NEWS
Source: Savannah Morning News
Savannah Chamber Military Affairs Council Chairman & Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Bill Cathcart, was awarded the Savannah Technical College Foundation’s Opportunity Award at the 17th annual Savannah Technical College Foundation’s Opportunity Award Gala on Friday, April 22, 2022.
The Savannah Technical College Foundation Opportunity Award honors deserving leaders in our community for a lifetime of service in creating and enhancing opportunities for others to succeed. Proceeds support the College’s Freedom Fund military scholarship.
The STC Foundation honored Cathcart for his visionary and exemplary leadership in supporting and serving the military community throughout Coastal Georgia. He holds a Ph.D. and Master’s degree in Mass Communication (Ohio State) and a Bachelor’s degree in History (Hope College). Following ten years as a university professor in Illinois, he transitioned to commercial television station work in Minnesota. Then, in 1985, he bade farewell to his snowblower and welcomed the opportunity to come to Savannah and WTOC-TV. He retired from WTOC-TV in 2014 after 29-years of service, the last 24 as the station’s Vice-President & General Manager.
Cathcart’s Savannah-area community involvement includes past-Board Chair of the National Museum of the Mighty 8th Air Force (and a current board member) and continuing membership on the Savannah-Area Chamber of Commerce Board. Cathcart has also served as a past chairman of the Chamber’s current Military Affairs Council. He is also a Board member of the STARBASE Savannah Foundation (STEM instruction for area 5th grade students, hosted on Hunter AAF), a past Board member of USO Savannah, and a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Savannah.
He holds honorary member status with Hunter Army Airfield’s 1st of the 75th Rangers; Hunter’s 3rd of the 160th Night Stalkers; and the 3rd Infantry Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade (Hunter). He has also been named a Third Infantry Division “Rock Star” (“Rock of the Marne”) at Fort Stewart. Additionally, he served for many years as the Honorary Wing Commander of the Georgia Air National Guard’s 165th Airlift Wing in Savannah
In 2013, Cathcart was nominated by the 3rd Infantry Division Commander, Major-General Robert B. “Abe” Abrams, and selected by the Department of the Army to become the first Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) for the Coastal Georgia Region, a position in which he continues to serve.
The Opportunity Award Gala is a fundraiser for the Savannah Technical College Foundation that raises funds to support Savannah Technical College. STC Foundation Board officers and event co-chairs Gary Sanchez and Kay Ford, are leading the fundraising efforts.
The event gathers more than the community and civic leaders for a celebratory evening honoring a special individual. The evening also showcases the talents of students enrolled in Savannah Technical College’s award-winning Culinary Arts programs. Past recipients include: Former Governor & U.S. Senator Zell Miller, Arnold Tenenbaum, Judge Griffin Bell, Tom Coleman, Dick Eckburg, Arthur M. Gignilliat, Jr., Bob and Alice Jepson, Howard Morrison, Stratton Leopold, Chef Jean Vendeville, Ted Kleisner, and Kevin “Catfish” Jackson.
About STC’s Freedom Fund Military Scholarship:
STC’s Freedom Fund has supported 219 military-affiliated students with $130,151.11 in scholarship awards during the last five years. This needs-based fund provides up to 95% for out-of-pocket expenses for soldiers, veterans and spouses whose tuition assistance does not cover tuition, fees, books, or equipment. Examples of support for those who serve includes:
- buying books and tools for active duty service members;
- paying registration fees each semester for military spouses (MyCAA) students;
- covering unpaid tuition and registration fees up to 95% for those with V.A. benefits less than 100% education benefits;
- supporting a veteran who has run out of education benefits before completing their program of study.
One in four STC students is a veteran, active duty service member or a military dependent/spouse. Last year, the College was ranked as the top Military Friendly® and Military Spouse Friendly School in the U.S. (2021-22). For the past four years, the College has been ranked as one of the top Best for Vets public technical and career college in the U.S. by Military Times.
The College waives all general mandatory fees for active duty service members using military tuition assistance. Other services Savannah Tech offers for veterans include workshops and grants.
