Published 3:46 pm Monday, February 10, 2025
By Joshua Windus
South Georgia Technical College
South Georgia Technical College Criminal Justice Technology graduate Alexandria Spain of Perry, was awarded the Smarr-Smith Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice scholarship recently by the South Georgia Technical College Foundation.
The Smarr-Smith endowed scholarship at South Georgia Technical College was created in memory of fallen Americus Police Officer Nicholas R. Smarr and Georgia Southwestern State University Campus Safety Officer Jody C. Smith. The endowment was created by the Smarr-Smith Foundation, private individuals, and an anonymous donor. Both Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith attended the criminal justice program at South Georgia Technical College.
Officer Alexandria Spain is a School Resource Officer for the Macon County Campus Police Department. She is also a 2023 graduate of the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy.
“Officer Alexandria Spain has been an integral part of our department, serving with professionalism, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of our community. Since joining our department, Officer Spain has proven to be an exemplary officer who consistently upholds the values of integrity, respect, and excellence. Her role as a School Resource Officer has been particularly impactful, as she has demonstrated a unique ability to connect with students, faculty, and staff,” said Ronald E. Duncan, Sr., Chief of Police Macon County Campus Police Department.
“Pursuing higher education has always been a significant goal of mine,” said Spain. “Receiving this scholarship is instrumental in heling me achieve that goal. As a School Resource Officer, I am passionate about creating a safe and supportive environment for students, and I aspire to enhance my skills and knowledge to serve more effectively. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have received through South Georgia Technical College and the support of programs like this scholarship. I hope I can continue to grow both personally and professionally, contributing to my community and honoring the memory of Officer Smarr and Officer Smith.”
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford congratulated Spain on receiving the scholarship and thanked the Smarr and Smith families and others for their support of this scholarship. “We all regret that this scholarship opportunity had to come at the expense of the lives of two outstanding South Georgia Technical College students and law enforcement officers,” said Dr. Watford. “Our hearts will continue to go out to the family and friends of Officers Smarr and Smith. But it is our prayer that this gift will assist other POST certified officers who wish to continue their education. We hope that the fine men and women who earn these scholarships will honor the memories of Officers Smith and Smarr through their service to our citizens and that the memory of Nick Smarr and Jody Smith will continue to live on through the lives of these scholarship recipients.”
Nicholas Smarr and Jody Smith, both attended the South Georgia Technical College Criminal Justice Program. Smarr attained his Associate of Applied Science Degree in June of 2011 and became a certified law enforcement officer in 2012. Jody Smith had attended South Georgia Tech in 2010 and had returned in 2016 to begin completing his Criminal Justice associate degree.
Twenty-eight Smarr-Smith scholarships have been awarded since the scholarships were endowed. Charles Kinnamon and Adam O’Neal were the first two scholarship recipients. King W. Mitchell, Antoinette L. Johnson and Emerson R. Lundy were the second three recipients. Dalton Lee Windham and Cora K. Baker were awarded the scholarships in December 2018. Brandon Glover, April Cosby, and Matthew Pearce were the Smarr-Smith scholars in 2019. Amneh Laursen, Chris Owens, Monteze McCall, Cedric Smith, Chandler Buchanan and David Rueda-Fierros were the 2020 scholars and Christopher Prokesh, Michael Cobb, Rodney Gore, and Eric Taylor-Hair received the awards in 2021. Lt. Teresa Miller, Alisa Colwell, Michael Middleton and Hunter Fallin were recognized in 2022 and Jason Kyle Gourley was awarded the scholarship in the spring of 2023. Charles Allen Barnhill of Albany and Andrew Lee of Leesburg were recognized in December of 2023. Alexandria Spain earned the scholarship in December 2024.
For more information about donating to the SGTC Foundation or endowing a scholarship at South Georgia Technical College, contact Su Ann Bird, Executive Director of the SGTC Foundation and Vice President of Institutional Advancement, at 229.931.2110 or sbird@southgatech.edu. Contributions may also be mailed to the SGTC Foundation, P.O. Box 6102, Americus, GA. Additional donations can be added to the Smarr-Smith Scholarship fund and all donations will be recognized and shared with members of the Smith and Smarr families.
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