News and Updates

Dr. Mary F. Estes Endowed Scholarship Fund Created At SGSC

A new scholarship honoring a former academic dean has been created to support non-traditional students pursuing a college degree at South Georgia State College.

The Dr. Mary F. Estes Endowed Scholarship Fund is named for the charter academic dean of the former Waycross Junior College. The scholarship will be awarded to non-traditional students who realize the importance of post-secondary education and are committed to earning a college degree. Scholarship recipients should reside in one of the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch, Long, Pierce, Ware or Wayne.

“I am excited about this new scholarship opportunity for our non-traditional students,” said Taylor Hereford, director of advancement and executive director of the James M. Dye Foundation. “Being a recent non-traditional student myself, I know how demanding it can be to balance family, work, and college classes while also securing the necessary funds to go to school. There’s no doubt lives will be changed both now and in the future because of this scholarship, and I’m grateful to play a very small part in helping to make that happen.”

Estes was the Social Sciences Division Chair at Clayton Junior College when Waycross Junior College Founding President Dr. James M. Dye named Estes the college’s first academic dean in 1976. She served Waycross Junior College for 11.5 years when she was named Dean of Arts and Sciences at Clayton State College in January 1987. Estes remained at Clayton State until her retirement in 1993.

The Dr. Mary F. Estes Endowed Scholarship Fund is managed and administered by the James M. Dye Foundation on SGSC’s Waycross Campus. Students interested in applying for the scholarship can access the online scholarship application at the following address: https://www.sgsc.edu/alumni-and-friends/james-m-dye-foundation-application . Applicants must meet minimum financial aid and GPA requirements to be considered.

In addition to scholarships, the Dye Foundation provides funding for various initiatives on SGSC’s Waycross Campus and college-wide, outside of state appropriations, including campus events and programs. All contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible to the extent of the law. For more information about the Foundation or to donate, please email Hereford at taylor.hereford@sgsc.edu.

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TOP PHOTO: Dr. Mary Estes (second from left) with the charter members of the former Waycross Junior College administration – Mr. Jim Donaldson, Estes, Mr. Parker Davis, Mr. Bill Deason, and Dr. James M. Dye (seated).

BOTTOM PHOTO: Dr. Mary Estes (third from right) returned to Waycross in 2012 for a reunion of charter faculty and staff of the former Waycross Junior College. (Kneeling) Bettye White; front row (L-R): Mary Lee-Green, Dr. Angie Davis, Bill Deason, Rita Taylor Godwin, Estes, Dr. Charlotte Crittenden and Ella Marie Washington; back row (L-R): James White, Parker Davis, Dr. Jim Helms, and Dr. Brenda Armbrecht.