Wiregrass Georgia Technical College has recognized Gracie Johnson and Roy Warren as its 2024-2025 Employees of the Year. These employees were honored for their dedication, hard work, and leadership skills by the faculty and staff of the college. Wiregrass employees annually nominate a staff member and a supervisor for their exemplary performance on the job. The nominations are narrowed down by a committee and the finalists are interviewed by a panel of judges to decide who will be honored.
Gracie Johnson, Student Accounts Specialist, was awarded the annual James A. Bridges Vanguard Award for the staff member of the year. Here is one of the many great things said about Gracie in her nominations: “You will find no better example of an employee who uses her skills to assist her coworkers than Gracie Johnson. A simple question asked to Gracie has led to hours upon hours of her help – help that has greatly benefited the lives of many students. Gracie’s assistance – sometimes outside the scope of her job duties – has made me more efficient at my job and has generated a working partnership for which I’m highly grateful. I have witnessed Gracie put many students at ease with her warmth and willingness to help. We are all stronger because of employees like Gracie”.
Johnson has been with the college for three years and, is a proud graduate. As a Student Accounts Specialist, she serves as the primary contact for student account balance questions, assists with Nelnet contracts and student inquiries, and provides answers to questions regarding refund dates/processes and tuition and fees for students. She works with the Financial Aid and Records offices on communication plans for balance notices, drops for non-payments, and processes for being added back to classes. She communicates and assists students with their 3rd party payments and invoicing, coordinates with Foundations for emergency assistance and scholarships, and accepts and reconciles payments. She has her Associate of Science in Accounting and will graduate with an Associate of Science in General Studies this Fall from Wiregrass. She also holds certificates in Office Accounting Specialist, Computerized Accounting Specialist, and Payroll Accounting Specialist. She plans to transfer to Valdosta State University to begin work on her bachelor’s in Accounting. She currently serves on the college’s Emergency Preparedness and Safety Committee and the Finance Committee.
Johnson shared, “It’s such an honor and a privilege to be recognized like this by my peers. Getting to work with my amazing coworkers every day and then having them recognize the hard work I do for our students is so gratifying and gives me so much purpose to keep striving. In my position, I help students manage their accounts by informing them of scholarships through our Foundation office and assisting with payment plans to help make college more affordable by breaking up their balance into manageable payments so they can attend on a budget. More frequently, I’m helping students set up their refunds for any excess financial aid they are due. Having this role at Wiregrass makes me feel like I am serving the community to help make education affordable and accessible to all.”
The James A. Bridges Vanguard Award was created in honor of former Valdosta Technical College president, James A. Bridges. Bridges served the people of Valdosta and Lowndes County for 40 years, first as the vocational director of Valdosta High School, and then as president at Valdosta Tech. During his tenure, Bridges provided leadership as Valdosta Technical Institute became Valdosta Technical College. A strong believer in work ethics, he was the co-author of Georgia’s renowned work ethics curriculum. Thanks to his leadership, work ethics is not only taught at every technical college in Georgia but also post-secondary institutions all over the world.
Roy Warren, Dean of Enrollment Services and Student Success, was awarded the annual Lewis I. Brinson, Sr. Leadership Award for the supervisor of the year. Here is one of the many great things said about Roy in his nominations: “Roy espouses the characteristics he enacts. He genuinely cares about the students and his staff. He always emphasizes giving grace to others and being kind-hearted to everyone. He encourages his team to take care of each other and to take care of the students.” In his role Warren is over the college One-Stop Enrollment and Success Center. He and his advisors, on the four campuses, assist students from admissions through graduation by assisting in the admission processes of entering the college, assisting in program selection, advising them, registering for classes and providing resources that promote student success.
During his tenure here at Wiregrass, he has been a Telecommunications Instructor and Program Coordinator, Academic Program Director, Director of New Program Development, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Dean of Academic Success. He has also served on several committees including the President Leadership Committee, Policy/Procedures Committee, Technology Committee, Distance Education Committee, and Financial Aid Appeals Committee. On committees involving the communities, he has served as the college’s liaison to the Joint Economic Development group, Communities Joint Development Committee, and Valdosta’s Military/Veterans Community Blueprint Initiative. Currently, he is a member of the college’s WeCare Team, serves as Chair for the Student Conduct Committee, and serves on the Distance Education Committee.
Warren has been employed by Wiregrass for twenty-five years. “I am honored and humbled to be nominated and selected by my colleagues here at WGTC. It’s a truly difficult process every year due to all the great employees to choose from when making your nominations. I have enjoyed all the positions I have had here at the college over the years, but my current role is probably the most rewarding due to the sheer number of students and staff that I am blessed to serve and better their lives in the process. Looking back as an instructor and seeing many of my past students thriving in their careers for over 20 years brings a smile to my face and a happy heart, but the rewards of helping students navigate and succeed in getting through to graduation are much more rewarding because it runs a full spectrum of emotions -crying, anger, happiness, sadness, dancing and the confidence you see growing within them is amazing. Lastly, no successful person walks alone – I am even more honored to have such a great team to work with at all levels and departments at the college. I hope that I have modeled servant leadership over the years as those around me continue to grow and succeed in their future goals and accomplishments. If so- Job Done…,” shared Warren.
This award was named in honor of Lewis I. Brinson, Sr. for his visionary leadership, his unquestionable integrity, and his passion for technical education. Brinson was the founding director (president) of Ben Hill-Irwin Tech. The World War II veteran taught in the Ben Hill County School System for 20 years. During these 20 years, he served as the vocational director at Fitzgerald High School. Based on his integrity and outstanding leadership qualities, in 1968, the Board of Directors of Ben Hill-Irwin Tech selected Mr. Brinson to serve as the first director of the school, a position he filled for the next 15 years, retiring in 1983. Brinson was responsible for overseeing the construction of what is now the 100 through 400 wings of the Charles Harris Learning Center as well as hiring the original faculty and staff of the college.
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