Month: February 2018

Peace Officer Academy Honors Graduates of Levi Cory Adams Cohort

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SAVANNAH, Ga. – Ten students from the Savannah Technical College Peace Officer Academy celebrated graduating from the program with a completion ceremony today.

The four women and six men have completed coursework containing the entire Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Law Enforcement Training Course. Their successful completion of the program qualifies them to be state-certified peace officers.

This is the 24th group of students to complete the program since its inception in 2009. To date, the program has graduated 313 P.O.S.T.-certified officers. Many candidates are in various stages of the application process with statewide agencies. Several candidates have been hired by area police departments. Savannah Tech’s Peace Officer Academy has a 97% placement rate.

Each cohort selects a fallen officer for whom the graduating class will be named. The cohorts have a tradition of giving the family of the fallen officer a challenge coin dedicated to the officer. A challenge coin is a symbol of an unbreakable bond of dedication and allegiance among military personnel and law enforcement officers. The challenge coin tradition started as a military tradition in World War I and was later adopted by law enforcement.

This cohort honors Levi Cory Adams, former officer from Glynn County Police Dept. and a graduate of the Peace Officer Academy, who passed away suddenly on July 20, 2017 from a vehicle accident. He is survived by his wife Taylor, one son and two daughters, parents Travis and Kerry Thornton and three siblings.

The Basic Law Enforcement Technical Certificate of Credit provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to become competent law enforcement officers. The 20-week cohort program utilizes classroom instruction pertaining to criminal justice theory and the prevailing principles of modern law enforcement, as well as practical application of pertinent enforcement skills. College coursework contains the entire Georgia Peace Officers Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Law Enforcement Training Course so that successful completion of the program will qualify the student to be a state-certified peace officer.

For more information about the Peace Officer Academy visit www.savannahtech.edu/PeaceOfficerAcademy or contact Sheree Rogers at 912.443.5191 or srogers@savannahtech.edu. The next class begins May 21, 2018.

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#1818 | February 23, 2018

Peace Officer Academy: Sheree Rogers
912.443.5191 or srogers@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).

Smiley selected 2018 Adult Education student of the year

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SAVANNAH, Ga. – Melissa Smiley has been selected as the 2018 Savannah Technical College Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) recipient.

Smiley earned her GED in December 2017 and is now as a business management full-time student at the College. Her classmates describe her as a caring and motivating person.  She is truly adored by her classmates and her instructor, Mr. Gaines: “Ms. Smiley’s impeccable skills, her willingness to help others and her desire to earn her GED set a beautiful example for the entire class.”

In her spare time she loves spending time with her two sons, Tyler and Kyle, who she says inspire her to do better. Melissa’s ultimate goal is to establish a career in Healthcare Administration. She was born in Savannah, Georgia and now calls Rincon, Ga. home.

“Ms. Smiley is the image of the very best in adult education: mature, intelligent, hard-working, humble and determined,” said STC’s Vice President of Adult Education Dr. Brent Stubbs. “We are so proud of her and believe she will represent the college well.”

The EAGLE Leadership Institute recognizes and honors those students who have demonstrated superior achievement in adult education classes. Selection criteria include student character, attitude, attendance, leadership and community involvement and activities. From this group, one student is selected to represent the local program at the state EAGLE Leadership Institute. The Institute provides workshops in leadership topics to build on the strong leadership characteristics the student already exhibits.

EAGLE is the first statewide program in the nation that recognizes and rewards excellence among students enrolled in adult education programs. This student recognition program is designed to create greater awareness of educational opportunities available in local communities across the state and to foster greater involvement in lifelong learning pursuits.

Every EAGLE delegate is considered an ambassador and spokesperson for literacy serving local communities and the state by promoting lifelong learning. Since its inception in 1993, the EAGLE Award program has recognized more than 1,600 outstanding students across the state. In additional to serving as volunteer role models for family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers, EAGLE delegates serve as mentors, peer tutors, and recruiters of other students into local adult education programs. The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) through its Office of Adult Education sponsors the annual EAGLE Leadership Institute.

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. To register for free GED® classes, call 912.443.5446 or visit www.savannahtech.edu/FreeGEDClasses. 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.

