FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 22, 2010

Contact:  Robert Preston, Jr.,
              912.260.4276
              robert.preston@sgc.edu

FNBCC Helps Support New SGC Sports Teams

Over the last two years, South Georgia College has been steadily expanding the sports it offers in its athletic program. Recently, First National Bank of Coffee County (FNBCC) made a generous donation to SGC to assist with this expansion.

In 2008, cross country was a club sport at South Georgia College; last year, the cross country team competed in its first-ever GJCAA conference schedule. The program is in its second year, and Coach Robert Preston is very excited about SGC’s recruits this year and the upcoming fall season. For 2010, two new sports will be competing as well – men’s golf, and men’s and women’s swimming. The coaches for these sports – David Haney in golf and C.M. Jenkins in swimming -- are well known in their respective sports and thus have landed a number of talented student athletes as well as brought excitement throughout the region over these new offerings at SGC. Adding these athletic teams effectively doubles SGC’s stable of sports programs, bringing the total to six (baseball, softball, soccer, cross country, golf, and swimming). Additional sports programs do more than just recruit athletes; studies show that each athlete brings in an average of 1.5 non-athletes to campus as well.

FNBCC’s recent donation will provide needed equipment, uniforms and travel funds to assist these programs as they establish themselves in GJCAA. First National Bank of Coffee County is a locally owned community bank and has been serving Coffee County since 1991. It is a full-service banking institution offering a variety of personal and commercial financial solutions. “First National Bank of Coffee County is pleased to be a supporter of South Georgia College and its efforts to expand its excellence in athletics as well as academics. We believe SGC is an incredible asset to Douglas and Coffee County. By providing support to these new athletic programs, they can bring in additional students, which will only further the benefit to our community. As a locally owned bank, it’s a perfect fit for us to support our community college and higher education in this way,” says Dale Morris, President of FNBCC.

It would be impossible to effectively fund new athletic programs without private support. “With less funding from the state level, it becomes more critical to have private dollars to help continue to provide and compete for high quality student athletes. We believe strongly in what athletics makes available to our students, such as team-building, leadership skills and discipline. We are very grateful to FNBCC for their recognition of this and are appreciative to have them partner with us to further enhance our college and community,” comments Dr. Virginia Carson, SGC President.

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About South Georgia College

South Georgia College (www.sgc.edu) was founded in 1906 and is an accredited two-year institution in the University System of Georgia. Located in Douglas, Ga., the college's environment gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty. With over 20 majors and transfer opportunities, South Georgia College provides the finest education possible to the citizens of its service area.