The Foundation at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) awarded approximately $40,000 in grants and scholarships for fall semester 2025, with recipients ranging in age from 17 to 87.
Each scholarship included an award between $500 and $1,500 to assist in paying for fall semester at GNTC. Fifty-two grants and scholarships totaling $39,800 were awarded to 51 students.
“We congratulate these outstanding Georgia Northwestern Technical College students and applaud them for their excellence,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. “Each of them has a unique story, but all of them have made education their priority. I would also like to thank the many generous donors who make these scholarships possible.”
The recipients of the First Generation Scholarship are Lexie Elswick, Health Care Management; and Sara Wooden, Crime Scene Investigation; both students attend classes at the Walker County Campus. This scholarship is open to first-generation students working toward a degree, diploma or certificate; a first-generation student is defined as a student whose parent(s) and or legal guardian(s) have not completed college.
Selena’s Scholarship honors the late Selena Magnusson, who was GNTC’s vice-president of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success. This award celebrates high-achieving first-generation students. Recipients of this scholarship are Patricia Buford, Web Site Design, Floyd County Campus; Erika Greenwell, Business Management, Floyd County Campus; Greg Huff, Cybersecurity, Whitfield Murray Campus; and Lisa Smith, Business Healthcare Technology, Whitfield Murray Campus.
The GNTC Foundation Scholarship is for outstanding students with financial need who are enrolled in any program of study leading to a degree, diploma or certificate. GNTC Foundation Scholarships have been awarded to Brooke Brady, Criminal Justice Technology, Walker County Campus; Latasha Fluker, Marketing Management, Floyd County Campus; Skyler Graham, Surgical Technology, Walker County Campus; Johnathan Kirby, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; Salina Lamkin, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; Dakota Matheney, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus; Matthew Pope, Business Management, Floyd County Campus; Ashley Prickett, Practical Nursing, Floyd County Campus; and Jennah Thacker, Accounting, Floyd County Campus.
The GNTC Foundation has awarded Success Grants to Ashley Autry, Health Care Management, Walker County Campus; Jordan Biddle, Adult Echocardiography, Floyd County Campus; Elijah Hilland, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus; Tonya Irwin, Adult Echocardiography, Floyd County Campus; Blaga Long, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; and Alexia Sanchez, Marketing Management, Floyd County Campus.
The Live4It Alliant Scholarship was established in 2023 to support students with financial need who are also well-rounded individuals contributing to their community and engaged in The Guiding Key Concepts of Live4It. The recipients of this scholarship are Earl Anderson, Criminal Justice Technology, Gordon County Campus; Cassara Kummer, Health Care Management, Walker County Campus; and Terry Vines, Radiologic Technology, Floyd County Campus.
Christina Haynes, Business Technology, Floyd County Campus, is the recipient of the Judy Hodge Memorial Scholarship. Hodge was a faculty member in GNTC’s Business Technology program for more than 45 years. Established by Beta Sigma Phi in Hodge’s honor, this scholarship is open to Business Technology degree students with financial need, with priority given to those at the Walker County Campus.
The recipients of the Governor Nathan Deal Technical Education Scholarship are Mason Ankney, Welding and Joining Technology; Jamasin Cook, Welding and Joining Technology; and Andy Phillips, Supply Chain Management and Logistics. All three are students at the Whitfield Murray Campus. The scholarship was established by the Carpet and Rug Institute to reward academic excellence and provide financial support for GNTC students at the Whitfield Murray Campus completing a degree, diploma or certificate in an industrial program.
Jesse Nicholson and Mayahuel Yaoapoqa have been awarded the Gene Haas Scholarship; both study Precision Machining and Manufacturing at the Floyd County Campus. This scholarship rewards academic excellence and provides financial support for students working toward a degree, diploma or certificate in the Precision Machining and Manufacturing program and related fields on the Floyd County Campus and the Whitfield Murray Campus.
