Georgia 4-H’s annual Green Jacket Award goes to a public official who has shown exceptional support for Georgia’s young people. This year that honor went to Paul Wood, president and CEO of Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (EMC).

Wood accepted his new, verdant blazer and an etched glass award at the 2015 Georgia 4-H State Congress Awards Banquet on Thursday, July 23, amongst dozens of young people and Georgia 4-H staff also there to be honored for their accomplishments.

Georgia 4-H’s state leadership team presents the Green Jacket Award annually to supporters of the Georgia 4-H program. Former winners include Gov. Sonny Perdue, Rep. Terry England, University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby and other public figures.

“Paul Wood has been a friend of 4-H since his arrival in Georgia,” said Georgia 4-H State Leader Arch Smith. “He has supported our program through his service on the Georgia 4-H Foundation board of directors. Under his leadership, the Georgia EMCs have continued to strengthen their legacy as one of Georgia 4-H's best supporters. Georgia 4-H has no better friend than Paul Wood, and he is most deserving of the Georgia 4-H Green Jacket Award.”

Wood, who spearheads Georgia EMC support of Georgia 4-H, has been one of the group’s most important supporters for decades.

“This is an incredible honor for me, particularly when you look at the past recipients of this award, which includes governors, business people and legislative leaders,” Wood said. “I am fortunate to work for the EMCs of Georgia, which have always been strong advocates of 4-H in our state. Georgia undoubtedly has the premier 4-H program in the United States, and it has been my privilege to support it.”

Georgia 4-H is a program of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and delivered to Georgia’s children through local UGA Extension offices across the state.

For more about the Georgia 4-H program, visit Georgia4H.org.