Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GTNC) announces the establishment of a new scholarship, which is funded by the Latin American Association with the sponsorship of Mohawk Industries Inc., to support Latino or Hispanic students who graduated from eligible high schools in Floyd, Gordon, Murray or Whitfield Counties.
Six $1,000 scholarships will be awarded for the spring 2025 semester; scholarships will be applied to tuition, fees and related educational expenses. The GNTC Foundation will accept applications for the spring 2025 semester for this and other scholarships through Nov. 3.
“We are so excited about this new partnership with the Latin American Association and Mohawk,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. “This scholarship will go a long way in supporting outstanding GNTC students. We could not be more appreciative and look forward to developing this terrific partnership even further.”
According to the Latin American Association (LAA), the organization is collaborating with GNTC to change the lives of students and families and advance outcomes for the Latino community in northwest Georgia and beyond.
Rafael Huerta, managing director of the Latin American Association in northwest Georgia, stated that the Latin American Association is honored to partner with Mohawk Industries and Georgia Northwestern Technical College on this scholarship program.
“A strong community is based on collaborations, and we are delighted to offer the first annual LAA-Mohawk scholarship program to students enrolled at GNTC,” Huerta said. “The LAA’s Economic Empowerment focus area supports education and workforce development by conducting events and activities in our community, like the Latino Youth Leadership Conference, the Dalton-Whitfield Latino Leadership Institute and the LAA-Mohawk Scholarship program. We look forward to serving GNTC students and their families.”
The LAA works to empower Latinos to adapt, integrate and thrive. For more than 50 years, the LAA has worked in Atlanta to empower Georgia’s Latino communities, assisting clients in a language they understand and in an environment that is culturally responsive to them; the organization expanded these services in 2019 to northwest Georgia by opening the Dalton Outreach Center, according to the LAA.
“We believe in the mission of the LAA and what they do for the community” said Lauren Sneary, senior director of Communications for Mohawk Industries’ Flooring North America segment. “We have generations of Hispanic families and culture here in northwest Georgia, and as we look at how both our community and our workforce has grown over the last three decades, we believe that education, professional resources and family services are critical for everyone.”
Sneary said Mohawk is “proud to be a longstanding partner and supporter of GNTC, with the opportunities it creates at an individual level and the impact it has at a regional level, preparing students for excellent, stable careers while supporting industry in northwest Georgia.”
“This scholarship opportunity reflects the partnership across our three organizations and our joint commitment to our students and our communities,” Sneary explained. “Our hope is that the scholarship demonstrates that commitment in a tangible way and helps the deserving recipients propel their studies, their goals and ultimately their careers in northwest Georgia.”
In northwest Georgia, the LAA partners with Dalton Public Schools to provide direct services to students through the Latino Youth Leadership Academy, the Latino Youth Leadership Conference and Back to School Bash, as well as by reaching out to families by presenting the LAA information and services at parent meetings, according to the LAA. The organization collaborates with Whitfield County Schools to provide opportunities to students and parents by organizing and participating in events and activities like the Latino Youth Leadership Conference and Back to School Bash.
Scholarship applicants must be a resident of Floyd, Gordon, Murray or Whitfield County; be involved in the Latino or Hispanic community in one or more of the following ways: heritage, involvement, volunteerism, language and support; be a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident or DACA recipient; have a 2.5 cumulative GPA at the time of application; and be a GNTC student in good standing and enrolled full-time or part-time for the current academic year.
Visit www.gntc.edu/community/foundation/scholarships/ for more information on GNTC Foundation scholarships.
