Media release from Georgia Northwestern Technical College:
The Foundation at Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) awarded $54,238 in grants and scholarships for fall semester 2026.
Grant and scholarship awards ranged between $100 and $1,500 to assist in paying for fall semester at GNTC. Sixty-one grants and scholarships were awarded to 59 students.
“We applaud these students for their excellence in the classroom and their steadfast commitment to their goals,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC. “Each student has a different story, but they all have the same dream: to complete their education. Without a doubt, these future GNTC graduates will be great contributors to the northwest Georgia workforce.”
The GNTC Foundation has awarded Adult Education Scholarships to (showing student’s name, hometown, program of study and campus) Waymond Gibson, Cohutta, Business Management, Whitfield Murray Campus; Jasmine Lindhorst, Dalton, Criminal Justice, Whitfield Murray Campus; Arlene Peek, Rome, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus; Brandon Plemons, Chickamauga, CAD Operator, Walker County Campus; and Jaden Williams, Lyerly, Cybersecurity, Floyd County Campus. This scholarship awards graduates of GNTC’s Adult Education program with funding to continue their education at GNTC.
The GNTC Foundation has awarded Success Grants to Paula Atkinson, Resaca, Medical Front Office Assistant, Gordon County Campus; Mia Gibson, Cleveland, Business Management, Whitfield Murray Campus; Chase Mayo, Trenton, Healthcare Management, Walker County Campus; Kristina Oliver, Cedartown, Practical Nursing, Walker County Campus; Abby Sansing, LaFayette, Associate of Science in Nursing, Walker County Campus; and Jakyia Walker, Summerville, Associate of Science in Nursing, Walker County Campus.
The GNTC Foundation Scholarship is for qualifying outstanding students who are enrolled in any program of study leading to a degree, diploma or certificate. GNTC Foundation Scholarships have been awarded to Jada Brown, Summerville, Vascular, Floyd County Campus; Hannah Culpepper, Rome, Healthcare Management, Floyd County Campus; James Dalton, Adairsville, Healthcare Management, Floyd County Campus; Megan Ingram, Rome, Surgical Technology, Walker County Campus; David Lopez, Calhoun, Computer Support Specialist, Gordon County Campus; Jennifer Mullens, Ringgold, Associate of Science in Nursing, Walker County Campus; Grayson Myers, Rome, Respiratory Care, Floyd County Campus; Fabiana Tomas, Rome, Radiologic Technology, Floyd County Campus; Jason Voight, Canton, EMS Professions, Gordon County Campus; and Stephanie Wilson, Trion, Associate of Science in Nursing, Walker County Campus.
Voight has also received the Disabled Veterans Support Scholarship (DVSS). Funded by voluntary state income tax return donations, this scholarship supports U.S. military veterans with service-connected disabilities as they pursue technical education in Georgia. Administered by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Foundation, DVSS helps veterans focus on completing their programs and preparing for high-demand careers by addressing the cost of attendance, including tuition, required supplies and other real costs. The other recipients of this award are Jay Baird, Lindale, Gas Metal Arc Welder, Floyd County Campus; Aaron Bates, Rome, EMS Professions, Floyd County Campus; Christian Cooke, Rome, Healthcare Management, Floyd County Campus; Jaeger Jimenez, Euharlee, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Floyd County Campus; Paxton Long, Rocky Face, Cybersecurity, Whitfield Murray Campus; and Kevin Wilkes, Cedartown, Instrumentation and Controls Technician, Gordon County Campus.
The Governor Nathan Deal Technical Education Scholarship, which honors former Gov. Deal for his dedication to technical education in Georgia, was established by The Carpet and Rug Institute to reward academic excellence and provide financial support for GNTC students at the Whitfield Murray Campus completing an associate degree, diploma or certificate in an industrial-related program. Recipients of this scholarship are Jimmy Keener, Cisco, Automation Technology, Whitfield Murray Campus; Andy Phillips, Cohutta, Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Whitfield Murray Campus; Sarah Sane, Chatsworth, Welding and Joining Technology, Whitfield Murray Campus; and Stephen Williams, Dalton, Welding and Joining Technology, Whitfield Murray Campus.
William Mikell, Rome, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Technology, Floyd County Campus; and Blake Williams, Resaca, Precision Machining and Manufacturing, Whitfield Murray Campus, have received the Gene Haas CNC Scholarship, which 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.
Liany Rodriguez, Tunnel Hill, Horticulture, Floyd County Campus, has received the Floyd County Master Gardeners Scholarship. Established in 2021, the scholarship is open to students working toward the completion of a degree, diploma or certificate in the Horticulture program.
The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market Culinary Scholarship assists Culinary Arts students with equipment costs incurred at the beginning of the program and may also be used for tuition, fees or other educational expenses. Kelvin Padilla, Rome, Culinary Arts, Floyd County Campus, received this award.
