American Pest Control Announces Scholarship Recipients

ATHENS, Ga. - American Pest Control, an Athens, Ga., family-owned and -operated pest management company, introduced the Gene Higginbotham Memorial Scholarship in May 2016. Gene Higginbotham founded American Pest Control in 1971. He identified family, education, and community as core values for his company. Mr. Higginbotham passed away on Aug. 30, 2015 and the scholarship was created in his honor by family and employees to continue his legacy. Throughout Georgia and South Carolina 23 total scholarships were awarded this year, eight of which were awarded to students in the greater Athens area.  With school back in session, American Pest Control is excited to wish these shining stars luck as they begin this next phase of their lives. 

One of the local recipients, Erynn Culbreath, who is a graduate of Cedar Shoals High School will pursue her dream of becoming a pediatrician while attending Kennesaw State University. There were two winners chosen from North Oconee High School, Carson Allen and Rylan Laird. Carson is the son of American Pest Control’s Media Production Specialist, Dwayne Allen. He is excited to begin his college career at Athens Technical College. The second recipient from North Oconee, Rylan Laird, will arrive at Augusta University this month with plans to major in Sports Management as well as play baseball. Anna Paschall, a graduate from Oconee County High School, is enrolling at the University of Georgia this fall to pursue a degree in health care. Alexa Hill graduated from Athens Academy and is looking forward to pursuing a degree in Marine Sciences at the University of Florida. Prince Avenue Christian School graduate, Gracen Ricketts, was also awarded the scholarship and will be attending the University of Georgia this fall. Madisyn Temple, a graduate of Madison County High School, will enroll at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College this fall to work toward her dream of becoming an Agricultural Tech teacher. Jacob Kitzmiller, who graduated from Oglethorpe County High School, is the second of American Pest Control employee, Jeff Kitzmiller’s, children to be awarded the scholarship. Jacob will be attending Georgia Southern to study biology.

American Pest Control will continue to offer this scholarship to high school seniors throughout their service area, across Northeast Georgia and parts of South Carolina. The family-owned and -operated business says it looks forward to continuing their support of local communities and schools.