CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Chattahoochee Technical College has named Melanie Lambert as head of its Chattahoochee Tech Foundation.

Lambert, a Cartersville resident, is responsible for operating the foundation, which provides scholarships and grants for students, and financial support for programs.

She comes to CTC from Emory University, where she served as senior associate director of stewardship and donor relations. She has also worked in the development office at Reinhardt University, where she earned her communications degree.

For her first order of business, Lambert plans to educate CTC students about the opportunities the foundation offers them.

"When students find out that their scholarships are funds provided by people and businesses in our community, they want to show their gratitude," she said. "I want the foundation to provide them with every opportunity to connect with donors."

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Two East Cobb teachers are among only 24 educators statewide to earn Master Teacher certification in 2014.

A teacher earns the distinction if his or her students show growth in the classroom and perform well on the CRCT. Educators must also exhibit exemplary professional practices to become Master Teachers, according to Gov. Nathan Deal.

"Georgia's Master Teachers devote their careers to cultivating the minds of our future generations," Deal said in a releae. "I am proud of these individuals for the example they are setting and for their dedication to our students and our state as a whole."

Cobb County's two new Master Teachers are Melissa Danner, a 5th grade teacher at Mt. Bethel Elementary School, and Dr. Sunderland "Sunny" Williams, who teaches 6th and 7th grade language arts at Dickerson Middle School.

(WXIA) -- Georgia Connections Academy recently held a graduation ceremony for its Class of 2014.

Many classmates met for the very first time during the event at the Gwinnett Center.

"We are very proud of our graduates," GCA lead principal Heather Robinson said in a release. Altogether, the Class of 2014 secured $1.33 million in college scholarship offers.

Emily McClure of Columbus is GCA's valedictorian. She will attend Georgia College and State University on the Zell Miller Scholarship in the fall.

Learn more about Georgia Connections Academy, the state's free virtual charter school for students in grades K-12, at georgiaconnectionsacademy.com.

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