Flint Energies Foundation grant supports South Georgia Technical College
The Flint Energies Foundation recently granted South Georgia Technical College Foundation (SGTC) $8,500 to assist with High School Equivalency and General Education Diploma (GED) scholarships for SGTC students.
Marian McLemore, Flint Energies Vice President of Cooperative Communications presented the check to South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford and Su Ann Bird, SGTC Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director for the SGTC Foundation. “On behalf of South Georgia Technical College and the South Georgia Technical College Foundation, we thank Flint Energies for their support of our students and our Adult Education program. You are giving individuals the gift of education and giving them the opportunity to join the workforce or continue their education,” said President Watford as he accepted the donation.
The South Georgia Technical College Adult Education department has led the Technical College System of Georgia in Postsecondary Transition percentages for two consecutive years. “We are very proud of our adult education department for not only helping students earn their High School Equivalency or GED through Adult Education classes,” said President Watford, “but also for encouraging and assisting students to continue their education and gain valuable workforce development skills.”
The South Georgia Technical College adult education department served 282 students in the High School Equivalency, GED, or Adult Education classes in FY2024 and 34 of those students enrolled in the college to continue their education. That was a 12% transition rate. The state average was only three percent and the next highest college had a nine percent post-secondary transition rate.
In FY25, the SGTC Adult Education Department led the state again with a 13% transition rate. The state average in FY25 was three percent again and only one other college reached double digits and they had an 11% transition rate.
Flint Energies serves 17 different counties including Bibb, Chattahoochee, Crawford, Dooly, Harris, Houston, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Muscogee, Peach Schley, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor Twiggs, and Upson. Many of those counties are also served by SGTC through its Adult Education High School Equivalency Program and the college’s regular credit programs. SGTC provides students with the “Complete College Experience” with its on-campus housing and nationally ranked academics, athletics, and student activities. It offers students over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit educational opportunities.
The Flint Energies Foundation provides grants to local non-profits such as this one using money donated by Flint Energies Consumer-members through Operation Round Up®. The electric cooperative’s members contribute funds annually to the Flint Energies Foundation, which supports worthy causes in the 17 counties it serves. Operation Round Up is a way for participating Members to support multiple charitable organizations by simply allowing Flint Energies to round up their bills to the nearest dollar. Donations to Operation Round Up, which average only about $6 per year per member, are tax deductible.
The Flint Energies Foundation, a state-chartered, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, disburses all contributions to approved projects; Member contributions are not used for administration costs.