The West Georgia Technical College Foundation awarded 60 current and future students with nearly $30,000 in scholarships last month.

The Board of Directors’ scholarships, given to high-school students planning to attend West Georgia Tech, are funded by the West Georgia Technical College Board of Directors. They are awarded every year to a graduating senior from each high school in the seven-county service area. The guidance counselors at each high school select the recipient of the scholarship.

Additionally, the West Georgia Technical College Foundation awards scholarships to current students three times per year, having awarded nearly $87,000 in funds in Fiscal Year 2017.

That’s up more than 3 percent over last year, when $84,000 in funds were awarded, and up by nearly 187 percent over FY15, when $30,000 funds were awarded.

“We are proud to be able to invest in the education of so many students,” said Kim Learnard, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at West Georgia Tech. “These students have bright futures ahead of them, and I highly commend the Board of Directors and our Foundation Trustees for investing in our students. We are fortunate to have a very engaged set of stakeholders, both internal and external.”

Clarence Hewitt, who’s studying Diesel Technology and enjoys working with diesel engines, received a WGTC Foundation scholarship.

“This scholarship helps empower and encourage me to continue my pursuit in this field,” Hewitt said. “By awarding me with this scholarship, I will be able to focus more on my learning, and that will make a huge difference in my life.”

Another current student and scholarship recipient, Kim Mele, is enrolled in the Radiologic Technology program, hoping to one day to continue her education and study mammography.

“Both my maternal and paternal grandmothers were diagnosed with breast cancer, so I am very passionate about this cause and the availability of early detection in my community,” Mele said. “Thanks to scholarships like this, I am one step closer to achieving my goal.”

The following 21 high-school students received the 2017 WGTC Board of Directors Scholarship: Savannah Taylor, Bowdon High; Jacqueline Miles, Carrollton High; Heather Herring, Holy Ground Baptist Academy; Makayla D. Tittle, Mt. Zion High; Michaela Hines, Villa Rica High; Elona Musliu, East Coweta High; Caitlin Nixon, Newnan High; Shayla Townes, Northgate High; Matthew Rhodes, Alexander High; Caitlin Dale, Chapel Hill High; Deshaun Davis, Douglas County High; Adrianna McArthur, Lithia Springs High; Brittany Davidson, New Manchester High; Ashton Roberts, Bremen High; Kasey Cook, Haralson County High; Kristen Eastridge, Troup County High; Aleea Barreras, LaGrange High; Preston Brown, Callaway High; Alec Gooch, Manchester High; Triston Marchman, Greenville High; and Christopher Knight, Heard County High.