FPD Proudly Announces the 2026 Alumni Award Winners

First Presbyterian Day School is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Alumni Awards, honoring members of the FPD community whose lives reflect a lasting commitment to leadership, service, and the values of Viking Nation.

FPD recognizes outstanding members of its alumni community with the Distinguished Alumni Award and Service Award. These annual honors celebrate individuals whose accomplishments, character, and contributions have made a meaningful impact at FPD and beyond.

Meet the 2026 award recipients and learn more about the legacies they continue to build through lives of purpose and service.

2026 Distinguished Alumni Winner: Lauren Lanter, ‘01

Lauren Nations Lanter (‘01) serves as Co-CEO of B&D Industrial, a family and employee-owned company headquartered in Macon, Georgia. B&D helps manufacturers improve reliability and productivity through industrial products, repair services, gear manufacturing, engineering, and automation.  Lauren joined B&D in February 2008 and represents the third generation of her family to lead the company, which was founded by her grandfather in 1947. His vision was to build a successful business while creating a place where employees could build meaningful careers—a legacy that continues to shape Lauren’s leadership today.

As Co-CEO, Lauren helps guide B&D’s strategic direction, financial stewardship, and long-term growth. She is passionate about developing people, creating opportunities for employees to grow, and building a culture in which B&D is a trusted partner to its customers, employees, and communities.

A proud graduate of First Presbyterian Day School, Lauren credits FPD with providing the foundation of faith, character, and leadership that continues to guide her personally and professionally. Today, she remains closely connected to FPD as a parent. Her daughter, Ann Rhodes, is a fourth-grade student at FPD, and her son, Sheftall, is in seventh grade at Monroe Middle School.

Lauren has been married to Sheftall Lanter since 2010, and their family has called Macon home since 2013. She is deeply committed to serving and strengthening the community in which she and her family live.

2026 Service Award Winner: The Classes of 1975 & 1976

In recognition of their lasting impact and their historic 50th reunion, the FPD Classes of 1975 and 1976 are deserving recipients of the FPD Service Award. As pioneers of the FPD experience, these students helped establish the traditions, values, and spirit that continue to define the school today. The Class of 1975, consisting of 33 graduates, blazed the trail as the inaugural graduating class, embracing the challenges and opportunities of a young institution with vision, determination, and school pride.

Following closely behind, the Class of 1976 built upon that foundation with a graduating class of 55 students. Together, these two classes represented the beginning of a legacy that has grown and  flourished over the decades. They set the standard for academic achievement, leadership, service, and community involvement, demonstrating what it meant to be an FPD graduate
long before the school’s traditions were firmly established.

The Classes of 1975 and 1976 have played an important role in FPD’s history, leaving a lasting legacy. Their commitment, support, and dedication helped shape the culture and character of the school during its formative years. As the first graduates to carry the FPD name into the world, they remain an enduring source of pride and inspiration, leaving a legacy that continues to influence generations of students who have followed in their footsteps.