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ALBANY, GA. -- A local college is celebrating its golden anniversary at a time when millions of students – including many in Southwest Georgia - are struggling to make ends meet.

Albany Technical College President Dr. Anthony Parker told us that educated citizens are better citizens. And he doesn’t want temporary financial obstacles to set up permanent educational roadblocks.

"I just wanted the students to understand that there are no excuses for not achieving excellence," said Lieutenant General Willie Williams. Williams delivered the keynote speech at Friday’s 50^th Anniversary Convocation for Albany Technical College. He is the former commander of MCLB Albany.

Williams' address invoked the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. "In order to be successful in that pursuit, you have to be prepared and what is going on here at Albany Tech to prepare students for the future is just absolutely eye-watering," he said.

Dr. Anthony Parker has served as President of Albany Tech for nearly 15 years. "We’ve done a good job, or what we believe to be a good job during that time, helping our local economy by educating people that will have value added, so they will make more money," said Parker.

Enrollment has increased from 900 students to almost 4500 during Parker’s tenure and the number of educational programs has tripled. "The Southwest Georgia region has not really increased in population in that time but our enrollment has increased more than four-fold," he said. "Hopefully, that means we’re making a greater economic development contribution."

Albany Tech’s 50^th Anniversary comes at a time when colleges and universities around the nation are facing budget cutbacks and raising tuition. But Lieutenant Williams says his message of ‘no excuses’ applies now more than ever.

"You can’t just allow that to say, ‘I’m going to sit and do nothing,’ " said Williams "You’ve still got to look for those ways to make it happen."

"Many of our students qualify for Pell," said Parker. "We participate in college student loans. We just want to place our students where they can position themselves using all the financial aid that’s available."

"That’s going to mean jobs," said Dougherty County Commission Chairman Jeff Sinyard. "That’s going to mean futures for their families. It’s going to mean growth for our region."

Despite the current pressures on colleges, universities, and students, Dr. Parker says he expects Albany Tech enrollment to eclipse the 5,000 mark in the near future.

Are you worried about paying for college for yourself or your children?