Georgia Southern University announces outstanding $5 million gift to the College of Business
The Georgia Southern University Foundation, Inc. received a $5 million gift, the single largest gift in University history, for the College of Business from Greg Parker, president, founder and CEO of The Parker Companies in Savannah. The University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved the name of the Gregory M. Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University.
Parker is known for his commitment to technology, innovation and charitable giving. The new name ties the College to a successful entrepreneur and to a powerful brand that is associated with high-quality service and products.
“At Georgia Southern, we’re focused on student success and meeting the workforce needs of our region and the state,” says Georgia Southern University President Shelley C. Nickel. “This bold investment in our students will increase that effort and provide even greater opportunity for the leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”
“This $5 million gift signifies a new partnership between The Parker Companies and the College. It will enhance the quality of teaching and learning and scholarly activities while raising the profile of the Parker College of Business and Georgia Southern University across the region, state and nation,” adds Allen C. Amason, Ph.D., dean of the College. “This partnership is a significant step forward in preparing more highly qualified students for the workforce.”
With a diverse student population that is representative of Georgia’s population, the new funding will establish the Parker Business Scholars Program, Parker Business Scholarship Fund and Parker Faculty Support Fund, allowing Georgia Southern students to excel in the areas of professional development and scholarship. In addition, faculty research remains at the forefront of the College’s dedication to current trends in business and teaching.
“By making this gift to the College of Business at Georgia Southern University, I hope to make a lasting impact on the business community in coastal Georgia,” states Parker. “I truly believe in education’s power to transform lives and have a strong commitment to giving back to the community.”
The Parker Business Scholarship Program (PBSP) will provide personalized professional development and educational enrichment opportunities to a select group of students in the Parker College of Business. Implementation of the PBSP will begin in fall 2019 and include specialized coursework, unique professional development opportunities and other experiential learning activities. The Parker Companies, along with the dean of the College, will have direct involvement with the PBSP students.
The Parker Business Scholarship Fund will enable recruitment and retention of greater numbers of the best and brightest students and will attract students with the potential for competitive offers from other universities, making the Parker College of Business a destination of first choice for students across the state and region.
The Parker Faculty Support Fund will support faculty members and their research. Research is essential to the academic reputation of the College, to the scholarly currency and prestige of the faculty, and to the overall value proposition of the College as a leading academic institution.
About Parker’s
Parker’s is strategically redefining America’s convenience store industry, offering customers high-quality products, freshly prepared food and superior customer service at 54 retail stores throughout southeast Georgia and South Carolina. Headquartered in Savannah, Ga., Parker’s has a commitment to exceeding customer expectations and has repeatedly been recognized as one of the nation’s leading convenience store companies. Food service is a specialty, featuring Parker’s Kitchen favorites like hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders, tender bone-in chicken, made-from-scratch mac ‘n’ cheese, a breakfast bar and daily specials. The company’s popular PumpPal loyalty program, which includes more than 150,000 members, has saved Parker’s customers more than $10 million to date.
Parker’s also gives back to every community where stores are located through the Fueling the Community Program, which donates a portion of the profit of every gallon of gas sold on the first Wednesday of the month to area schools. In addition, the company endows the Parker’s Emergency and Trauma Center at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, and spearheads an Anti-Litter Campaign in Savannah. For more information about Parker’s, visit Parkersav.com.
About Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research institution founded in 1906, offers 138 degree programs serving more than 26,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.