SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College inducted 43 students into its 2017 class for Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s Beta Xi Tau Chapter recently. To be eligible for membership, students must have completed a minimum of 12 degree-level semester credit hours and have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The STC Beta Xi Tau Chapter now has more than 475 members.

In the ceremony, STC Academic Vice President Dr. Al Cunningham challenged the new members to continue their hard work at Savannah Tech, at future colleges/universities or occupations.  “Phi Theta Kappa is not the end of your studies,” said Cunningham. “It is, in fact, just the beginning.”  He also encouraged the members to step into leadership positions as they further their education or enter into their future occupations.

The American Association of Community Colleges recognizes Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society for two-year colleges.

# # #

#1741 | April 27, 2017
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912-443-5512 or ashaffer@savananhtech.edu

SAVANNAH- Savannah Technical College’s Georgia Film Academy is hosting a screening of the documentary, Feed the Hungry: the Vision, the Outreach, the Community Changer at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 28 in the Savannah Technical College Eckburg Auditorium. There will be a red carpet meet-and-greet from 6-7 p.m. The documentary will be shown at 7 p.m., followed by Q&A at 7:30p.m. with Georgia State Representative Carl Gilliard and the film’s producers and director.

“I’m so proud of my first graduating class of students,” said STC Georgia Film Academy Technical Film Instructor John Grace. “They’re already changing the world for the better.”

The documentary was recently recognized by Georgia House Resolution 661. The film chronicles the rise of the Savannah Feed the Hungry organization and its founder, Rep. Gilliard. According to the resolution, “this documentary focuses on the challenges and hardships that Rep. Gilliard faced while building the organization and serves as a way for people of Georgia to gain a better perspective of the charity and its founding family.”

The film was created by William Martin (director) and Kareem McMichael (producer), two graduates of the inaugural class of film students at Savannah Technical College.

The Georgia Film Academy will hold information sessions for summer semester at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 27 and at 10 a.m., on Saturday, April 29 in room 7126 at the Savannah Technical College Savannah Campus.

The projected film industry growth in Georgia during the next three to five years will generate 3,000 to 5,000 new jobs, and the average earnings for jobs on set are $84,000 a year.  That’s why Georgia has launched the Georgia Film Academy, a unique-in-the-nation, statewide initiative to prepare Georgia citizens for these high demand careers. For more information visit: www.savannahtech.edu/GA-Film.

About the Georgia Film Academy
The Georgia Film Academy is a collaborative effort of the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia supporting workforce needs of the film and digital entertainment industries. The academy certifies workforce ready employees in needed areas, connect students and prospective employees with employers, and offer a unique capstone experience for top students that will provide them a path to employment in Georgia. Special partnerships include Pinewood Studios located in Fayetteville, Georgia.

# # #

#1729 | April 18, 2017

Georgia Film Academy Academic Advisor: Secene Dorsey
912.443.5859 or ssdorsey@savannahtech.edu

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

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced the state’s top technical college student and top technical college instructor for 2017. Skylar Huggett of Savannah Technical College received Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) and Ashley Strong-Green of Augusta Technical College received the 2017 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction.

“Georgia is fortunate to have a strong technical college system that molds a workforce capable of filling the demands of an ever-evolving economy,” said Deal. “Enthusiastic students like Ms. Huggett put forth the hard work and exemplary performance that makes the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) so successful, and devoted instructors such as Ms. Strong-Green guide students on their journey to success. My congratulations and best wishes to the award winners, and I am confident that they will be outstanding ambassadors for the technical college system in the coming year.”

The GOAL program, now in its 46^th year, recognizes the most outstanding technical education students at each of the 22 TCSG colleges and the technical division at Bainbridge State College. The Rick Perkins Award, now in its 27^th year, highlights excellence in technical instruction. As award winners, Huggett and Strong-Green will make public appearances as ambassadors for technical education during the next year, including meeting with Deal and addressing the Georgia General Assembly.

Each year, selection for the GOAL and Rick Perkins Award begins with the naming of the top technical education student and instructor at each college, as well as the technical division at Bainbridge State College. Regional competitions follow and narrow the field to nine finalists for each award. In April, the nine finalists are interviewed in Atlanta by a panel of judges. At each step, student finalists are scored on their academic accomplishments, leadership qualities, involvement in their local communities and future aspirations. Benchmarks for instructors include teaching experience, innovation in the classroom, leadership and civic involvement.

“The passion that Skylar and Ashley have for technical education shines through, not just in their remarks and in their work, but in their lives,” said TCSG Commissioner Gretchen Corbin. “Their passion is contagious, and each has a remarkable ability to inspire their peers and motivate all of us to greater achievements. There are no better advocates for technical education than our students and our instructors, and that includes not only Skylar and Ashley, but each and every one of our GOAL and Rick Perkins college winners.”

