South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford honored the dedicated SGTC faculty and staff with an Employee Appreciation Day Celebration. The event, held on the college’s Americus campus, brought together employees from across campuses and departments for an afternoon of good food, fun, fellowship and celebration.
President Watford welcomed everyone to the lawn area outside the President’s House and expressed his gratitude for the commitment and hard work of the SGTC team. “Our employees are the heart of South Georgia Technical College,” said Dr. Watford. “The success of our students and the strength of our programs come directly from the passion, professionalism, and teamwork that each of you bring to this campus every day.”
He also noted that the college faculty and staff had just reached two milestones that would have long-lasting benefits not only for the college but for the students and the community. “South Georgia Technical College surpassed 2,000 students in a single semester for the first time since COVID and we also hosted a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) team for our 10-year reaffirmation. The college received no findings and no recommendations. These two milestones deserved to be celebrated,” said President Watford.
The celebration included a delicious lunch consisting of brisket, chicken, and barbecue prepared by some of SGTC’s excellent cooks and the sides of slaw, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, and casseroles were catered by Two Dukes. The Scoops Ice Cream truck was also part of the lunch celebration. Dr. Watford also presented the employees with a gift and a thank you note.
The lunch, fun and games along a lighthearted atmosphere of camaraderie were evident under the SGTC tents and around the tables. Employees described it as being at a family reunion.
The event served not only as a thank-you to employees but also as a moment to reflect on SGTC’s continuing milestones as an institution—more than 77 years of providing exceptional technical education and workforce training to students across Georgia.
As the afternoon concluded, laughter and smiles filled the campus, underscoring the theme of the event: appreciation, teamwork, and pride in being part of the South Georgia Tech family.