WellStar West Georgia Medical Center presented THINC Academy with a $75,000 check during THINC Academy’s May 23 board meeting.

The donation was given to THINC Academy to be used for healthcare specific purposes. West Georgia Medical Center President Jerry Fulks was on hand to deliver the check.

“This is only a financial part of our partnership with THINC Academy,” Fulks said during the meeting.

“One of the things that we’re looking forward to is to have every one of these students in a healthcare career for the rest of their lives so that we can benefit this community in an ongoing way. This is seed money, just a small investment.” 

Stuart Countess, the chief administrative officer for Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia and a LaGrange College graduate, was on hand for the meeting as well.

“I’m certain the students are all going to benefit from this,” Countess said. “It’s always nice to come back in this area and see who is going to take care of us in the future.”

THINC’s mission is, “to produce work-savvy graduates in an expert-based charter academy using a down-to-business approach to education, with authentic, hands-on curriculum extending learning beyond the traditional classroom propelled by sustained community support,” per its website. 

THINC, which opened its doors for classes in August of 2015, is chartered through the State of Georgia, which gives the Academy flexibility in respect to scheduling, class size, teacher certification, curriculum, instructional equipment and grading.

The academy is funded through corporate partnerships with KIA, WellStar West Georgia Medical Center, Milliken & Company, Mobis, Georgia Power and Power Tech.

During the meeting, the board also approved the movement of $52,000 from the Randy Jackson Scholarship fund to the West Georgia Technical College Foundation, which will benefit THINC Academy graduates who are moving on to West Georgia Tech.

Other action items covered during the board meeting included a first read of the 2017-18 budget.