SAVANNAH, Ga. – In order to meet the increasing demand for law enforcement officers and provide an option for students that work during the day, Savannah Technical College Peace Officer Academy will offer night training for the Basic Law Enforcement Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC). Successful completion of the program qualifies graduates to be state-certified peace officers.

“Never before have so many demands been placed on Law Enforcement and never have we had so few officers to meet those demands,” said Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie.

The College is finalizing the schedule for new night cohort. One option being considered is a 30-week program running 6-10PM Mondays through Thursdays during summer/fall semesters (May 31 through December 5) at the College’s Crossroads Campus (190 Crossroads Parkway, 31407). 

Information sessions about the night cohort will be held at 6PM on April 12 and April 14 at the Crossroads Campus. POST applications approval takes about a month, so applicants are encouraged to start the process early. POST approval must be received by May 20.

The College’s Peace Officer Academy traditionally is an 11-week program offered during the daytime on week days. The coursework includes the Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Law Enforcement Training Course. The next day cohort starts July 11.

The Basic POST Certification Technical Certificate of Credit provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to become competent law enforcement officers. The 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. 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).

For more information about the Peace Officer Academy visit www.savannahtech.edu/basic-law-enforcement or contact the office at 912-443-5191 or njones@savannahtech.edu.

#2241 | March 31, 2022

Peace Officer Academy: Nancy Jones
912-443-5191 or njones@savannahtech.edu

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

St. Joseph’s/Candler and Savannah Technical College have created two innovative programs to give employment, a full-time salary and free tuition while quickly developing students into healthcare professionals.

The two accelerated apprentice programs will give students the opportunity to obtain Certified Nurse Aide or Patient Care Technician certifications while going to school and working shifts at St. Joseph’s/Candler.

“This is a great example of how we can come together to creatively address workforce development, create new jobs and meet the healthcare needs of our community,” said Paul P. Hinchey, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s/Candler. “Not only will these students earn a great wage, full-time benefits and practical, on-the-job training, but they will have their tuition covered while they go to Savannah Technical College, which is known for producing highly-skilled students ready for the workforce.”

“We know there is tremendous demand for healthcare workers, and we are excited to partner with St. Joseph’s/Candler to offer this accelerated healthcare training,” said Savannah Technical College President Dr. Kathy Love. “Thus far, our apprenticeship programs have centered around the manufacturing sector. We are pleased to see those opportunities for students expanded to our Certified Nurse Aide and Patient Care Technician training.”

 

How it works

Potential students will apply for a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and Patient Care Technician (PCT) position at St. Joseph’s/Candler and at Savannah Tech simultaneously.

Students will work part-time at St. Joseph’s/Candler and attend classes part-time at Savannah Technical College while earning a full-time salary for the duration of the program. St. Joseph’s/Candler will pay for tuition and fees for the Nurse Aide Accelerated program at Savannah Tech and a state program covers fees for the PCT program. 

The Nurse Aide Accelerated program is eight-weeks long and the PCT program is 18-weeks long. For  details, please visit www.sjchs.org/CNA-PCT-apprentice.

 

What does a CNA do?

Certified Nurse Aides are an important position in any healthcare setting, with many responsibilities that make them integral to patient care. CNAs help patients with direct healthcare needs, often under the supervision of a nurse. They perform critical, sometimes physical and complex, tasks that ensure patients are well-cared for and safe during their hospital stay. Specific tasks vary, but you may help patients with:

• Eating
• Dressing
• Bathing
• Brushing their teeth
• Answer calls for help
• Deliver messages
• Serve meals
• Make beds
• Help tidy up rooms

Being a CNA is a great stepping stone to other healthcare professions, especially nursing. Becoming a CNA will not only teach students how to interact with patients, but it also will introduce them to the healthcare field so that they can determine if healthcare is the right career choice. CNA is the first step toward PCT. 

 

What does a PCT do?

Patient Care Technicians also work directly with patients, taking care of basic needs, such as feeding and hygiene. However, different than CNAs, PCTs have more training that allows them to complete other tasks as well. PCTs help patients with procedures such as:

• Taking vital signs
• Performing glucose testing
• Blood draws
• Other needs under the direction and supervision of a doctor or registered nurse

For more details and to apply, go to sjchs.org/cna-pct-apprentice.

