Professor honored for his mentoring work

A University of Georgia College of Education professor was recently honored for his work with youth.

Deryl Bailey, an associate professor and admissions coordinator in the Department of Counseling and Human Development Services, was given the "Liberty Bell" award last month by Athens-area lawyers and judges of the Western Circuit Bar Association. Bailey is founder and executive director of Empowered Youth Programs, which teaches children and young adults skills to be successful in college and in life.

Bailey founded the organization as a guidance counselor in Asheville, North Carolina, then took the organization with him to graduate school at the University of Virginia and later to Athens, when he became a faculty member at the College of Education in 1989.

The organization originally started to help young African-American men but has since grown to include young women and anyone of any race, ethnic group or income level. About 60 children and young adults now attend the organization's Saturday meetings.

For the full story, see the Athens Banner-Herald website.