Columbus Technical College paralegal student 24-year-old Caroline Dalton of Columbus has an extra 250 dollars in her educational expense account thanks to a special scholarship sponsored by the Columbus Lawyers Educational Foundation, Inc. The Foundation’s Treasurer Jerry Watts of Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford, P.C., presented Dalton with a check during the February meeting of the Columbus Bar Association.
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Treasurer of the Columbus Lawyers Educational Foundation reads the scholarship award to paralegal student Caroline Dalton while Columbus Technical College President Lorette M. Hoover looks on.
“This means a lot to me,” Dalton said. “I’m paying for school out of pocket so this money will go toward books and supplies for my last semester.”
Paralegal Studies student Caroline Dalton
Dalton works full time at the law office of Brown & Adams in Columbus. She has a perfect 4.0 GPA and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from Georgia Southern University. Since her core classes transferred to Columbus Technical College, Dalton was able to immediately start with the program-focused curriculum last fall and is on schedule to graduate with her Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies this summer. She is a 2011 graduate of Columbus High School.
Dalton said while she is extremely proud of her degree from Georgia Southern, she wanted something more career-oriented; the paralegal program at Columbus Tech was the perfect fit.
“What makes this different is it provides me with things I use on the job,” Dalton said. “Every day I reference notes or assignments from class. It provides practical applications in my chosen career.”
The paralegal program at Columbus Technical College has been a phenomenal pipeline of qualified employees for the many attorneys based in the greater Columbus, Georgia region.
“The Columbus Lawyer’s Foundation and the Columbus Bar Association are honored to play a part in this excellent program, and we appreciate Columbus Technical College’s contribution to the legal field in our area,” Watts said. “I know there are many firms, large and small, that stand to benefit from the expertise the graduates gain during their tenure in the program.”
According to the U.S. Dept. of Labor, the mean salary in Georgia for paralegals and legal assistants (2015) is $53,830. For more information on the paralegal program at Columbus Technical College, call 706-649-1814 or visit columbustech.edu.
