The West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) Foundation hosted its 22nd Annual Black Tie & Boots fundraiser on Friday, September 20, at the Callaway Conference Center, raising over $150,000 in net proceeds. The funds will directly support student scholarships, gap funding, and campus improvements while advancing academic programs and enriching the overall educational experience for WGTC students.

More than 300 guests attended this year’s event, which featured musical entertainment by Atlanta-based Platinum Southeast Premier Dance Band. The event also showcased a collaboration between Celebrity Chef Pat Neely and students from WGTC’s Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism Management and Culinary Arts programs, who together prepared and served hors d’oeuvres to guests during the cocktail hour.

During the program, the WGTC Foundation presented the 16th Annual ‘Spirit of Giving Award,’ which highlights an outstanding individual or group for their contributions to WGTC, to the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation. Founded in 2020 and named for local philanthropist Holland Ware, the foundation has provided 105 scholarships totaling $115,000 to WGTC students to date.  

Guests also heard inspiring testimonies from WGTC scholarship recipients Mariah Daniel (Robert D. Tisinger Scholarship), Joseph Jackson (Holland M. Ware Scholarship) and Linda Robles (WGTC Foundation Scholarship), each sharing how donor support has impacted their educational journeys. 

“What makes this [scholarship] even more special is that it shows how important the trades are,” Jackson said. “You’re investing in people like me, and that makes us feel like the work we are doing really matters. And it does. We build things, fix things, keep everything running smoothly- these are jobs that are so important in everyday life]WGTC President Dr. Julie Post closed out the program by sharing updates on the College’s current projects, including the upcoming Electrification and Transportation Center renovation on LaGrange’s East Campus. Programming in the new center will be focused on electrification and automobile manufacturing trades.

“The success of this year’s fundraiser is a testament to the remarkable spirit of our community and the dedication of our supporters,” said Brittney Wells, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement. “These funds will help provide financial assistance to so many of our hardworking students. We cannot thank our communities and donors enough for their continued support of WGTC.”

For information on how you can support the WGTC Foundation, contact Brittney Wells at [email protected].

The WGTC Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 1988 to encourage, solicit, receive, and administer gifts and bequests of property and funds for the benefit of the college and its students. The Foundation is supported and advised by a Board of Trustees made up of members of the community who serve as ambassadors for the college throughout its seven-county service area. Partnerships and gifts enable the foundation to support the best possible learning environment for our students. 

West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers more than 120 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is one of the largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, please visit www.westgatech.edu.