Skylar Huggett is a welding and joining technology student from Savannah Technical College whose goal is to weld in a job that contributes to Georgia’s infrastructure. She received the GOAL program’s grand prize: a new, made-in-Georgia 2017 Kia Optima, courtesy of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia and delivered by Ed Voyles Kia of Chamblee.

“Skylar is the perfect student to represent Georgia’s technical college students as the 2017 GOAL winner,” said Dr. Kathy Love, president of Savannah Technical College. “She represents the thousands of students who come through our doorways each year, seeking something other than the traditional pathway to higher education and find their true passions among our technical college programs. As Skylar says, because she found her love of welding, her future is on fire. I could not be prouder of her.”

Ashley Strong-Green, a general education instructor at Augusta Technical College, is the winner of the 2017 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction and a $1,000 cash award. In her acceptance remarks, Strong-Green cited the integral role technical education plays in contributing to the economy of the state and the quality of life of Georgia citizens.

“We are very proud of Ashley. She has been a leader and an innovator since the day she was hired,” said Augusta Technical College President Terry Elam. “She is dedicated and student-centered, and she personifies the academic excellence and high standards of the Technical College System of Georgia.”

The first runner-up for the technical education student of the year was Gisella Brust, a radiologic technology student at Gwinnett Technical College. For the technical education instructor of the year, the first runner-up was Charles Avery, an emergency medical services instructor in the technical division of Bainbridge State College.

About the Technical College System of Georgia

The 22 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) are Georgia’s top resource for skilled workers. TCSG offers world-class training in 600 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs to students who are trained on state-of-the-art equipment by instructors who are experts in their fields. The system also houses Georgia’s Office of Adult Education, which promotes and provides adult literacy and education programs, including the GED testing program, throughout the state. In addition, TCSG partners with companies through Quick Start, the nation’s top customized workforce training program, and through its individual colleges, to work with local industry to provide workforce and training solutions. For more information, visit www.TCSG.edu.

Jen Talaber Ryan jen.ryan@georgia.gov

Alyssa Botts abotts@georgia.gov

#1737 | April 13, 2017

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College students won 14 medals at the 2017 SkillsUSA Postsecondary State Conference, held in Atlanta, Ga. More than 500 college students from across the state of Georgia took part in the three-day competition. SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization that annually serves more than 320,000 high school, college and postsecondary students–and their instructors–in technical, skilled and service-occupation instructional programs.

STC practical nursing students swept the Nurse Assisting competition with gold for Charissa Barrett and silver for Angela Davila. STC students also swept the Mobile Electronics Installation competition with gold for Automotive Technology student Paul Warren and silver for Electrical Construction and Maintenance student Frank Easterlin.

The College won three other gold medals: Industrial Maintenance Systems team Charles Carter and Ramon Gonzalea (Mechatronics); Barbering students Theophile Brown-Tuyishimire, Brittany Williams, Johnathan Hall, Benjamin Vaughn (Entrepreneurship team); and Cosmetology students Alana Hodges and Autiana Hightower (Jobs Skills Demonstration).

STC students also won silver: Dia Johnson (Practical Nursing); Bradley Mingledorff (Medical Math); Skylar Huggett (Welding Sculpture); and Quiz Bowl Team featuring Industrial Maintenance Systems and Electrical Construction and Maintenance students Jordan Turner, Jacob White,William Jackson, Kyle Koskela, Michael Daly, Frank Tanner, Greg Amos.

Bronze medal winners include: Kiani Jones (Practical Nursing); Jessica Lewis (Cosmetology); Ryan Stroud (Industrial Motor Controls).

Students who won gold at the state competition are eligible to compete in the national competition in Louisville, Ky., June 19-23, 2017 for the 53rd annual National Leadership and Skills Conference.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization that annually serves more than 320,000 high school, college and postsecondary students–and their instructors–in technical, skilled and service-occupation instructional programs. SkillsUSA is a national, nonprofit student organization that has developed more than 10 million workers through active partnerships between employers and educators. Hundreds of American industries have turned to SkillsUSA as the source for employees who exemplify “Champions at Work” in both skills and attitudes. SkillsUSA’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. At the heart of this mission are SkillsUSA’s core values: integrity, responsibility, citizenship, service and respect.

###

 #1736 | April 12, 2017

SAVANNAH, Ga. – A crowd of nearly 250 gathered in the Eckburg Auditorium on the campus of Savannah Technical College today to celebrate the 2017 Tribute to Community STARs (Savannah Tech Achievement Recognition) luncheon, the eleventh annual event recognizing people for their service and dedication in the community or at work.

