Culinary Arts Student Team Wins ACF 2015 Southeastern Conference Knowledge Bowl

Knowledge Bowl Team 2015

Savannah, GA – Savannah Technical College culinary arts students received top honors at the American Culinary Federation (ACF) Southeastern Regional Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, February 15-17, 2015.

STC’s Culinary Arts Knowledge Bowl team won the Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl Southeast regional competition and earned a gold medal. Team members include: Ashley Del Rosario, Bonni Flora, Brenda Blazowski, Pulkit Chawla, Jenn Case, Dylan Kennedy (coach) and Devin Feitz.

The STC Knowledge Bowl team is one of the final four that will compete at the national ACF convention competition in Orlando, Fla., (July 30 – August 3). This is the fourth year Savannah Technical College will send a student team to compete at the national convention.

“Our team’s win on a regional level shows the excellent culinary education Savannah Technical College provides,” said STC Culinary Arts Department Head Chef Jean Vendeville. The team of second-year culinary/baking and pastry students has been training twice a week for the past six months. “This team has become as good as they are due to their hard work. We look forward to the national competition,” said Vendeville.

To earn a gold medal in the Knowledge Bowl a team must score an average of more than 600 points in two of the five games in the competition. This team was undefeated after competing against five other teams in the Southeastern region.

First held at the 1992 ACF National Convention in Washington, D.C., the Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl is the brainchild of Carol Kelly, a member of the Nation’s Capital ACF chapter and a culinary instructor. She used the competition format to test her vocational high school students. As the competition grew, it was named after former ACF President and long-time advocate of apprentices and junior members Baron H. Galand, CEC. Today, the competition includes sensory questions, hidden pictures, and of course challenging culinary, baking, nutrition, sanitation and math questions.

The Culinary Institute of Savannah offers ACF-accredited diploma and degree programs in culinary arts and has been described as the “best in the U.S.A” by its ACF accreditation review board. Previous STC student teams won three consecutive ACF southeast regional championships – in 2010 in the Hot Food Team competition and back-to-back wins in the Knowledge Bowl competition in 2011 and 2012.

Under the direction of Vendeville, the American Culinary Federation’s 2014 Chef Educator of the Year, the College offers associate degrees in Culinary Arts along with Baking and Pastry. The Culinary Institute of Savannah has earned distinction as one of the top four culinary programs in the country according to the American Culinary Federation (ACF). Vendeville has assembled a top-notch team of faculty, who have each earned national ACF certification under his leadership. For more information about STC Culinary Arts visit: www.facebook.com/ChefJeanVendeville.

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#1529 | February 25, 2015

Public Service Academic Advisor: Amber Robinson
912.443.5719 or arobinson@savannahtech.edu
 

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

 

 

Savannah Technical College serves Coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 10,000 credit and non-credit students annually, Savannah Tech offers nearly 150 different instructional programs in Aviation Technology, Business and Professional Services, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training and continuing education. The College serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Ruth Ann Dutton selected as 2015 GOAL student of the year

SAVANNAH – Paralegal Studies student Ruth Ann Dutton has been selected as the 2015 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner for Savannah Technical College.

GOAL honors outstanding students at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions. She will represent Savannah Tech at regional and statewide events to select a student to serve as the ambassador for technical education across the state. The highly competitive process involves academic success, community engagement and public speaking. Winners are nominated by their instructors and selected after interviews with a panel of business and community leaders.

Dutton is a top-performing student in her program. “What I respect most about Ruth Ann is her dedication to family and her commitment to the community,” said Paralegal Studies Department Head Debra Geiger. “Her technical college experience has encouraged her growth in many ways, including academically, personally and professionally. Ruth Ann’s story is certainly a model for success that will inspire others to reach their full potential by simply believing in themselves.”

Dutton, expects to graduate this year, after completing a summer internship with the Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP) office, where she has volunteered for the past year. According to Geiger, Dutton has become the “go-to” person in the GLSP office for drafting legal correspondence and has helped train new paralegal students. Dutton has an associate’s degree in business administration from Gordon College and prior to that, earned a certificate in electrocardiogram from Griffin Technical College.

