Month: December 2021

Coastal Georgia Center for Driver Safety grant renewed for FY22

Posted on by ashaffer

Student with driving simulatorSavannah, GA – The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has renewed Savannah Technical College’s grant ($140,571.50) for a second year (FY22) to operate the Coastal Georgia Center for Driver Safety.

Grant funds will continue to provide two core services: distracted and impaired driver prevention education for youth, young adults and parents in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties. These activities include community- and school-based workshops, virtual reality simulation education, social media messaging, and the promotion of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapters in all of area high schools.

In the grant’s initial year (FY21), a two-hour workshop was created for families of teen drivers to educate them on the dangers of distracted driving. The workshop has been presented to nearly 400 families. Five Virtual Reality simulators were also purchased during the initial year for teenagers to experience a five-minute distracted driving experience (300+ teenagers) and a 25-minute driving experience (1,235 teenagers). The grant also developed a monthly media campaign about the dangers of distracted driving and impaired driving with a focus on young drivers. The grant also included promoting the SADD program to all 20 public high schools in the grant’s four-county service area.

Additional priorities for FY22 include focusing on reaching private school students, attending more community events, and networking with community partners and colleges.

The top five dangers for younger drivers include distractions like cell phones and passengers; driving at night (drowsiness); speeding and street racing; not wearing seat belts; and impairments like underage drinking and drugs. The goal of the Coastal Georgia Center for Driver Safety is to bring awareness to young, young adults, and parents about the dangers of distracted driving.

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#2223 | December 16, 2021
Coastal Georgia Center for Drive Safety: Atina Brantley
912.443.3392 or abrantley@savannahtech.edu

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

 

Peace Officer Academy honors December 2021 graduates

Posted on by ashaffer

POA group photoSAVANNAH, Ga – Nine students from the Savannah Technical College Peace Officer Academy celebrated graduating from the program with a completion ceremony on December 10, 2021. The six men and three 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 36th 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. STC’s Peace Officer Academy has a 97% placement rate in field (AY20).     

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 Sgt. Robert L. Linton of Richmond Hill Police Department, who lost his life due to a heart attack on May 8, 2019. Sgt. Linton had served with the agency for ten years and had previously served as a Master Mechanic before joining the department. He was survived by his wife and 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 11-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.

The next class begins in January 2022. Visit this link for more information about the Peace Officer Academy or contact the office at 912.443.5191 or njones@savannahtech.edu.

# 2222 | December 13, 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

Maynard selected as Savannah Tech’s 2022 EAGLE nominee

Posted on by ashaffer

Michelle Maynard headshotSavannah, GA – Michelle Maynard has been selected as the 2022 Savannah Technical College Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) recipient.

“Michelle’s perseverance to make a better life for herself and children is to be commended,” said STC Adult Education Instructor Keon Green. “Her willingness to assist others in hopes that they too will have a brighter future speaks volumes about her character.”

She is a dual enrollment student taking GED-prep classes, along with Cybersecurity courses through STC’s Fast Forward program. Fast Forward allows students to begin career training prior to earning their high school equivalency certification.

Maynard’s goal is to work as a cybersecurity analyst with the government. She has five children.

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 (March 14-16, 2022). 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.

#2221 | December 7, 2021
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).