Education Scholarships

Past Scholarship Recipients

Partners for Smart Growth understands our children are our future. As an organization that recognizes the importance of education in growing a community, we support our local school system. One of the ways we demonstrate our beliefs and support is through our Partners for Smart Growth Scholarship Award. 

Each year, Partners awards a scholarship to a deserving local student.

This year Partners is able to award two $1,000.00 scholarships to graduating seniors. The two recipients are Sameul DiRito & Erick Sylvain.

Samuel DiRito, a senior at JHS, is a member of the National Honor Society, the NJROTC, the Leo Club and FBLA. Samuel is active in his church, a volunteer for Smart Kids/Smart Lunch and participates in baseball and golf.  He is graduating with a 4.0 Academic GPA. Samuel plans to attend the University of Auburn on a Naval ROTC Scholarship and pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. 

Erik Sylvain, a senior at JHS, is a member of the National Honor Society, the Leo Club, the NJROTC, the Speech & Debate Team and the Red Regiment Marching Band. Erik is the Woodwind Captian of the Marching Band, Vice President of the Leo Club and active in his church. Erik is graduating with a 3.757 Academic GPA. He plans to attend Mercer University and major in Psychology

Community Projects & Imformational Programs

Community Projects & Informational Pograms sponsored by or recieving financial support from Partners to date during 2013 include:

• Open meetings on educational & informational topics including:
  • Eugene James on the role of the housing market in our economic recovery
  • Supt. Buddy Costley on Butts County Schools cost cutting budget plan for FY 13-14
  • Lt. Governor Casey Cagle on Georgia's Stragetic Plan & the Role of Butts County.
  • Butts County Sherriff, Gary Long on how changes made are making our local law enforcement services more efficient and effective and the role citizen involvement plays in keeping our communty safe.
  • Local Transportation Boards and the role they can plan in focusing attention on local transportation needs, long range planning and enhancing collobrative relationships with Georgia DOT and surrounding counties with Transportation Boards.
• Hosted a Political Forum in October for candidates seeking election/re-election in the upcoming Butt's County's Municipal elections.
• Awarded two $1,000 Scholarships for graduating Butts County high school seniors. 
• Financial support for the Smart Lunch, Smart Kids summer lunch program
• Financial support for the Butts County Historical Society's 18th Annual Native American Festival
• Financial support to the Butts County 4-H Leadership/Citizenship Camp.
• Partners was a Gold Sponsor of the 2013 Jackson Alive Festival on Oct. 5th. Partners proudly flew their 20 ft  X 40 ft United States Flag at the event and displayed a Booth of information about Butts County Partners for Smart Growth.
• Financial support for the Butts County Chamber of Commerce "Halloween on Second Street"event.