South Georgia Technical College faculty, staff, family, friends, and administrators honored Vickie Austin for over two decades of faithful service to thousands of high school and college students during a retirement reception held in John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the Americus campus.
Vickie Harris Austin, SGTC High School Coordinator, recently announced her plans to retire effective December 31, 2023. Members of the faculty, staff, and community took time to honor her for her 22 years and five months of service to high school students in the SGTC service area and beyond.
Vickie Austin is shown above with members of her family who came to help her celebrate.
“I would like to thank everyone for coming out to honor someone who is very deserving,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “We are happy for Vickie Austin, but we are certainly going to miss her. We have appreciated her legacy of working with our secondary programs in seven public school districts, three private school districts and many home school students. She has done a wonderful job and had a very integral part in helping students begin their post-secondary education.”
Austin came to work at South Georgia Technical College as a Financial Aid Assistant in 2001. She remained in that position until February 2005. She left the college for about 10 months to work as a Financial Aid Consultant with the Georgia Student Finance Commission. She returned in December 2005 to work as a College Connections Specialist and has remained with the college for the past 18 years working with high school’s and secondary programs to inform and assist counselors, parents, and students with the SGTC admissions process. She has a total of over 25 years working with the state of Georgia.
As part of the reception, Dr. Watford presented a plaque to Austin honoring her “for many years of faithful service to South Georgia Technical College, 22 years and five months, ending December 31, 2023.” Then he asked Austin if she would like to say a few words.
Austin introduced her family members present, and then thanked everyone in the room for their presence. “You could have been anywhere else today, but you chose to be here to support me. I thank my South Georgia Technical College family, my high school family and my immediate family for being a part of my journey. I appreciate all of you. It has been wonderful and I have enjoyed working with each of you. Thank you, it has been a pleasure,” said Austin.
Many South Georgia Technical College employees expressed their appreciation to Austin for her support of them, students, and for the college.
Brandon Gross, SGTC horticulture instructor, thanked Austin for helping him as a high school student and how her impact has helped take him to different places including South Georgia Tech. Dorothea McKenzie also thanked her for her support and for the support of her daughter when she was entering college.
Al Harris, SGTC retired economic development official and Austin’s brother, said that when he was working at SGTC and got in a bind, he always told people to “call Vickie Austin.” Katrice Martin, SGTC Academic Dean and Institutional Effectiveness Coordinator, worked with Austin and thanked her for her support of the dual enrollment students.
Kari Bodrey, SGTC registrar, thanked Harris for working with her daughter when she was a dual enrollment student. And as a friend, I just love you.” Michelle McGowan, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs, thanked her for being her partner from the early dual enrollment days.”
After the accolades, everyone was invited to enjoy refreshments and cake.