GNTC Foundation awards spring 2025 scholarships

The Foundation at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) awarded $37,000 in grants and scholarships for spring semester 2025.

Each scholarship included an award between $500 and $2,500 to assist in paying for spring semester at GNTC. Fifty grants and scholarships were awarded to 49 students.

“We applaud these students for their excellence and commitment to achieving their educational dreams,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. “We are also deeply appreciative of the generous donors who make these scholarships possible.”

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 Jennifer Bohannon, Business Management, Floyd County Campus; Braedyn Brousseau, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus; Elijah Clark, Criminal Justice, Floyd County Campus; Melody Cress, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Floyd County Campus; Ashley Downs, Health Care Management, Gordon County Campus; Isaac McDonald, Computer Support Specialist, Whitfield Murray Campus; Patricia Nunez, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Floyd County Campus; William Sullivan, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; and Artemio Zavala, Instrumentation and Control Technology, Floyd County Campus.

The GNTC Foundation has awarded Success Grants to Kristin Garrett, Respiratory Care, Floyd County Campus; Dexter Gonzalez-Ramirez, Automotive Technology, Floyd County Campus; Marshall Harris, Culinary Arts, Floyd County Campus; Emma Johnson, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; Brandi Ray, Cybersecurity, Floyd County Campus; Chelsea Ray, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; Noelia Sargento, Business Management, Catoosa County Campus; Nakesia Thomas, Social Work Assistant, Floyd County Campus; Amber Timms, Practical Nursing Certificate, Floyd County Campus; and Jackson Woodard, Construction Management, Gordon County Campus.

Jesse Nicholson and Mayahuel Yaoapoqa have been awarded the Gene Haas Scholarship; both are Precision Machining and Manufacturing students 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.

Ruben Pacheco, 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.

Eric Harkins, Instrumentation and Controls Technician, Floyd County Campus, received the Instrumentation and Controls Academy Scholarship. The scholarship provides financial support for students working toward an Instrumentation and Controls Technician degree.

Shasten Tomas, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus, has been awarded the Matthew Vroman Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2024 to support Aviation students who possess the character traits exemplified by Matthew Vroman: kindness, solid values and a relentless work ethic.

Megan Fisher, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus, has received the Kitty Felker Memorial Scholarship. Established by Octavio Perez, this scholarship honors the legacy of Kitty Felker and provides financial support to students enrolled in any credit program.

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. Keny Ramirez, Air Conditioning Technology, Floyd County Campus, and Francisco Triana, Construction Management, Gordon County Campus, have received this scholarship.

Catelynn Moon, Horticulture, Floyd County Campus, is recipient of the David Warren Memorial Scholarship. Open to students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate in the Horticulture program, this scholarship was established in honor of David Warren, former director of the Horticulture program.

Jack Ragan, Respiratory Care, Floyd County Campus, is recipient of 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 National Board for Respiratory Care Scholarship supports students with a minimum 2.0 GPA enrolled in the Respiratory Care degree program. Sara Boyer, Respiratory Care, Floyd County Campus, has been awarded this scholarship.

The recipients of the Registered Nurse Scholarship are Alyssa Bell Oberg and Ashley Ewton; both 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.

Kiara Griffin, Health Care Assistant, Floyd County Campus, and Travis Pruitt, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus, have received the Vernon and Gaynelle Grizzard Scholarship, which provides educational assistance to the children and grandchildren of Southeastern Mills or Grain Craft employees.

Ashley Weaver, Accounting, Whitfield Murray Campus, is recipient of the Huston “Buck” Parson Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 2024 to support students with financial need who reside in Murray or Whitfield County.

Maria Alvarado, Accounting, Gordon County Campus; Maximo Guerrero, Air Conditioning Technology, Walker County Campus; Adan Lara, Business Management, Whitfield Murray Campus; Andy Martinez, Automotive Technology, Walker County Campus; Stephanie Silva, Radiologic Technology, Floyd County Campus; and Jacqueline Valdez, Criminal Justice, Floyd County Campus, have received the Latin American Association-Mohawk Scholarship. Open to GNTC students with a minimum 2.5 GPA in any program, this scholarship recognizes scholars engaged with the Latino/Hispanic community in one or more of the following ways: heritage, involvement, volunteerism, language and support. Students must be residents of Floyd, Gordon, Murray or Whitfield County.

Valdez has also been awarded the Public Safety Scholarship, which was established to support students with financial need who are enrolled in public safety programs, such as Basic Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice, Emergency Medical Service programs, Paramedicine and other related first responder programs.

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 recipients of the Roper Scholarship are Tammy Chandler, Computer Support Specialist, Walker County Campus, and Hayleigh Cochran, Business Management, Walker County Campus.

Ethan Cameron, Drafting Technology, Walker County Campus; Ana Molina, Health Care Management, Whitfield Murray Campus; Yazmin Orozco, Healthcare Billing Coding Specialist, Gordon County Campus; and Betty Whitehead, Business Healthcare Technology, Walker County Campus, received the Synovus Scholarship. This scholarship supports students with financial need in the following counties with a Synovus branch: Floyd, Gordon, Walker and Whitfield.

The Gordon County Campus Scholarship recognizes excellence in students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate on the Gordon County Campus. James Dalton, Paramedicine, Gordon County Campus, and Alyceson McPherson, Accounting, Gordon County Campus, have received this scholarship.

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; Terri Kirby, Whitfield 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, 12,241 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,031 students and an additional enrollment of 4,210 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start.