Wiregrass thanks donors; dedicates college’s new symbol
Published 11:42 pm Wednesday, July 7, 2010
- The crown of the sculpture fountain at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is shown here.
Those that supported Valdosta Technical College during its transition into Wiregrass Georgia Technical College were honored Wednesday afternoon at the college.
The Valdosta Technical College Foundation held its 2009-2010 leadership appreciation in Building 700 and at the same time WGTC dedicated a fountain that will stand as a symbol of the newly merged college.
Randy Sauls, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, opened the ceremony by thanking those that have donated funds to the college in the last year.
Cynamon Willis, Development Committee Chair, then shared the 2009-2010 campaign giving results. Surpassing the goal of $300,000 the campaign raised $326,317, with $247,817 in cash contributions and $51,500 in in-kind donations.
“Giving to the technical college is truly an opportunity to help the community help itself,” Willis said.
The funds raised through the campaign impact the students directly, providing services for the students through equipment purchases and scholarships, she said.
Dr. Ray Perren, president of WGTC, then came forward to discuss the fountain.
The design is a symbol of South Georgia’s history, of the pioneers who came to the area hundreds of years ago and cultivated this land and made it prosperous, Perren said.
It is also a symbol of the future of the area and the college itself, a college committed to growing students for the future, he said.
The wiregrass sculpture was designed by WGTC student Will Hancock. The design was donated by Ellis, Ricket and Associates and created by the WGTC welding department, helmed by Cabot Carlton.
The bricks around the fountain are inscribed with various names, honoring those who have come through the college or placed in memory of those that have had an impact at the college.
The Fountain brick campaign is on-going, with each brick costing $100.
To christen the fountain, Perren, in good fun, requested that everyone in attendance go out to the fountain and throw coins in.
