The Dalton State Foundation hosted its annual Scholarship Day on April 25 where it presented nearly 300 scholarships to Dalton State College students for the 2025-2026 academic year.
“Scholarship Day is one of the ways we publicly recognize philanthropy’s impact here at Dalton State,” said David Elrod, director of the Dalton State Foundation. “Our scholarship donors have enabled hundreds of opportunities for our students, and Scholarship Day is our way of thanking them for their vision in enabling these awards as well as recognizing students who will be propelled to graduation with these scholarships and become productive citizens and professionals in our communities.”
The Foundation will expend an unprecedented $500,000 in financial aid for students in the upcoming academic year.
Among the scholarships announced during Scholarship Day this year, the Foundation awarded nine new endowed scholarships for the first time: the Andy Waters Memorial Scholarship for Murray County, the Betty Smith Study Abroad Scholarship, the John & Judy Schwenn Scholarship, the Marilyn M. Helms Scholarship in Business, the Mary & Ronald Taylor Scholarship in Nursing, the Melvyn & Marilyn Ottinger Basketball Scholarship, the Robert W. Weathersby II Memorial Scholarship in English, the Sue L. Webb Memorial Scholarship in Nursing, and the Sue Teasley Davis Scott Scholarship for Women in Business.
“Scholarships are essential here, but endowed scholarships are vitally important because they will be part of Dalton State forever,” Elrod said. “We are honored by our perpetual association with these families and individuals whose names will endure along with the College for generations to come.”
Donors wishing to support scholarships at Dalton State may do so online at daltonstate.edu/giving or by calling the Dalton State Foundation at 706-272-4473.
Access the event photo album HERE
Dalton State Foundation Scholarships awarded at Scholarship Day on April 25, 2025
Advanced Insurance Strategies Scholarship in Finance & Applied Economics
Jia Kataria, Enrique Soto
American Legion Post 112 Scholarship
Charles Haven
Andy Waters Memorial Scholarship for Murray County
Ellis Beavers, Kayley Evans, Marissa Garcia, Karol Monasterio, Patrick Parrish, Jami Rios, Michael Sanchez, Corbin Stover
Anthony & Barbara Kertulis Scholarship
Daniel Forester
Arthur B.E. Lauman Scholarship in Nursing
Christina Beavers, Mary Evans, Andrea Parton
Arvine Phelps Memorial Scholarship in Mathematics
Kylie Gray, Ashley Mendoza
Bank of America Scholarship
Memphis Duisen, Trinity Duisen, Frida Hernandez, Hannah Kresser, Cheyanne Stewart
Barbara ‘76 & Ronald Shiffler Scholarship in Accounting & Finance
Tina Emerson
Beatrice P. & Emory B. Grant Scholarship
Gabriela Paniagua
Betty Smith Study Abroad Scholarship
Obadiah Anderson, Jesus Bautista, Natalia Calderon, Tina Emerson, Jafet Estrada, Melanie Garland, Buffy Heaton, Diego Hurtado, Sierra Jackson, Mia Lowery, Gabriela Paniagua, Michelle Peeples, Daniela Portillo, Jose Ramirez Ramirez, Robert Stafford, Tiffany Whitney, Laura Worley
Bitsy & Stuart McFarland Scholarship in Business
Karla Alvarez, Kinaysha Cordero, Nadia Garcia
Bob E. Knisley Scholarship in English
Tiffany Whitney
Bryan E. McAllister ‘77 Scholarship in Accounting & Finance
Esteban Garcia, Thomas Kiker
Buchanan Family Scholarship
Autumn Estes
Bunco for the Cure Scholarship in Radiologic Technology
Yurytzy Guerrero, Juan Carlos Gutierrez, Bryan Salinas
Carlton Candler McCamy Memorial Scholarship
Mary Jones, Lauren Morgan, Hunsa Sheikh, Camryn Williams
Carolina Duarte Hammontree Memorial Scholarship in Business
Trisha Mae Gayda
Charles Edward & Belle Wills Wood Memorial Scholarship in Chemistry
Jacob Smith
City of Dalton Public Safety Scholarship
Tyler Ballew, Aubri Blankenship
Craig Catlett Memorial Scholarship in Engineering Technology
Adolso Hurtado
Dalton State Scholarship in Social Work
Edgar Pimentel
Dalton-Whitfield-Murray Retired Educators Association Scholarship in Education
