Alabama lead singer Randy Owen, a JSU trustee, recently made a "goodwill ambassador" trip to Washington, DC, with President Bill Meehan and JSU's Pete Conroy to drop in on friends and see about finding new grants and funds for the University. One of their stops included a visit to see Patty Hobbs, the U. S. Department of Education's director of internal communications. Ms. Hobbs was chosen by the Alumni Association as the Outstanding Alumna of the Year for 2002.