SGTC and GSW Awarded Community Partner Award

March 20, 2018
A woman and three men stand for a picture. The two men in the middle hold round glass trophies.
Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Board of Director members Faith Pinnell (far left) and Rhett Simmons (far right) present the Community Partner of the Year award to Dr. Neal Weaver of GSW (second from left) and Don Smith of SGTC (second from right)

South Georgia Technical College and Georgia Southwestern State University were awarded the Community Partner of the Year Award at the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce’s 98th Annual Dinner and Awards Celebration recently. The banquet was held in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on South Georgia Technical College’s campus and hosted over 200 local leaders and members of the Chamber of Commerce.

The Community Partner of the Year Award is presented to an outstanding partner or partners of the Chamber of Commerce within the community each year. This year, the award was accepted by South Georgia Technical College Assistant to the President Don Smith and Dr. Neal Weaver of GSW.  South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford was in Lubbock, Texas with the SGTC Lady Jets at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I women’s national basketball tournament.  This was the Lady Jets’ fourth appearance in the past five years and the Lady Jets advanced to the Sweet Sixteen round with an overtime victory over the 10th ranked Casper College Thunderbirds.

“I am thankful for the partnership that South Georgia Technical College has forged with the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford.  “We appreciate the support that we receive from the Chamber as well as the businesses and industries in the communities we serve.  South Georgia Technical College’s mission is workforce education and it is through partnerships like this one and others that we have been able to accomplish that mission for the past 70 years and look forwarding to continuing this tradition for many more years.”

Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors chair Rhett Simmons echoed the comments expressed by Dr. Watford.

“The partnership in our community with South Georgia Tech is integral in promising jobs to the future workforce,” said Simmons. “Over the past 70 years, over 500,000 individuals have benefitted from the services of South Georgia Technical College … They have worked with our community over and over, and have served the workforce not only of Sumter County, but of the world.”

Simmons also spoke on the impact that Georgia Southwestern has on the community.

“Georgia Southwestern is truly an economic driver in our community – the University System listed GSW as having an $89-Million-dollar impact on the Sumter County region. They employ more than 400 people, with more than 300 of those being full-time and most are Sumter County residents. We couldn’t be the community we are without them,” he said.

Together, the colleges have partnered with each other and with the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce for the “Two Great Choices – One Great Community” campaign since 2007 to promote the opportunities for higher education offered in Americus. The fund was originally set up to help market Americus and Sumter County as a college town and encourage local students to take advantage of the educational opportunities at GSW and SGTC. City and county government leaders, private citizens, and local businesses have supported the efforts.

The “Two Great Choices – One Great Community” campaign has raised approximately $125,000 over the past ten years. The community has responded positively to the campaign and “Two Great Choices – One Great Community” banners and signs can be seen displayed proudly throughout the local business community. GSW and SGTC’s institutional banners are prominently featured on the light poles throughout the downtown section during special times of the year.

The “Two Great Choices – One Great Community” campaign has helped promote Americus and Sumter County as a college town and increased enrollment at both institutions through scholarships. Over 50 students have received scholarship assistance over the past ten years.