OUR HISTORY
Southwest GYSTC was established in 1996 and incorporated as a non-profit by community leaders from government, business, industry, and school systems in the Southwest Georgia area.
Among the businesses that assisted in establishing the center were AMOCO Fibers, International Paper, numerous community leaders, and small business owners. Georgia Power provided significant funding to furnish the STEM Lab, provide the student technology, and build the customized room that houses the STAR Lab planetarium.
One of the many strengths of Southwest GYSTC has been funding from the community. This has included contributions from the Kirbo Foundation, Georgia Power, the United Way, Mitchell EMC, Grady EMC, and First Port City Bank. Most importantly, the participation of area leaders in industry and government who serve on the center’s Board of Directors.
Southwest GYSTC is unique in that it is housed on the campus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Southern Regional Technical College. Although independent, SW GYSTC has access to many resources from both a college and technical school.
While the original mission of the organization was “To make science, math, and technology exciting for young students and their teachers,” Southwest GYSTC has added increasing achievement in ALL STEM fields to its mission. This is accomplished through programming for students and teachers. All programs are standards-based supporting the Georgia Standards of Excellence and the Next Generation Science Standards. Support is also provided for literacy in the content areas as found in the Common Core State Standards.
The umbrella organization which oversees all the centers in the State was founded in 1989. Since that time, the centers have collectively served as many as 100,000 students per year.
The original logo of GYSTC was a tri-fold paper airplane, which symbolized the organization’s practice of making hands-on science both affordable and exciting. When the organization rebranded 20 years after its founding, the newer logo with the child holding up an atom was adopted. It symbolizes the possibility that every child holds for achievement in all areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
OUR COORDINATOR
Tammy Nowell is the coordinator of Southwest Georgia Youth Science & Technology Center located on the campus of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Southern Regional Technical College in Bainbridge, Georgia. She supports her member school systems with their specific science and math needs as well as provides STEM programming for both students and teachers from kindergarten through 8th grade. Tammy holds a B.Ed, M.Ed, and a STEM Endorsement. As a Science Ambassador, she can provide support to the teachers of Southwest Georgia with the best instructional practices in content knowledge, application, and critical thinking through professional learning strategies. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, antiquing, hosting large events for family and friends, and snuggling with her Goldendoodle.
OUR BOARD
Directors:
- Board Chair - Mr. Adam Starr, Grady EMC
- Vice Chair - Mr. Fred Rudbeck, Georgia Power
- Treasurer - Ms. Marvalynn Carroll, First Port City Bank
- Secretary - Mrs. Karen Rowland, Rowland Farms
- Mr. Roy Adams, Mitchell County Schools
- Ms. Christy Cox, Decatur County Schools
- Mr. Chip Davis, Family Bank
- Mr. Mark Earnest, Seminole County Schools
- Dr. Boyd English, Decatur County Schools
- Ms. Mary Alice Hilton, Calhoun County Schools
- Dr. Michael Kirkland, ABAC at Bainbridge
- Dr. Chris Kennedy, Thomasville City Schools
- Mr. Michael Keown, Miller County Schools
- Ms. Kelly Powell, Southern Regional Technical College
- Ms. Felicia Purdy, Seminole County Schools
- Dr. Scott Sweeting, Thomas County Schools
- Mr. Michael Ward, Calhoun County Schools
- Dr. Lisa Williams, Thomas County Schools
- Ms. Christy Wray, Mitchell County Schools