The South Georgia Technical College faculty and staff kicked off the internal portion of the SGTC Foundation’s 2026 TechForce “Doers & Makers” fund drive by contributing over $25,000 through employee payroll donations and silent auction bids at the SGTC Foundation Employee Luncheon and Silent Auction celebration in the John M. Pope Center recently.
The SGTC Foundation “Doers & Makers” fund drive will be raising $250,000 for student scholarships and grants for academically deserving and financially disadvantaged students, the use of textbooks at no cost to students, equipment for the Commercial Truck Driving Program, and renovations and expansion of the James S. Peters gymnasium. All donations will be matched dollar for dollar by state and federal grants.
The South Georgia Technical College Foundation’s 27th annual TechForce fundraising drive was kicked off internally with a faculty-staff luncheon that included a silent auction, a fun game show event, team building activities, payroll deduction pledges, and raffle drawings for a Brahmin purse from Dillard’s and a portable grill made by the SGTC Welding Department and instructor Thomas Mayo. These efforts resulted in over $25,000 in donations to the “Doers & Makers” TechForce 2026 drive from approximately 150 faculty and staff on the SGTC Americus and Crisp County campuses.
“This was awesome,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “Not only did our faculty and staff support the Foundation’s efforts to provide additional opportunities for students to attend and remain in school, they had a fun time fundraising. And their efforts are helping change the lives of students and the individuals that live and work in our communities. I would like to thank SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Foundation Executive Director Su Ann Bird as well as Criminal Justice Instructor Teresa for their leadership in spearheading this event.”
SGTC employees took part in “Doers & Makers @ South Georgia Tech” activities at the Silent Auction and Luncheon and there were a number of individual winners. A special “Doers & Makers” email and social media push spotlighted some of the many SGTC employees who began their careers as students here.
SGTC Internal TechForce Committee Chairperson Teresa McCook oversaw the events of the day along with committee members: Leah Cannady, Pat Peacock, Josh Curtin, Dr. Darrell Thompson, Tami Blount, Lisa Truitt, Kevin Ellis, Jennifer Gilmore, Peiare Adderley, Jennifer Robinson, Melissa Grantham, Dr. Michele Seay, Dorothea McKenzie, Melissa Hollis, Jeff Sheppard, Thomas Mayo, Jason Wisham, Tylen Pepito, Thomas Webber and Peiare Adderley and Matthew Burks.
Approximately 75 employees took home great prizes in the Silent Auction. Over 250 items were available for employees to bid on and nearly 1000 bids were submitted.
All donations for program equipment and support, scholarships, and textbooks as well as the renovation of the gymnasium during the SGTC Foundation TechForce 2026 fund drive will be matched dollar-for-dollar through federal and state grants and by the Technical College System of Georgia. This helps provide workforce development opportunities for students.
“The South Georgia Technical College Foundation is a vital part of our college’s success,” explained South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “We appreciate the support that we receive from our employees and from the community through the foundation fund drives. Over 36 different programs have benefited directly from the past 26 TechForce drives with additional state-of-the-art equipment. The entire college and community have benefited from the scholarships and the use of free textbooks for students. These donations have also helped with the James Hall and Martin Hall dorm renovations and the renovations to the former DOAS Surplus Building which has been transformed into an adult education classroom building as well as the John Deere TECH Agricultural Technology and Motorsports program classrooms and labs. We appreciate the support of our boards, faculty, staff, and community partners for their help in creating the next generation of ‘Doers & Makers at South Georgia Tech.”
The TechForce 2026 fund drive has already gotten off to a good start with the help of employees, business and industry partners and local supporters who have donated items for the SGTC Foundation Internal TechForce drive, luncheon and silent auction. Each year nearly 100% of the SGTC employees contribute to the TechForce drive through payroll deduction or one-time donations.
Approximately $725,000 of the over $7.25 million raised by the TechForce campaigns over the past 26 years has been donated by South Georgia Technical College faculty and staff.
Members of the South Georgia Technical College Foundation and the SGTC Board of Directors as well as other volunteers will be calling community leaders asking for support of the fund drive again this year. Postcards and solicitation letters were sent out to community leaders asking for support. SGTC Foundation Trustee and Development Committee chairman John Argo is head of the TechForce 2026 external drive for the Foundation
For more information about the TechForce 2026 fund drive or to donate to the Foundation, contact South Georgia Technical College Foundation Executive Director and SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird at 229.931.2248 or sbird@southgatech.edu.
Approximately 100 different individuals and businesses from the South Georgia Technical College service area donated items to the employee silent auction. Those businesses and individuals included: Dillard’s, SGTC Crisp County Welding Department Miller-NAPA Auto Parts, Westover Outdoor Power Equipment, Dr. John and Barbara Watford, Dorothea’s Beauty Salon, Dorothea Lusane McKenzie, Cordele Electric Supply, Sakari & Co., Crisp County Power Commission, Engineering and Equipment Company, SGTC Welding students and instructors, Advanced Auto, Adams Drug Store, Long Cuts Barber Shop, Center Point Creations, In Good Taste at the Maze, Johnstone Supply company, Lily’s Southern Boutique, T31 Design House, Flint Power Systems, Aramark, J & J Oil Change, Tami Blount, Clinic Drug Store, SGTC Americus & Cordele Culinary Arts, Mary Kay – Jennifer Rogers, Melissa Grantham, SGTC Bookstore, Clinic Drug Store, Shiver Lumber Company, Sumter EMC, Minnie Williamson, Pat Peacock, Tami Blount, Chef Ricky Watzlowick, Drivers Propane, Ginx Boutique, Decorating Unlimited, SGTC Bookstore, Horne Pecan Company, Bradley Home, Sherri Martin, Roman Oven, Keith Landers Party Supply Rentals, Su Ann Bird, Morgan Chandler Eye Works, 2 Dukes BBQ, The Tin Roof, The Sheppard House, Gammage Print Shop, Dr. Michele Seay, Wells Hardware, Tractor Supply, Lowes, Advanced Auto Parts, Josh Curtin, Med Spa, Sunbelt Ford, Americus Energy and Nutrition, Brickyard Plantation, Centerpoint Creations, Charlene Williams/Avon, Danisha Dewberry, Daphne Lodge Restaurant, Collene Farmer, Deep South Power and Equipment, Ellis Brothers Pecans, TWC XPRS LLC, Will Power, Jordan Swim School, Red Owl, Matthew Burks, Surcheros, Powerhourse Automotive, Sweet Georgia Bakery, Plains Peanuts, Knights Homemade Mounts, Simple Vision Photography, Robin Bell, Tia Champion, Yodees Donuts, Carolina-Cat, Blanchard- CAT, Baker’s Dozen, Cordele Energy and Nutrition, Café Campiseno, Ice House Beer Garden, Toussaints Bath & Body Pencil Portraits by Natasha Ellis, Levi’s Studio, LLC, Med Spa, Puckett Machinery – CAT, J & W View -A-Deal, Georgia Power, and more.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford is shown above with the table he made for employees to bid on during the SGTC TechForce Employee Silent Auction.