The Ogeechee Technical College Foundation celebrated its donors and scholarship recipients at its annual Scholarship Banquet, held last week in the Oak Room of the Jack Hill Building at the College.

Ogeechee Technical College President Lori Durden opened the evening’s banquet with welcome remarks.

“I hope our scholarship recipients know how very proud we are of you,” Durden said. “We understand that earning a college degree or credential takes a lot of hard work and determination, and we know that sometimes a little financial support can make all the difference.”

According to a release from Ogeechee Tech, one of the most meaningful aspects of the annual Scholarship Banquet is the opportunity it provides for donors to sit alongside the students whose educational journeys they help make possible. The event celebrates not only the generosity that makes scholarships possible, but also the personal connections between donors and the students whose lives they impact.

“And to our donors, thank you. Your generosity is making a difference right here in our community. Thanks to you, our students can focus a little bit more on their education and a little bit less on how they’re going to pay for it,” Durden said.

A highlight of the evening was the keynote remarks from student scholarship recipients Aviel Jones, a Logistics Management student, and Taylor Chadwell, a student in the Radiologic Technology program.

“In logistics, we talk about supply chains, connections that get the right resources to the right places at the right time. Help is great, but financial help is sometimes rare, and it is just as much appreciated as it is uncommon,” said Jones. “This scholarship means a lot to me because not only does it help out with financial problems, but it also helps me walk in the legacy of my dad, who is also an Ogeechee Tech graduate.”

“As students, we balance exams, clinicals, assignments, jobs, family responsibilities, and the cost of education. Your generosity reminds us that we don’t have to carry that weight alone. It is more than financial assistance; it’s an investment in our futures and a powerful reminder that someone believes in us and what we’re working to achieve,” said Chadwell.

Scholarship applications are accepted before the start of each semester and reviewed by Ogeechee Tech board members, community volunteers, faculty, and staff. Through endowed scholarships and annual iGot donations, scholarship funds may be used to help cover the costs of tuition, fees, and books.

For anyone interested in giving to the Ogeechee Technical College Foundation or applying for scholarships, more information can be found at www.giveotc.com.