Left to right: Kay  Ford, Monica Dorsey, Taylor Mongin, Steven Stowers, Stacy Watson, Dr. Fran Baker-Witt, Kevin Jackson.

SAVANNAH, GA – Savannah Technical College Foundation Board of Trustees recently announced leadership changes and welcomed new members to its board for FY2023.

The FY2023 executive committee includes: Kay Ford – Chairman; David Burkoff – Vice Chair; Taylor Mongin – Treasurer; Gary Sanchez – Past-Chair; and Sam McCachern and Alfonso Ribot will serve as At Large members. New board members include: Monica Dorsey, Taylor Mongin, Steven Stowers, Stacy Watson. Fran Baker-Witt and Kevin Jackson joined the board mid-year in FY2022.

• Monica Dorsey: For the past 16 years, she has been the Chief Executive Officer for Downtime Fleet Management Services, the only woman-owned small business of its kind in North America.  
• Taylor Mongin: She is a partner with Holland, Bromley, Barrnhill & Brett, LLP. She is a CPA with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in accounting from the University of Georgia.
• Steven Stowers, AIA: He is an award-winning architect in Savannah for the past 20 years.  In 2017, he started his own practice, Architecture 101, first in Beaufort, S.C., and then expanding into Savannah in 2019.  He is co-founder of the Savannah Design Collaborative and has served as President of AIA Savannah (2008) and AIA Georgia (2021). 
• Stacy Watson: He has worked for the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) for 30 years and is its Director of Economic & Industrial Development. He is a Wing Inspector General for the Georgia Air National Guard. He has an MBA from Webster University, a BBA from the Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University and has an Associate of Science in Business Administration from Middle Georgia College.
• Dr. Fran Baker-Witt: She is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Effingham Health System. She has more than a decade of experience with health system leadership. She holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (CPN)from Capella University, an MBA from Everest University – South Orlando, and a Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing (BSN) from Loyola University Chicago.
• Kevin “Catfish” Jackson: is Chief Executive Officer of Envirovac Holdings, LLC. He formed EnviroVac in May 1999 and previously served as Vice President of Marketing at Scapa Group. He began his sales career in 1985 with Georgia Fastener and Safety Company. He has served as the chairman for the Savannah Economic Development Authority and the GPA Board of Directors.

Founded in 1984, the Savannah Technical College Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that exists to raise and disburse funds to support the College’s efforts to enhance learning, workforce training and economic development in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties.

#2306 | July 27, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Cuyler Community Improvement Association, Inc. (CCIA) presented Savannah Technical College Practical Nursing Student Candice Medlock with the Ursuline B. Law Medical Scholarship. This $1,000 scholarship will benefit educational needs for Medlock, who is a single mother with five children.

According to Medlock’s nominating instructor STC Practical Nursing Department Head Rimina Lewis, Medlock previously dropped the program due to a series illness, but was determined to come back and complete the program. “She drives to the Savannah campus from Hinesville, Ga., and is always there an hour before class,” said Lewis. “Her level of dedication is what we need in nursing.” Medlock is scheduled to graduate in December 2022.

This scholarship was named in honor of Law’s family’s dedication to medical service. It is funded with proceeds from the CCIA’s historic Charity Hospital and Training School for Nurses fund. CCIA has been supporting students with college scholarships for decades. This is the third donation the organization has given to support STC students recently.

CCIA is a long-established 501 (c)3 organization in the Savannah Chatham County area whose origins date back to 1979. At that time a group of neighbors took it upon themselves to improve the quality of life for their community. The main tenets of the organization are safety, sanitation, education, historical preservation and being good neighbors. The physical boundaries of Cuyler Community are: the south side of West Anderson Street to the northside of West 37th St.; the westside of MLK, Jr. Blvd. to the eastside of Ogeechee Rd./ Kolloch Street.

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.

#2305 | July 25, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

ATLANTA, Ga. – Savannah Technical College Business Management students Hunter Matthews, Crystal Sapp, and Donna Lowe won gold with the 2022 SkillsUSA national Community Service team competition. The team developed and managed a plan that raised $20,000 for Lion’s Club of Savannah after its annual tree lot fundraiser was canceled. The competition was held at the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, a showcase of career and technical education students in Atlanta last month.

