Now celebrating its fourth year and Chattanooga State’s Golden Anniversary, the annual Dinner of Firsts - A Golden Celebration, will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Chattanooga State charter board member and humanitarian John Germ is this year’s honoree. The eldest of three boys, Mr. Germ was the first in his family to attend college.
Mr. Germ is the former board chair and CEO of Campbell and Associates, consulting engineers. Now retired, he remains involved in the firm. As a self-professed community enthusiast who lives by the motto “service to humanity is the best work of life,” he devotes his time and talents to a number of community organizations including Chattanooga State, Orange Grove, Blood Assurance, Rotary, the Jaycees, and the Public Education Foundation. Married for 57 years to the former Judith “Judy” Gipson of Winchester, he and his wife have four children, six grandchildren, and are members of North Hamilton Church of Christ.
Event chair Edna Varner will join roasters Zach Wamp, Patsy Hazelwood, Dan Johnson and Harry Fields for a fun-filled evening. Presenting sponsors and evening hosts include Keith Sanford, market president of First Tennessee Bank and Greg Vital, president and CEO of Independent Healthcare Properties & Morning Pointe.
Chattanooga State’s Dinner of Firsts is the signature fundraising event for the college. Nearly half of Chattanooga State’s 10,477 students are first in their families to attend college. Proceeds from the event have supported First in the Family Scholarships since 2012, and for the past two years, have generated more than $112,000 to fund 56 scholarships.
For more information on sponsorship levels and reservations for Dinner of Firsts – A Golden Celebration, see www.chattanoogastate.edu/dof or contact Tammy Sawyers at tammy.sawyers@chattanoogastate.edu or phone 423-697-3359.