Feb. 20, 2008

Two Great Choices - One Great Community

GSW, SGTC collaberate to promote Americus as a College Town

AMERICUS--Georgia Southwestern State University and South Georgia Technical College have combined forces with local business leaders to begin promoting the positive educational  opportunities offered in our area and are using the slogan, “Two Great Choices – One Great Community!”

“We are very fortunate to have two excellent higher educational institutions in Americus and I believe that this presents us with a unique opportunity to capitalize on our assets and promote the positive attributes of our community,” said South Georgia Technical College President Sparky Reeves.

Reeves and Dr. Kendall Blanchard, President of Georgia Southwestern State University unveiled the “Two Great Choices – One Great Community” project highlighting the educational and economic impact of the two schools on this area during the Americus – Sumter County Chamber of Commerce annual banquet on the SGTC campus recently.   They are also encouraging individuals, businesses, and industries to join in this joint effort to promote our area as a college town.

“Georgia Southwestern and South Georgia Tech have never been more important to the local economy.  Individually they have and will always make a difference.  Together they can soar to new heights.  But with the strong support of the community they can accomplish the impossible, both for themselves and the community,” said GSW President Dr. Kendall Blanchard.  “For this reason I am not bashful about asking folks to contribute to this fund.”

Earl and Barbara Gammage of Gammage Print Shop in Americus, are strong supporters of both institutions, and have made a generous donation to the GSW Foundation and the South Georgia Technical College Foundation to help promote this idea.  They are also hoping to encourage our local young people to attend college at either Georgia Southwestern or South Georgia Tech.

“Barbara and I are pleased to be able to support this initiative,” said Earl Gammage.  “We believe in Americus, we believe in Georgia Southwestern and we believe in South Georgia Tech.  We hope that other people will follow our example and help us promote our area because we are fortunate to have ‘Two Great Choices in our Great Community.’”

The Gammage’s also agreed to print and mail out a joint letter from the Georgia Southwestern State University and South Georgia Technical College encouraging community leaders to contribute to the “Two Great Choices – One Great Community” campaign.  The GSW and the SGTC Foundation will share in contributions to this project equally.  The donations will be used to promote, publicize, and recruit young people to GSW and SGTC.

“In a show of unity in our community, the South Georgia Technical College and the Georgia Southwestern State University Foundations, spearheaded by a generous gift from Earl and Barbara Gammage, have entered into a joint fund-raising campaign,” said Boyce E. “Stick” Miller, III, Executive Director of the GSW Foundation, Inc.

“To my knowledge, this is a first in the cooperative history of these two great institutions.  It demonstrates our commitment to helping make Americus a true ‘College Town.’  The Georgia Southwestern State University Foundation is proud to participate in this worthy cause that will raise funds to be used to recruit students for both schools,” added Miller.

“This is a very unique opportunity for the people of Americus and Sumter County to give back to GSW and South Georgia Tech and help their community in the process,” said Su Ann Bird, Executive Director of the SGTC Foundation.  “The contribution from Earl and Barbara Gammage  has provided a catalyst for our two institutions and our community to work together to promote this area.”

Individuals or businesses who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the “Two Great Choices – One Great Community” fund may send donations to “Two Great Choices – One Great Community,” P.O. Box 6102, Americus, Georgia 31709.  For more information contact Boyce “Stick” Miller at the GSW Foundation at 229.931.2014 or Su Ann Bird at the SGTC Foundation at 229.931.2110.

Community support--Earl and Barbara Gammage of Gammage Print Shop helped initiate the “Two Great Choices – One Great Community” joint fund drive between Georgia Southwestern State University and South Georgia Technical College by making a generous donation to the cause recently.  Shown above (l to r) are GSW Foundation Executive Director Boyce E. “Stick” Miller, III; GSW President Dr. Kendall Blanchard; Earl Gammage, SGTC President Sparky Reeves, Barbara Gammage, SGTC Director of Resource Development and Marketing Su Ann Bird; and GSW Public Relations Director/Development Officer Stephen Snyder.

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