GHC Celebrates Scholarship Recipients, Donors

Georgia Highlands College hosted its annual spring reception on Feb. 28 at Heritage Hall, the downtown campus, to honor both scholarship recipients and donors. The college foundation made 89 awards totaling $77,000 for the 2012-2013 academic year. There are two newly established scholarships that were awarded this year: the Gatekey Scholarship, established by the Cartersville-Bartow Community Foundation and funded by grants from the Shaw Family Foundation and the Cartersville Schools Foundation for students from that area; and the GHC and Career Academy Dual Enrollment Scholarship, funded by the college and the Floyd County College and Career Academy for students who are pursuing careers in education. Seventy-four of the awards
were provided through named scholarships. Another 15 students received emergency scholarships to get them through personal crises so they could stay in school.

The following scholarship recipients received awards:

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 nonprofit organization.
Isaac Watters, 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.
Danielle Caron, Kingston

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.
Katrina Whetstone, Whitesburg

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.
Sara Garner, Cedartown
Carrie Tullis, Cartersville

Marcus Lucas, Cedartown
Karen Schuttinga, Rome

Bobby Lee Cook Scholarship
Prominent Summerville attorney Bobby Lee Cook established the scholarship in 2011 for students needing a bridge to the HOPE scholarship.
Donnie Fowler, Armuchee

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.
Stacy Heideman, Kennesaw

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

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.
Kimberly West, Cartersville

Chiaha Scholarship
Established by the Chiaha Guild and Harvest Fair Committee to promote and support talented students of the visual arts.
Amanda Brendel, Adairsville

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.
Rosa Dobbs, Lindale
Amera Samha, Rome
Abigail Futch, Kennesaw
Tatiana Smithson, Cartersville
Kursten Hedgis, Rome
Hiliary Williams, Marietta
Jasmine Rich, White
Taylor Williams, Calhoun
Hunter Richardson, Douglasville

David W. McCorkle National Creative 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.
John Erickson, Rome
Jenny VanFossen, Rome
Susan Turgeon, Cartersville

Esserman-Levin Fund for Social Justice Scholarship
The scholarship was established to elevate the importance of social justice in academics.
Darice Parks, Rome

Felicia Claxton Memorial Scholarship
Established by Dr. Susan Claxton, associate professor of human services, in memory of her daughter Felicia.
Jessica Beckham, Bremen

Gatekey Scholarship
Funded by grants from the Shaw Family Foundation and the Cartersville Schools
Foundation, and established by the Cartersville-Bartow Schools Foundation, the
scholarship is awarded to students from Bartow County to encourage them to complete a post-secondary education.
Nicholas Bennett, Cartersville
Jasmine Nelson, Cartersville
Kevane Washington, Cartersville

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.
Larry Don Jones, Calhoun

GHC and Career Academy Dual Enrollment Scholarship
The scholarship was established by the GHC Foundation and the Rome/Floyd County College ad Career Academy so that high-school juniors and seniors can get a jump-start on their careers in early childhood education. They attend college classes while still in high school.
Casey Born, Rome
Katherine Stiles, Summerville
Randi Ellis, Rome
Emily Stripling, Rome
Breanna Landers, Lindale
Harrison VanWinkle, Rome
Kaitlyn Smith, Rome

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).
Wesley Garrett, Marietta
Sasha Tucker, Powder Springs
Betty Ann Spriggs, Rome
Thomas Wieman, Atlanta
Christopher Logan, Adairsville

GHC Non-Traditional Scholarship
Marcie Andrews, Canton
Amelia Bagwell, Cartersville
John Brown, Menlo
Maxine Clark, Rockmart
John Erickson, Rome
Casey Higginbotham, Calhoun
Heather Ray, Cassville
Leisha Roberts, Cartersville
Karen Schuttinga, Rome
Shandi Shedd, Rome
Alicia Speece, Dallas
Dynel Stephens, Cartersville
Chris Lindsey, Rockmart
Keslyn Powell, Cartersville

Jerry W. Shelton Scholarship
Awarded to students who demonstrate academic success and financial need, the scholarship was established by Jerry Shelton, a GHC professor emeritus.
Kyle Blume, Cartersville

Junior Service League Nursing Scholarship
Initiated in 1999, the scholarship is provided to nursing students from Floyd County.
Darsi Knowles, Silver Creek

Leslie J. Henderson Nursing Scholarship
Endowed in memory of former nursing professor Leslie Henderson by her husband Ed, the scholarship is awarded to a second-year nursing student based on merit and financial need.
Karen Schuttinga, Rome

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.
Jaimie Whitfield, Calhoun

Sandy Mayson Memorial Scholarship
The GHC community established this scholarship in memory of President Emeritus Dr. Randy Pierce’s twin sister, who died in 2010, as a bridge to the HOPE scholarship for those who haven’t yet qualified.
Sarah Bolt, Marietta

Summerville High School Memorial Scholarship
Exclusively for Chattooga High School graduates, this scholarship was established by the Summerville High School Alumni Association, and provides tuition for two years.
Wesley Harkins, Summerville

The Paulding Business Association Scholarship
Established for students from Paulding County who attend GHC-Paulding.
Heather Green, Dallas

The Jim and Leatha Richie Scholarship
Named for a couple who operated a popular clothing store in Summerville.
Adela Reyes, Summerville

University System of Georgia Foundation President’s Choice Scholarship
Sponsored by the University System of Georgia Foundation, the scholarship provides tuition assistance to GHC students entering their sophomore year. Funds for the scholarships are raised each year at the USG’s annual gala and silent auction.
Fadma Aziz, Dallas
Jennifer Tyson, Woodstock
Isaac Watters, Cartersville

Vernon and Gaynelle Grizzard Scholarship
Established for the employees of Southeastern Mills, which the Grizzards own.
Haley Alexander, Lindale
Matthew Sanders, 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.
Jeremy Baker, Silver Creek
Caleb Freeman, Rome

Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Georgia Foundation Scholarship
Provides full tuition to a Georgia resident enrolled full-time in an undergraduate course of study. GHC is one of 14 institutions receiving scholarship funds.
Terri Moore, Canton

Several donors and family members of those for whom scholarships were named also attended the celebration, including Betsy Ward, Belen Nora’s daughter; Mr. and Mrs. Jon Bloomfield, who endowed the dental hygiene scholarship in honor of their daughter Cathryn; Dr. and Mrs. Jim Cook, who created the Study-Abroad scholarship; Dr. Susan Claxton, who established the Felicia Claxton scholarship in memory of her daughter; Lisa Bell, president of the Cartersville City Schools Foundation, on behalf of the Gatekey scholarship; Eric Water, chief executive officer of the Floyd County College and Career Academy; Jerry Shelton, a professor emeritus of the Physical Education department who funded the Jerry Shelton scholarship; Liz Tierney and Ashley Evans, officers from the Junior Service League of Rome; Ed Henderson, who endowed the
Leslie Henderson nursing scholarship in memory of his wife, a GHC nursing faculty member; Carol Green, member of the Alpha Nu Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, which funded the Borchardt scholarship; GHC President Emeritus Randy Pierce and his wife Claire, whose sister Sandy Mayson is remembered through a scholarship funded by contributions from faculty, staff and community members; and Mr. and Mrs. Steve Edwards for the Richie scholarship.