Kairu Tuma’e, Diesel Equipment Technology, Whitfield Murray Campus, has received the Diesel Equipment Technology Scholarship, which rewards academic excellence and provides financial support for students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate in the Diesel Equipment Technology program on the Whitfield Murray Campus.
The Kerry Scholarship was established by Kerry Food Coatings to support students in the Industrial Systems Technology or Instrumentation and Controls Technician degree or diploma programs. Tramorius Dean and Jacob Perry—both students in Industrial Systems Technology at the Floyd County Campus—have been awarded this scholarship.
The Roper Scholarship was established in 2024 and provides financial assistance to students employed by Roper Corporation. Students can be enrolled in any credit program and must work at Roper during the application and award semesters. The award applies to tuition, fees, supplies, tools or other educational materials. The recipient of the Roper Scholarship is Timothy Wall, Commercial Truck Driving Class - A, Walker County Campus.
The Rome Home Builders Association Scholarship rewards academic excellence and provides financial support for students working toward a degree, diploma or certificate in residential construction-related programs, including Air Conditioning Technology, Construction Management, Electrical Systems Technology, Horticulture and Lawn Maintenance on the Floyd, Gordon and Polk County Campuses. Yonatan Gonzalez and Connor Rowell, both Construction Management students at the Gordon County Campus, received this scholarship.
Jesus Arellano and Jackson Woodard—both students in Construction Management at the Gordon County Campus—are recipients of the Octaviano and Bertha Perez Scholarship. Established by Octavio Perez to honor the memory of his parents, the Octaviano and Bertha Perez Scholarship supports two students each semester enrolled in the Construction Management program, one with an interest in Carpentry and the other in Masonry.
The Gordon County Campus Scholarship has been awarded to David Lopez, Computer Support Specialist, Gordon County Campus; and Courtney Wilkerson, Cybersecurity, Gordon County Campus. The Gordon County Campus Scholarship recognizes excellence in students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate on the Gordon County Campus.
The National Board for Respiratory Care Scholarship supports students with a minimum 2.0 GPA enrolled in the Respiratory Care degree program. This scholarship has been awarded to Ashley Cowan, Emma Howard and Chandler Nielsen; all three are students in the Respiratory Care program at the Floyd County Campus.
Chandler Nielsen has also received the B.J. Pharr Scholarship. This scholarship was established to reward academic excellence and provide financial assistance for full-time students working toward a degree in the Respiratory Care program on the Floyd County Campus.
The recipients of the Registered Nurse Scholarship are Isabella Dixon, Lydia Shepherd and Tatum Young, all of whom are Nursing students at the Walker County Campus. This award provides financial support for outstanding students enrolled in the in the Associate of Science in Nursing program.
The Judge Dan Peace Winn Scholarship has been awarded to Luke Evans, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus; and Ellen “Kai” Terry, Practical Nursing, Floyd County Campus. Established by the family of the late judge, this scholarship is open to Polk County residents or those with a connection to Polk County, who are completing a degree, diploma or certificate.
Travis Pruitt, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus, has received the Vernon and Gaynelle Grizzard Scholarship, which provides educational assistance to the children and grandchildren of Southeastern Mills or Grain Craft employees.
The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market Scholarship was established to provide financial support to incoming high school students and first-year GNTC students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate. Scholarship applicants must be planning a career related to farming, gardening, landscape design, environmental issues, floral design or horticulture. The scholarship has been awarded to Mary Sharay and Olin Yaoapoqa. Both are Horticulture students at the Floyd County Campus.
The GNTC Foundation Trustees are Valerie Brown, Whitfield County; Phillip Burkhalter, Floyd County; Linda Case, Dade County; Steven M. Henry, Catoosa County; Luther Ingram, Walker County; Amy L. Jackson, Catoosa County; Jay LeGrande, Polk County; Craig McDaniel, Floyd County; Zab Mendez, Whitfield County; Paul Meredith, Chattooga County; Sherrie Patterson, Murray County; Damon Raines, Walker County; Becky Redd, Gordon County; and Doris White, Walker County.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 13,775 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,836 students and an additional enrollment of 4,939 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start.