It is a personal honor and professional privilege to be back at Georgia Perimeter College. Some of you may know that I spent the earlier half of my career here. I care deeply about this institution, its access mission, and the people here who work hard to achieve that mission.

This is a challenging time for GPC as the college corrects budgetary issues while preserving and advancing the quality of education we provide our students. However, the faculty, staff and administration are strong, committed and up to the challenge. Rest assured; we will succeed.

I welcome you to GPC’s first online issue of The Chronicle magazine. This issue focuses on the impact that many of you make on the students we serve.

Visit any of Georgia Perimeter College’s five locations and you will find thousands of students who are busy carving out exciting, new paths for their lives. In classrooms and in hands-on projects, they are building the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to make a difference for themselves, their families, their communities and our world.

What you cannot always see is that many of these students would be unable to begin their journey—or stay on course—without the generous contributions that private donors make to the GPC Foundation. For students, those donations become textbooks, tuition and time for studying instead of working extra shifts to cover expenses.

The corporations, individuals, retirees, alumni, faculty and staff who contribute to the non-profit Foundation are quietly, but dramatically, changing lives.

In this issue, we show you examples of the impact of giving. We bring you stories of students and alumni who have benefited from financial support. We showcase some of the faces behind scholarships at GPC. We talk to those for whom giving back is a natural part of moving forward.

At Georgia Perimeter College, we value the support that enables us to increase opportunities for students. And we can clearly see the impact of your giving. It is in the lives you help to change.

Sincerely,

Rob Watts
Interim President, Georgia Perimeter College