Grants provide important student support

The GGC Foundation secures private philanthropic support to help strengthen programs, initiatives and opportunities for student success. Two recent grants are helping to ease student financial burdens while expanding professional opportunities for faculty members.

The Beacon Foundation’s recent $23,000 grant earmarked for the GGC Student Emergency Fund is the sixth of its kind and will make a tremendous difference in the lives of many students. The GGC Foundation works closely with the Office of Financial Aid to identify students who are at risk of dropping out due to a tuition or fee shortage of $200 or less.

“As a result of this grant, qualifying students receive one-time emergency funding, allowing them to remain enrolled,” said Lori Buckheister, vice president for Advancement. “Alleviating financial stress allows our students to focus on academics as they work towards earning their degree.”

Kaiser Permanente of Georgia

recently made a grant of $45,000 to provide eight undergraduate scholarships for nursing majors as well as professional development expenses for nursing faculty. This is the third year the organization has provided such a grant.

The scholarships are often particularly transformative.

“Receiving this scholarship was truly an answer to my prayers,” said Holly Hawkins, ’18, who lost both her financial aid and her job just before being awarded a scholarship. “I am able to continue with the nursing program and not only create a bright future for myself, but for my son as well.”

“This scholarship helped me focus more time and energy on my studies and less on worrying about how to pay for my education,” said Aby Abraham, ’17, a pediatric nurse at Egleston Children’s Hospital in Decatur.

“Attending nursing school, working and taking care of three kids is not easy,” said Julia Tran, ’18. The scholarship reduced her working hours and increased her family and study time.

Sarah Minju Kim, ’18, used her scholarship to fund participation in a globally and culturally competent program through which she volunteered with an elementary school in Tanzania last summer.

“I appreciate Kaiser Permanente’s acknowledgement and dedication to helping students succeed in their undergraduate nursing program,” said Stephanie Atkinson, ’16, a scholarship recipient who now works as a critical care nurse in the cardio-vascular intensive care unit at Northeast Georgia Healthcare System in Gainesville. “It enabled me to pursue my passion to care for others.”

To learn more about the many options for supporting GGC students, faculty and programs, contact the Office of Advancement at 678.407.5588.

Sarah Minju Kim, ’18

Holly Hawkins, ’18 Julia Tran, ’18