The John F. Beard Award

What is it?

The John F. Beard Award is intended to honor the highest ideals and achievements in compassionate health care service to Wellstar MCG Health, to foster and encourage habits of compassion and kindness, and to identify someone who has unselfishly given to patients, patients' families, and demonstrated compassion in the Augusta University/Wellstar MCG Health community.

Who is eligible?

The $40,000 award is designed for graduating students during the academic year, in either the fall or spring semester, from the College of Allied Health Sciences, Medical College of Georgia, College of Nursing, The Graduate School, and post-baccalaureate students enrolled thereof. See criteria for additional guidelines.

 

This award is funded by Mr. and Mrs. William Porter "Billy" Payne. It memorializes Martha Payne's father and honors Augusta University President Emeritus Francis J. Tedesco and Dr. Mark F. Williams.

Students, faculty, and academic or hospital departments may nominate. Nomination forms should be used although nominators are encouraged to provide supplemental materials. A thorough nomination enhances the review of a candidate's merits. The Beard Award selection committee will consider each student nominated.

Want to nominate a student?

Nominations Due January 16, 2026

Nomination Form

Criteria for Nomination

The John F. Beard Award will be given to a graduating student who is considered to have performed significant, meritorious, and compassionate service to Wellstar MCG Health patients, patients' families, or the Augusta University/Wellstar MCG Health community without expectation of recognition or reward. The academic record of the nominees will not be considered.

An Institutional Selection Committee will be appointed by the Faculty Senate using the following criteria:

  1. The AUFS Vice Chair, who will serve as Beard Award Institutional Committee Chair, and the AUFS Secretary.
  2. One faculty member each representing the College of Allied Health Sciences, Medical College of Georgia, and College of Nursing. These members should be faculty with clinical experience who are involved with juniors and seniors.

Duties of the Institutional Selection Committee:

  1. Ensure nominating agencies/individuals are reminded of deadlines and policies.
  2. Work with the College of Allied Health Sciences, Medical College of Georgia and College of Nursing award committees. Nominees submitted each year will be distributed to these committees for semifinal selection.
  3. Select the winning semifinalists.

Individual College Beard Award Nomination Committees, within the College of Allied Health Sciences, Medical College of Georgia and College of Nursing:

  1. Will select semifinalists and pass their names and files to the Institutional Selection Committee.

Duties of the College Beard Award Nomination Committees:

  1. Receive nominations. Nominations will be solicited from the respective senior classes (CAHS, MCG, CON). Senior students will be asked to list their three most compassionate classmates. The top 2 nominees will be considered for selection as semifinalists.
  2. Solicit supplemental information from hospital staff, patients, patients' family members, faculty members, etc.
  3. Ensure the semifinalists' recommendation packages for students are in order.