Foundation

About the Athens Tech Foundation

Our Mission

To partner with Athens Technical College and with the community to build the workforce of today and for the future.

Our Vision

To be the influential liaison with Athens Technical College and with the community to fulfill the college mission.

Overview

The Athens Tech Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Athens Technical College. It serves as a bridge between donors and the college, ensuring that resources are available to the College and its students. Established in 1988, The Athens Tech Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit corporation registered under the Internal Revenue Code’s section 501(c)(3) and is further classified as a public charity under section 509(a)(1) of the Code. The Foundation is governed by a board of directors compromised of community leaders in the College’s eleven county service area.

The Foundation actively seeks out and partners with businesses, industries, foundations, organizations, and individuals who wish to invest in our students through grants, scholarships, endowments, and in-kind donations. All gifts made by cash, check, real or personal property, securities, bequests, or by naming the Foundation as a beneficiary of insurance policies, trusts, or retirement plans are tax-deductible. Gifts can be designated as unrestricted or restricted by the donor.

The Athens Tech Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is the policy of the Athens Tech Foundation that a percentage of gifts will be used to defray the costs of administering funds based on policies set by the Board.

Donor Bill of Rights 2023 Impact Report

For additional information, please contact:

Antoine Boynton: ABoynton@AthensTech.edu or (706) 355-5025

Areas of Need

Athena Fund (Greatest Need)

These gifts allow the Foundation to support college-wide needs and Foundation operations. Gifts of all sizes are needed to sustain operations and support the College’s mission.

Retention Grants

Settles past due balances for students in good academic standing who would have otherwise been rolled out of their classes. Retention Grants funds help increase retention and graduation rates.

Foundation Scholarship Fund

Supports eight annual scholarships each semester set up by the Foundation Board of Directors. $500 will sponsor a full-time student for one semester.

Named or Endowed Scholarships

Named scholarships require a $5,000 investment. Endowed scholarships start at $25,000 and can be made in pledge payments.

Form 990s

2019 Form 990 2020 Form 990 2021 Form 990

Foundation Scholarships

All ATC students are encouraged to submit the general application and see which scholarships they are eligible to apply for. All parts of the application, including letters of recommendation, must be received by the posted deadline to be considered. Late applications will not be accepted.

View our list of scholarships here

Step 1: Create an Account

The Athens Tech Foundation uses AwardSpring software to facilitate the scholarship application process. Be sure your internet browser is Internet Explorer version 10 or beyond, or use any version of Chrome or Firefox.

Visit AwardSpring and create an account using your ATC student email address. You will be emailed a link to confirm your registration. Please record your password for future use, as you will use this same account and password to apply each semester.

Based on your GPA, program of study, and other factors specific to your account, you will automatically be matched with scholarships for which you qualify.

Step 2: Complete the Entire Application

Some scholarships require proof of residency or other specific documents you will need to upload. Be sure to provide all information that is requested, including the letter of recommendation. You do not have to complete the application all at once. You may log back in with your student email address and password at any time. If you forget your password and need it reset, please email us. Complete the application here.

Step 3: Request and Verify Your Letter of Recommendation

YOU are responsible for your recommendations – do not wait until the last minute for this! We suggest asking for a recommendation in advance of putting their contact information on the application, as they will receive an automatic email once you add them to the application. You will receive an email once the recommender has completed it. The recommender may send a signed letter for you to upload instead of an email. Request and verify your letter of recommendation here.

Step 4: Verify Your Class Registration

Scholarship applications will not be considered until you have enrolled for the semester you are applying for. Verify your class registration here.

Step 5: Notification/Thank You Letters

You will be notified by student email confirming or denying your scholarship award(s). All students who have been awarded scholarship funds must write and upload a thank you letter by the date specified in the chart.

Athens Tech Foundation 2025 Board of Directors

Officers

• Chair – Mr. Graham Joyner | Co-Founder and CEO, METAL + PETAL
• Treasurer – Ms. Katherine Alexander | Vice President, Retail Market Manager, Synovus
• Secretary – Ms. Joy Pirkel | Lean Development Manager, Caterpillar Inc.

Board

• Mr. Jeremiah Bame | Chief Nursing Officer, Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital
• Mr. Brian Barfield | Area Manager, AT&T Services, Inc.
• Ms. Susan Bogardus | Market President, BankSouth
• Mr. Fred Butler | Athens Sales Center Manager, Athens Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
• Mr. William “Bill” Bushnell | Attorney
• Mr. Paul Cramer | President/CEO, The Classic Center
• Ms. Patricia Dixen | Retired, Marketing Director
• Mr. Dwain Evans | Director of Enterprise Accounts-Retail Sector, UPS
• Ms. Shannon Ford | VP – Athens Financial Center Manager, Oconee State Bank
• Mr. John Howard | Mayor of Monroe and Director of Sales, Georgia, Kaeser & Blair, Inc.
• Ms. Jill Kent | Senior Operations Manager, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
• Ms. Rachel McCall | Director of Marketing & Patient Experience, Elbert Memorial Hospital
• Ms. Lindsay Lucas McConnell | Vice President, Phil Hughes Automotive Group
• Mr. John Skinner | Commercial/Industrial Engineer, Jackson EMC
• Ms. Martine Thy Nguyen | Ligation Paralegal, Fortson, Bentley & Griffin, P.A.
• Carol Williams | Associate Broker, Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty

Member Ex-Officio

• Dr. Andrea D. Daniel | President, Athens Technical College
• Mr. Antoine Boynton | Vice President of External Affairs and Institutional Advancement, Athens Technical College
• Nominating Committee Chair – John Skinner
• Scholarship Committee Chair – Patricia Dixen
• Fundraising Committee Chair – Graham Joyner
• Finance and Investment Committee Chair – Katherine Alexander
• Executive Committee Chair – Graham Joyner