GNTC Foundation awards spring 2024 scholarships

The Foundation at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) awarded $28,850 in grants and scholarships for spring semester 2024.

Each scholarship included an award between $350 and $1,000 to assist in paying for spring semester at GNTC. Thirty-eight scholarships were awarded to 33 students.

“We congratulate these stellar students for their hard work and excellence,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. “We also thank our donors who make it possible for us to recognize and support outstanding GNTC students.”

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. The 2024 GNTC Foundation Spring Scholarships were awarded to: Jacob Beeman, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus; Lilia Dreps, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Floyd County Campus; Marcy Fountain, Adult Echocardiography, Floyd County Campus; and Jake Ragan, Electrical Systems Technology, Floyd County Campus.

Beeman also received a GNTC Foundation Success Grant while Ragan also received a Live4It Alliant Scholarship. Other recipients of the GNTC Foundation Success Grant were Marley Bishop, Vascular, Floyd County Campus; Whitney Brock, Social Work Assistant, Walker County Campus; Alyssa Caroland, Cosmetology, Walker County Campus; and Megan Welch, Early Childhood Care and Education, Whitfield Murray Campus.

Amber Brown, Surgical Technology, Walker County Campus; Maria Ceasar, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; Audrey Powell, Health Care Assistant, Walker County Campus; and Raymond “Cole” Temples, Aviation Maintenance Technician, Floyd County Campus also received the Alliant Live4It Scholarship. 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.

Leah “Ana” Stone, Welding and Joining Technology, Floyd County Campus, received the Lindale Post 136 American Legion Scholarship. This award honors the service of U.S. military members by supporting a GNTC student who is one of the following (in order of priority): veteran, child of veteran, spouse of veteran or grandchild of veteran.

The recipient of the Governor Nathan Deal Technical Education Scholarship is Angel Cruz, Precision Machining and Manufacturing, 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.

Cruz—along with Jeshua Freeman, Precision Machining and Manufacturing, Floyd County Campus; and Delores Turner, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Technology, Floyd County Campus—received the Gene Haas Scholarship, which 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.

Darryl Gibbons, Air Conditioning Technology, Floyd County Campus, received the NGE Scholarship. Funded by North Georgia Equipment Heating and Air Conditioning (NGE), this scholarship provides financial support to students enrolled in any Air Conditioning certificate or diploma program.

Artemio Zavala, Instrumentation and Controls Technician, Floyd County Campus, received the Instrumentation and Controls Academy Scholarship. The scholarship provides financial support for students working toward an Instrumentation and Controls Technician degree.

The following Electrical Systems Technology students at the Gordon County Campus received the Electrical Systems Scholarship, which rewards academic excellence and provides financial support for students enrolled in any Electrical Systems program: Jeffrey Doran, Franklin Ramirez and Connor Rowell.

Ramirez and Rowell also received the Rome Home Builders Association Scholarship. This 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.

Dana Jenkins, Environmental Horticulture Technician, Floyd County Campus, is recipient of the David Warren Memorial Scholarship. Open to students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate in the Horticulture program, this scholarship was established in honor of David Warren, former director of the Horticulture program.

The recipient of the Patrick D. Doyle Law Enforcement Scholarship is Jacqueline Valdez, Criminal Justice Technology, Walker County Campus. This scholarship rewards academic excellence and provides financial support for students working toward Basic POST Certification or a degree in Criminal Justice.

Scott Ross, Paramedicine, Gordon County Campus, received 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.

Tara Peloquin, 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.

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

Monica Jackson, Health Information Management Coding, Whitfield Murray Campus, has been named recipient of the Charles and Donna Estes Scholarship, which recognizes Health Information Management Technology (HIMT) degree students in their last semester of the program. This scholarship honors and continues the legacy of the late Charles Estes, a GNTC faculty member who was passionate about ensuring the success of students. Former GNTC faculty member Donna Estes shared her late husband’s passion and established this scholarship to provide opportunities for students in need.

Kiara Griffin, Health Care Assistant, Floyd County Campus, received the Vernon and Gaynelle Grizzard Scholarship, which provides educational assistance to the children and grandchildren of Southeastern Mills or Grain Craft employees.

Juan Miguel Lopez, Surgical Technology, Walker County Campus, received the Kitty Felker Memorial Scholarship; this scholarship honors the legacy of Kitty Felker. Established by Octavio Perez, this scholarship provides financial support to students enrolled in any credit program.

Gordon County Campus students Brittany Bingiel, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Professions, and Haley Simerly, Respiratory Care, are the recipients of the Gordon County Campus Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes excellence in students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate on the Gordon County Campus.

The recipients of the First Generation Scholarship are Ashley Bennett, Marketing Management, Floyd County Campus; and Shawna Rocha, Welding and Joining Technology, Floyd 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 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; Wil Stiles, Catoosa 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, 11,601 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,071 students and an additional enrollment of 3,530 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institution.