Dr. George E. Koonce, Senior Vice President for University Relations at Marian University and former linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, has been selected for one of The Black Excellence Awards, for being an exceptional person who has made a positive impact toward the City of Milwaukee. The award is sponsored by WISN-TV 12, The Milwaukee Business Journal and the Greater Milwaukee Urban League.
“I am honored and humbled by the Black Excellence Award,” said Dr. Koonce, “Our young people are our future and I believe that working together, we can lift them up with higher education and help them see the possibilities and opportunities that are open to them.”
Dr. Koonce will be recognized, along with other honorees, at the 39th Black Excellence Awards Gala, Friday, February 23, 2024 in Milwaukee, where the theme will be “Exemplifying Excellence Through Academics, Achievement and Service.” The gala is a fundraiser for the Louvenia Johnson Scholarship, which honors 12 deserving African American High School Seniors.
Dr. Koonce, who develops public and private partnerships for Marian University, recently launched the Dr. George E. Koonce Scholars Program at Marian University, which will fund scholarships for students in need in Milwaukee, as well as other communities in Wisconsin. Prospective scholars will be identified through outreach programs in schools and community centers, and recommended by high school administrators and teachers. Dr. Koonce has been visiting high schools to meet with administrators to talk about the program.
In addition, Dr. Koonce invites groups of students to visit the Packers’ Lambeau Field, in Green Bay. There, students are treated to a tour, lunch and a presentation on Marian University’s academic programs and athletics, along with the support services to help them be successful in college.
Dr. Koonce understands the value of academic achievement – he earned a Ph.D. in Sport Administration from Marquette University and a Master’s in Sports Management and Bachelor’s in Construction Management from East Carolina University. He was most recently elected to the Board of Directors of Horicon Bank and he is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Green Bay Packers.
Tickets for the Black Excellence Awards Gala, which will be held at the Italian Conference Center, 631 E. Chicago Avenue in Milwaukee, are $85 per person and $850 for a table of 10 and will be available in mid-December. To learn more, contact lynjackconyers@gmail.com or call: 414-467-0847.
