Sara Parramore, Maddox Veterinary Technology Scholarship recipient, poses with Dr. Gene Maddox, founder of the scholarship.

Sara Parramore, Southwest Georgia Technical College (SWGTC) Veterinary Technology (Vet Tech) student, has been selected as the first recipient of the Maddox Veterinary Technology Scholarship through the SWGTC Foundation. This scholarship was developed after former representative Dr. Gene Maddox, DVM, and his wife, Patsy, donated funds to establish a scholarship that would strictly assist vet tech students.

Upon receiving the Scholarship, Parramore said, “This scholarship helped me a lot this semester with my tuition and fees. This is the first scholarship I have ever received, and I am very appreciative of it. It also makes me feel special to know that I am the first person to receive the Maddox Veterinary Technology Scholarship and I am thankful to Dr. Maddox for creating a scholarship for SWGTC’s Vet Tech students. I plan to apply for scholarships again next semester.”

Three of these scholarships will be awarded annually, one each semester, in the amount of $500 to assist with education related expenses. Students may apply if they meet the following scholarship criteria:

— Currently enrolled in SWGTC’s Vet Tech Program

— Submit an essay about why they chose the program

— Submit a letter of recommendation from a vet tech faculty member

— Submit a letter of recommendation from past employer or veterinarian

— Minimum GPA of 2.0

Parramore, who is in her second year of the vet tech program, says that her interest in animals was ignited while in high school. She was a member of the 4-H Club, where she discovered what it felt like to work with cattle and horses.

Parramore commented, “Once my family owned our own horses and cattle, I realized how much I enjoyed tending to their health and medical care. Then I knew I had a desire to not only work with animals, but to provide care for them.”

For the past six years, Parramore has worked part-time at Thomasville Animal Hospital (TAH) and continues to do so while in college.

“My experience working in the environment of veterinary medicine confirmed my passion for caring for large and small animals. I witnessed firsthand the contributions of a veterinarian and made the decision to attend SWGTC’s Vet Tech program,” added Parramore.

Sharon Poitevint, SWGTC Vet Tech instructor, has worked with Parramore in the classroom, but also at TAH. In Poitevint’s letter of recommendation she stated, “At TAH everyone loves her. I am always amazed and impressed at how she handles herself with animals and with clients. Sara is also an excellent student. She truly has a thirst for knowledge and is very proactive in learning. If she does not understand something, she will pursue it on her own until she does. She even utilizes her veterinarian and vet tech co-workers to gain the most comprehensive knowledge possible on any given subject.”

For more information on SWGTC’s Vet Tech Program, contact Dr. Bo Curles at (229) 227-3166 or bcurles@southwestgatech.edu or Poitevint at (229) 227-3174 or spoitevint@southwestgatech.edu. Information may also be found by visiting www.southwestgatech.edu/vettech.

SWGTC offers more than 80 certificate, diploma, and degree programs. Many of these programs provide training for some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields including Nursing, Automotive

Technology, Clinical Laboratory Technology, and Emergency Medical Technology. More information may be obtained by calling 229-225-4096 or by logging onto www.southwestgatech.edu.

Spring Semester begins Jan. 7, 2014.