President Emeritus Sparky and Allene Reeves present South Georgia Tech’s 2022 outstanding student with scholarship

South Georgia Technical College President Emeritus Sparky Reeves and his wife, Allene, presented Culinary Arts student Zakyah Cameron with a $500 scholarship after he had been recognized as the college’s 2022 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner by SGTC President Dr. John Watford at the college’s GOAL luncheon recently.  

   “Allene and I are pleased to be here today to present Zakyah Cameron with this scholarship,” said President Emeritus Reeves.  “The GOAL program has been very special to me and to South Georgia Technical College.  As a first-year instructor, I had the pleasure to nominate a student for this honor.  That student won at the college level and did well at the regional and state competition. During the time that I taught, I was fortunate enough to have several winners, so when I decided to retire, Allene and I chose to do something to recognize the ‘best of the best.’

   “It is an honor to be selected as the GOAL winner for South Georgia Technical College and we want to wish Zakyah all the best as he continues his education and also represents South Georgia Technical College at the regional and state GOAL competitions this year,” explained Sparky Reeves.

   The Reeves’ presented Cameron with a scholarship check that can be used towards tuition, fees, and supplies at the college as well to help with his competition. The Reeves also recognized SGTC Instructor of the Year Auto Collision and Repair instructor Starlyn Sampson with a $500 stipend when after he was selected for that honor.

    “We established this endowed fund as a way to give back annually to the top student and the top instructor at South Georgia Technical College,” said Reeves.  “South Georgia Tech has been an important part of our lives for the past 47 years and we both recognized how important the instructors as well as the students are not only to the college but to the community.”

   Zakyah Cameron of Bonaire, GA, will now represent South Georgia Technical College at regional and state competitions in an effort to be selected as the top student within the Technical College System of Georgia.  He was nominated for this honor by Chef “Ricky” Ludwig Watzlowick , his Culinary Arts Instructor.

    “On behalf of South Georgia Technical College I would like to thank President Emeritus Sparky and Allene Reeves for presenting this scholarship to a very deserving student,” said SGTC President Dr. John Watford.  “President Reeves and Allene have been special to South Georgia Tech for many years and today they demonstrated again why they mean so much to the college, its faculty, staff, and students.”

   SGTC Foundation Executive Director and SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird echoed Dr. Watford’s comments by thanking President Emeritus Reeves and Allene for their support of the South Georgia Technical College Foundation.  “On behalf of the foundation and the students that it serves, I would like to thank the Reeves for giving back to the students and faculty at South Georgia Tech.   They have both seen how important the foundation and its supporters are to the success of the college and we are very appreciative of their efforts,” said Bird.

    For more information about making a donation or establishing an endowed scholarship at South Georgia Technical College, contact Su Ann Bird, SGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and SGTC Foundation Executive Director at 229-931-2011 or sbird@southgatech.edu.  Tax deductible donations may also be mailed to the SGTC Foundation, P.O. Box 6102, Americus GA 31709.