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(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Nov. 24, 2014) - - - The Columbia State Community College Foundation hosted the President's Society Dinner Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Westbury House to honor donors for their generous support and donations made to the college.

"Thank you for being here and giving us the opportunity to publicly recognize all you do in support of our community's college," said Barry White, Columbia State Foundation chair. "You make a difference in the lives of students, and your partnership with the college makes our communities better places to live."

Citizens from the college's nine-county service area were recognized for their different levels of giving. Foundation board members, business and community leaders, and college officials were among these supporters.

"Quoting Confucius, 'He who wishes to secure the good of others, has already secured his own,'" stated Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president, in her opening remarks. "Your investments of time, funds and words of support have helped to secure many students' futures and that of our communities."

Smith said her vision for the future of Columbia State is that of the continued pursuit of excellence for continuous improvement and innovation for student success and college growth.

"Tonight, we celebrate you at the first President's Society Dinner," Smith declared in her closing remarks. "Please accept my heartfelt thank you for choosing to contribute to Columbia State and its work of educating - what a choice - what a gift that gives."

Bethany Lay, executive for advancement and director of the foundation, emceed the evening with presentation of awards. Recognition was given to those who support the college through consistent annual giving, those who have established endowments and legacy gifts, and those in the President's Society who were recognized for cumulative giving levels of $10,000 to $1 million or more.

The Columbia State Foundation encourages friends, alumni, economic partners and others to invest their time and resources toward supporting education at Columbia State and making higher education accessible to students. Scholarships and support of programs are made possible through these partnerships.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.