Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) is focused on providing affordable college access and producing a trained workforce for businesses and industries in South Central Georgia. As educational expenses increase, more scholarships and program support through private donations are becoming more of a necessity than a luxury.

WGTC is supported by two separate foundations both with the focus of benefiting students and programs within their respective counties.

The WGTC Foundation North serves Atkinson, Ben Hill, Coffee, Irwin, and Wilcox counties, while the Foundation South serves Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Lanier, and Lowndes counties.

“Both foundations have a governing board with the responsibility of ensuring the foundation’s funds are spent wisely and in support of the mission to assist students and programs at Wiregrass,” said Dr. Penelope Schmidt, WGTC Foundation South Executive Director. “We raise money to support students and programs and for the most part, we want our students to graduate debt free.”

Schmidt explains that currently the biggest expense for students is the cost of textbooks and course supplies.

“The majority of our students are eligible for HOPE which covers most of their tuition and some are eligible for Pell [federal student aid], so the greatest out-of-pocket expense is the cost of textbooks,” Schmidt explains. “We buy the textbooks and then loan them to students and then lend those same books to other students in a later semester.”

Schmidt said both foundations also assists with providing supplies, program support, purchasing equipment and other expenses not covered through state appropriations.

“Everything we do is to support workforce development,” said Schmidt. “Most of our graduates stay in this area and so we are developing this region’s workforce. This means our graduates are better able to support their families and more people in the workforce contributes to an increase in the economy, and benefits all of us.”

Mona Paulk, WGTC Foundation North Executive Director, agrees that both foundations provide the necessary funds to support its campuses and students, while playing an important role in economic development.

“Our communities value and most certainly support our college and our students,” said Paulk. “We are very fortunate with the attachment our citizens and trustees have for us.”

Both foundations rely on donor contributions as well as special events throughout the year to raise private funds.

The WGTC South Foundation hosts the Gathering of Eagles, a business and industry leadership and networking seminar, and Corks and Forks, a small plate food and wine pairing fundraiser featuring students and instructors from the culinary program. The North Foundation concentrates its fundraising efforts on the annual community campaign and employee campaign.

For more information, visit the WGTC Foundation at  www.wiregrass.edu/about/foundation.php