GROW Southwest Georgia to celebrate first anniversary in Albany on Feb. 2

ALBANY — It has only been in existence a year, but for GROW Southwest Georgia, those 12 months have been eventful. There was the special recognition by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, plus — more importantly — the local agency has helped more than 100 area students prepare for college or a post-graduation career.

The organization is celebrating its birthday Feb. 2 with a gala during which it will award college scholarships to 15 students.

The gala starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Albany State University West Campus gymnasium, and the event will include visits from state Sen. Yasmin Neal and state Rep. Park Cannon, as well as representatives of several state agencies.

“We’re excited about this gala to celebrate this anniversary and to kick off year two,” Dontravious Simmons, an Albany native who founded the organization last year, said. “It’s going to be an opportunity where we’ll have the gala and a legislative mixer. “We’ve been very busy this year. We received a commendation from the governor in November.”

The $1,000 scholarships will be presented to one student each from 15 southwest Georgia counties.

GROW Southwest Georgia has as its mission helping build the next generation of workers, expanding college and university opportunities to rural students and building community and civic leaders.

Currently it is working with more than 600 students, primarily in Baker, Early, Calhoun, Sumter, Terrell and Worth counties.

“We’re providing academic support and college advising, research and preparation services and a career-development program and certification for industry,” Simmons said. “It’s needed because so many kids in rural southwest Georgia counties do not have the opportunities to travel to visit different industries across our state.”

Funds raised at the gala will go toward providing scholarships and the organization’s summer college and career tour.

“We’ll be taking students across the state to different colleges and industries,” Simmons said. “We’d like to see the community leaders, industry stakeholders and elected officials come out to support the young people.”

The Westover High School Marching Band and high school students from the region will make presentations during the event.

Tickets are $95 per person or $150 for a couple and may be purchased at https://www.growswga.org/webinar-registration.

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