CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — North Georgia Technical College will celebrate the completion of its newest campus facility in April with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and its annual fundraising gala.
The grand opening for The Dr. Mark A. Ivester Center for Living and Learning, known as “The Mark,” will take place Tuesday, April 14, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on the Clarkesville campus. The event will be held in partnership with the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce as part of its Business After Hours networking series.
Community members are invited to attend the celebration, which will include tours of the new facility and food from The Varsity food truck. A short ceremony and official ribbon cutting are scheduled for about 5:30 p.m., along with remarks from members of the Ivester family.
Memorial facility
The center is named in honor of the college’s late president, Dr. Mark A. Ivester, who served the institution for many years. Ivester envisioned the former campus gymnasium as a space where students and the broader community could gather for learning and engagement.
Ivester died from COVID-19 in 2020.
College officials say the completion of the center reflects Ivester’s goal of creating a more well-rounded collegiate experience for students pursuing technical education.
Inaugural event
Later that week, the North Georgia Technical College Foundation will host its 3rd annual 1943 Gala on Thursday, April 16, at 6 p.m. inside the new facility. The event will serve as the first major fundraiser held in the building.
The gala is the foundation’s signature fundraising event and brings together community leaders, businesses, alumni and supporters to raise money for student programs and campus initiatives. Proceeds support scholarships as well as projects such as library and student success programming, dorm upgrades and the college’s new funeral services program.
Guests attending the gala will enjoy dinner, entertainment, and both live and silent auctions.
This year’s event will also feature a “Golden Ticket” raffle. Only 100 tickets will be sold for $100 each, with one winner receiving first choice of a live auction item. The winner does not have to be present to claim the prize.
“The completion of The Mark is an exciting milestone for NGTC, and we are thrilled to celebrate by having the Gala inside the facility,” said Amy Hulsey, vice president of institutional advancement and marketing and executive director of the NGTC Foundation. “Many of our students would not be able to get the education they need to succeed, and our dedicated board of trustees and generous community help provide scholarships to change so many students’ lives.”
Tickets and sponsorships for the April 16 gala are available through the NGTC Foundation. Community members interested in attending the ribbon cutting on April 14 are encouraged to register through the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce.
