GHC Scholarship Recipients and Donors Celebrated

Photo: Claire Pierce; Victoria Mlenga-Casey, recipients of the Sandy Mayson Memorial Scholarship; Dr. Randy Pierce, recently retired president of Georgia Highlands.  Sandy Mayson was Pierce's twin sister who died the day of GHC's 2010 graduation.

Georgia Highlands Colleges hosted its annual spring reception on April 19 at the Floyd campus to honor both scholarship recipients and donors. The college foundation made 102 awards totaling $92,000. There are three newly established scholarships that were awarded this year:; the James D. Maddox Memorial Scholarship, established and named after a founder of the college and the father of Rebecca Maddox, director and associate professor of nursing; the J. Randy Pierce Scholarship, honoring the recently retired president of the college; and the Lesley Graham Nursing Scholarship. Seventy-nine of the awards were provided through named scholarships. Another 23 students received emergency scholarships to get them through personal crises so they could stay in school.

All scholarship recipients received the award for the current 2011-2012 academic year.

Adams Criminal Justice Scholarship

Established to provide financial assistance as a bridge to the HOPE scholarship, it is funded by the Northwest Georgia Community Criminal Justice Foundation and the Rome Rotary Club.

Pamela Walters, Rome

Phillip Wheeler, Rome

Bartow County Service Scholarship

Established by an anonymous bequest from a resident of Cartersville, it requires that recipients give back to the community by working 80 hours with a non-profit organization.

J. J. Norris, Cartersville

Belen Dizon-Nora Nursing Scholarship

In honor of Belen Nora, the distinguished early director of Floyd College's nursing program, the award was established in 2009.

Cecilia Smith, Kennesaw

Betty R. Wollstein Nursing Scholarship

Established by the family of Betty Wollstein to honor her for her contributions to the nursing profession, this scholarship provides full tuition, fees and books to a qualifying first-year nursing student.]

Brittany Caffee, Acworth

　

　

Bill and Pat Eakes Nursing Scholarship

Established by Bill Eakes, a former Foundation Board member, and his wife Pat, the award is for LPN bridge and second-year nursing students.

Christie Boyd, Rome Justin Henry, Rome

Cynthia Harrington, Kennesaw Stephanie Higdon, Acworth

Kristy Fleming-Smith, Powder Springs Barrie Shirley, Marietta

Bobby Lee Cook Scholarship

Prominent Summerville attorney Bobby Lee Cook established the scholarship in 2011 for students needing a bridge to the HOPE scholarship.

Taylor Tinney, Trion

Carlin-Routledge Nursing Scholarship

The scholarship, established in 1990 by the family to honor its four generations of medical providers in Rome, is based on citizenship, academic merit and financial need to assist first-year nursing students.

Ervin Watkins, Rome

Carol Callahan Scholarship

Established by the Callahan family in memory of Carol Callahan, former Floyd College faculty member and director of Academic Support.

Brandon Allen, Douglasville

Cathryn E. Bloomfield Scholarship

Jon and Gail Bloomfield established this dental hygiene scholarship in memory of their daughter. It is based on academic merit, the ability to complete the program and financial need.

Shana Tomblin, Rydal

Colin W. Shanahan Scholarship

Established by John and Phyllis Shanahan in memory of their son Colin.

Steven Blume, Cartersville

Cook Study-Abroad Scholarship

Dr. Jim Cook, retired GHC history professor, began the scholarship to help finance trips for students who want to expand their education through foreign travel.

Justin Colburn, Woodstock

Walter Galvan, Douglasville

Victoria Roach, Cartersville

David W. McCorkle National Create Society Scholarship

Named for the first president of Floyd College (now Georgia Highlands), the scholarship was initiated by the late George Wallis , and is awarded to students gifted in poetry, prose, performance or photography.

Dakota Williams, Kingston

Christie Boyd, Rome

Esserman-Levin Fund for Social Justice Scholarship

The scholarship was established to elevate the importance of social justice in academics.

Ervin Watkins, Rome

Felicia Claxton Memorial Scholarship

Established by Dr. Susan Claxton, associate professor of human services, in memory of her daughter Felicia.

Alicia Speece, Dallas

Georgia Appalachian Center for Higher Education At-Promise Scholarship

For first-generation college students, the scholarship is funded by the GHC Foundation and awarded through the GACHE.

