South Georgia Technical College President Emeritus Sparky Reeves and his wife, Allene, established an endowed fund with the South Georgia Technical College Foundation to honor the college’s Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) student each year. Diquita Mathis, a Criminal Justice student, was the recipient for 2024.
The Reeves’ daughter, Mandy Reeves Young, represented the family and made the presentation to Mathis at the SGTC 2024 GOAL Luncheon held recently in the John M. Pope Center.
“Thank you so much for allowing me to be here today and make this presentation,” said Mandy Reeves Young. “South Georgia Tech has always been a major part of my life. My dad came to work here in 1973 before I was even born. He loved this school and he loved these students. In his last year, when he was struggling and battling with leukemia, I can not tell you how many times, former students would come in to the hospital or lab or house and dad would remember giving them their diploma. Each of you and what you do for the school is important.
“And now on behalf of our family, it is my pleasure to present this award to Diquita Mathis as the SGTC 2024 GOAL winner,” said Mandy Reeves Young, who then added, “as my dad would say now, ‘Go Getum.”
The Reeves scholarship can be used towards tuition, fees, and supplies at the college as well to help Mathis with this competition. The Reeves also recognized SGTC Instructor of the Year Dr. Michele Williams Seay with a $500 stipend when after she was selected as the Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year honor at South Georgia Tech earlier.
Sparky and Allene Reeves established the endowed fund as a way to give back annually to the top student and the top instructor at South Georgia Technical College. They both recognized how important the instructors as well as the students are not only to the college but to the community.
Diquita Mathis of Pinehurst, will now represent South Georgia Technical College at regional and state competitions in an effort to be selected as the top student within the Technical College System of Georgia. She was nominated for this honor by Teresa McCook, her Criminal Justice Instructor.
Mathis was competing against four other top finalists for the GOAL award. Joshua Bartlett from the Electrical Systems Technology, Damon Brown from Culinary Arts, Katlin Champion of Marketing Management, and Zakcary Mincey of Welding were the other four students chosen as finalists.
“On behalf of South Georgia Technical College, I would like to thank President Emeritus Sparky and Allene Reeves and their family for providing this scholarship to a very deserving student,” said SGTC President Dr. John Watford. “President Reeves and Allene have been special to South Georgia Tech for many years and they continue to demonstrate their commitment to the college, its faculty, staff, and students.”
SGTC Foundation Executive Director and SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird echoed Dr. Watford’s comments by thanking the Reeves family for their support of the South Georgia Technical College Foundation. “On behalf of the foundation and the students that it serves, I would like to thank the Reeves for giving back to the students and faculty at South Georgia Tech. They have both seen how important the foundation and its supporters are to the success of the college and we are very appreciative of their efforts,” said Bird.
For more information about making a donation or establishing an endowed scholarship at South Georgia Technical College, contact Su Ann Bird, SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and SGTC Foundation Executive Director at 229-931-2011 or sbird@southgatech.edu. Tax deductible donations may also be mailed to the SGTC Foundation, P.O. Box 6102, Americus GA 31709.