SAVANNAH – Ten students from the Savannah Technical College Peace Officer Academy celebrated graduating from the program with a completion ceremony on March 26, 2021.

The six men and four women 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 33rd group of students to complete the program since its inception in 2009. To date, the program has graduated more than 400 P.O.S.T.-certified officers. Many candidates are in various stages of the application process with statewide agencies. Eight of the ten candidates have been hired by area police departments. STC’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 Chief Waldo E. Jones of Pembroke Police Department, who lost his life during a vehicle pursuit on June 16, 1962.

Chief Jones had served with the agency for 14 years and had previously served with the U.S. Army during World War II where he was awarded the Purple Heart. He was survived by his wife and three children.

The Basic POST Certification Technical Certificate of Credit provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to become competent law enforcement officers. The 400-hour, 11-week cohort program includes 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 the office at 912.443.5191 or njones@savannahtech.edu.

The next class begins in May 2021.

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#2129 |  March 30, 2021
Peace Officer Academy: Nancy Jones
912.443.5191 or njones@savannahtech.edu

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah Technical College Foundation now offers a $500 scholarship for Girl Scouts alumnae. Funded with an initial gift from Grant and Amy Shaffer, the scholarship is for former Girl Scouts, who completed Silver or Gold high awards as middle or high school students.  

“Girl Scout leaders tell girls there will be scholarships in college – especially once they have completed high awards,” said Amy Shaffer, a veteran Girl Scout troop leader, who is also STC’s director of communications. “We wanted to make sure Girl Scout alumnae would have the opportunity to earn scholarships at Savannah Tech. As the birthplace of Girl Scouts, Savannah is one of the best places to be a Girl Scout. We are proud to honor high achieving former Girl Scouts with scholarship support toward a technical education.”

Girl Scouts go above and beyond to make a difference in the community and the greater world. The skills and experiences Girl Scouts gain along the way set girls up for special recognition through the “highest awards.” The Silver Award is earned by middle school girls, who spend 50 or more hours on a sustainable project, and the Gold Award is earned by high school girls, who spend at least 100 hours on a sustainable project in their community. According to Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia (GSHG), only 4.5% of eligible girls earn the Silver Award and 2.3% earn the Gold Award.

“Earning the Girl Scouts Silver or Gold Award is an enormous honor – one that can truly make a difference. From implementing sustainable environmental change to creating and providing community outreach, Silver and Gold Award Girl Scouts are doing wonderful things in their communities,” said GSHG CEO Sue Else. “Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia is excited and proud that Savannah Technical College is providing rewarding opportunities to Silver and Gold Award Girl Scouts for their incredible achievements.”

To make a gift to the Girl Scout Scholarship at Savannah Technical College, visit http://bit.ly/SavTech_GirlScoutScholarship

The Shaffers have been volunteers with GSHG since 2012 when their daughter was a Kindergartner in Daisies. Amy stepped up to be one of her daughter’s troop co-leaders of the troop in 2013 and has been an active leader ever since. She is also the North Chatham service area manager for troop leaders, volunteers with the council and serves as a Savannah Advisory Board member. Grant, a Savannah Technical College Drafting graduate, has been a dedicated Girl Scout volunteer dad, who created bird house kits for younger girls to assemble, guided fourth grade girls to build three buddy benches for Heard Elementary and helped two seventh grade girls with advanced woodworking skills to build a bee hive for the Savannah Children’s museum last year for their Silver Award. Recently, both Shaffers were at Girl Scout Camp Low helping girls with service projects to benefit the camp.

To apply for the scholarship, applicants will submit a short essay about their high award project and a letter of reference from one of their former Girl Scout leaders. Scholarship funds will offset out-of-pocket student costs for books or tools. STC scholarship funds are managed by the Savannah Technical College Foundation, a 501 (c)3 organization whose sole purpose is to raise private funds to support the mission of Savannah Technical College. Gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

 

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# 2128 | March 23, 2021

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Kathleen DeLoach Benton, was sworn in as a member of the Savannah Technical College Board of Directors at the March meeting by Judge Tammy Stokes. She was appointed to serve on the STC board by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) state board.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Benton for the past several months at the Hospice Savannah, Gulfstream, and Savannah Tech COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “I was immediately impressed by her passion for community service and the energy she pours into everything she does. She is a great addition to our local board of directors.”

Benton is the president and CEO of Hospice Savannah, Inc. and Steward Center for Palliative Care. Prior to Hospice Savannah, she served as the director of ethics and palliative care at St. Joseph’s/Candler for more than a decade. She has a doctorate in public health leadership from Georgia Southern University, a masters in bioethics from Case Western Reserve University and an undergraduate degree in political science and communications from Furman University. She resides in Savannah with her husband and three children.

“I am privileged to be a part of a mission that works toward the greater good of community economic development and education for all people,” said Benton.

The College’s Local Board of Directors is comprised of community and industry leaders, who strive to keep the College at the highest standard of excellence in education.  The local board facilitates the delivery of programs, services, and activities as directed by the TCSG State Board, advises the President and the TCSG State Board of local industry and community needs for the programs and services to be provided by the technical college, and advocates within the community and within the state on issues of importance in support of TCSG and Georgia’s workforce development efforts.

