#1351 | March 29, 2013

Celebration of the Young Child: Family Fun on April 20 from 10AM – 2PM

HINESVILLE, GA – Children begin learning right away; even when it looks like they’re playing. Learning in the early years is the theme for the sixth annual CELEBRATION OF THE YOUNG CHILD event to be held on Saturday, April 20 from 10 am – 2 pm at the Liberty Campus of Savannah Technical College on Airport Road in Hinesville, Ga.

The event is free and open to the public. It will include free food, prize giveaways and more. It will be held outdoors on the campus and will feature information and exhibits from a number of community partners and service organizations. Kid’s activities include music, a dunking booth, face painting and more.

To sponsor or set up a booth at the event, please contact Gia Smith gsmith@savannahtech.edu or 912.408.3024 x6024.

STC’s Early Childhood Education Care and Education classes are offered at the College’s Liberty and Savannah campuses. The program prepares graduates for employment in a variety of positions in childcare and related fields. Graduates are qualified as paraprofessionals, private pre-kindergarten teachers or Assistant Pre-K teachers, owners and/or directors of child care centers. The associate degree provides graduates with the opportunity for continued education and articulation to baccalaureate programs.

Liberty Campus is one of the College’s two locations in Hinesville, Ga. The second location is at the Paul R. Smith Army Education Center at Fort Stewart. These two locations offer a wealth of programs that mirror today’s workplace needs for Liberty County. Both of these campuses offer morning, afternoon, evening, weekend, online, hybrid and/or web-enhanced classes.

Media Contact:
Amy Shaffer, APR: 912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

#1349 | March 22, 2013

SAVANNAH – The Savannah Technical College Foundation Community Council honored 19 stars at the 2013 Tribute to Community STARS today. The event, now in its seventh year, honors individuals, nominated for their service and dedication at work or in the community.

The following were honored at the 2013 Tribute to Community Stars:

• Sheri Butler, sponsored by Wells Fargo;
• Joe & Mary Dobransky, sponsored by Dick and Judy Eckburg;
• Rhasheda Fann, sponsored by Savannah Tech’s Adult Education Advisory Committee
• Richard & Robin Greco, sponsored by Azalea Health Innovations and Select One Media;
• Emmaline Blu Harvin, sponsored by Joe Marchese Construction and John Davis Florist;
• Edna Jackson, sponsored by SEDA;
• Janice James, sponsored by Amerigroup and Footprint Savannah;
• Al Kennickell, sponsored by South Magazine;
• Pete Liakakis, sponsored by Savannah Morning News;
• Molly Lieberman, sponsored by Howard Morrison;
• Donald Lovette, sponsored by Johnson Laux Construction;
• Kirby Mason, sponsored by HunterMaclean;
• Julie Olsen, sponsored by Bill Cathcart;
• Julian Pafford, sponsored by Georgia Power;
• Susan Pinkston, sponsored by Savannah Technical College;
• Eleanor Rhangos, sponsored by Coastal Center for Development Services;
• Ashley Smith, sponsored by Savannah Tech’s Foundation Community Council;
• T. David Tribble, sponsored by DIRTT;
• 165^th Airlift Wing, sponsored by Celia Dunn, Bernard Williams, Co., and Helen Johnson

The event is sponsored by the STC Foundation Community Council, a group of young professionals charged with expanding the local knowledge and profile of Savannah Technical College and its mission and with raising funds to support the college, its programs and students. The Community Council is co-chaired by Steven Stowers and Heather Novak, and the Tribute to Community STARS event is chaired by Laura Lee Bocade. Dr. Bertice Berry, best-selling author, comedienne and speaker, delivered the keynote address, and Sonny Dixon was the master of ceremonies.

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Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

#1348 | March 19, 2013

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College has selected Brent Stubbs as its Dean of Adult Education. In this role, Stubbs is responsible for establishing adult education programs for individuals and employers, promoting the program to public and private organizations and overseeing administration for assessment and placement test for all Adult Education students.

Prior to joining Savannah Tech, Stubbs managed the GED ® and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes for Lake Technical Center located in Eustis, Fla., which serves residents of Lake County. As an Adult Education leader for the county, he helped expand online programs, launched the complete re-branding of adult education through “GED… It’s just a Beginning!” and worked as the chairman of the school’s Technology Committee, and spear-headed the complete re-design of the adult education program to emphasize transition to post-secondary and employment, which he plans to do at Savannah Tech. His expanded online program increased participation from 50 students to more than 200. Stubbs holds a MBA from Brenau University with an emphasis in leadership.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a person with a high school or GED ® credential earns $10,000 more per year than a non-high school graduate. The income level increases substantially more for those who go on to complete a college certificate, diploma or degree program. There are more than one million Georgians who are 25 years of age or older and do not have a high school education or GED diploma. Savannah Tech’s Adult Education Program serves those who need to improve their basic literacy and math skills, improve their oral and written English, practice for the GED ® test to attain a high school equivalence degree, and prepare for college. Instructors also help students with science and social studies test preparation for GED ® testing.

Savannah Technical College teaches adult education classes in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties with multiple locations in each community. For information, contact Adult Education at 912.443.5446 or visit http://www.savannahtech.edu/cwo/GED_Adult_Education and look for the GED Computer-Based Testing Registration Information link.