#2240 | March 30, 2022

St. Joseph’s/Candler: Scott M. Larson
PR and Digital Manager
912-596-5084 or larsons@sjchs.org

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Film Academy’s new logo won silver in the logo/letterhead design category with the 37^th Annual Educational Advertising Awards.

The logo represents the film and digital aspects of Savannah Film Academy training by combining imagery of traditional film and digital media. It was designed by Kevin Nightingale of Nightingale Creative under the direction of STC’s marketing team.

The Savannah Film Academy at Savannah Technical College prepares graduates for below-the-line on-set careers in the film industry. Earning this technical certificate of credit training signals those hiring for the film industry that graduates have the hands-on experience to be prepared work on any production. In addition to the basic level of on-set film production skills and knowledge of organizational structure, graduates gain experience with professional equipment and on-set procedures. It may be completed in three semesters.

The College has trained nearly 200 graduates in the past five years to work in the film industry. These students have filled more than 600 intern positions with productions for feature films, television, documentaries, short films, SCAD films and webisodes. Productions have included Peanut Butter Falcon, The Beach House, Antman and the Wasp, Gemini Man, Emperor, Lady and the Tramp, Ford vs. Ferrari, The Glorias, The Reckoning, The Act, Florida Girls, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, Underground, and more.

Apply now to start training for a career in the film industry this summer or fall. Visit www.savannahtech.edu/SAV-Film to learn more.

The Educational Advertising Awards is the largest, oldest and most respected educational advertising awards competition in the country. Judges for the Educational Advertising Awards consist of a national panel of higher education marketers, advertising creative directors, marketing and advertising professionals. There were more than 2,000 entries in the competition from more than 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from across the country.

#2239 | March 29, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

ATLANTA, Ga. – Billy Smith was honored as Savannah Technical College’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year for the Adult Education program last week at the Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE program. Launched in 1993, the Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) program celebrates adult learners in pursuit of excellence.

Smith has taught Adult Education classes as the lead teacher at Coastal State and Effingham County prisons since 2011. His students have achieved above average results, leading Georgia Department of Corrections outcomes statewide.

“Mr. Smith is an extremely reliable and high performing instructor, who makes learning engaging,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “His creativity and compassion with his students make him truly exceptional.”

He is a STC graduate (Marketing & Management), who earned a Bachelor of Science in history from Savannah State University and master’s degrees in adult education (2002) and special education (2005) from Armstrong Atlantic State University.

This year, 25 outstanding teacher honorees from the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), school system, and community-based organization providers were celebrated on March 14-15 during the Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE program. Teachers engaged with each other through networking activities, recorded public service announcements that will be used to promote Adult Education services over the next year, and were treated to a professional development, “Time Management for Educators: Creating More Time, Balance, and Peace.”

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.

#2238 | March 21, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

ATLANTA, Ga. – Savannah Technical College Early Childhood Care & Education instructor Stephanie Grant was named the Georgia Skills USA Advisor of the year at the Georgia 2022 SkillsUSA Postsecondary State Conference. She has been one of STC’s SkillsUSA advisor for the past four years. 

She incorporates the SkillsUSA Framework into chapter efforts through mentorship and collaboration: “A technical education opens our students’ minds to soft skills that are essential life skills to achieve the unthinkable,” Grant said. “I teach the importance of integrity, responsibility, teamwork, diversity, safety, and self-motivation. Personal, workplace and technical skills prepare students for leadership in the world of work.”

Grant also serves as STC’s Faculty Senate Ethics Committee Chair and ECCE Student Organization Advisor. She is the Instructional Faculty Consortium Committee South Region Vice-Chair.

She is a graduate of Hershel Victor Jenkins High School in Savannah. She started her college career at Armstrong Atlantic State University. After two semesters, she felt like she was not “smart” enough. She met with the President of Armstrong, who told her of an articulation agreement with Savannah Technical College. She completed STC’s Early Childhood Care and Education Associates Degree program and then went back to Armstrong to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a minor in Elementary Education. She also earned a master’s in Adult Education, specializing in Early Childhood Education.