To raise the lost revenue for the organization, the student team hosted a Boston butt sale, a Christmas Market, and a 50/50 community raffle. Technical and academic job skillsets included construction, management, marketing, team building, organizational leadership, customer service, social media etiquette, and informational technology set up. Other Savannah Tech SkillsUSA student members that helped with this project included Carpentry, Team Project, OSHA, Marketing and Business Management.  The advisors involved were from Construction Management and Business Management.

As the highest scoring team in the national competition, the Technical College System of Georgia awarded the Georgia Postsecondary Curtiss P. Bell Award of Excellence in Team Competition to STC’s Community Service Team. The College’s Community Service team won gold at the state competitions in 2021 and 2022.

A total of eight STC teams and individuals that won gold at the state competition this spring competed in the national competitions for Barbering, Commercial sUAS Drone, Community Service, Digital Cinema Production, Mobile Electronics installation, Occupational, Health and Safety (OSHA), Promotional Bulletin Board, Quiz Bowl.

These individuals/teams also received top three placement in the national competition:

• Silver: Keith Longoria (Barbering)
• Silver: Joyce Carter, LeAnn Fuller-Johnson and Glenda Lippy (Promotional Bulletin Board)
• Bronze: Cristian Veloso, Lily Darsey and Helen Sande (OSHA)
• Bronze: Ty’Juan Maynor and Nicholas McDuffee (Commercial Drones)

At the national conference, Georgia Post-Secondary SkillsUSA State Vice President Latisha Perkins (STC Construction Management student) had the opportunity to meet with Snap-On Tools CEO Nick Pinchuk. She represented herself, the College, and the state proudly.

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.

#2304 | July 20, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, GA – Barbering graduate Keith Longoria walked across the stage at Savannah Technical College’s commencement ceremony wearing the silver and gold medals he earned with SkillsUSA competitions. He won silver in the national SkillsUSA competition a few weeks ago. He earned gold at the Georgia SkillsUSA Post-Secondary competition this spring.

Longoria was one of more than 240 graduates, who received degrees, diplomas and GEDs at the STC’s 2022 commencement ceremony. The College has awarded 450 degrees and diplomas for students that completed coursework from summer 2021 through spring 2022. Also, 108 GED diplomas have been earned during FY2022.

“Keith exceled with practical and leadership opportunities in our Barbering lab,” said STC Barbering Instructor Joycelin Primus. “He recognizes the importance of a strong work ethic, persistence, and intellectual integrity. He quickly became the most valuable member of our Skills USA student team and a role model for his newer classmates.”

Before coming to Savannah Tech to pursue barbering training, Longoria served 22 years in the U.S. Army as a systems administrator, chief warrant officer 3. He was deployed for two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. After retiring from the military, he worked as an Army contractor as a systems administrator for a year. Then he was hired as a GS12 with the Network Enterprise Center at Fort Stewart.

During his military service, Longoria cut his own and others’ hair. His hobby for barbering picked up after he retired. “I decided to take a risk and follow my passion for barbering with training at Savannah Tech,” said Longoria. “It is something I really enjoyed doing.”

Through SkillsUSA preparation and competition, he enjoyed learning new skills for haircuts. He said the competition also offered tremendous networking opportunities with service and product leaders in the barbering industry.

He completes his Barbering diploma in July and has multiple job opportunities to consider. He was also one of four finalists for STC’s GOAL Student of the Year competition for 2022. He is a member of National Technical Honor Society (purple stole/cords) and wore red/white/blue cords at commencement to represent his military service.

“My wife has been my number-one supporter to follow my dream to pursue barbering training and to open my own barbering business someday,” he said. Longoria’s wife is a labor and delivery registered nurse at Ft. Stewart, who is studying to be a nurse practitioner. They live in Richmond Hill with their 13-year-old son.

Savannah Tech’s Barbering program prepares students to be on the cutting edge of men’s fashion and trends with training to test for licensure as a professional barber. The program features barbering services such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, styling hair, trimming beards and giving shaves. It is offered at the College’s Savannah and Liberty campuses. For more information visit www.savannahtech.edu/Barbering.

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.

#2303 | July 15, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Seven Savannah Technical College Peace Officer Academy cadets graduated with full-time employment in July 2022.