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Contact Adult Education:
912.443.5446 or visit http://www.savannahtech.edu/cwo/GED_Adult_Education
(Click the GED Computer-Based Testing Registration Information link)

Media Contact:
Amy Shaffer, APR: 912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

#1347 | March 18, 2013

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College’s Professional Continuing Education will offer a series of courses in Supervisory Training beginning April 3 and ending July 10. The location for the course is the Dorchester Academy (8787 E. Oglethorpe Hwy., Hinesville, 31313), and the class will meet from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m.

The Supervisory Training course is designed for anyone interested in improving or developing their leadership, relationship management and communication skills in a manufacturing environment. The cost for the eight-session series is $600 per student.

The following sections are included in the course and designed to immerse the student in an experiential learning environment that will prepare them to be leaders in fast-paced and ever changing manufacturing environments.

• Leadership: This section will familiarize students with the principles and techniques of sound leadership practices. Topics include: Characteristics of Effective Leadership Styles, History of Leadership, Leadership Models, The Relationship of Power and Leadership, Team Leadership, The Role of Leadership in Effecting Change.
• Interpersonal Communications: This section will introduce communication skills needed in business and professional contexts. The focus is on developing a working knowledge of theory and skills required in interpersonal communication, groups and presentations. Emphasis is on developing personal skills of comprehension and communication within a diversity of personnel and cultural situations.
• Time Management: Participants will learn to recognize their personal attitude toward time and the benefits of effective time management. Upon completion of this course, the learner will learn to avoid procrastination and set meaningful goals that reflect their own priorities, identify their personal and professional roles and discuss ways to make time for people and activities important to them. They will develop a “time audit” that will identify how they are spending their time and suggest areas where time management can be improved.
• Labor Management Relations: The section provides students with an overview of the relationship of rank and file employees to management in business organizations. The nature of the workplace, the economic foundations of work organizations, and the history of the relationship between management and labor is examined. The course acquaints the student with the principles of developing positive relationships between management and labor within the context of the legal environment governing labor relations.

For series registration and payment, contact Reeshemah Johnson, 912.443.5808 or rjohnson@savannahtech.edu by March 29, 2013. Credit and/or debit card payments may be made via telephone. Money order, personal or cashier’s checks made payable to Savannah Technical College will only be accepted at the Crossroads and Liberty campus.

Savannah Technical College’s Professional Continuing Education provides professional short-term job training and community interest classes for the College’s four-county service area and offers many paths to high-wage, high-performance careers. No previous college experience, entrance exams or high school diploma/GED are required to participate in Professional Continuing Education classes.

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For registration and payment information:
Reeshemah Johnson 912.443.5808 or rjohnson@savannahtech.edu

Media Contact:
Amy Shaffer, APR 912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

#1346 | March 14, 2013

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College has selected Kathleen Merrigan, Ph.D., as Dean for Curriculum and Special Projects. In this role, Merrigan is responsible for assessing the quality of curriculum within all academic divisions, the College’s “Complete College Georgia” initiative, and maintaining accreditation status for all of the College’s academic programs.

Merrigan joins Savannah Tech with more than a decade of higher education experience from Pacifica Graduate Institute located in Carpentaria, Calif. As Director of Academic Affairs for Pacifica Graduate Institute, Merrigan assisted in the day-to-day academic operations, implemented and monitored disability services on the campus, and monitored/reported compliance requirements for the Department of Education Title-IV Program and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). She participated in many groups including WASC Task Groups, Program Development, WASC Steering Committee on Assessment and Educational Continuation (Retention) committees. Merrigan holds a doctorate of philosophy in education with a specialization in leadership for higher education from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minn.

 

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Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

#1345 | March 4, 2013

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College Welding student Andy Burns was selected to receive a $350 scholarship from the American Welding Society (AWS). He is the first student to be awarded an AWS scholarship at the College.

Before starting the welding program, Burns was a dump truck driver, who was looking for a more stable career change to support his family. He is scheduled to graduate with a diploma, along with multiple welding technique Technical Certificates of Credit from Savannah Tech this June. He gained experience during his time at Savannah Tech, through an internship as a tig welder working on steam turbines for Mitsubishi. Tig welding requires more precision and is more difficult to master than other types of welding. As a member of Savannah Tech’s AWS student chapter, Burns qualified for the AWS scholarship.

AWS is a not-for-profit membership organization that is the world’s authority on safe, productive welding. The society publishes the major technical standards used in welding of all types, and certifies welding professionals such as inspectors, supervisors and educators. In addition, AWS publishes technical magazines in three languages and operates trade shows in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The organization currently serves nearly 70,000 members worldwide and is composed of 22 Districts with 250 Sections and student chapters.

A career with unlimited potential, Welding and Joining is the backbone of manufacturing and leads the way during economic recovery. The Georgia Department of Labor notes welding and joining careers will increase by 15% or more over the next decade. The need for new welders hasn’t gone unnoticed by local employers. With proactive industry partners like JCB and Mitsubishi, STC has developed multiple internship tracks for new and current students. Advisory Board Members for the Welding and Joining department such as Pipe Fitters Union (Local 188), Iron Workers Union (Local 709), CST Coverings (formally Temcor), Savannah Tank, LMI Aerospace, and CSX – also work closely with instructors for new and updated course offerings, shaping the program to fit the needs and expectations of local businesses.

Savannah Tech offers a diploma in welding and joining along with technical certificates of credit in a variety of techniques for welding. Welding and Joining Technology is offered at the Savannah campus and at a new welding lab near the Effingham campus in Rincon, Ga.

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Industrial Technology Academic Advisor: Melanie Smith
912.443.5859 or msmith@savannahtech.edu

Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 orashaffer@savannahtech.edu