Adrian Fincher, Cedartown

Follett Textbook Scholarship

Follett manages the bookstores on the Floyd and Cartersville campuses of GHC. The company awards $2,000 in funds for textbooks each year.

Brooke Smallie, Acworth, first place

Heather Green, Dallas, second place

Tammara Simmons, Cartersville, third place

Folusho Ayeni, Cartersville, fourth place

GHC Foundation Scholarship

Established by the foundation to help meet special needs such as tuition, fees and books so that students can stay in school and graduate. There are two categories of qualification: traditional students and non-traditional students (who have typically been out of high school for five years or longer).

Brittany Adams, Rome Chukuemeka Nwokike, Marietta

Tina Bailey, Powder Springs Jason Parker, Lindale

Scharla Battle, Lindale Melanie Schwartz, Canton

LaTarca Blackburn, Rome Megan Seddon, Calhoun

Brandi Cline, Shamnon Yvonne Thompson, Rockmart

Brandon Hughes, Marietta Misty Turner, Lindale

Caleb John, Dallas Carlette Wills, Cartersville

Jamie Moore, Kennesaw

GHC Non-Traditional Scholarship

Melissa Adams, Acworth Elizabeth Rooks, Cartersville

Amanda Bing, Lindale Karen Schuttinga, Rome

Jennifer Davenport, Ellijay Julie Shrewsbury, Cartersville

John Erickson, Rome Cecilia Smith, Kennesaw

Jackie Hampton, Rome Alicia Speece, Dallas

Justin Henry, Rome Dianna Vanderhoof, Dallas

Matthew Kendall, Hiram Ervin Watkins, Rome

Kerry Maxwell, Rome

Jerry W. Shelton Scholarship

Awarded to students who demonstrate academic success and financial need, the scholarship was established by Jerry Shelton, a former GHC staff member.

Ashley Bunch, Calhoun

Kyle Blume, Cartersville

　

　

Junior Service League Nursing Scholarship

Initiated in 1999, the scholarship is provided to nursing students from Floyd County.

Kandy Gibbs, Rome

Lesley J. Henderson Nursing Scholarship

Established in honor of the late Lesley Henderson, who was on the nursing faculty at GHC, the scholarship is awarded to a student who has progressed to the second year of the program.

Kristi McCarley, Cartersville

Lovie Borchardt Memorial Scholarship

Was established by the Alpha Nu Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an education sorority, in memory of Borchardt, a former education professor.

Heather Green, Dallas

Sandy Mayson Memorial Scholarship

The GHC community established this scholarship in memory of Dr. Randy Pierce's twin sister, who died in 2010, as a bridge to the HOPE scholarship for those who haven't yet qualified.

Victoria Mlenga-Casey, Silver Creek

Summerville High School Memorial Scholarship

Exclusively for Chattooga High School graduates, this scholarship was established by the Summerville High School Alumni Association.

Anthony Bannister, Summerville

The Paulding Business Association Scholarship

Established for students from Paulding County who attend GHC-Paulding.

Jennifer Erhardt, Hiram

The Jim and Leatha Richie Scholarship

Named for a couple who operated a popular clothing store in Summerville.

Courtney Helms

Vernon and Gaynelle Grizzard Scholarship

Established for the employees of Southeastern Mills, which the Grizzards own.

Amber Williams, Rome

Haley Alexander, Lindale

Hillary Poulos, Summerville

Wesley C. Walraven Sr. Academic Scholarship

Named for the founding dean and vice president for academic affairs at Floyd College, the scholarship is awarded to two Pepperell High School graduating seniors.

Caleb Freeman, Rome

Brandon Treglown, Silver Creek

Several donors and family members of those for whom scholarships were named also attended the celebration, including Jon and Gail Bloomfield and their daughter Cynthia Elsberry, who teaches physical education at GHC-Marietta; Jon and Phyllis Shanahan; Jim Cook, professor-emeritus; Susan Claxton, associate professor of human services; Annette Mitchell, bookstore manager for Follett; Ashley Ellington, president, and Tami Compton, treasurer, of the Junior Service League; Ed Henderson and his wife, Lesley's, sister Laura Adams; Randy and Claire Pierce; Steve Edwards, former foundation board member and the leader in helping to establish the Jim and Leatha Richie Scholarship; and Theresa Perry from Pepperell High School for the Wesley C. Walraven Scholarship.