SGTC Foundation hosts Donor Appreciation Dinner
Americus, GA – The South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Foundation paid tribute to over 200 of its foundation supporters at its annual Donor Appreciation Dinner in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the South Georgia Technical College campus recently.
South Georgia Technical College has been celebrating success for over 75 years and the entire night was dedicated to thanking donors who have provided key support to the foundation, the college, and its students.
“Thank you for being here tonight,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “And thank you for supporting our students. Your support is a tremendous asset. We have been told many times, that we have the best community support of any technical college in Georgia. Your involvement makes a huge difference in the lives of our students and this community.”
South Georgia Tech supporters were treated to a prime rib dinner and deserts planned and prepared by the Culinary Arts students under the direction of Americus Culinary Arts Instructor Ricky Watzlowick and Crisp County Culinary Arts Instructor Johnny Davis.
After the students served the dinner, Dr. Watford called on Foundation Chair Bill Harris to highlight the 2023 accomplishments and financial impact of the SGTC Foundation to the college and its students. “During this past year, the Foundation provided South Georgia Tech with services valued at approximately $1.4 million in revenue and services for the college and its students. That included money for textbooks at no costs to all students, scholarships, equipment, and more. The Foundation provided 891 foundation scholarships to students and eight new endowed scholarships were established,” said Harris.
Following that recognition of accomplishments President Watford and Su Ann Bird presided over the awards ceremony in presenting awards to those individuals and companies who made substantial contributions to the Foundation during 2023.
The Foundation acknowledged Citizens Bank of Americus for moving up to the Silver Club level with contributions of between $100,000 and $500,000 to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation in life-time giving. Citizens Bank of Americus President Rick Whaley and Board of Director members Russell Thomas, Jr. and Joe Hooks also accepted on behalf of the bank.
Three more groups were spotlighted for advancing to the Bronze Club level with lifetime gifts of between $50,000 and $100,000. The three organizations that received this honor and recognition were: Judge and Mrs. George Peagler, Puckett Machinery and Jack Walton Stanley. Stacy Webb, Director of Technical Training accepted the award for Puckett Machinery from Flowood, Mississippi. Puckett has been contributing to the SGTC Foundation since 2006.
Four different groups reached the Scholars Club level in 2023 for lifetime gifts of between $10,000 and $50,000. These four groups included: Clarence and Edna Laster, Britt and Kelly Cochran Bazemore, Jack Miller and Mr. and Mrs. Bud Scannavino.
After recognizing the individuals and organizations for their lifetime giving, Dr. Watford and Su Ann Bird highlighted the groups that had endowed scholarships in 2023.
John and Alice Agro were recognized for their dedication to the Foundation through service to the SGTC Foundation Board of Trustees as well as the establishment of a John and Alice Argo Aviation Maintenance Technology Scholarship and for being a member of the President’s Club for 2023.
Citizens Bank, Dan Linginfelter, Lou Crouch, Sharad and Ila Patel, Jack Walton Stanley, the Smarr and Smith Foundation, and Sumter EMC were also recognized for endowing scholarships in 2023. Each of them were also recognized for being members of the President’s Club.
President Watford also drew attention to the 16 Caterpillar officials who were present at the banquet and thanked them for their support. The dealers who were at the banquet included: Chip Handley of Ring Power in St. Augustine, FL; Will Ream, Kim Hogan and Stephanie Fields from Yancey Brothers, Stacy Webb from Puckett, Brad Manis and Kevin Human from Stowers, Luke Wachter, Sony Sheree, Taylor Campbell, Matt Weissgerber and Bob Bacon from Thompson Tractor and Irv Sharp and Thomas Truitt from Carolina CAT.
In addition to the Caterpillar Foundation, President Watford congratulated 34 groups for being members of the President’s Club, which denotes an annual gift of $5000 or more to the SGTC Foundation.
Aramark, Mr. and Mrs. John Argo, Jr., Briggs & Stratton, Mrs. James R. Buchanan, Jr., Caterpillar Foundation, Charles L. Mix Memorial Fund, Inc, Citizens Bank, Cooper Lighting, Crisp County Power Commission, Lou Crouch, Joe Daniel, Charles Eames, Exergen Corporation, Fisher Crum Foundation, Inc., Gene Haas Foundation, Georgia Power Foundation, Inc., International Paper, John Deere U.S., Hank & Sandy Lingenfelter, the Mattie Marshall Foundation, Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parks, Mr. and Mrs. Sharad Patel, Judge and Mrs. George Peagler, Red Beauty, Inc, Mr. and Mrs. Bud Scannavino, Smarr & Smith Foundation, Inc., Jack W. Stanley, Sumter Electric Membership Corporation, TCSG Foundation, The Charlie & Eugenia Smith Family Foundation, Thompson Foundation, James Vaughn and Yancey Bros. Co., were all members of the President’s Club for 2023.
Following the presentation of the awards, Su Ann Bird, Executive Director of the Foundation and Vice President of Institutional Advancement for the college, expressed her appreciation to each of the donors for planting the seeds that are returning bountiful harvests for students and this community through their generous giving to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation.
She also thanked the Board of Trustees for volunteering their time to serve as SGTC advocates and for their financial commitment to SGTC. “Every time you give to the Foundation, you are contributing to the success of our students and changing lives,” commented Bird. “I hope you will continue to invest in the future of South Georgia Technical College and the students we serve.”
Current members of the SGTC Foundation Board of Trustees are: Randy Jones, William B. Dupree, Sharad Patel, John T. Argo, Greg Austin, Michael A. Cheokas, Michael J. Donnelly, Ben Dupree, Jon Coogle, William S. Harris, Sr., Joe Hooks, Joy Nelson, Willie J. Patrick, Judge George M. Peagler, Jr., Monica Simmons, Daniel L. Torbert and Rick Whaley.
