AT&T’s External Affairs Regional Director Don Barbour presented a check for $12,000 to Chattahoochee Technical College as part of the corporation’s continuing commitment to support workforce development efforts. The donation, which was presented at the North Metro Campus on Aug. 11, will be used to help fund the college’s Veterans Support Center at the Marietta Campus.
The Veterans Support Center was created to support the more than 700 Chattahoochee Tech students who have identified themselves as former military or veteran family members. The primary objective is to assist veterans and their families as they transition to a post-secondary academic environment. “We are eager to provide a comfortable and inviting environment for our veterans and their family members as they join us at Chattahoochee Tech. The center will further our objective to encourage students to stay with their programs in order to help us reach our retention and graduation objectives,” said Communication and Veteran Services Coordinator Barry Munday.
Executive Director of Retention Services Lauren Lunk said the college will use current on- campus resources, as well as the $12,000 donation from AT&T, to open the center by the fall term, which begins on Aug. 22. The center will be located in the B Building on the Marietta Campus.
“The funding provided by AT&T will support specific resources, such as dedicated counseling services, academic success programs, career advising, dedicated computers for coursework research and an expansion of activities to assist veteran students in the transition process,” Barbour said. “In addition, workshops assisting in transitioning and guest speakers on pertinent topics, such as PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, will be offered.”
The $12,000 donation was granted to Chattahoochee Technical College after it was named a finalist in AT&T’s $20K for 2020 workforce development competition in July. The college competed against seven other organizations from across the state to generate social media activity in support of their work in the community. The winner of the competition received an additional $8,000, second place received an additional $5,000 and third place received an additional $3,000. Chattahoochee Tech captured a fourth-place finish, Barbour said.

Pictured, from left, are CTC Executive Vice President Trina Boteler, AT&T Regional Director Don Barbour, CTC President Ron Newcomb, CTC External Affairs Vice President Jennifer Nelson, CTC Communication and Veteran Services Coordinator Barry Munday and CTC Executive Director of Retention Services Lauren Lunk.