Jillian Lowery, Madison Peterson, Teagyn Saylors, Vianey Vidana, Carmen Wheat
David E. Pennington III ‘74 Scholarship in Business
Calleigh Fisch, Vallie Oriahi
Derrell C. Roberts Memorial Scholarship in History
Jacob Kyer, Kristen Richardson
Dexter Raj Kapur ‘14 Scholarship in Criminal Justice
Victoria Jurado
Dixie H. Kinard Scholarship in Education
Madison Knick
Donald E. Davis Scholarship in Environmental Studies
Krista Burt
Donna Bentley Memorial Scholarship in Psychology
Sandia Corcoran, Kiara Moses, Selena Torres
Doris Shoemaker Memorial Scholarship in Health Professions
Pablo Quezada
Emily W. Lamb Memorial Scholarship in Nursing
Emily Burgess, Lexi Lyon, Mariano Morin
F. Harvey Howalt Jr. Memorial Scholarship in Chemistry
Caleb Moreno
F. Paul & Peggy R. Belk Scholarship in STEM
Walker Stephens
Fincher-Loughridge Scholarship in Education
Emily Knott, Kayleigh Ownbey, Willa Pitts, Carmen Potter, Katalynn Rexroad, Shelby Taylor, Emma Walther
George L. Jones Scholarship in History
Riley Morrison
Georgia United Credit Union / Tom Dickson Scholarship in Business
Jazmine Mejia, Sandra Sanchez Soto
Gibb Watts Memorial Scholarship
Monica Gonzalez, Rafael Reyes
Goizueta Foundation Scholarship
Karen Ajanel Ceto, Hanny Citalan, Silvana Gomez, Bielman Lopez, Josue Lovo-Machado, Amberly Vargas, Kasandra Vasquez
Hal ‘70 & Brenda Long Scholarship in Business
Brenda Hurtado
Harcros Chemicals Company Scholarship in STEM
Alan Catano
Ibrahim Awad ‘07 / Awad Law Firm Scholarship
Jamie Martinez, Jadah Ownby
J. Donald Bowen Scholarship in Management
Ruben Palmer
James E. Brown Scholarship
Danny Reeves
James M. “Jim” Aaron Memorial Scholarship in Accounting
Yesica Morales Rodriguez
James Thomas Pope Jr. Memorial Scholarship in Criminal Justice
Jason Thomas
Jayden LaVan Chatmon Scholarship in Nursing
Joanna De Leon
Jennie Fuquea Cleveland ‘03 Memorial Scholarship in Nursing
Brianna Reed
Jerry L. Clements ‘69 Scholarship
Kaylyn Orellana
John & Judy Schwenn Scholarship
Lauren Holguin
John A. Hutcheson Jr. Scholarship in History
Dustin Nicholson
John H. “Jack” Frank Memorial Scholarship in Chemistry
Braden Johnson
Johnnie & Peter Bakkum Scholarship in Social Work
Haley Shults
Jolly Family Scholarship in Science & Mathematics
Rebeca Azua, Caylin Beavers, Payton Cox, Abbey Dunfee, Chloe James, Reshma Kunjumoan, Jennifer Lopez-Rodriguez, Isabella McNeely, Skylar Ramos, Shoshana Taylor, Val Tinsley, Mason Twomey, Itziar Vazquez, Connor Wilson
Jonathan Ashly Adcock Memorial Athletic Scholarship
Tylah James
June R. Sparks Scholarship in Mathematics
Karah Beard
Kate McMillan Daniel Memorial Scholarship for Teachers
Amy Marcum
Ken ‘88 & Lori Cyree Scholarship in Business
Jocelyn Rodriguez
Ken White Scholarship in Accounting
Fernanda Vasquez
Kenneth E. & Dottie S. Boring Scholarship in Health Professions
Jessica Bautista-Lopez, Myranda Bonner, Jennifer Chavarria, Anna Victoria Colina, Camry Dupree, Jessica Fraire, Lesly Garcia Ponce, Andrew Gereighty, Tamika Guz, Jerry Holmes, Kimberley Mendez, Erin Pinney, Valerie Riley, Shemaiah Rucker, Daniel Silva, Kristina Stephens
Kevin R. Doheny Memorial Scholarship in Mathematics
Ivan Cerda-Marquez
Kinetic Scholarship
Kione Houlstead
Kiwanis Club of Dalton / Dr. Earl McGhee Scholarship
Efrain Barajas
Kristin M. Barton Memorial Scholarship in Communication
Aniyah Jones, Haley Silvey
Larry & Kathy Johnson Scholarship for Student Leadership
Jaliseia Agra
Larry W. Cooper Scholarship in Education
Lizette Carrillo
Laurie Jones White Memorial Scholarship in English
Tiffany Whitney
Margaret H. Venable Scholarship in Chemistry
Andrea Paez, Madalyn Terry
Marilyn M. Helms Scholarship in Business
Katherine Balino
Mary & Ronald Taylor Scholarship in Nursing
Erin Blankenship
Mary Edwards Memorial Scholarship in Education
Gracie Burke, Sandra Goble
Mary M. “Sis” Brown Scholarship
Isabella Swing
Med School Ready Scholarship
Fatima Assad, Truc Bui, Jada Cline, Daisy Garcia Guzman, Jedd Johnson, Jimmy Munoz, Rebecca Oventrop, Joshua Perea, Zander Scheeler
Melvyn & Marilyn Ottinger Basketball Scholarship