#1817 | February 14, 2018

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).

Kimberly Caesar selected as Savannah Tech’s 2018 GOAL Student of the Year

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Kimberly Caesar dressed in LPN student uniform leans on a chair at a nurses station.

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Practical Nursing student Kimberly Caesar has been selected as the 2018 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner for Savannah Technical College.

Caesar is a top-performing student in her program. “Kimberly has a blend of compassion and knowledge in the clinical setting that makes her the best possible candidate to represent Savannah Technical College,” said STC Practical Nursing Instructor Queenesta Baker, RN, MSN, CRNI. “Her overall distinctive peer interaction, classroom and clinical performance set her apart from the rest. She represents what I see as the potential employee businesses expect from Savannah Technical College.”

GOAL honors outstanding students at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions. She will represent Savannah Tech at the statewide competition in April in Atlanta, where the statewide GOAL winner will be selected. 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.

Caesar earned Health Care Nurse Aid Assistant Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) and Patient Care Technician TCC from Savannah Technical College in July 2017. Her anticipated completion date for the diploma of licensed practical nursing is December 2018. In addition to working as a patient care technical at Memorial Health Medical University, Caesar volunteers at a local animal rescue shelter to raise funds to spay/neuter stray animals and is a foster home. Before training at Savannah Technical College, Caesar worked as a bartender and retail sales associate.

“I chose technical education because I knew I needed to change my life,” Caesar said. “I liked the intimate class size, flexible class schedule and affordable tuition at Savannah Technical College and knew it was the answer for me. Technical education was my first choice to learn the skills I need to move into a career after graduation.”

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), under the direction of physicians and registered nurses, care for people who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled. Program graduates receive a practical nursing diploma and have the qualifications of an entry-level practical nurse. Employment of LPNs is projected to grow much faster than average. Overall job prospects are expected to be very good, but job outlook varies by industry. The best job opportunities will occur in nursing care facilities and home healthcare services. Savannah Technical College offers the competitive-admission LPN program at the Savannah and Liberty campuses. For more information about Practical Nursing, contact STC Health Sciences Advisor Cincy Cole at 912.443.5721 or ccole@savannahtech.edu.

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#1816 | February 14, 2018

Health Sciences Academic Advisor: Cindy Cole
912.443.5721 or ccole@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).

Michael Skinner selected as Savannah Tech’s 2018 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year

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Michael Skinner stands in plane hangar with students working in background

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College Aviation Maintenance Instructor Michael Skinner has been selected as STC’s 2018 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year. The Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction honors outstanding faculty members at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions. Skinner will represent Savannah Technical College in the statewide competition.

“Mr. Skinner has demonstrated professional excellence and service both in the classroom, as well as in the local community,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “He has a passion for helping students achieve their dreams and goals for college, career and life.”

Skinner started his aviation career as a member of the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a mechanic and a supervisor. His duties included inspection and repair of a fleet of 12 aircraft, as well as oversight of other maintenance personnel.  He also served as the Occupational Safety Manager for all facilities on the base to provide training and assistance on guidelines set forth by Department of Defense, OSHA and the EPA.

After separating from the Marines, Skinner continued his aviation maintenance career working on both military and civilian aircraft.  His duties included structure work, fuel cell work, engine work, and training new personnel (on the job and in the classroom).  He enjoyed passing the knowledge he had learned onto the new employees and recruits, so he decided to look at teaching/instructing for the next phase of his career.

He started his teaching career working part time with the Technical College of the Low Country to develop and implement an FAA short course. This course was designed to prepare transitioning Marines from the military to the civilian workforce by helping them prepare and earn their FAA Mechanic’s Certificate with an Airframe and Powerplant rating.

Skinner became a member of Savannah Technical College’s faculty in September 2013.  He was able to take his skill sets and use them to help the College gain FAA Part 147 certification on May 1, 2014.

Besides being a devoted aviation maintenance instructor, he in active in the community doing Civil War reenactments. He uses this opportunity to teach the public, old and young, about our country’s history. He volunteers his time with K-12 kids to show them and demonstrate the way things were during this time period.

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.

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#1815 | February 14, 2018

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).