Susan Percy
Awards, Honors
Susan’s work has been honored by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), The Alliance of Area Business Publications (AABP), the Magazine Association of the Southeast (MAGS), the Georgia Magazine Association, The Atlanta Press Club, and others.
2023
2023 Grady Fellowship Induction
Susan was inducted into the Grady Fellowship at her alma mater, the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. It is an honor given to individuals whose work has brought credit to the college.
2022
2022 SPJ Green Eyeshade Gold Award for Serious Commentary for Magazines
Susan shared an award given to Georgia Trend magazine for a selection of columns that addressed the topic, “Protecting People and Their Rights.” Her columns covered voting rights, COVID vaccinations and public health, and the January 2021 Capitol insurrection.
2021
SPJ Green Eyeshade Public Service Gold Award for Magazines
Susan’s work, including feature stories on rural hospitals, changes in healthcare, and how Georgia’s research industry helped develop COVID vaccines, was included in the winning package of stories on the effects on COVID-19 on the state and its economy.
2018
Silver Award, AABP, “Best Bylined Commentary” for monthly “Business Casual” columns (published in 2017) in Georgia Trend Magazine.
The judges commented: “Percy’s not afraid to cover touchy subjects, here gun safety and political divisiveness, in her columns. She takes strong stands, but address[es] her readers in a non-threatening way to drive her points home.”
2017
First Place, AABP, “Best Bylined Commentary” for monthly “Business Casual” columns (published in 2016) in Georgia Trend Magazine.
The judges commented: “Ms. Percy’s columns consistently grapple with difficult political and economic issues – religious discrimination, sexual harassment, education and health care – in a personal and accessible way. She’s a fearless writer to whom the Georgia business community no doubt pays attention.”
First Place, SPJ Green Eyeshade Award, “Serious Commentary – Magazines,” for a selection of “Business Casual” columns.
2016
First Place, AABP, “Best Bylined Commentary” for monthly “Business Casual” columns (published in 2015) in Georgia Trend Magazine.
The judges commented: “As its name suggests, ‘Business Casual’ explores important societal and business matters with a conversational style that makes it easy to read and accessible. Ms. Percy is unafraid to take on topics such as race that stir readers’ emotions and challenge them to think hard about their perspectives.”
Second Place, AABP, “Best Small Magazine Feature Story,” for “Eat, Drink, Enjoy,” on Georgia’s restaurant industry, in the March 2015 Georgia Trend.
The judges commented: “By focusing on the business of restaurants, this feature provides a fresh and interesting take on the food industry. It examines how restaurants have changed, looks to the future and explains why the industry is so vital to local economies.”
Second Place, SPJ Green Eyeshade Award, “Best Serious Commentary – Magazines” for a selection of “Business Casual” columns in Georgia Trend.
2015
Best of Magazine Division, SPJ Green Eyeshade Award for winning entries in feature-writing.
First Place, SPJ Green Eyeshade Award, “Best Magazine Feature-Writing,” for Georgia Trend Magazine stories on Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, “Mayor of Georgia,” January 2014 issue; South Georgia organic farmer Will Harris, “A Kinder, Gentler Agriculture,” May 2014 issue; and the Atlanta BeltLine, “Unbroken Circle,” December 2014 issue.
First Place, SPJ Green Eyeshade Award, “Best Serious Commentary – Magazines” for a selection of “Business Casual” columns in Georgia Trend, including “The Bullies’ Pulpit,” May 2014; “Battle Lines, Punchlines,” July 2014; and “The Ethics Beat Goes On,” December 2014.
Silver Award, AABP, “Best Body of Work, Single Writer,” for feature stories published in Georgia Trend.
The judges commented: “Susan Percy, who writes authoritatively, provides her readers with context, scope and background vital to the understanding of her stories. She brings to life stories of Atlanta’s mayor with big goals, a successful organic farmer from southwest Georgia, and a massive project to create what will be known as Atlanta’s BeltLine.”
2013
Finalist, Atlanta Press Club “Commentary” Award for “Business Casual” columns in Georgia Trend.
Third Place, SPJ, “Best Serious Commentary,” for “Business Casual” columns in Georgia Trend.
2010
Gold Award, MAGS, “Best Column,” for “Business Casual” columns in Georgia Trend.
2008
Magazine Association of the Southeast Hall of Fame inductee for contributions to magazine journalism.
First Place, SPJ Green Eyeshade Award, “Best Humorous Column” for “Business Casual” columns in Georgia Trend.
Earlier recognition includes awards from the Magazine Association of Georgia (now MAGS) for commentary and the Louisiana Press Association for feature writing and public service.
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