Tifton Masonic Lodges Endow New Scholarship for Southern Regional Technical College Students
Tifton, GA (02/27/2024) — Tifton Masonic Lodge 47 and Tiftarea Daylight Lodge 745 recently donated $25,000 to establish the new Roy Jackson, Sr. Masonic Scholarship for students at Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC). Both Tifton Masonic lodges have been working together to raise the generous donation over the last several years. The endowment, held permanently, will maintain its principal value while generating distributable earnings for student scholarships. Once matured, this endowment will provide one $500 scholarship per semester for an SRTC Tifton student, ensuring sustained assistance for those in need.
"Since its inception, Masons have been involved in laying the cornerstones of both public and private endeavors," said John Johnson, Past Master - Tifton Masonic Lodges 47 and 745. "What could be a more noble pursuit than aiding higher learning institutions like Southern Regional Technical College in enabling students to construct better lives on the solid foundation of education?"
The SRTC Foundation will oversee the administration of the scholarship, which will be open to SRTC students residing in Tift County and maintaining a grade point average of 2.0 or higher. The Foundation's first priority is to provide support that enhances student learning. SRTC's Director of Institutional Advancement Christina Reneau said, "We have been working with the Tifton Masonic Lodges for several years to help them establish their scholarship endowment. Their passion for assisting others and belief in technical education's value are evident. We're proud of this partnership, knowing it will positively impact countless students in the future"
The Masonic order is the World's oldest Fraternity. Its origins are rooted in the operative Stone Masons guilds dating back to the building of King Solomon's Temple. Modern Freemasonry was formalized in the early 1700's in England and Scotland. Masonry was initiated in Georgia by James Oglethorpe concurrently with the establishment of the Colony. Tifton Lodge 47 was chartered just after the founding of Tifton Georgia on November 1, 1883 while Tiftarea Daylight Lodge 745 was established on October 2, 1992. Both Lodges work together on their shared goals of Fraternalism.
Media Attachments
Front row from left to right: Tim Forkner, Neil Clements, Charles Courson Master , Jeremy Hobbs, Hal Padgett Back row from left to right: Chip Marchant, Greg Connell, Randy Clements, Bert Connell, John Johnson