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# 2127 | March 18, 2021

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

 

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College has selected Certified Executive Chef Gearry Caudell as its department head for the Savannah Culinary Institute with leadership over the Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts programs of instruction. As department head, he teaches and coordinates academic programs, advises students and supervises faculty. Additionally, he oversees student participation in culinary skills competitions and special events, including those hosted on campus.

“I am confident that Chef Gearry will continue the culinary education excellence that our industry partners and students have come to expect,” said STC President Dr. Kathy S. Love. “He has already proven himself during the two years he served as interim department head. There is no one I would trust more to lead us into the next level of excellence in historic downtown Savannah.”

He has more than 23 years of hospitality experience with 12 of those years as an instructor. He has been working as the interim department head for Culinary Arts and has been a Culinary Arts instructor for the college since July 2010. He has served as the Savannah Food and Wine Festival Culinary Coordinator for the Tourism Leadership Council for the past five years. In 2015, he was named Chef Educator of the Year with ACF Chefs of the Low Country Chapter.

Prior to Savannah Technical College, he was the executive chef at 1875 The Steak House at French Lick Springs Resort & Casino, along with sous chef/executive chef at various restaurants and resorts. He was also a Culinary Arts instructor at Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington, Ind.

He has an associate degree of applied science in Culinary Arts from Sullivan University, graduating magna cum laude and earning the president’s cup. He is also a certified culinary educator (CCE) with the American Culinary Federation (ACF), Approved Certification Evaluator (ACE) with ACF, and a ServSafe Instructor Proctor with the National Restaurant Association.

With support from the Savannah Technical College Foundation, the College has purchased 7 West Bay Street as the new downtown location for an expansion of its Culinary Arts program. This location will more than double the current instructional space for the programs. Senior level (second year) students will take classes and work in the bakery and restaurant. The hands-on, real-world experience in the restaurant/bakery will allow students the opportunity to apply techniques learned in the classroom to practical use, complete a required field placement, and gain first-hand experience in restaurant operations. The site will also provide the opportunity to provide non-credit master classes to residents and visitors.

New students are admitted to the Culinary Arts and Baking/Pastry Arts programs year round. The priority admission deadline for summer semester 2021 is April 30. www.savannahtech.edu/SavannahCulinaryInstitute

About the Savannah Technical College’s Savannah Culinary Institute
The Savannah Culinary Institute, an American Culinary Federation-accredited culinary arts program, has been described as the “best in the U.S.A” by its ACF accreditation review board. According to the ACF committee chair, the Culinary Institute of Savannah, offering ACF-accredited diploma and degree programs in culinary arts, has gone “well over and above the standards and expectations for a technical college teaching facility.” The committee recommended that the program receive the maximum accreditation time of seven years, when the average is three years. Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts associate degree graduates have a 100% placement rate in their field since 2015. The program has earned regional and national recognition with ACF-sponsored competitions. For more information visit: www.savannahtech.edu/SavannahCulinaryInstitute.

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# 2126 | March 15, 2021
Business & Professional Services Academic Advisor: Katrina Gore-Gray
kgray@savannahtech.edu

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College has selected Ida-May Gray as its department head for Medical Assisting. As department head, she will teach and coordinate academic programs, advise students, supervise faculty and perform various departmental and college-wide assignments.

She has taught medical assisting for seven years and had a career as a medical assistant for nearly two decades. She has a master’s in adult education and technology and a bachelor’s of arts degree in library science and media from Ashford University. She earned an associate’s degree for medical laboratory technician from Miller-Motte Technical College and has a Medical Assistant diploma from Capps College.

STC’s Medical Assisting Diploma program provides prepares students for employment in a variety of positions in today’s medical offices. The Medical Assisting program provides learning opportunities which introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement. Additionally, the program provides opportunities to upgrade present knowledge and skills or to retrain in the area of medical assisting.

Medical Assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks, which keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. In small practices, medical assistants usually do many tasks, handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area, under the supervision of department administrators.

The Medical Assisting diploma program utilizes a competitive entry process and requires the completion of the Heath Care Assistant Certificate with any approved specialization or the Emergency Medical Technician – Basic certificate plus the required core classes as part of the its admission process.

Applications are accepted from April 1 – May 15 for a Fall (August) start. The Medical Assisting diploma program starts one (1) cohort each academic year. Meeting the minimal program requirements does not guarantee acceptance in the program. Students may be required to successfully pass criminal background check and drug screen analysis before placement in clinical settings.

Satisfactory completion of all program courses entitles students to participate in the Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) examination and certification process. Many employers require candidates to hold a CMA for entry level employment. Application assistance and fee for the exam is included in the Medical Assisting Externship course (MAST 1170).

For information about Medical Assisting visit: www.savannahtech.edu/MedicalAssisting 

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# 2125 | March 12, 2021

Health Sciences Academic Advisor: Cindy Cole
ccole@savannahtech.edu

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College won four gold and one silver in the 36^th annual Education Advertising Awards.

