Augusta, GA
Georgia-Based Dealer Group Invests $500K in Future Automotive Repair School – Autobody News
Master Automotive, with two dealerships in Augusta, GA, and Aiken, SC, announced it committed $500,000 to Augusta Technical College in Georgia towards the establishment of the new Automotive Institute at the college’s expanded campus. The donation will fund the development of a state-of-the-art facility designed to elevate automotive training to national standards, reported WRDW/WAGT News.
Located at the former Johnson Cadillac site on 1122 Walton Way in Augusta, the institute is set to commence its first classes in the fall of 2025.
Currently, Augusta Tech offers a diploma and various technical certificates in automotive technology. With the addition of the new institute, the college plans to broaden its educational programs to include specialties such as auto body and collision, and light, medium and heavy diesel technologies. Augusta Tech also intends to incorporate automotive industry classes into its associates degrees within the School of Business.
Spanning 65,000 square feet, the new Automotive Institute will significantly expand beyond the current 10,000 square feet dedicated to the automotive program.
In a gesture complementing the corporate donation, Augusta Technical College President Dr. Jermaine Whirl, along with his wife Marqueta, have pledged $10,000 to establish the Dr. Jermaine Whirl Presidential Leadership Scholarship. This scholarship will annually benefit the student elected as president of the college’s Student Government Association. Rashell Tanner has been named as the inaugural recipient.
The institute will also bear the name Jim Hudson Automotive Institute, following a $1 million donation from the Jim Hudson Automotive Group. Additional significant contributions include $1 million each from the Augusta National Golf Club and the Knox Foundation, which have been instrumental in acquiring the facility.
“Together with partners like Will Schafer at Master Automotive, we are building a national model for automotive training,” Whirl said.
“There is a major need for a facility such as this in our community and we are excited to be a part of it,” said Schafer, owner of Master Automotive.
The development of the Automotive Institute is one of the “big 5” projects poised to position Augusta Technical College as a premier educational destination in the realm of automotive training.
Augusta, GA
Mother’s Day concert brings gospel music to Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Several artists came together for a Mother’s Day concert Bethel Community Church Family Life Center.
Lucresha Thomas with Psalm 100 Entertainment said the event honors mothers.
“I think that is very important to honor the mothers because there’s some people that don’t have mothers due, the mothers passing away and mothers not being local,” Thomas said. “So this helps bring them together and they’re able to fellowship with other mothers and just be positive, bringing some gospel to the community where they can fellowship together, be blessed and maybe receive a blessing.”
Host Tommy Ingram said groups from across the area participated in the concert.
“We got a live, a lot of groups coming from all over the area to make sure that all the mothers in the area have a good time today,” Ingram said.
Host Adrian Monet said the free concert gives back to the community.
“Well, okay, yeah, a lot of mothers enjoy some good gospel singing. They love gospel concerts,” Monet said. “And this one is a give back, you know, to the community because it’s completely free. And so it’s a chance for people to bring their mothers to enjoy the music that they love so much.”
Erica and Jessica Harris, co-owners of Sophisticated Soul Food, said they wanted to celebrate mothers.
“Okay, we’re out here today for this pre-Mother’s Day event, and we’re just, we just want to give back to the community and celebrate all mothers,” the co-owners said. “And so we’re so excited to be out here. And we have great soul food for everybody that wants to come out.”
Kenneth Medlock, Tyrell Gibson and Gary Durham of The Country Boys, a gospel group from Thomson, said they were honored to participate.
“So we’re just so grateful to be here and honored to be able to stand up and let the world know how good God is through our songs and our praise,” the group said.
Anthony Gallant and Lamont McDowell, members of a gospel group from the Carolinas, said celebrating mothers is important.
“Oh yeah, I think it’s extremely important because mothers work hard throughout the year. They’re very diligent,” Gallant and McDowell said. “And I think at least if you could celebrate them one time, just make them feel special and that the queens that they are, I think it’s important and they’ll feel that love.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident
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Augusta, GA
Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.
Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.
Campaign priorities
Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.
“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”
Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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