Dalton State College’s sixth annual Giving Day on Thursday, Oct. 16, will showcase a student-first approach to increase financial support for projects that impact student success.
“We are emphasizing a students-first stance in nearly all our projects this year, meaning that every dollar given goes straight to students here,” David Elrod, director of the Dalton State Foundation, said.
Dalton State’s Giving Day is an annual initiative that brings together alumni, donors, faculty, staff, individuals and community partners to collectively demonstrate their commitment to the college’s mission and its impact on Northwest Georgia through financial support.
“Community support resulted in a record-breaking $307,000 during last year’s Giving Day and had more participation than ever before,” Dalton State President John Fuchko said. “This support is vital to our success by providing scholarships, support for experiential learning opportunities, the Roadrunner Student Emergency Fund, a laptop loan program for students, and more.”
This year’s Giving Day will place special emphasis on scholarships across the college, including business, education, humanities and social sciences, health professions and social work, STEM and athletics. Approximately 50% of Dalton State students use scholarships and grants each academic year.
“Philanthropy comes in all sizes, and Giving Day is all about participation,” Elrod said. “Just like in prior Giving Days, donors can and always do give to the areas of the college they love most.”
Some of the 2025 Giving Day projects include:
- Roadrunner Student Emergency Fund
Unexpected events like car repairs, medical bills, housing issues or utility shutoffs can derail a hardworking Roadrunner’s journey. The Roadrunner Student Emergency Fund is a vital safety net that provides up to $500 to students in financial crisis.
- Campus Garden
The Dalton State Campus Garden serves as a functional space for promoting healthy eating, experiential learning, and food security among the Roadrunner student community. Maintained by student volunteers, the garden produces fresh fruits and vegetables that are distributed through the college’s Birdfeeder Food Pantry. It also operates as a living classroom, supporting service-learning projects and providing hands-on educational opportunities across various academic disciplines.
- Roadrunner Scholars: Bridge to Success
Dalton State’s “Roadrunner Scholars” summer bridge program immerses incoming freshmen in the college experience while providing academic support in math and English. They live on campus during the summer, and they learn habits and tools for success they’ll use from their first semester through graduation.
- Turtle Assurance Colony
Dalton State’s one-of-a-kind Turtle Assurance Colony is a teaching-learning-discovery habitat where endangered turtles are being cultivated and even thriving for eventual release back into the wild. Dalton State students have unique learning and research experiences with turtle species from around the world while on campus.
- Dalton State Observatory
The college’s 24-inch PlaneWave CDK reflecting telescope inside a 15-foot dome needs essential upgrades to turn it into a first-class teaching and discovery destination for our students and the larger community. Every gift for the observatory will be matched, up to a total of $35,000.
“I am particularly excited about our observatory project and the potential to expand educational opportunities within our community and student astronomical exploration and research,” said Fuchko.
Information on these projects and others is on the 2025 Giving Day website at www.daltonstate.edu/giving. Various gift matches and challenges will be featured throughout Giving Day on October 16. Any gift made between now and October 16 will be included in the Giving Day totals.
