atlanta

SCAD president honored at White House

Savannah College of Art and Design president has received the Presidential Citizens Medal. President Paula Wallace was honored at the citizens medal ceremony at the White House.

The Brief

    • President Biden to Honor 20 Recipients: The Presidential Citizens Medal was awarded Thursday at the White House, recognizing individuals for exemplary service to their country and fellow citizens.
    • Atlanta’s Paula Wallace Among Honorees: Wallace, founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), joins other notable recipients, including advocates for marriage equality, women’s rights, and healthcare.
    • Posthumous Recognitions: Four individuals, including a civil rights attorney and a Japanese American internment challenger, will be honored posthumously for their lasting contributions.

ATLANTA - President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 individuals in a ceremony Thursday at the White House. The medal, created by President Richard Nixon in 1969, is the nation’s second-highest civilian honor after the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is presented to those who have "performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens."

Among the recipients was Atlanta's Paula Wallace, the founder of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Wallace established SCAD in 1978, and the institution now offers degrees in Atlanta, Savannah, and even internationally in France.

Photo courtesy of SCAD

The White House issued the below statement on President Paula Wallace’s legacy:

A lifelong educator and trailblazer of the arts, Paula Wallace dreamt of a university that would transform how we think about professional education. By establishing the esteemed Savannah College of Art and Design and serving as its president, she has guided thousands of students into creative industries.

This year's honorees represent a diverse array of achievements and contributions. Among them are:

  • Americans who fought for marriage equality.
  • A trailblazer in treating wounded soldiers.
  • An activist who led women’s rights protests in the 1970s and campaigned for equal pay.
  • A photographer and two academics.
  • The president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition.
  • Former Senators Ted Kaufman and Chris Dodd, who are longtime friends of President Biden.

In addition to the living recipients, President Biden honored four individuals posthumously. They included:

  • A war correspondent who documented the first major battle in Vietnam.
  • A civil rights advocate and attorney.
  • A former Delaware state judge.
  • A Japanese American who was interned during World War II and later challenged the detention policy.

The ceremony underscores the enduring value of service and the extraordinary impact individuals can have on their communities and the nation.

The Source

  • Information for this article came from the Associated Press, the official announcement from the White House, and SCAD's website. 

AtlantaGeorgiaJoe BidenNews