AUGUSTA, Ga. – Georgia Regents University Athletics has announced plans to rename their female and male student-athlete of the year awards to the Fred Barnabei female and male student-athlete of the year award. The awards, along with numerous others, are given out at the William S. Sherrill Athletics Awards Banquet towards the end of the academic school year.
“Fred’s entire professional career in higher education was dedicated to student life,” GRU Augusta Director of Athletics Clint Bryant said. “He always held a special place in his heart for student-athletes and played a pivotal role in defining what has become GRU Athletics through his years of service to both Augusta College and Augusta State. We find it only appropriate to attach his name to these athletic awards highlighting the accomplishments of our female and male student-athlete of the year.”
Barnabei was born in Steubenville, Ohio and grew up in Weirton, West Va. He graduated from Madonna High School and received his bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the University of Tennessee receiving his master’s and doctoral degrees in educational psychology. Barnabei served as Lieutenant in the United States Navy and was stationed on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Oriskany in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War.
Barnabei moved to Augusta, Ga., and began working with the univerisyt in 1988. He was named Vice President for Student Services at Augusta State University. He retired from ASU in 2005 as Vice President for Business and Student Services.