2020 Samuel H. Johnson Education Award Honorees Overview

Dr. Mary Frances Early received her bachelor’s degree in music education from Clark College and graduated as class valedictorian. She began her graduate studies at the University of Michigan but later transferred to the (UGA) to join the civil rights struggle. In 1962, she received the Masters of Music Education (M.M.E.) degree from UGA and became the first African-American to receive a degree from that institution. She received the Specialist in Education degree from UGA in 1967, and was selected for membership in Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society based on her 4.1 GPA. Dr. Early was the director of music education for the Public Schools and later served as adjunct professor of music at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges. During her lengthy career in music education, Ms. Early was engaged in numerous music activities at the state, regional, and national levels and has received numerous honors. She was elected as President of the Georgia Music Educators Association as the first and to date only African American to serve in that role. In 2000, after being erased from UGA’s history for 38 years, her contribution was finally recognized. The University of Georgia awarded her with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2013. In 2018, she received the President’s Medal – one of UGA’s highest recognitions. In February 2020, UGA named their College of Education in her honor. She continues to be active in several organizations.

Dr. Harriett J. Walton is a nationally respected mathematics professor who became a pioneering woman in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). She received her Bachelor’s degree from Clark College; her first master’s degree in Mathematics from Howard University; her second master’s degree from Syracuse University; her third master’s degree in Computer Science from Atlanta University; and her Doctorate degree from Georgia State University. She began her career teaching at Hampton Institute and was later hired by Dr. Benjamin E. Mays to teach at . She is a former Fulbright Fellow to Ghana and Cameroon; she is listed in Who’s Who publications, and is a member of several honor societies including Phi Beta Kappa. She is a member of several professional math and science organizations and is one of the founders of the National Association of Mathematicians. Dr. Walton retired from Morehouse after 42 years of teaching. She has mentored and guided the careers of countless students, who affectionately call her “Mother Walton”. After her retirement, Morehouse honored her by establishing The Annual Harriett J. Walton Symposium on Undergraduate Mathematics Research and The Annual Harriett J. Walton Mathematics Prize. In 2019, Morehouse honored her yet again by hanging her portrait in the Hall of Fame within the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel to acknowledge her remarkable career in education. Dr. Walton is the mother of four children (Renee, Anthony, Jennifer, and Cyrus) and three grandchildren.

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Dr. Alfred Dyonisius Wyatt, Sr. is a distinguished educator and musician who holds degrees from , Naval College of Music, VanderCook College of Music and Atlanta University. Dr. Wyatt was Clark Atlanta’s first band drum major. He was also one of the first African Americans to play with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Band of Atlanta. He later found and became Director of the Metropolitan Atlanta Community Band. For over 30 years, he held several positions with the Atlanta Public School System before retiring from its Area 1 Office as Assistant Superintendent. Dr. Wyatt’s organizations and affiliations include the Metropolitan Atlanta Community Band, Allen Temple A.M.E. Church, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Clark Atlanta University Alumni Association, National Music Educators Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, the Committee for Black Talent Development for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Leadership Atlanta. His awards include Band Leader of the Year from Clark Atlanta University, Omega Man of the Year and Pathway to Excellence Award from Clark College Alumni Association. Dr. Wyatt was married to the late Carolyn Wyatt and has two children, Alfred Jr. and Gina.

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