A crowd of more than 200 gathered in the Eckburg Auditorium on the campus of Savannah Technical College to celebrate the 2018 Tribute to Community STARS luncheon, the twelfth annual event recognizing people for their service and dedication in the community or at work.
 
Honored were:
 
Erica Backus, Director of Public Relations, Visit Savannah, sponsored by Advertising Specialty Services;

Tom Barton, Retired Editorial Page Editor/Freelance Writer, sponsored by Judy & Dick Eckburg;

Judge James F. Bass, Jr., Superior Court Judge, Chatham County, Georgia, sponsored by Port City Bar Association;

Covardis Broadie, Site Manager, Urban Hope sponsored by Friends of Savannah Technical College;  

Kimberly Caesar, 2018 Savannah Technical College GOAL Student of the Year, sponsored by Savannah Technical College;

Kaye Dowell, Principal Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo Bank, sponsored by Wells Fargo;

Brynn Grant, COO, Savannah Economic Development Authority / Vice President World Trade Center Savannah, sponsored by Mary & Howard Morrison;

Willie Hall, Instructor, EmployAbility, sponsored by EmployAbility;

Michelle Hetager, Vice President, Private Advisor, BB&T, sponsored by BB&T Insurance;

Stratton Leopold, Owner, Leopold’s Ice Cream, sponsored by DIRTT;  

Mickey Minick, Director of Sales and Marketing, Old Savannah Tours, sponsored by StayinSavannah.com;  

Chris Phillips, Partner, HunterMaclean, sponsored by HunterMaclean  

Michael Skinner, 2018 Savannah Technical College Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year, sponsored by Savannah Technical College;

Melissa Smiley, 2018 Savannah Technical College Eagle Student of the Year, sponsored by Savannah Technical College Foundation; and

Megan Yarbrough, Founder/Owner, Savannah Sharks, sponsored by Joe Marchese Construction, LLC
 
The keynote address was delivered by Weslyn “Lady Mahogany” Bowers, STC Marketing graduate and founder of Blessings in a Book Bag.  
 
The event is hosted by the Savannah Technical College Foundation Community Council, a group of young professionals charged with expanding the awareness of Savannah Technical College and its mission through advocacy, awareness and fundraising.