The Foundation at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) awarded nearly $44,000 in grants and scholarships for fall semester 2024.

Each scholarship included an award between $500 and $1,000 to assist in paying for fall semester at GNTC. Sixty-six grants and scholarships totaling $43,850 were awarded to 59 students.

“These students represent the best of the best at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, and we applaud them for their excellence,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. “We are also deeply grateful for the generous donors who make this support possible.”

The GNTC Adult Education Scholarship is available to GNTC Adult Education graduates who plan to attend GNTC to help them to meet their educational goals. The scholarship has been awarded to Marquita Conner, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; Tramorius Dean, Industrial Systems Technology, Floyd County Campus; Kristy Fulton, Surgical Technology, Walker County Campus; Greenlee Holcombe, Cosmetology, Floyd County Campus; Isaac McDonald, Computer Support Specialist, Whitfield Murray Campus; Jessica Peek, Cosmetology, Floyd County Campus; Ashley Weaver, Accounting, Walker County Campus; and Marium Williams, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus.

The recipients of the First Generation Scholarship are Michael Cruz, Respiratory Care, Floyd County Campus; and Ashley Stuart, Business Management, Gordon County Campus. This scholarship is open to first-generation students working toward a degree, diploma or certificate; a first-generation student is defined as a student whose parent(s) and or legal guardian(s) have not completed college.

The GNTC Foundation Scholarship is for outstanding students with financial need who are enrolled in any program of study leading to a degree, diploma or certificate. GNTC Foundation Scholarships have been awarded to Jacob Beeman, Aviation Maintenance Technician, Floyd County Campus; Diego Cordon, Automotive Technology, Floyd County Campus; Ashley Ewton, Health Care Management, Walker County Campus; Kaidus Fonseca, Drafting Technology, Floyd County Campus; Stormy Fowler, Health Care Management, Gordon County Campus; Austin Hightower, Auto Collision Technology, Floyd County Campus; Emily Lopez-Segura, Accelerated Phlebotomy Technician, Floyd County Campus; KaCee Love, Health Information Coding, Walker County Campus; Dillon Meldrim, Aviation Maintenance Technician, Floyd County Campus; Tiffany Neal, Health Care Assistant, Floyd County Campus; Tya Owens, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; William Sullivan, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; Raymond Temples, Aviation Maintenance Technician, Floyd County Campus; and Sarah Worthington, Health Care Management, Walker County Campus.

The GNTC Foundation has awarded Success Grants to Tammy Chandler, Computer Support Specialist, Walker County Campus; Nicholas Evans, Industrial Systems Technology, Floyd County Campus; Kendahl Gilreath, Surgical Technology, Walker County Campus; Isabel Gonzalez, Welding and Joining Technology, Whitfield Murray Campus; Cassara Kummer, Health Care Management, Walker County Campus; Isaac McDonald, Computer Support Specialist, Whitfield Murray Campus; Ronaldo Ramirez, Industrial Systems Technology, Floyd County Campus; Brandi Ray, Cybersecurity, Floyd County Campus; Griselda Salaices, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Floyd County Campus; and Terry Vines, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus.

Owens, Sullivan, Temples and Vines have also received the Live4It Alliant Scholarship. Other recipients of the scholarship are Amber Brown, Surgical Technology, Whitfield Murray Campus; Darryn Colson, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus; Okema Fields, Phlebotomy Technician, Gordon County Campus; Maureen Irvin, Business Healthcare Technology, Walker County Campus; Lauren Lawson, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; and Julia Perez, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus. The scholarship was established in 2023 to support students with financial need who are also well-rounded individuals contributing to their community and engaged in The Guiding Key Concepts of Live4It.

Irvin is also the recipient of the Judy Hodge Memorial Scholarship. Hodge was a faculty member in GNTC’s Business Technology program for more than 45 years. Established by Beta Sigma Phi in Hodge’s honor, the scholarship is open to Business Technology degree students with financial need, with priority given to those at the Walker County Campus.

The recipients of the Governor Nathan Deal Technical Education Scholarship are Conner Haynes, Angel Ramirez and Parker Shepherd--all of whom are Welding and Joining Technology students at GNTC’s Whitfield Murray Campus. The scholarship was established by the Carpet and Rug Institute to reward academic excellence and provide financial support for GNTC students at the Whitfield Murray Campus completing a degree, diploma or certificate in an industrial program.

