Six former student-athletes have been named to the UGA’s ’40 Under 40′ Class of 2017. The ’40 Under 40′ program began in 2011 and recognizes outstanding young alumni annually, celebrating the personal, professional and philanthropic achievements of UGA graduates who are under the age of 40.

 
This group of six honorees includes:
 
 
Rebecca (Wilson) Filson
Swimming & Diving (2000)
B.S. Ed. 2005
Roswell, Ga.
Regional Vice President of Operations
BenchMark Rehab Partners
 
 
Dr. Lauren (Ledbetter) Griffeth
Cheerleading (2001)
BSA ’05/M. Ed ’08/Ph.D. ’13
Athens, Ga.
Director of Leadership Programs in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UGA
 
 
Katie (Foley) Jacobs
Equestrian (2005-06)
ABJ ’05, Athens, Ga.
Founder & Owner, Cheeky Peach Boutique
 
 
Jonas Jennings
Football (1997-2000)
B.S. Ed. 2000, Athens, Ga.
Director of Player Development for UGA Football
President of JJ 75 Properties, LLC
 
 
Maritza (Coreia) McClendon
Swimming & Diving (2000-03)
AB ’05, Atlanta, Ga.
Senior Brand Marketing Manager, Carter’s/OshKosh B’gosh
 
 
Maria Taylor
Volleyball (2005-08)/Women’s Basketball (2007)
ABJ ’09/MBA ’13
Charlotte, N.C.
Broadcaster, ESPN
 
 
The honorees will be recognized during the seventh annual 40 Under 40 Awards Luncheon on Sept. 14 at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead. Another former UGA student-athlete, Ernie Johnson, Jr., will serve as the keynote speaker for the event. Johnson is co-host on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” and is the lead announcer for “Major League Baseball on TBS.” He delivered UGA’s 2017 undergraduate Commencement address in May.
 
 
Nominations for 40 Under 40 were open from February to April, and nearly 400 alumni were nominated for this year’s class. The 2016 group included four former UGA football players: Thomas Davis, Steve Herndon, Ben Watson and Will Weatherspoon.