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.           College officials also unveiled the oil portrait of SGTC President Emeritus Sparky Reeves at the awards dinner in front of his family and foundation supporters. “President Reeves’ portrait will now join the portraits of the other five Presidents of South Georgia Technical College in the President’s Conference room in the Odom Center,” announced new SGTC President Dr. John Watford.   President Emeritus Sparky Reeves, his wife Allene, and his daughter-in-law Jenny along with grandchildren Parker and Will, were on hand for the unveiling.       The South Georgia Technical College Foundation annual Donor Appreciation Dinner utilized the theme of “Exploring Life at South Georgia Tech” and thanked each of the donors who had helped provide key support to the foundation, the college, and its students this past year.       “Thank you for being here tonight,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “Our donors and supporters are the very reason that South Georgia Technical College and our students have been so successful. This is the night that we have the opportunity to thank you for what you mean to our students, our college, and our foundation efforts.”       Dr. Watford also shared that one of the Foundation’s scholarship recipients, Ashley Rodgers from the Marketing Management program, had been named as the 2016 Technical College System of Georgia State GOAL winner recently. “This designation means that she is the ‘best of the best’ of the technical college students in the state of Georgia,” said Dr. Watford. “And each of you played a very significant role in helping her attain this accomplishment. She received the Leonard and Marie Waitsman Marketing Scholarship and then she also received the Sparky and Allene Reeves GOAL scholarship. But she also benefited from the annual donations that helped fund the use of textbooks at no cost for our students, our dorm renovations, and the purchases of equipment. Each of you can be proud of her accomplishments and your involvement with her success,” added Watford.      South Georgia Tech supporters were treated to an excellent dinner planned and prepared by the Culinary Arts students under the direction of Americus Culinary Arts Instructor Ricky Watzlowick and Chef Johnny Davis, the Crisp County Center Culinary Arts Instructor.       Randy Jones, Jr., chairman of the Foundation, highlighted the 2015 accomplishments and financial impact the Foundation has provided the college over the past year. “During this past year, the Foundation provided South Georgia Tech with services valued at approximately $1 million in revenue and provided 166 foundation scholarships to students,” said Jones.       SGTC President Dr. John Watford and Su Ann Bird, Executive Director of the South Georgia Technical College Foundation, presided over the awards ceremony in presenting several awards to those individuals and companies who made substantial contributions to the Foundation during 2015.         The Foundation acknowledged Citizens Bank of Americus and the Waitsman family for their contributions of over $50,000 to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation in life-time giving. Citizens Bank was represented by members of its Board of Directors, Jimmy Buchanan and Joe Hooks. Citizens Bank was also spotlighted for endowing their fourth scholarship and for being a member of the President’s Club for 2015.       Marie Waitsman along with Judge Rick Waitsman and his wife Mindy, were recognized for membership in the Bronze Club as well. The Waitsman family was also touted for endowing eight different scholarships for marketing and criminal justice students which have benefited 25 different individuals. The Waitsman family was a member of the President’s Club for 2015.       Four different individuals, families, or organizations were spotlighted for entering the Scholars Club Level of Giving which requires a contribution of between $10,000 and $50,000 in life time gifts.       Greg and Karen Austin and their sons, Taylor and Andrew were recognized as Scholars Club members along with Helena Industries in Crisp County, Jimmy and Diana Skipper, and President Emeritus Sparky and Allene Reeves. Scott Braswell, Katrina Helms, and Bill Hulett accepted the award for Helena Industries and the Skippers’ and the Reeves’ were on hand to accept their awards as well.       In addition to the life time giving awards, President Watford also identified four groups for endowing scholarships to the foundation in 2015.       Agrium, Inc. was highlighted for endowing their fifth academic scholarship at SGTC. Betty Lee Scott accepted the award on behalf of Agrium. The Waitsman family, Citizens Bank and Lou Crouch were also recognized for endowing scholarships in 2015.       President Watford also drew attention to the ten Caterpillar officials who were present at the banquet and thanked them for their support over the past 15 years. The dealers who were at the banquet included: Chip Handley and Teri Brown of Ring Power in St. Augustine, FL; John Grant, Scott Suttle and Jessica Winters of Thompson Tractor in Birmingham, Alabama; Duane Gabehart of Stowers in Knoxville, Tenn; Philip Welch of Thompson Machinery of Laverge, Tenn.; Teresa Odom of Puckett Machinery in Flowood, Mississippi, and Jim Larson of Yancey Brothers in Austell, GA.   Bob Bacon, who was instrumental in establishing the program and who recently retired from Thompson Tractor in Birmingham, AL, was also present.       In addition to the Caterpillar Foundation, President Watford congratulated several other groups for being members of the President’s Club, which denotes an annual gift of $5000 or more to the SGTC Foundation.       Agrium, Inc., Aramark Services, Charles L. Mix Memorial Foundation, Inc., Citizens Bank of Americus, Cook Industrial Electrical Company, the Crisp County Power Commission, Lou Crouch, Georgia Power, Lasseter Implement, Company, Marvair Division Airxcell, Inc., Mattie Marshall Foundation, Inc., Mrs. Eliza C. Parker, Sumter Electric Membership Corporation Foundation, Two Great Choices, Mrs. Leonard Waitsman, and Yancey Brothers Company were all members of the President’s Club for 2015.       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 who “were supporting life and success” at South Georgia Technical College through their generous giving. 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 the ability to change 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., Ray Rambo, Monica Simmons, Andrea Thomas, Daniel L. Torbert and Rick Whaley.       Decorations for the event were provided by Mrs. Ruth Jones. Raymond Holt, Dean for Academic Affairs at SGTC, provided the invocation for the meal