Ogeechee Tech Dean Named
Recipient of Citizen of the Year
in Claxton-Evans County

Ogeechee Technical College Dean of Adult Education, Pama Caraway, was recently recognized as Citizen of the Year in Claxton and Evans County.  In comments made at the Claxton-Evans County annual Chamber of Commerce membership banquet, Bruce Purcell, new president of the Claxton-Evans County Chamber of Commerce, stated, "Pama Caraway has worked as a volunteer with the American Red Cross, the American Diabetes Association and the Leadership Evans program, to name a few examples of her community service.  Her professional and personal goals are much the same: striving to raise the standard of living for Evans County.”

Pama Caraway is presented a plaque commemorating her award for Citizen of the Year in Claxton-Evans County.

“Part of the criteria for the Citizen of the Year award is being known for integrity, good character, practicing fair treatment of others and contributions to aid community-oriented projects,” Purcell said.  This year’s recipient certainly fits the criteria.  Caraway, a native of Evans County, “has devoted much of her adult life to helping others,” Purcell noted.

According to information provided at the award presentation, over the years she has raised money for the Red Cross and the Diabetes Association and for the American Cancer Society in past Relay for Life campaigns. She was named an American Red Cross Hero as one of the top local fund-raisers of 2003.  She not only is a graduate of the 2006 Leadership Evans class but also helped make plans and served on the selection committee for the 2008 class.

Professionally, Caraway has served as Dean of Adult Education at Ogeechee Technical College since August 2001. Before that she taught criminal justice at Georgia Southern University from 1998 until 2001. She received her bachelor’s degree in justice studies in 1996 and her master’s in Public Administration in 1998, both from GSU. She received the Richard J. Waugh Award for Outstanding Justice Studies Student  of the Year in 1996 and was inducted to two national honor societies, Psi Chi (for psychology, her minor) and Phi Alpha Alpha (for public affairs and administration). A member of Eastside Baptist Church, Caraway serves on its personnel committee and in the past has taught Sunday school and sung in the choir. Caraway’s parents are Sam and Martha Lott. Her husband is Andy Caraway and they have two children, Derek, 24 and Andrea, 22.

Caraway said she was honored, surprised and excited to receive the award.
“It’s easy to be citizen of the year with such a caring community and so many opportunities to give.” she added.  As Dean of Adult Education, Caraway coordinates the College’s three Adult Learning Centers in Bulloch, Evans, and Screven Counties, in addition to other duties.

Contact: Barry Turner
Executive Director for Public Relations
Phone: (912) 688-6958
Email: bturner@ogeecheetech.edu