The Ogeechee Technical College Foundation, Inc. held its annual scholarship banquet last week to honor scholarship recipients and benefactors.
      Students who received a scholarship, along with their guest, were able to visit with those who provided funding for scholarships for Ogeechee Technical College through the College's Foundation.
      Lynda Williamson, OTC Foundation president, welcomed attendees, and thanked the supporters of the OTC Foundation for their willingness to offer assistance to students. A packed Conference Center in OTC's Occupational Studies Building was the site for the banquet.
      "I remember when this room was hardly a third filled during our first scholarship banquet. We have been able to expand the number of scholarships tremendously, so this event just keeps getting larger," said Dr. Dawn Cartee, OTC president.
      Beth Mathews, OTCs vice president for College Advancement, and executive director of the college's Foundation, told those attending that the generosity of the donors is the reason the Foundation can provide the expanded support to students.
      "We could not do what we do for our students without each individual and organization which provides contributions to our Foundation," she said.
      Mathews stressed the importance of providing support to students is more important than ever with new HOPE restrictions and other economic challenges having a negative impact on students. Mathews' point was illustrated through comments from a scholarship recipient. Rhenetri Washington, a cosmetology student at OTC, addressed the group and described her experience at the college.
      "I was one semester away from completing my program at Ogeechee Tech when I found that I didn't have the money to continue in school. I was upset, but reconciled to not going back to school right now. An instructor called to tell me I should speak to someone with the Foundation, and it worked out that I got the support I needed to continue in my program," Washington said.
      Linda Moore, attorney-at-law, was the keynote speaker for the event. She encouraged the students to find their own special purpose in life.
      "I see and hear the marketing message for Ogeechee Technical College, ‘Education with Purpose.' I believe that is a perfect motto for OTC, but what the college really does is provide education with purpose so that you can live a life with purpose," Moore said. "By pursuing your education here at Ogeechee Technical College, you are allowing yourself an opportunity to live a life filled with purpose. Having an education allows you to get a job, to provide for yourself and your family, and to contribute to society. It is purposeful living that is made possible by the gift you receive because of someone else's generosity and your own hard work."
      "This College was founded to support students, and to give them opportunities for a better life, and that is what each scholarship benefactor does," Mathews said.
      Mathews introduced individuals who support scholarships, and whether an individual benefactor, or the representative of an organization, each was applauded for their support of students.
      Scholarship recipients and their benefactors include:
      Kenneth Durden and Leah Rucker-Auxiliary of East Georgia Regional Medical Center Scholarship
      Lindsay Beasley-Best Friends Veterinary Technology Scholarship
      Dustin Johnson-Bulloch County Farm Bureau Scholarship
      Donna Finch, Dana Prostrollo, Robert Rotker, and Gary Vinson-Charlie Joe Mathews Memorial Scholarship
      Jessica McConaha and Heather Williams-David Russell Memorial Scholarship
      Lauren Andrews, Meredith Calcote, Shelly Clayton, Sharneil Foster, Jennifer Henley, Brooke Hensley, Brent Miles,   J'Lisia Ogburn, James Siler, Jr., and Marie Smallwood-Hospital Authority of Bulloch County Scholarship
Sarah Tucker-Hospital Authority of Bulloch County Chairman's Scholarship
      Christopher Loos-Kiwanis Club of Statesboro Scholarship
      Kali LandsTasia Stargel-Moore Claxton/Evans County Scholarship
      Nakisha Berry, Bridget Johnson, Jacquelyne Johnson, Marvina Kittles, Rachel Long, Winifred Nails, Shamere Thompson, Rhenetri Washington, Jacqueline Whitney, and Wendy Wildes-Ogeechee Technical College Foundation General Scholarship
      Dewey Durden and Bryan Realiza-Ogeechee Technical College Foundation Non-Traditional Scholarship
      Pamela Jernigan and Marcie McCormack-Past President's Scholarship
      Laura Smith-Philip Stewart Memorial Scholarship
      Clara Atkins, Lesley Garces, and Shevella Young-Planters EMC Operation Round-up Scholarship
      Clayton Hackle-Robert T. Cox Memorial Scholarship
      April Fensler and Temicca Odom-Statesboro Rotary Club Scholarship
      Lyndsay Dumas-Statesboro Downtown Rotary Club Scholarship
      Anna Lingle-Veterinary Technology Scholarship
      "I cannot thank those who give to the Foundation enough," Cartee said. "Without you, we would not be capable of providing the support we do to our students. When our students complete their education at Ogeechee Tech, they are in positions to give back, to influence our community in a positive way, and to then support others."