Brett Bradley, Precision Machining and Manufacturing, Floyd County Campus; Delores Turner, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Technology, Floyd County Campus; Jason Ward, Precision Machining and Manufacturing, Whitfield Murray Campus; and Mayahuel Yaoapoqa, Precision Machining and Manufacturing, Floyd County Campus, have been awarded the Gene Haas Scholarship. This scholarship rewards academic excellence and provides financial support for students working toward a degree, diploma or certificate in the Precision Machining and Manufacturing program and related fields on the Floyd County Campus and the Whitfield Murray Campus.

Jake Patterson, Diesel Equipment Technology, Whitfield Murray Campus, has received the Diesel Equipment Technology Scholarship, which rewards academic excellence and provides financial support for students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate in the Diesel Equipment Technology program on the Whitfield Murray Campus.

The Kerry Scholarship was established by Kerry Food Coatings to support students in the Industrial Systems Technology or Instrumentation and Controls Technician degree or diploma programs. Artemio Zavala, Instrumentation and Controls Technology, Floyd County Campus, has been awarded this scholarship.

Nathaniel Budde, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus, has received the Kitty Felker Memorial Scholarship. Established by Octavio Perez, this scholarship honors the legacy of Kitty Felker and provides financial support to students enrolled in any credit program.

The Rome Home Builders Association Scholarship rewards academic excellence and provides financial support for students working toward a degree, diploma or certificate in residential construction-related programs, including Air Conditioning Technology, Construction Management, Electrical Systems Technology, Horticulture and Lawn Maintenance on the Floyd, Gordon and Polk County Campuses. Josue Lopez, Construction Management, Gordon County Campus, has received this scholarship, as well as the Gordon County Campus Scholarship, which recognizes excellence in students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate on the Gordon County campus.

Brittany Bingiel, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Professions, Gordon County Campus, has been awarded the Public Safety Scholarship, which was established to support students with financial need who are enrolled in public safety programs, such as Basic POST Certification, Criminal Justice, EMS programs, Paramedicine and other related first responder programs.

Mayvelline De La Rosa, Respiratory Care, Floyd County Campus, is recipient of the B.J. Pharr Scholarship. This scholarship was established to reward academic excellence and provide financial assistance for full-time students working toward a degree in the Respiratory Care program on the Floyd County Campus.

Maritza Nunez, Health Care Assistant, Floyd County Campus, has received the Judge Dan Peace Winn Scholarship. Established by the family of the late judge, this scholarship is open to Polk County residents or those with a connection to Polk County, who are completing a degree, diploma or certificate.

Kiara Griffin, Health Care Assistant, Floyd County Campus; Gary Harrell, Cybersecurity, Floyd County Campus; and Travis Pruitt, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus, have received the Vernon and Gaynelle Grizzard Scholarship, which provides educational assistance to the children and grandchildren of Southeastern Mills or Grain Craft employees.

The recipient of the Registered Nurse Scholarship is Bailey Norris, Nursing, Walker County Campus. This award provides financial support for outstanding students enrolled in the in the Associate of Science in Nursing program.

The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market Scholarship was established to provide financial support to incoming high school students and first-year GNTC students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate. Scholarship applicants must be planning a career related to farming, gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design or horticulture. The scholarship has been awarded to Dana Jenkins and Shelby Madden. Both are Horticulture students at GNTC’s Floyd County Campus.

The GNTC Foundation Trustees are Valerie Brown, Whitfield County; Phillip Burkhalter, Floyd County; Linda Case, Dade County; Steven M. Henry, Catoosa County; Luther Ingram, Walker County; Amy L. Jackson, Catoosa County; Terri Kirby, Whitfield County; Jay LeGrande, Polk County; Craig McDaniel, Floyd County; Zab Mendez, Whitfield County; Sherrie Patterson, Murray County; Damon Raines, Walker County; Becky Redd, Gordon County; and Doris White, Walker County.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 12,241 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,031 students and an additional enrollment of 4,210 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. GNTC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, as set forth in its student catalog, GNTC complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed or religion, national or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran or military status, marital status or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). Equity Coordinator, Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 and ADA Coordinator: Brittany Elrod.