Varun Danak
Micah Alline Dembele Scholarship in Nursing
Christa Ledford
Michael & Kathy Hoff Scholarship in Psychology
Kaylee Tankersley
Minor Family Scholarship in Nursing
Yesica Bernabe Perez
Morning Pointe Foundation Scholarship in Social Work & Nursing
Breanna Green, Pei-Lu Yu
National Board for Respiratory Care Scholarship
Kinsey Henderson, Brandy Paniagua, Kaycee Patterson, Stephen Price, John Walters
Norris & Billie Little Scholarship
Jadyn Davis, Rubi Medina
North Georgia National Bank Scholarship in Business
Natalia Calderon, Laura Worley
Northwest Georgia Transportation Club Scholarship in Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Juan Aguilar, Axel Alvarez, Jafet Estrada
Patricia McGuire White Memorial Scholarship in Biology
Christianna Taylor
Pete Gunn Memorial Scholarship
Jesus Lopez
RAHYE Foundation Scholarship in Nursing
Delia Jacinto Ramirez
Raiford McDonald Memorial Scholarship in Accounting
Collin Hadders
Ratner Foundation Scholarship in Health Professions
Mary Capehart, Adrian Capistran, Maclain Chrnalogar, Ella Dotson, Isaac Emmer, Elizabeth Froio, Carli Gazaway, Jessica Hodge, Elisabeth Lopez, Michael Lynch, Katharine Mocine, Stephany Mullinax, Mikaela Peters, Jaylin Vick
Residents of Royal Oaks Scholarship
Juana Torres
Richard A. Edwards Scholarship in Business
Diego Hurtado, Tara Phipps
Richard F. Collison Memorial Scholarship in Chemistry
Angelina Galvan
Rick Zeisig Memorial Scholarship in Communication
Valeria Vargas
Rita Salazar Scholarship
Genesis Martinez
Robert W. Kinard Scholarship
Riley Yates
Robert W. Weathersby II Memorial Scholarship in English
Jadah Ownby
Ron Arnold Memorial Scholarship in Communication
Haley Fisher, Daniel Goff, Lizbeth Resendiz
Ronald S. Taylor Memorial Scholarship in Nursing
Kayleigh Dickerson
Rotary Club of Dalton Scholarship
Alexander Goniea
Ruth C. Boyle Memorial Scholarship in Social Work
Peyton Wingo
Ryan Allan Acree Memorial Scholarship
Michelle Peeples
Shaheen Family Scholarship
Diana Almazan, Obadiah Anderson, Katherine Bollwerk, Zurisadai Cervantes, Grant Childs, Lillieann Cole, Katherine Crespin, Mario Garcia, Keegan Johns, Jamie Martinez, Jesus Martinez, Joshua Perea, Karina Vega
Sharon C. Cooper Scholarship in Accounting
Consequela Bennett
Sherry S. Patterson Scholarship in English & Mathematics
Giselle Dominguez, Cynthia Gonzalez
Spence Higgins Jr Memorial Scholarship
Juan Alanis
Stan & Janet Goodroe Scholarship in STEM
Kerin Barrera-Velasquez, Alexander Briscoe, Sequyoh Conney, Savannah Howington, Leslie Lara, Saul Lemus, Isabelle McGill, Khiley Moore, Triston Morrow, Dayton Nguyen, Patton Pickard, Rogelio Pimentel
Sue L. Webb Memorial Scholarship in Nursing
Anna McDonald, Nkeiruka Ojiako
Sue Teasley Davis Scott Scholarship for Women in Business
Litzely Escobar Lopez
Susan Ritchie Second Chance Scholarship
Jared Farias
Terri Henderson Neal RN Scholarship in Nursing
Diana Sandoval
Terry L. Christie Scholarship in History & Politics
Anniston Mullinax, Benjamin Ward
The Run for John Memorial Scholarship
Breanna Green, Devin Smith
Tom Deaton Scholarship for Student Leaders
Fredy Berganza
Tom W. & Jeannette A. Greeson Scholarship
Victoria Edgeman, Gabriela Edris, Shirley Gao, Daniel Garcia Resendiz, Judith Gomez, Raul Hernandez, Yehia Hussein, Alexis Isaola, Chang Liu, Lisbeth Pantoja, Tara Phipps, Neyra Ramirez, Jose Ramirez Ramirez, Jacqueline Sanchez, Abygail Whitlock
Tony Ingle Memorial Basketball Scholarship
Kyoya Sasaki
Walter M. & Fannie B. Jones Scholarship
Marquita Dixon, Yairah Perez
Wayne E. Bell Memorial Scholarship in Humanities
Danielle Cochran
Wells Fargo Scholarship in Business
Jeronimo Baltazar, Reese Becton, Reyes De La Paz, Edrehy Garcia, Ezekiel Grissom, Richard Pimentel, Natalie Quintero, Matthew Ramirez, Levi Townsend, Raul Urbano
White Family Foundation Scholarship in Business
Leydi Ballesteros, Abril Rivera
Winifred Clay Memorial Scholarship in STEM
Kelsey Sinaloa
Yvonne Hill Hawkins Memorial Scholarship in Nursing
Daniel Forester
