2004 Georgia Excellence in Public Service Awards
A select group of state and local officials received Georgia Excellence in Public Service Awards during a ceremony held September 9, 2004, at the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta. These individuals not only represent outstanding work in public service but shine as examples for those considering this arena for a career. The awards program is carried out in partnership with GeorgiaTrend magazine.

Morris W. H. Collins Jr. Distinguished Practitioner Lecture Series
Parris Glendening, former governor of Maryland and nationally recognized smart growth leader, presented the third annual Collins lecture in April. Glendening spoke about current activities of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, which promotes the protection of open space, neighborhood revitalization, and affordable housing. Morris W. H. Collins Jr. was the Vinson Institute's first director and is remembered for his significant contributions to the reorganization of Georgia state government and the establishment of many of the public official training programs.

Public Service: Reel-to-Reel
The Vinson Institute hosted the third annual Reel-to-Reel film series for the Athens community, in cooperation with the Center for Humanities and the Arts and the George Foster Peabody Awards at the University of Georgia. Award-winning films and programs in this year's series centered on the theme of democracy and were shown on several evenings in Fall 2004 at the historic Seney-Stovall Chapel on the grounds of the Vinson Institute.