Honored were:

• Marcia Banes, Account Executive, Old Savannah Tours, sponsored by StayinSavannah.com
• Dave Burkoff, Partner, HunterMaclean, sponsored by HunterMaclean
• Michael Burris, Records Clerk, Chatham County Superior Clerk’s Office, sponsored by Coastal Center for Developmental Services
• Terry Coleman, President, Coleman Company, Inc., sponsored by Evans General Contractors
• Reed Dulany, III, President/CEO, Dulany Industries, Inc., sponsored by Judy & Dick Eckburg
• Elizabeth Genard, STC 2017 EAGLE Student of the Year, sponsored by Savannah Technical College
• Stephen Hartley, Department Head for Building Arts, Bryn Athyn College, sponsored by Friends of Stephen Hartley
• Holden Hayes, Regional President, South State Bank, sponsored by Savannah Morning News
• Skylar Huggett, STC 2017 GOAL Student of the Year, sponsored by Friends of Savannah Technical College
• Hurricane Heroes, Georgia Power, sponsored by Georgia Power
• Ted Kleisner, Retired CEO, Greenbriar Resorts, sponsored by Wells Fargo
• Laura Kyser, STC Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year, Mathematics, sponsored by the Savannah Technical College Foundation
• Don Logana, Anchor, WTOC-TV, honored posthumously by Leopold’s Ice Cream
• Chris Maynor, Tool Crib DIRTTbag, DIRTT Environmental Solutions, sponsored by DIRTT Environmental Solutions
• Rudolph Quarterman, Jr., President, Coastal Environmental Construction Management, Inc., sponsored by JE Dunn Construction
• Dana Schultz, Director of Club Operations/Director of Golf, The Westin Savannah Harbor, sponsored by Savannah Harbor Foundation
• Cori Sessions, Vice President of Operations, Advertising Specialty Services, sponsored by Advertising Specialty Services
• Ben Spitalnick, Physician, Pediatric Associates of Savannah, PC, sponsored by Joe Marchese Commercial Construction
• Kelley Waldron, Head of School, St. Andrew’s School, sponsored by Mary and Howard Morrison
• Don Waters, Retired Chairman, President/CEO, Brasseler USA, sponsored by Judy and Dick Eckburg
• Lisa Wilson, District Lead Nurse, Savannah Chatham County Public School System, sponsored by The Cory Joseph Wilson Fireball 40 Memorial Baseball Tournament Committee

The keynote address was delivered by Mahogany Bowers, STC Marketing graduate and founder of Blessings in a Book Bag.

The event is organized by the Savannah Technical College Foundation Community Council, a group of young professionals charged with expanding the awareness of Savannah Technical College and its mission through advocacy, awareness and fundraising.

Founded in 1984, the Savannah Technical College Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that exists to raise and disperse funds to support the College’s efforts to enhance learning, workforce training and economic development in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties. The Foundation also supports student success through its privately funded scholarships. The Foundation recently raised more than $7.2 million in its “Where Excellence Meets Opportunity.” The campaign focused on five key areas: precision manufacturing, health sciences, culinary arts/heritage tourism, technology and student support.

###

#1735 | April 8, 2017

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College is pleased to announce William “Carl” Raymond as the new Fire Science Program Department Head.

Formerly, Raymond was the Fire Science program coordinator at Southern Crescent Technical College.  He has more than three decades in fire and emergency services. He is a state and ProBoard certified firefighter and Instructor. He has a bachelor of science in aviation management from Florida Institute of Technology and an associate of applied science for fire science from Columbia Southern University.

He is the current Fire Science IFCC chair, American Heart Association Training center faculty, an ALLERT Active Shooter Instructor: Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events, First Responder response to terrorism instructor and licensed pilot. In his spare time he enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with his family.

The STC Fire Science programs prepare graduates for successful careers in the fire and emergency service field, whether they are looking to obtain required certifications to apply to fire departments nationwide or wish to obtain their degree to qualify for promotion into leadership positions at their department. Many of the classes meet the educational criteria established by the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council (ProBoard) allowing students to challenge various national fire service certifications including Fire Officer I & II, Incident Safety Officer, Fire Instructor I, Hazardous Materials Operations, Fire & Life Safety Educator, etc.

All Fire Science classes are scheduled to help students attend college, while balancing their home/life/work obligations with a combination of evening and online classes with practical hands-on training occurring at various area fire departments. The Fire Science Degree/ Diploma programs’ schedules were recently reconfigured utilizing the mini-mester format, which enables students to obtain their fire science degree or diploma in one year. The STC Fire Science program office is located to the Crossroads campus (190 Crossroads Parkway, Savannah, 31407). Interested students should contact Raymond at wraymond@savannahtech.edu or 912.443.3386 or STC Public Services Academic Advisor Amber Robinson at arobinson@savannahtech.edu or 912.443.5719.

###

Fire Sciences Department: Carl Raymond
912.443.3386 or wraymond@savannahtech.edu

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