Anonymous $200K grant to CGTC helps reentry students

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Central Georgia Technological College acquired a $200,000 grant from an anonymous donor. The dollars aids former incarcerated pupils get back again to college.

Jaquez George says an opportunity like this doesn’t occur around very frequently, and he would like to make sure he does the appropriate matter.

George states he received out of jail two a long time in the past after remaining incarcerated numerous periods through his life.

But now, “I have received small children I acquired to take treatment of and a family members to feed,” George reported.

He’s in his initial semester at Central Georgia Technological College or university, enrolled in the barbershop application.

“I believe barbering is a scenario that could transform my life,” George said.

Dan Meyer, George’s teacher, assisted generate the barbershop application, and states it really is come to be quite impactful.

“It’s a huge reward to the instructors and to the pupils also simply because they are finding a talent to do. It is a superior occupation to get in,” Meyer said. 

“It truly is hard to find people today like that for the reason that most individuals appear at individuals who have been as a result of a problem and they turn the other cheek,” George stated. 

Brittany Lucas, the Government Director of Reentry Products and services, says Central Ga Technological University has delivered vocational and GED expert services for more than two a long time.

Other than barbering, they also give classes in cosmetology, welding, and signing up for, and additional.

“Appear out and determined that they would like to carry on and additional their education and learning. They have found their new passion, and now we get to be a portion of serving to them get to and attain their objectives,” Lucas said. 

“This grant is a really big assistance for me mainly because every little thing I had, I had to do it myself,” George mentioned. 

George suggests in the long run he hopes to open his have barber store. 

The grant helps with fifty percent of George’s money which include tuition, textbooks, and licensures. But, it is not going to just assist people like him. The nameless donor wants the revenue to go toward coaching and companies for veterans and adult schooling as effectively.