Rotary Club Honors Community Leaders For Professional Excellence

Press release from CCSD:

Feb. 2, 2023

The Rotary Club of Canton today honored two community leaders with top awards for professional excellence.

The Robert S. (Bob) Stubbs II Guardian of Ethics Award was presented to Cherokee County School Board member Dr. Susan Padgett-Harrison, and the W. Lee Arrendale Vocational Excellence Award was presented to Cherokee County Acting District Attorney Susan Treadaway. Both now advance for consideration for the regional awards presented by Rotary District 6910.

“Recognizing leaders who have shown exemplary service through their vocation is one of our most important programs each year,” Club President Nicole Lawson said. “Rotary’s motto is ‘Service Above Self,’ and both of these honorees have lived up to it through their professional careers as well as in their service to the community. We’re honored to count them as club members and even more honored to celebrate them with these well-deserved awards today.”

A full house of Rotarians and special guests attended the awards luncheon held at the Cherokee Conference Center at The Bluffs.

A career prosecutor, Ms. Treadaway this week took office as acting district attorney following the appointment of Shannon Wallace to a superior court judgeship. She rejoined the Cherokee office in 2019 after leaving to serve in the Cobb office as an assistant district attorney for 11 years including as chief assistant district attorney.

Ms. Treadaway has earned numerous awards during her career at the local circuit and state level and is renowned nationally for her expertise in prosecuting human trafficking and racketeering. She also is a mom to two and an active Rotarian, serving as chair for community service.

“She has devoted her life to seeking justice,” Judge Wallace said in her letter of support. “She is laser focused on seeking justice for the most vulnerable in our community.”

Ms. Treadaway, who was joined at the surprise award presentation by Judge Wallace, colleagues from the Cherokee County judicial system and GBI, and her mom, said she was “overwhelmed with gratitude” for the honor.

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said in her remarks, which praised the club for the community service and fellowship opportunities it has offered her. “It is a tremendous honor to receive this award.”

A career educator, Dr. Susan Padgett-Harrison this month took office for a four-year term on the Cherokee County School Board following her election in November. She served as an educator with the Cherokee County School District for 30 years in roles including teacher, assistant principal, Cherokee High School principal and district curriculum supervisor and assessment director. An adjunct Kennesaw State University professor and longtime community volunteer, she and her late husband, David Harrison, raised three children and have 12 grandchildren.

Dr. Padgett-Harrison has earned numerous honors including being named one of the nation’s top social studies teachers, the Blue Ridge Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award and professor of the year and distinguished alumni awards from KSU.

“The ethics she models in everything she does have influenced thousands of students over her career, as well as hundreds of colleagues,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said in his letter of support. “She is a leader of great integrity, who always can be relied upon to meet and exceed expectations.”

Dr. Padgett-Harrison, who was joined at the event by her family and Dr. Hightower, School Board Chair Kyla Cromer and other CCSD leaders, used her remarks as her friends would expect her to: as a teachable moment. She spoke about the late Col. Stubbs, a longtime friend, and their work together to start what is now the Cherokee Family Violence Center. She also emphasized there is still work to be done – like what she sees Ms. Treadaway do daily – to help the vulnerable.

“I thank you very much for this,” she said of the award. “I do appreciate this and I’m grateful for what our community has become.”

The Rotary Club of Canton meets weekly for a luncheon program, and residents interested in joining the club are invited to visit. The club meets at noon on Tuesdays at the Cherokee Conference Center at The Bluffs. For more information, visit http://www.therotaryclubofcantonga.org/.

This press release was produced by CCSD. The views expressed here are the author's own.