Award Recipient
Dr. Royrickers Cook Endowed Engagement Award
Presented annually to one faculty or staff member who has shown an ongoing and purposeful commitment to implementing outreach. This award is intended to honor one recipient who understands civic and community engagement, interpersonal relationships, and serving the less fortunate.
Portia Johnson, assistant professor and Extension specialist in Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Royrickers Cook Endowed Engagement Award for her transformative work in financial literacy and college access.
Johnson created and expanded the Alabama FAST (FAFSA Application Survival Toolkit) program, which has helped thousands of families navigate financial aid and higher education planning. A first-generation college graduate, she launched ALFAST in 2022, drawing on her expertise in consumer behavior and analytics. The program includes a 16-page student guide, educator resources, and a 1.5-hour curriculum. Since its inception, ALFAST has reached more than 10,000 students and parents through workshops and is now implemented in 90 high schools statewide.
Her efforts have contributed to Alabama’s dramatic rise in FAFSA completion rates—from 34th to 9th nationally—with significant impact in underserved communities. Johnson also developed the ALFAST Career Explorer, connecting students to high-demand career pathways.
Johnson and her team have earned multiple national honors for their work. “Helping families make informed financial decisions and access higher education is not just my job—it’s my mission,” she said.
