SAVANNAH – More than 375 Savannah Technical College degree and diploma students along with GED recipients will walk across the stage at the Johnny Mercer Theatre in the Savannah Civic Center for the college’s graduation ceremony at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, June 23 at the Johnny Mercer Theatre.

For Michael Thompson, who will be graduating with his diploma in Automotive Collision Repair, this year is the culmination of a journey that began in the 1980s when he first salvaged parts for a car damaged in an accident. He did such a careful job rebuilding his old Buick that when he took the car in to be painted, the shop owner suggested he might have a real future in collision repair and encouraged him to pursue it.

But Michael’s family had been in the construction business for many years. He and his brothers were second-generation in a well-respected local firm. Then in 2012, after years of cyclical layoffs and down times in construction, he began to think seriously about turning his longtime passion of auto bodywork into his livelihood. He later enrolled at Savannah Technical College and never looked back.

“Michael was an outstanding student – one of the best we’ve had in our program,” said STC’s Automotive Collision Repair Department Head Keith Padgett. “Because he was so knowledgeable and picked things up so quickly, other students often sought his assistance. He will be very successful.”

Michael has just opened M&M Paint and Body on East Gwinnett Street – a small shop, located in a non-descript building on the east side of Savannah. According to Michael, business is good and growing every day.

“I found that I enjoyed Auto Collision Repair courses and did really well – much better than when I was in school as a young man,” he said.

Savannah Technical College offers a diploma in Auto Collision Repair, as well as technical certificates of credit for auto collision repair and automotive refinishing. For more information about this and other Industrial Technology programs, contact Seceney Dorsey at sdorsey@savannahtech.edu.

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#1542 | June 19, 2015

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College’s Professional Continuing Education (PCE) department will offer Introduction to Fly Casting starting in July 2015. The course is part of PCE’s Business After Hours Education Series.

Introduction to Fly Casting is a four-part class offered Mondays and Wednesdays (6-8PM) beginning July 20 at the College’s Crossroads Campus (190 Crossroads Parkway, Savannah, 31407). Students will learn how to put a fly rod system together, the skill of tying knots, and the art of perfecting a cast, along with information about fishing flies, line and rod care and much more. Cost for the class is $60. For more details visit: www.savannahtech.edu/business-industry/courses

The Professional Continuing Education Department provides short-term classes in both the traditional and online classroom setting. Courses cover a variety of skills and workforce development options that match local employer’s needs.

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#1541 | June 19, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College staff members Sherry Darnstaedt, Accounts Receivable Manager and Tammy Pierson, Grants Accountant were recognized for completing the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Administrative Services Executive Academy recently.  Darnstaedt and Pierson were presented with a certificate of completion for demonstrating professional education and commitment to their profession by TCSG Commissioner Gretchen Corbin, and TCSG Assistant Commissioner Lisa Eason at the Vice Presidents of Administrative Services meeting in Macon.

The TCSG Administrative Services Executive Academy was established in 2013 to provide college business officers training in four 8-hour sessions that encompasses all the areas involved in the Administrative Services departments of the Technical Colleges.  Such training topics included financial accounting and budgeting management, PeopleSoft accounting software, human resources, various reports to state and national offices, insurance, and business office functions.  Only 20 individuals were recognized for completing the Executive Academy in 2015.

“This is very important internal training for our senior accounting staff members,” said TCSG Assistant Commissioner Lisa Eason.  “I would like to especially thank Savannah Technical College’s Vice President of Administrative Services Sue Turner for her role in helping coordinate this year’s training session.”

Savannah Technical College President Dr. Kathy S. Love also congratulated Sherry Darnstaedt and Tammy Pierson on their completion of the Administrative Services Executive Academy:  “Sherry and Tammy are tremendous assets to our College,” said Love.  “We are very fortunate to have them as part of our team.  And, it goes without saying, that I am delighted that our system office recognizes Ms. Turner and tapped her to help lead the training efforts for the Executive Academy participants.”

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#1540 | June 8, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College has selected Brent Stubbs as its Dean of General Studies. In this role, Stubbs is responsible for all developmental education and general education courses to include mathematics and natural sciences, humanities and fine arts, language and communication, and behavioral sciences. These courses support the diploma and degree programs at the College and serve the needs of dual enrollment and transient students as well.

Previously, Stubbs was Dean of Adult Education for the College. Under his direction, the Adult Education program consistently met and exceeded all state and federally mandated benchmarks for enrollment and student learning outcomes. In addition, he was responsible for building the Accelerating Opportunity program, nationally recognized for excellence, which is transforming the way adult education students are being served both locally and nationally.

Prior to joining Savannah Tech, Stubbs was the department chair and coordinator for the GED^® and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program at Lake Technical College located in Eustis, Fla., which serves residents of Lake County. Stubbs holds a MBA from Brenau University with an emphasis in leadership and anticipates earning his doctorate in education from Georgia Southern in 2017.

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#1539 | June 5, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Sonny Dixon, local media legend, will deliver the commencement address at Savannah Technical College’s 2015 graduation at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23 in the Johnny Mercer Theatre at the Savannah Civic Center.

Savannah Tech has awarded 491 degrees and diplomas for students that completed coursework from fall 2014 through spring 2015. Also, 105 GED diplomas have been earned during that time. Savannah Tech expects more than 375 degree, diploma and GED recipients to participate in graduation.

Dixon retired from his 18-year career as a news anchor with WTOC-TV in May 2015. He became Savannah’s only Best Anchor Emmy Award Winner ever in 2011. (The “Best Anchor” category is the only Emmy competition that includes all markets, large and small, while all other categories are divided by market size.) He was chosen Georgia’s Best Anchor/Reporter by the Associated Press in 2005.

He is a proud Savannah native, who has readily volunteered to help out in and around his hometown for decades, serving on numerous boards, including various Chamber of Commerce Boards, the United Way of the Coastal Empire, Savannah Technical College, Rape Crisis Center, American Cancer Society, Savannah Speech and Hearing, Boy Scouts of the Coastal Empire and many more. He currently serves on the Board of the Coastal Georgia Area Arthritis Foundation and the Savannah Area Florida Gator Club.

Dixon was elected to five terms in the Georgia House of Representatives, where he held key offices and served on prominent committees, before retiring from elected office in 1997. He was twice elected to the Garden City Council before moving on to the legislature.

Due to the increased number of graduates participating in commencement, graduates will receive five tickets for guests to attend the ceremony.

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1538 | June 4, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu