February 17, 2026
Gainesville, Ga—During Lanier Technical College’s Spring 2026 semester, 13 students have now been appointed as “Tim McDonald Scholars” in reference to Lanier Technical College’s Eighth President, Tim McDonald. This inaugural group of students was awarded tuition-based scholarships based on Grade Point Average (GPA), academic progression, and county of residency.
Funding for the Tim McDonald Scholarship program was graciously donated by the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation, Inc., in the fall of 2025. Per the signed One-Million-Plus-Dollar agreement, $500,000 was awarded to step up Lanier Tech dual enrollment programs located in Hall County, Georgia.
Additionally, the remaining $500,000 of this generous donation was placed into the Lanier
Technical College Foundation for a Scholarship Endowment Fund to be officially named the “Tim
McDonald Scholarship.” With the annual endowment growth over time, the Ivester Foundation desires that individual scholarships of up to $1,000 be awarded annually to students with a tuition, supply, book, and/or fee balance due to the college.
President McDonald met several of the awardees in January as the spring 2026 semester began. One student, Nicole Martin, expressed gratitude for this opportunity: “This scholarship was such a big help for me this semester. It definitely helped with school supplies and tuition costs. I greatly appreciate the opportunities that Lanier Tech and the Ivester Foundation have made possible for me. I plan to enroll in the Radiologic Technology program soon, and I will continue to apply to this scholarship each semester!”
Lanier Tech students who reside in Hall County, Georgia, are encouraged to apply to the Tim McDonald Scholarship Program via the Lanier Technical College Foundation’s website. Awardees will be announced each semester after the appointed scholarship committee reviews their applications.
For more information about the Tim McDonald Scholarship Program or where to apply, please visit:https://www.laniertechfoundation.org/
About the Technical College System of Georgia
The 22 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) are Georgia’s top resource for skilled workers. TCSG offers world-class training in more than 600 associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs to students who are trained on state-of-the-art equipment by instructors who are experts in their fields. The system also houses Georgia’s Office of Adult Education, which promotes and provides adult literacy and education programs, including the GED® testing program, throughout the state. In addition, TCSG partners with companies through Quick Start, the nation’s top customized workforce training program, and through its colleges, which work with local industry to provide workforce and training solutions. For more information, visit TCSG.edu.
