Southwestern University presented its 2007 College Town Award to the Downtown Georgetown Association Feb. 17 for the association’s efforts to enhance the “college town” environment in Georgetown.

The award was created in 2006 to recognize citizens, organizations or businesses that have worked to make Georgetown seem more like a college town. The award was renamed this year in honor of Martha Diaz Hurtado, a longtime Southwestern employee who retired last year. Hurtado worked in Georgetown before she came to work at Southwestern.

“No one is as well known in Georgetown and at Southwestern University than Martha,” said Southwestern University President Jake B. Schrum.

Three current and past presidents of DGA accepted the award at a ceremony held during halftime of the men’s basketball game featuring Southwestern versus Hendrix College.

“The Downtown Georgetown Association – especially over the past five years – has made significant strides to create a college town atmosphere in Georgetown,” Schrum said. As examples of this, he cited the creation of a DGA-Southwestern task force and the “Pirates of the Square-ibbean” event the DGA sponsored in September 2004.