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Investing In Dreams Winners Announced

At a black-tie gala at Georgia Piedmont Technical College Conference Center (GPTC – Formerly DeKalb Technical College) Saturday night six recipients of the 2012 Investing in Dreams Gala were unveiled. Other awards given included the “William Hawes Lifetime Achievement Award”, the “President’s Award”, and the “Chairman’s Award”.

Nearly 300 people attended the third annual Investing in Dreams Gala.  The fundraising event supports the Georgia Piedmont Technical College Foundation. The college serves DeKalb, Rockdale, Newton and Morgan counties.  In each of these nominations were made for the prestigious award.  Organizations or individuals were nominated based on their support of education and sustainability.  The theme of this year’s gala was “Come to the Emerald City, where dreams come true.”  A total of 24 individuals or businesses were nominated. Four businesses and two individuals were given the award.  They include:  Rema Tip Top from Morgan County, General Mills from Newton County, Golden State Foods from Rockdale County and MARTA from DeKalb County.  Individual honorees were James Woodard, the president and CEO of the Newton College and Career Academy, and DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon.

The organizations that were nominated for this prestigious award are:  Georgia Power, Dixie Industrial Finishing Company, The Pepsi Bottling Group, Oglethorpe Power, Trojan Battery, MARTA, Dart Container, Golden State Foods, Solo Cup Company, Bio Lab, A Chemtura Company, Pratt Industries, General Mills, Rema Tip Top, Madison-Morgan Conservancy, Flambeau, Inc., and Anthony International.  Individual nominees include: James Woodard – Newton College and Career Academy, Sheriff Thomas E. Brown – DeKalb County, Kathie Gannon – Commissioner of DeKalb County, Nick Goebeler – Chick-Fil-A, Roger House – Axiom Corporation, Sharon Barnes-Sutton – Commissioner of DeKalb County, LeRoy Tanker – Freedom Financial Services, Lu Arthur Woodson – Alpha Climate Control.

The William Hawes Lifetime Achievement Award was given to retired Georgia Piedmont Technical College president, Dr. Robin Hoffman for her 38 years of service to the college.  DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis accepted the Chairmans award, and 100 Black Men of DeKalb was given the President’s Award by GPTC Acting President Larry Teems..

The Investing in Dreams Gala was the culmination of the college’s 50th anniversary celebration. “We are excited about celebrating our college's 50th anniversary at the gala. We are also excited to have the support of the Atlanta Regional Commission's Executive Director, Doug Hooker, as our Honorary Chair, as well as the Chambers of Commerce in DeKalb, Rockdale, Newton, and Morgan counties as our Event Co-Chairs,” says Cynthia Dorsey Edwards, Executive Director of the GPTC Foundation.  The event Co-Chairs include Kevin Greiner from the DeKalb County Chamber, Michelle Bryant-Johnson from the Covington-Newton Chamber, Lorraine Harrison from the Rockdale Chamber, and Erik Thompson from the Madison-Morgan Chamber.

The Georgia Piedmont Technical College Foundation, a 25-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, assists in raising funds and securing resources to support the College’s strategic initiatives and is managed through a volunteer board of trustees.