“Choosing technical education allows students to have hands-on knowledge and experience,” said Dutton in her GOAL biography.  “The schedules allow for students to have access to education needed, while still working and supporting their families. My attending school again shows my son that it is never too late for an education.”

She will represent Savannah Tech at the regional competition in March before heading to the statewide competition in April in Atlanta, where the statewide GOAL winner will be selected.

#1527 | February 16, 2015

Savannah Technical College serves Coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 10,000 credit and non-credit students annually, Savannah Tech offers nearly 150 different instructional programs in Aviation Technology, Business and Professional Services, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training and continuing education. The College serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Savannah Tech honors Sarah Hunt as the 2015 Instructor of the Year

SAVANNAH – Sarah Hunt has been selected as the Savannah Technical College 2015 Instructor of the Year and is the College’s Rick Perkins Award winner. The Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction honors outstanding faculty members at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions. Patton will represent Savannah Technical College in regional and statewide events.

“Sarah has demonstrated teaching excellence through her diverse instructional approaches,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love.  “From incorporating technology into the classroom to creating collaborative and cooperative learning environments, Sarah continues to be innovative. She engages her students by promoting a style of teaching which encourages students to connect classroom and real-world practices. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and learning opportunities that prepare students to think critically.”

Hunt has been department chair of humanities and fine arts at Savannah Technical College since 2013. She began teaching in the STC General Studies department as an English instructor in 2007. She has an MFA in Professional Writing from Savannah College of Art and Design earning an Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. She also has a bachelor of arts in English and a degree in creative writing from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

The award has been an ongoing statewide event since 1991 and is designed to recognize technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields.  Formerly known as the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence, the Rick Perkins Award was renamed in memory and honor of Thomas “Rick” Perkins, an instructor at West Central Technical College, now West Georgia Technical College, who received the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence prior to his untimely death. The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) provides oversight for the Rick Perkins Award program through the System Office’s programming staff, the presidents’ Academic Improvement committee and the state planning committee.

Savannah Technical College serves Coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 10,000 credit and non-credit students annually, Savannah Tech offers nearly 150 different instructional programs in Aviation Technology, Business and Professional Services, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training and continuing education. The College serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Special offers help adults study for and take GED® Test

2014 Graduation

Discounts on tests, practice tests available at Savannah Tech

SAVANNAH – Through February 28th, the GED® Testing Service will be offering the GED Ready practice tests for $1 each, a savings of $5 per practice test, along with a savings of $10 off one of the four GED® subject tests.  The GED® Ready test is the official practice test of the GED® program and provides potential test-takers a chance to find out if they are ready to pass, or still need to work on key skills.

Practice tests offer students a chance to see if they are ready to take the GED® test, get personal study plans to help improve scores and learn the exact pages and chapters needed to study.

To access the GED Ready® practice test for $1, log into www.GED.com and use the promotion code READYFORABUCK at check out. To save $10 on one GED® test subject, schedule the test in a MyGED® account at GED.com and use the promotion code FTFSAVE$10 at checkout.

Savannah Technical College also offers free GED® test preparation classes. In 2014, students who attended class were more than twice as likely to pass the test as those who did not attend class. Walkins had a 51 percent pass rate, and STC test prep students had an 81 percent pass rate.

GED® test classes are offered in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties in the morning, afternoon, evening and online. For GED® testing information, go to www.ged.com to sign up to take test or go to www.savannahtech.edu/testingcenter to learn more about our testing locations.

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 equivalency degree, and prepare for college. Instructors also help students with science and social studies test preparation for GED® testing. STC teaches adult education classes in the morning, afternoon, evening and online. They are offered in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties with multiple locations in each community. Adult education classes for GED®-prep are currently free for all U.S. citizens.

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#1524 | February 3, 2015

Adult Education Dean: Brent Stubbs
912.443.5352 or
bstubbs@savannahtech.edu 

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

Savannah Technical College serves Coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 10,000 credit and non-credit students annually, Savannah Tech offers nearly 150 different instructional programs in Aviation Technology, Business and Professional Services, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training and continuing education. The College serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).