SGTC Foundation hosts Donor Appreciation Dinner

(Americus, GA) – The South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Foundation paid tribute to approximately 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.
The South Georgia Technical College Foundation annual Donor Appreciation Dinner utilized the theme of “Supporting Success 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. It is our honor and privilege to recognize each of you tonight and thank you for what you mean to our students, our college, and our foundation efforts. The college’s theme this past year was ‘Making it Happen.’ The ‘it’ in that phrase took on a lot of different connotations. Tonight the ‘it’ was the financial support you provided to allow over 300 students to continue their education through scholarships. ‘It’ could have been your donation that helped purchase textbooks for our students to use at no cost. Or ‘it’ could have been the new equipment you helped purchase to allow the students to train on the latest industry standard tools. To us, you are the ones who have made ‘it’ happen and we appreciate each of you.”
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.
William “Ben” Dupree, chairman of the Foundation, highlighted the 2016 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 $1.1 million in revenue and provided 316 foundation scholarships to students,” said Dupree. He also recognized immediate past Chairman Randy Jones for his work with the foundation during the 2016 year.
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 2016.
The Foundation acknowledged the Mattie Marshall Foundation, the Thompson Foundation, and Sabal Trail Transmission, Inc. for their lifetime contributions of over $50,000 to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation. George Peagler accepted the Arch award for the Marshall Foundation, John Grant and Jason Long from Thompson Tractor received the recognition for their organization and Maureen Cyr was presented with the Sabal Trail award. All three of these organizations were also members of the 2016 President’s Club.
Mike and Janice Baldwin and the John Deere organization 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. John Deere also received the 2016 President’s Club award.
In addition to the life time giving awards, President Watford also identified four groups for endowing scholarships to the foundation in 2016. Agrium, Inc., the Andy Jackson family, Citizens Bank, and the Waitsman family were all recognized for endowing scholarships.
Agrium, Inc. was highlighted for endowing their sixth academic scholarship at SGTC. Ron Henderson and Betty Lee Scott accepted the award on behalf of Agrium. Brenda Jackson Gilliam and Larry and Carol Jackson accepted a framed scholarship plaque in recognition of the Andy Jackson Welding Scholarship. Citizens Bank President Rick Whaley, Sybil Smith, and members of the bank’s board of directors were on hand to accept their framed certificate. The Board of Directors present were: Dr. Lou Riccardi, George Peagler, Joe Hooks, and Russell Thomas, Jr. This was their fifth endowed scholarship.
The Waitsman family was also honored for their ninth endowed scholarship. Marie Waitsman and her daughter and son-in-law, Shirlee and Jim Wadsworth were recognized. The Waitsman’s, Agrium, and Citizens Bank were all members of the 2016 President’s Club.
President Watford also drew attention to the Caterpillar officials who were present at the banquet and thanked them for their support over the past 16 years. The dealers who were at the banquet included: Teri Brown of Ring Power in St. Augustine, FL; John Grant and Jason Long of Thompson Tractor in Birmingham, Alabama; Duane Gabehart of Stowers in Knoxville, Tenn; and Jeff Cornwell of Yancey in Atlanta.
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 $5,000 or more to the SGTC Foundation.
Agrium, Inc., Aramark Services, Charles L. Mix Memorial Foundation, Inc., Citizens Bank of Americus, the Crisp County Power Commission, Lou Crouch, Dooly County Sheriff’s Department, Georgia Power, John Deere, Mattie Marshall Foundation, Inc., Metro Power, Mrs. Eliza C. Parker, Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC, Sumter Electric Membership Corporation Foundation, Two Great Choices, Mrs. Leonard Waitsman, and Yancey Brothers Company were all members of the President’s Club for 2016.
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: William B. Dupree, Sharad Patel, John T. Argo, Randy Jones, Jr., Greg Austin, Michael A. Cheokas, Michael J. Donnelly, Jon Coogle, William S. Harris, Sr., Joe Hooks, Joy Nelson, Willie J. Patrick, Judge George M. Peagler, Jr., 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.