SGTC employees raise funds for scholarships at annual employee Christmas luncheon

South Georgia Technical College employees raised nearly $1600 to be utilized for a new faculty-staff scholarship fund during its annual employee Christmas luncheon which was hosted in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center recently. “This is a great time for our faculty and staff to come together and celebrate the season,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “As we began planning for the event this year, someone suggested that we do a Silent Auction to raise money for a new faculty-staff scholarship fund to assist students. We did that but the only things that we auctioned off were items that were made by or contributed by our employees. We have some very talented individuals that work here at South Georgia Technical College.” Dr. Watford praised the SGTC Employee Luncheon committee that was headed up by SGTC Academic Deans Vanessa Wall and David Finley. Members of the SGTC faculty and staff volunteered to help organize the event. The other committee members included: Valerie Hines, Carrie Wilder, Nancy and Paul Fitzgerald, Kyle Hartsfield, Shelly Godwin, Michelle Seay, Tami Blount, Teresa McCook, Victoria Herron, Beth Brooks, Mathew Burks, and Randy Greene. Some of the top items entered into the silent auction included a loveseat Adirondack bench, a horseshoe tabletop Christmas tree, two afghans and a light bulb Christmas tree. Other items included homemade cakes and goodies, cooked hams and Boston butts, SGTC logo items from the bookstore, handmade reindeer, paintings, a turkey call, a standalone stocking holder, cell phone and tablet stands, dinner meals, plants, and more. The items placed in the Silent Auction brought approximately $1600 in donations from faculty and staff members to be used for student scholarships. In addition to the covered dish luncheon and silent auction, SGTC President Dr. John Watford also recognized college employees who had five, 10, 20, and 30 years of service to South Georgia Tech. Nearly 1300 years of service were recognized. A special five-minute video from SGTC Aviation Maintenance alumni Dan Linginfelter, who was recognized as the TCSG Distinguished Alumni of the Year by Governor Nathan Deal in Atlanta recently, was shown at the luncheon. Linginfelter praised the SGTC employees for helping him to achieve his dreams and goals in life and challenged them to continue to do the things that will help other young people learn and grow. Faculty and staff also had a good time playing bingo for prizes, participating in an ugly sweater contest, a Christmas present wrapping contest and a cookie decorating contest. Employees also swapped Christmas ornaments at the end. Valerie Hines, Su Ann Bird, Kaye Vogt, and Katrice Taylor were the bingo winners. Angie Kauffman, Debra Smith, Andrea Ingram, Karen Lewis, Brenda Boone, Craig Kelly, Charlene Williams, Katrice Taylor, Penny Pace, Kenya Wills, Elijah Blackshear and Kari Bodrey were selected to participate in a present wrapping contest. Charlene Williams, Kari Bodrey, Karen Lewis, Craig Kelly, Angie Kaufman and Andrea Ingram were the top six finalists. Angie Kauffman was declared the overall winner followed by Kari Bodrey and Andrea Ingram. There was also an ugly sweater contest and Terrie Smith and Nancy Fitzgerald were the winners of that contest. Employees were also given the opportunity to compete in a cookie decorating contest. Winners from each table were declared. “This was a great way to celebrate the season together and also do something that will benefit students,” said President Watford. Shown above are the winners of the cookie decorating contest that was part of the SGTC Employee Christmas luncheon.