The Rabbit Valley Farmers Market Horticulture Scholarship was established to provide financial support to Horticulture students planning a career related to environmental issues, farming, floral design, gardening, horticulture or landscape design. The scholarship has been awarded to Isabel Melton, Rome, Horticulture, Floyd County Campus.
Kristin Garrett, Rome, Respiratory Care, Floyd County Campus, received 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 Registered Nurse Scholarship provides financial support for outstanding students enrolled in the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program. The scholarship has been awarded to Madison Arrington, Chatsworth, Associate of Science in Nursing, Walker County Campus; Cristina Sandoval, Dalton, Associate of Science in Nursing, Walker County Campus; Lydia Shepherd, Fort Oglethorpe, Associate of Science in Nursing, Walker County Campus; and Yessica Urizar, Dalton, Associate of Science in Nursing, Whitfield Murray Campus.
Kevin Rico, Calhoun, Air Conditioning Technology, Floyd County Campus, received the Jack Dye Memorial Scholarship, which honors GNTC’s former Air Conditioning Technology instructor Jack Dye by supporting current students in the program. The scholarship is funded by his family and friends.
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. Rico and Landon Patterson, Rockmart, Construction Management, Gordon County Campus, have received this scholarship.
Landon Patterson and Justin Runyan, Cedartown, Radiologic Technology, Floyd County Campus, received the Judge Dan Peace Winn Scholarship. Established by the family of the late judge, this scholarship is open to Polk County residents or those with a connection to Polk County, who are completing a degree, diploma or certificate.
Marco Fraire, Dalton, Construction Management, Whitfield Murray Campus; and Teisha Stanford, Cartersville, Construction Management, Gordon County Campus, are recipients of the Perez Brothers Scholarship. Established by Octavio Perez to honor the memory of his brothers, this scholarship supports two students each semester enrolled in the Construction Management program, one with an interest in Carpentry and the other in Masonry.
Bryce Careathers, LaFayette, Electrical Systems Technology, Gordon County Campus; and Wade Robinson, Adairsville, Electrical Systems Technology, Gordon County Campus, received the Electrical Systems Scholarship, which rewards academic excellence and financially supports students in the Electrical Systems program.
The Roper Scholarship, established in 2024, provides financial assistance to students employed by Roper Corporation. Students can be enrolled in any credit program and must be employed at Roper during the application and award semesters. The award applies to tuition, fees, supplies, tools or other educational materials. Michael Doane, Chickamauga, Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Walker County Campus; and Andres Hernandez, Summerville, Automation Technology, Catoosa County Campus, received the Roper Scholarship.
The recipients of the Mohawk Scholarship are Gavin Francisco, Dalton, Commercial Truck Driving – Class A, Walker County Campus; Charles Page, Chatsworth, Commercial Truck Driving – Class A, Walker County Campus; Juan Rubio, Dalton, Commercial Truck Driving – Class A, Walker County Campus; and Jacob Trout, Crandall, Commercial Truck Driving – Class A, Walker County Campus. By sponsoring employees through the CTD program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Mohawk is helping team members develop valuable skills that support both their career growth and the transportation industry. The investment underscores Mohawk’s dedication to workforce development and strengthening talent pipelines across northwest Georgia.
Ambree Quarles, Sugar Valley, Health Care Management, Floyd County Campus, has been awarded the Vernon and Gaynelle Grizzard Scholarship, which was created by the family of Vernon and Gaynelle Grizzard to provide educational assistance to the children and grandchildren of Southeastern Mills or Grain Craft employees.
The recipients of the First Generation Scholarship are Sophia Crawford, Blairsville, Adult Echocardiography, Floyd County Campus; and Alondra Rivera, Dalton, Healthcare Management, Floyd County Campus. This scholarship is open to first-generation students working toward a degree, diploma or certificate; a first-generation student is defined as a student whose parent(s) and or legal guardian(s) have not completed college.
Selena’s Scholarship celebrates high-achieving first-generation students with a minimum 3.0 GPA, was awarded to Crystal Carr, Dalton, Healthcare Management, Walker County Campus; and Ethan Queen, Chatsworth, Cybersecurity, Whitfield Murray Campus. The scholarship honors the late Selena Magnusson, who was employed at GNTC for 26 years in a variety of roles, including executive vice president of Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success.
The GNTC Foundation Trustees are Valerie Brown, Whitfield County; Phillip Burkhalter, Floyd County; Linda Case, Dade County; Steven M. Henry, Catoosa County; Luther Ingram (vice-chair), Walker County; Amy L. Jackson (chair), Catoosa County; Jay LeGrande, Polk County; Craig McDaniel (treasurer), Floyd County; Paul Meredith, Chattooga County; Sherrie Patterson, Murray County; Damon Raines, Walker County; Becky Redd, Gordon County; and Doris White, Walker County.
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