STC Foundation celebrates 2018 Tribute to Community STARs

SAVANNAH, Ga. – A crowd of more than 200 gathered in the Eckburg Auditorium on the campus of Savannah Technical College today to celebrate the 2018 Tribute to Community STARS luncheon, the twelfth annual event recognizing people for their service and dedication in the community or at work.

Honored were:

Erica Backus, Director of Public Relations, Visit Savannah, sponsored by Advertising Specialty Services;
Tom Barton, Retired Editorial Page Editor/Freelance Writer, sponsored by Judy & Dick Eckburg;
Judge James F. Bass, Jr., Superior Court Judge, Chatham County, Georgia, sponsored by Port City Bar Association;
Covardis Broadie, Site Manager, Urban Hope sponsored by Friends of Savannah Technical College;
Kimberly Caesar, 2018 Savannah Technical College GOAL Student of the Year, sponsored by Savannah Technical College;
Kaye Dowell, Principal Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo Bank, sponsored by Wells Fargo;
Brynn Grant, COO, Savannah Economic Development Authority / Vice President World Trade Center Savannah, sponsored by Mary & Howard Morrison;
Willie Hall, Instructor, EmployAbility, sponsored by EmployAbility;
Michelle Hetager, Vice President, Private Advisor, BB&T, sponsored by BB&T Insurance;
Stratton Leopold, Owner, Leopold’s Ice Cream, sponsored by DIRTT;
Mickey Minick, Director of Sales and Marketing,
Old Savannah Tours, sponsored by StayinSavannah.com;
Chris Phillips, Partner, HunterMaclean, sponsored by HunterMaclean
Michael Skinner, 2018 Savannah Technical College Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year, sponsored by Savannah Technical College;
Melissa Smiley, 2018 Savannah Technical College Eagle Student of the Year, sponsored by Savannah Technical College Foundation; and
Megan Yarbrough, Founder/Owner, Savannah Sharks, sponsored by Joe Marchese Construction, LLC

The keynote address was delivered by Weslyn “Lady Mahogany” Bowers, STC Marketing graduate and founder of Blessings in a Book Bag.

The event is hosted by the Savannah Technical College Foundation Community Council, a group of young professionals charged with expanding the awareness of Savannah Technical College and its mission through advocacy, awareness and fundraising.

Founded in 1984, the Savannah Technical College Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that exists to raise and disperse funds to support the College’s efforts to enhance learning, workforce training and economic development in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties. The Foundation also supports student success through its privately funded scholarships. The Foundation recently raised more than $7.2 million in its “Where Excellence Meets Opportunity.” The campaign focused on five key areas: precision manufacturing, health sciences, culinary arts/heritage tourism, technology and student support.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the associate degree, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit. Contact SACSCOC for questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College. All questions about admission, enrollment, job placement, and related matters should be directed to an appropriate office at Savannah Technical College. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, 1866 Southern Lane Decatur, GA 30033-4097, 404-679-4500.

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#1820 | April 13, 2018
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) is the premier provider of career-ready technical education in Coastal Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of nearly 150 market-driven programs, preparing students for high-demand careers including Aviation Technology, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation & Robotics, Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Public Services and more. With campuses in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, Savannah Tech serves more than 13,000 credit and non-credit students with a variety of pathways to success, including dual enrollment programs for high school students and specialized support services for military veterans and their families. Beyond academics, Savannah Tech is an economic and community development partner, collaborating with industry leaders to provide customized training programs, assessment services, and continuing education opportunities. For more information, visit www.savannahtech.edu.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Savannah Technical College complies with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The TCSG State Board prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status (“protected status”). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any TCSG program or activity because of the individual’s protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual’s protected status, except the preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.