She has taught Pre-Kindergarten in Savannah at Windy’s Preschool, where she was honored as employee of the year in 2013. She also taught at Ridgeland Elementary School in South Carolina. She has worked with reputable community leaders to create an influential professional learning community. She currently serves as the PTA president for Woodville Thompkins Technical and Career High School.

SkillsUSA is a national career and technical student organization/competition that annually serves more than 395,000 high school, college and post-secondary students–and their instructors–in technical, skilled and service-occupation instructional programs.

#2237 | March 17, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College recently selected J. Rachel Ober as its Career Services Coordinator. In this role, she will work with business and industry recruiters to identify job openings and provide career development counseling to students and prospective students.

She will also assist students with developing resumes and cover letters and job interview preparation. Additional responsibilities include coordinating job fair activities, promoting program services to the community; coordinating with faculty members to assist student in securing employment; developing and maintaining an employment database; participating in community events and volunteer opportunities; serving as the key student affairs staff member responsible for capturing and recording placement data. She will also manage STC’s Student Activities resources and will advise the Student Leadership Council.

She has worked as a recruiter for aerospace and manufacturing positions. Previously she was the K-12 COVID Liaison for the Georgia Department of Public Health. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from West Virginia University.

Savannah Technical College’s Career Services promotes opportunities for experiential learning, assists workforce development, cultivates and maintains partnerships with employers, and serves as a resource for staff, faculty, and the community. Career Services also supports employers with the recruitment, hiring, and retention of well-qualified teams. Through the College’s online job portal, Career Connections, employers may directly connect with STC’s highly trained pool of students and graduates by posting employment opportunities.

#2236 | March 14, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

ATLANTA, Ga. – Savannah Technical College was recognized for excellence at the Georgia 2022 SkillsUSA Post-secondary State Conference. 

Students won medals in 13 competitions: eight gold, four silver, and one bronze. Photos of 2022 SkillsUSA state medalists and honorees may be found on STC’s Facebook page. 

SkillsUSA is a national career and technical student organization/competition that annually serves more than 395,000 high school, college and post-secondary students–and their instructors–in technical, skilled and service-occupation instructional programs. 

STC Early Childhood Care & Education instructor and SkillsUSA advisor Stephanie Grant was named the Georgia Skills USA Advisor of the year. Grant has been a SkillsUSA advisor at the College for the past four years.  

The College also earned a Chapter of Excellence Level Silver designation. STC Construction Management student Latisha Perkins was elected as a SkillsUSA Georgia State Officer for 2022-23. 

More than 40 students participated in 18 competitions. Eight individuals/teams won gold and will compete in the national SkillsUSA leadership and skills competition in Atlanta this June: 

• Barbering student Keith Longoria won gold for Barbering; 
• Industrial Maintenance Systems students Corey Stotler and Tyjuan Maynor won gold for Commercial sUAS Drone (demonstration); 
• The Community Service team won gold for the second year in a row with teammates: Donna Lowe, Crystal Sapp, and Hunter Matthews 
• Savannah Film Academy students Joshua Ingram and James Rush, II, won gold for Digital Cinema Production; 
• Industrial Maintenance Systems student Rylane Wright won gold for Mobile Electronics Installation; 
• The Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) team won gold for the second year in a row with teammates from Construction Management: Helen Sande, Lily Darsey and Cristian Veloso; 
• The Promotional Bulletin Board team won gold with Early Childhood Care & Education teammates: Joyce Carter, Glenda Lippy and Dyneesha Clark; 
• The Quiz Bowl team won gold with teammates from Industrial Maintenance Systems: Khalil Marrero, Nicholas McDuffee, John Myers, Destin Cramer, Otis Williams, II, Jeremy Lanier, and Stephen Grant 

STC teams or individuals won silver medals in four competitions: 

• Early Childhood Care & Education student Johneshia Fuller-Johnson won silver in the Customer Service competition; 
• Early Childhood Care & Education student Quanesha Moolenaar won silver for Early Childhood Education; 
• Electrical Technology student Steven Calvert won silver for Electrical Construction Wiring; 
• Savannah Film Academy students Joseph D’Addio and Alex Payne won silver for Television (Video) Production; 

Early Childhood Care & Education student Chelsey Fleming won bronze for Early Childhood Education. 

#2235 | March 4, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu