Human Resources recently announced a University System of Georgia system-wide Merit Recognition Program planned for FY26. All VSU faculty and staff received emails in June from HR with information regarding the program. The first email detailed the eligibility criteria and selection process, while the second email shared timelines for submissions and the effective date of merit awards. This is a wonderful opportunity, and we are excited to implement this plan. Please know that your hard work and dedication to our students is seen, and regardless of merit award eligibility, we genuinely appreciate everything you do for VSU!

Congratulations are in order again for our Men’s Tennis team! They won VSU’s Tenth NCAA Division II National Championship 4-2 over Washburn Memorial Day Weekend near Orlando. The team went back-to-back after winning the National Championship in 2024 as well. This is the fourth National Championship for VSU Men’s Tennis, previously winning titles in 2006, 2011, and of course 2024. Congratulations to Coach John Hansen and all our incredibly talented student athletes! We are so proud of you! If you would like to see pictures from the national title game, click the link to the Flickr album below.

If winning his fourth National Championship isn’t exciting enough, VSU tennis Head Coach John Hansen also recently garnered two more incredible accolades. First, he received his own day in Lowndes County. June 23, 2025, was declared John Hansen Day by the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners. The day celebrated all Coach Hansen has meant to VSU, Valdosta, and Lowndes County. Director of Athletics Troy Katen and I joined community leaders to present the proclamation to Coach Hansen. You can see photos from the big day at the Flickr link below. Coach Hansen was also inducted into the Gulf South Conference Hall of Fame on May 29. What a special last couple months this has been for him, and we are so proud of everything he has done for VSU’s Men’s and Women’s Tennis teams and Blazer Athletics.