With Each Purchase we thought you'd be happy to know a portion of all proceeds
goes to helping families with children fighting illness.
The PANDA ON! Community is characterized by those very special individuals who chose to encourage others with their love and support.
Adventures With PEP, Our Purple-Eyed Panda
Currently, we are working with a hospital in Macon, Georgia to bring together hurting families with our PEPs who are ready and eager to put a smile on a child's face. Grace spent about two months in the Macon Hospital before heading to Houston, Texas, to MD Anderson. Because of this connection, we decided to "Give Back" to this local hospital as our first "Adventures With PEP Project". It is our goal to give love, encouragement and smiles to all the families on the children's floor in this hospital. We look forward to finding at least 50 new homes for our PEPs! We believe with your help we can make this happen. We will keep you updated as this project progresses through 2017.
In other amazing PEP Adventure news, PANDA ON! is excited to announce we will be involved in a MyTeam Triumph Ga. event in Columbus, Georgia. PEP will be attending to cheer on the Captains and Angels as they make their run. PEP will be anxiously waiting at the finish line to meet their new families as they give love, hugs and smiles to all as they cross. To learn more about MyTeam Triumph Ga, please checkout their Facebook page HERE.
Grace E. Smith Scholarship
The $1000 scholarship will be awarded once per year, the first half in Fall semester and the second half in the Spring semester. The scholarship is donated specifically to a student in a health care program. This health care focus is due in large part to Community Hospice, who aids in the fundraising process for the scholarship and, more importantly, cared for Grace.
Because Grace spent time in the Vidalia Community Hospice, we saw up close and personal how vital this organization is to those who are in need of specialized care. After Grace passed, we set up the Grace E. Smith Scholarship in her name. While we wanted to honor Grace's memory, we also wanted to help students earning their medical degree at Southeastern Technical College located in Vidalia, Georgia. One aspect of the scholarship we included as a way to be a help and say thank you to the staff at the Hospice House, was to require all recipients to volunteer hours at Vidalia Community Hospice. We can not boast enough about Vidalia Community Hospice and remain humbled by their decision to match all donations to our Grace E. Smith Scholarship. To learn more about the Grace E. Smith Scholarship and it's recipients, please visit Day Of Grace.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
2014 Grace E. Smith Memorial Scholarship awarded to Julie Cobos Cortez
Julie Cobos Cortez was named the very first recipient of the Grace E. Smith Memorial Scholarship on October 6, 2014.
The 19 year old, Julie Cortez, of Toombs County, graduated Toombs County High School in 2013 and is currently enrolled in the Health Care Assisting Program at Southeastern Technical College. Julie was selected because of her outstanding qualities demonstrated both in and outside of the classroom.
Congratulations Julie!
2015 Grace E Smith Memorial Scholarship awarded to Jason Newton
Jason Newton was named the recipient of the second annual Grace E. Smith Memorial Scholarship for 2015.
"Jason is very ambitious, has a strong desire to succeed at what he starts and is the type of person that wants to perform at a higher level than what is expected" read Newton's recommendation letter. "He is one to volunteer and set up when extra hands are needed for special events and projects."
Congratulations Jason!
2016 Grace E Smith Memorial Scholarship awarded to Erin Brown
Erin Brown Taylor was named the recipient of the third annual Grace E. Smith Memorial Scholarship for 2016.
“As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, I understand the commitment and challenges that face a young student entering into the nursing profession, and I know that such a hardworking, determined and compassionate young woman (as Erin) will be successful both during her academic years as well as in her professional career,” read Brown’s recommendation letter.
Congratulations Erin!
2017 Grace E Smith Memorial Scholarship awarded to Amy Griffin
Congratulations to Amy Griffin who was named the recipient of the annual Grace E. Smith Memorial Scholarship for 2017.
“She is a hardworking, dependable and likeable person. Her smile brightens the room when she walks in with her friendly greetings. There are people in our walk of life that do not seen to fit the field that they are working, but nursing is definitely Amy's calling in life. The compassion she has for the wellbeing of other shows in all aspects of her work," was just one of the many wonderful things stated about this dedicated student.
Amy is the fourth STC student to receive the Grace E. Smith Scholarship since its foundation in 2014.
Congratulations Amy!
2018 Grace E Smith Memorial Scholarship awarded to Amber Yawn
On behalf of the STC Foundation and the family of Grace Smith, Southeastern Technical Collegeannouncedthe recipient of this year’s Grace E. Smith Memorial Scholarship. Congratulations toAmber Yawn, a student on our Vidalia Campus, who was recently accepted into the LPN program.Amber resides in Hazlehurst with her husband and two children.Below is just a portion of the essay Amber submitted to be considered for the Grace E. Smith Scholarship.
"I initially began attending night classes at Southeastern Technical College in January of 2016; however, I believe the Lord placed a desire in my heart for nursing long before that time. One Sunday afternoon many years ago, I was standing my great-grandmother's bedside feeding her, she looked up at me and said, "You are going to make a mighty fine nurse one day." I believe that is when I felt the calling to become a nurse...".
Amber's hard work, determination, and high recommendations from her teachers make us proud to name her among the family of recipients of the Grace E. Smith Memorial Scholarship.
Congratulations Amber!
2019 Grace E. Smith Scholarship Recipient Erica D. Hillman
Congratulations to Erica D. Hillman
“This scholarship is
possible because of the love & generosity of Grace’s parents, family, &
friends, as well as that of Community Hospice. Her parents, Eric & Laura
Smith, make a special effort each year to meet & get to know the
scholarship recipient, & it has truly been a pleasure working with them
& continuing Grace’s legacy in this way,” said Blythe Wilcox, Executive
Director of Institutional Advancement.
Erica said, “I am simply honored to be receiving
this scholarship. I know that Grace was a wonderful person & an inspiration
to others. I want to say thank you so much for making it a little easier to get
through college & become a RN & make a difference in lives. My mom, who
is a nurse practitioner now, worked in hospice care as a RN for several years.
I knew then it was something that I wanted to do.”
SHOPPE
A portion of all proceeds goes to help families with children fighting illness.