One of the gold awards was for the Big Pig logo created for the Big Pig Fundraiser Feast in Fall 2020. That fundraiser included a take-out meal, plus an event t-shirt and apron, which could be purchased separately. Both the t-shirt and apron won gold in the imprinted materials. The logos were created by Fluorescent Design Studio.

During the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College started its “We Train Heroes” digital campaign to promote training for health care and first responders. This campaign also won gold for the COVID Marketing Campaign. Photos for the campaign were taken by Stephen B. Morton, who has previously been recognized with national awards for his student success series at the college.

In January 2019, the STC Foundation honored Kevin “Catfish” Jackson with the 16^th annual Opportunity Gala: “Bulldogs, Hotrods and Catfish.” The gala was the most successful fundraising event in the history of the college, raising more than $250,000.  Special event materials for this event also won gold. Kevin Nightingale with Nightingale Creative designed the artwork for the event materials.

To promote Savannah Tech’s 2020 SkillsUSA, the College’s marketing team took portraits of the students to promote their competition on social media (http://bit.ly/SavTech_SkillsUSA2020). The series won silver in the Social Media category. The design for the slides was created by Fluorescent Design Studio.

The 36th annual Educational Advertising Awards is the largest educational advertising competition in the U.S. This year more than 2,000 entries were received from more than 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from the U.S. and several foreign countries. Judges for the Educational Advertising Awards consisted of a national panel of higher education marketers, advertising creative directors, marketing and advertising professionals.

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#2124 | March 8, 2021
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, GA – Savannah Culinary Institute student chefs are hosting a Big Pig Fundraiser feast to benefit the Chef Jean Vendeville Culinary Scholarship. The pre-order meal pack feeds six people and features a honey glazed smoked ham, three gourmet sides, three spreads, roasted potato bread, and a six-inch carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for $140.

The students are also taking pre-orders for a spring sale featuring milk and dark chocolate bunnies, petit fours, carrot cake and roasted potato bread at www.bistrosavoir.com.

Meals and spring sale orders will be available to pick-up from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 1 and 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday, April 2 at the Eckburg Auditorium at Savannah Technical College (5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, 31406). Visit www.savannahtech.edu/big-pig to pre-order meals by March 25.

Big Pig Fundraiser Feast take out menu (feeds six):

• Honey Glazed Pit Smoked Boneless Ham (3 lbs)
• Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese (1 qt)
• Roasted Vegetables: Heirloom Carrots, Brussels, Parsnips, Fingerling Potatoes infused with Fresh Herb Oil (1 qt)
• Spring Pea, Asparagus and Pancetta Salad (1 qt)
• Apricot Chutney (8 oz)
• Roasted Garlic Aioli (8 oz)
• House-made Mustard (8 oz)
• Roasted Potato Bread (1.5 lb loaf)
• Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing (6 in)

Savannah Culinary Institute classes will prepare the items as part of instruction for spring semester including International Cuisine (charcuterie, smoking), Front of the House (help assemble meals), European Cakes (carrot cake), Artisan Baking (roasted potato bread) Principles of Cooking (sides, sauces).

The Chef Jean Vendeville Culinary Scholarship has been funded by Dick and Judy Eckburg. Applicants must have completed at least one semester of Culinary Arts/Baking & Pastry Arts to be eligible with a 3.5GPA. Preference will be given to students receiving no other financial aid.

The Chef Jean Vendeville Scholarship was initiated (2017) and funded solely by Judy & Dick Eckburg in honor of the now retired STC Department Head Chef Jean Vendeville.

This scholarship is awarded to the highest GPA Culinary Arts/Baking & Pastry Arts student(s) with the most financial need enrolled in an associate degree program. The award has been $2,000 per student per year for two years for a total of $4,000 per student. Up to two students per year have received this scholarship. Funds are applied toward tuition, fees, books and required supplies. 

The amount of the contribution for the Big Pig Fundraiser feast, which is deductible for federal income tax purposes is limited to the excess over the value of the goods or services provided by Savannah Technical College Foundation. The tax-deductible portion of the gift is estimated to be $100.

STC scholarship funds are managed by the Savannah Technical College Foundation, a 501 (c)3 organization whose sole purpose is to raise private funds to support the mission of Savannah Technical College. Gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

About Savannah Technical College’s Savannah Culinary Institute
The Savannah Culinary Institute, an American Culinary Federation-accredited culinary arts program, has been described as the “best in the U.S.A” by its ACF accreditation review board. According to the committee chair, Savannah Culinary Institute, offering ACF-accredited diploma and degree programs in culinary arts, has gone “well over and above the standards and expectations for a technical college teaching facility.” The committee recommended that the program receive the maximum accreditation time of seven years, when the average is three years. Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts associate degree graduates have a 100% placement rate in their field since 2015. The program has earned regional and national recognition with ACF-sponsored competitions. For more information visit: www.savannahtech.edu/SavannahCulinaryInstitute.

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#2123 | March 8, 2021
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu