Stakes Receives Governor's Award
Mary Stakes, center, receives her award from Jamil Zainaldin, left, president, Georgia Humanities Council, and Thomas Hills, right, chief financial officer, State of Georgia.
Vinson Institute faculty member Mary Stakes was presented with the Governor's Award in the Humanities during a luncheon presentation in Atlanta on May 7. Stakes received the award in recognition of her outstanding service to increase the understanding and appreciation of the humanities in the state. This is the 24th year that the awards have been presented by the Georgia Humanities Council and the Office of the Governor.
During her more than 30 years with the Vinson Institute, Stakes has worked with teachers throughout the state to provide them with knowledge, skills, and resources to advance their students’ understanding of Georgia history, government, and civic participation. She is the coauthor of The Georgia Studies Book, an eighth-grade textbook published by the Vinson Institute that has seen three editions. She has also developed numerous lesson plans, activities, teaching guides, audiovisuals, and workshops. She has served in several advisory capacities related to social studies curriculum development, civic education, and the history and workings of the Georgia General Assembly. She is a coauthor of the Handbook for Georgia Legislators, now in its thirteenth edition. She is currently the Georgia coordinator for the national We the People civic education program.
