Americus, GA – Brandon Glover of Americus was the recipient of the Smarr-Smith scholarship which was awarded at the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy Class 19 – 01 graduation ceremony held in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the SGTC Americus campus recently. This was also the 10th anniversary of the SGTC Law Enforcement Academy.
The Smarr-Smith endowed scholarships at South Georgia Technical College were created in memory of fallen Americus Police Officer Nicholas R. Smarr and Georgia Southwestern State University Campus Safety Officer Jody C. Smith. The endowments were created by the Smarr-Smith foundation, private individuals, and an anonymous donor. Paul Johnson, step-father of Jody Smith was on hand at the ceremony to help award the scholarship. Both Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith attended the criminal justice program at South Georgia Technical College.
Brandon Glover graduated from the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy in 2012 and was a member of LEA Class 12-01. He recently completed his associate degree in Criminal Justice at South Georgia Tech while working full-time for the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy in the Civil Division.
He started working on his degree in 2015. He is married and has two sons. “Work and life caused me to put my degree on hold a few times, but I did not stop,” said Glover. “I am honored to be given the opportunity to apply for this scholarship in memory of Nick Smarr and John Smith. I am even more honored to be selected to receive the scholarship. I plan to continue my education and I am very appreciative of the individuals who donated to make this scholarship a possibility,” continued Glover.
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford thanked the family for attending the graduation and scholarship award ceremony. “We all regret that this scholarship opportunity had to come at the expense of the lives of two outstanding South Georgia Technical College students and law enforcement officers,” said Dr. Watford. “Our hearts will continue to go out to the family and friends of Officers Smarr and Smith. But it is our prayer that this gift will assist other POST certified officers who wish to continue their education. We hope that the fine men and women who earn these scholarships will honor the memories of Officers Smith and Smarr through their service to our citizens and that the memory of Nick Smarr and Jody Smith will continue to live on through the lives of these scholarship recipients.”
Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith, both attended the South Georgia Technical College Criminal Justice Program. Smarr attained his Associate of Applied Science Degree in June of 2011 and became a certified law enforcement officer in 2012. Jody Smith had attended South Georgia Tech in 2010 and had returned in 2016 to begin completing his Criminal Justice associate degree.
Eight Smarr-Smith scholarships have been awarded since the scholarships were endowed. Charles Kinnamon and Adam O’Neal were the first two scholarship recipients. King W. Mitchell, Antoinette L. Johnson and Emerson R. Lundy were the second three recipients. Dalton Lee Windham and Cora K. Baker were awarded the scholarships in December 2018 and now Brandon Glover is a Smarr-Smith scholar and is able to continue his education.
For more information about making a donation to the SGTC Foundation or endowing a scholarship at South Georgia Technical College, contact Su Ann Bird, Executive Director of the SGTC Foundation and Vice President of Institutional Advancement at 229.931.2110 or sbird@southgatech.edu. Contributions may also be mailed to the SGTC Foundation, P.O. Box 6102, Americus, GA. Additional donations can be added to the Smarr-Smith Scholarship fund and all donations will be recognized and shared with members of the Smith and Smarr families.