The five men and two 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 38th 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. All graduates have been hired by area police departments. STC’s Peace Officer Academy has a 97% placement rate (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 Sheriff Randy Royal of Ware County Sheriff’s Office, who passed away on January 13, 2021. Sheriff Royal had served with the WCSO since 1980 in various positions such as a dispatcher, Major of Administration and ultimately Sheriff beginning in 2008. He was survived by his siblings, family and friends.

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.

This program offers a first step in law enforcement.  Select courses in the Basic Law Enforcement Certificate program transfer towards an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice.  Many agencies pay all or part of the tuition for officers to work toward degrees in criminal justice, police science, administration of justice, or public administration and pay higher salaries to those who earn one of those degrees.

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 cohort begins in September 2022.

#2302 | July 6, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College Foundation more than doubled funding for student support through private scholarships in FY2022. The total amount awarded to students doubled, and the number or students assisted with scholarships more than tripled in the past year.

“For many students, not being able to purchase a book, buy a barbering kit, or afford the $100/credit hour makes pursuit of technical education challenging,” said STC Foundation Chairman of the Board Gary Sanchez.

Scholarship highlights from FY2022:

• $564,000+ raised for scholarships (up 300% from FY21)
• $236,000+ awarded through student scholarships (up 200% from FY21)
• 414 students received scholarships in FY22 (up 300% from FY21).

The Foundation administers 30 different privately funded scholarships assisting students with tuition, fees, tools, books and testing. There are also two endowment scholarships: Patrick Williams Scholarship Fund and Walter & Charlotte Hixon Scholarship Endowment.

STC students receive scholarship support is also provided through employees with the annual HERO (Helping Everyone Realize Opportunity) Campaign that funds the Faculty & Staff Scholarship. In FY2022, this campaign raised topped $40,000 for the first time in its six-year history.

The annual Opportunity Award Gala honoring Bill Cathcart raised more than $147,000 to support military scholarships through the STC Freedom Fund in 2022.

The Foundation also found COVID-proof opportunities to raise funds for culinary arts when events were cancelled. The Big Pig Fundraiser Feast has raised $25,000 to date to benefit culinary arts scholarships.

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.

Founded in 1984, the Savannah Technical College Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that exists to raise and disburse funds to support the College’s efforts to enhance learning, workforce training and economic development in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties.

#2301 | July 5, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier will deliver the Commencement Address at Savannah Technical College’s 2022 graduation, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 12 in the Johnny Mercer Theatre, Savannah Civic Center.

Savannah Tech has awarded 450 degrees and diplomas for students that completed coursework from summer 2021 through spring 2022. Also, 108 GED diplomas have been earned during FY2022. More than 240 students will participate in graduation.

In January 2020, Governor Brian Kemp appointed Dozier as the sixth Commissioner of TCSG. As Commissioner, Dozier is responsible for the 22 technical colleges of TCSG and leads a team of more than 12,000 employees across the system. Dozier has the responsibility of managing an annual budget of more than $1.1 billion.

Prior to joining TCSG, Dozier was Chief Financial Officer for the State of Georgia from January 2019 to January 2020. Dozier also served as Commissioner of the Department of Corrections where he was responsible for overseeing the supervision of nearly 52,000 felony state offenders and leading a team of nearly 10,500 employees. In 2005, Dozier was appointed as Commissioner of the Department of Driver Services (DDS) and guided a team of approximately 900 employees. During his appointment, DDS celebrated many customer service improvements and, in 2008, Dozier was presented with the Governor’s Award for Customer Service – Leadership.

Dozier began his career in state government in 1995 as an Analyst for the Legislative Budget Office. A few years later, he transferred to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles where he held the position of Director of Accounting. In 1999, he joined the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) where he initially served as the Policy Coordinator and was later promoted to the Division Director of the General Government and Public Safety Division. Dozier has served in leadership capacities under Governors Perdue, Deal, and Kemp.

Dozier received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and his MBA in Finance from Georgia State University. Dozier is a graduate of the Basic Law Enforcement Training Course, Regional Police Academy in Athens, and was the recipient of the Frank Thornton Academic Award for Excellence.

Commissioner Dozier resides in Covington with his wife and two daughters.

#2247 | June 30, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu