Four local students recently were selected as recipients of Georgia-Pacific Foundation Employees’ Children Scholarships. Katherine Cope, a graduate of South Effingham High School, Hayley Fritch of Southeast Bulloch High School, and Ashley Sanders and Gabrielle Usher, both graduates of Effingham County High School, all were recently honored during a recognition lunch hosted in their honor at the Savannah River Mill.
Each year the company awards 50 scholarships to the children of employees across the country. Katherine, Hayley, Ashley and Gabrielle were recognized as 2016 GP scholarship recipients during their respective high school awards nights.
Katherine is the daughter of Mike and Kimberly Cope. Mike is a manufacturing engineer at Georgia-Pacific’s Savannah River Mill in Rincon. Gabrielle is the daughter of Kenny and Diana Usher. Kenny is a fixed equipment specialist at Savannah River Mill. Katherine and Gabrielle both plan to attend the University of Georgia in Athens.
Hayley is the daughter of Michael and Carrie Fritch. Michael is an advanced technician at Savannah River Mill. Ashley is the daughter of Jody Sanders and Thomas and Jamie Kay Duncan. Jody is a fiber handler at Savannah River Mill. Hayley and Ashley both plan to attend Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.
“It’s a privilege to recognize the students of our Georgia-Pacific team members for their outstanding academic achievements in a way that helps them invest in their future,” said Rob Shaw, vice president of manufacturing at Savannah River Mill. “To have four graduates selected from our area certainly attests to the high caliber of students and quality of education in our local school systems.”
The Georgia-Pacific Foundation Scholarship Program for Employees’ Children awards $2,000 per year for up to four years of full-time college undergraduate study or until baccalaureate degree requirements are completed, whichever occurs first, for a total maximum award of $8,000.
Since the scholarship program began in 1988, Georgia-Pacific has awarded 1,450 scholarships totaling $11.8 million. The program is administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and is open to children of all active, full-time employees of Georgia-Pacific in the U.S. Georgia-Pacific received more than 300 applications for this year’s scholarships. Of the 50 students selected, four were in the local area.
“We are proud that for nearly 30 years, the Georgia-Pacific scholarship program has supported our employees’ children,” said Curley M. Dossman Jr., president of the Georgia-Pacific Foundation. “Education has long been a cornerstone of our giving philosophy, and awarding these scholarships to Georgia-Pacific families is particularly gratifying. We wish these students continued academic success.”
Across the country, Georgia-Pacific supports a wide array of community-based educational programs that help transition students from school to the workforce with scholarships, job readiness training and technical programs. Georgia-Pacific believes in helping people with the skills needed to succeed and move forward in today’s workplace.
