SAVANNAH, Ga. – Barbering student and U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran Darrell Sanders, Jr. has been selected as the 2023 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner for Savannah Technical College.

“Darrell brings a new energy to our program and excels past his peers when repeating procedures once taught,” said STC Barbering Instructor Terrance James. “He was always the first to complete his lab requirements and has been helpful to assist his classmates with their requirements. I am certain he will accomplish big things in the barbering industry.”

Sanders served four years active duty and four years in the reserves for the U.S. Marine Corps as a Combat Engineer. He was awarded squad leader for the full duration of boot camp, company honor graduate of Marine combat training, honor graduate of corporal’s course, and completed a successful tour of duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

As a combat veteran in the presence of Army veterans at Savannah Tech’s Liberty Campus near Fort Stewart, his classmates refer to him as Marine. He completed the Barbering diploma this December and will set for master barber certification in January. He plans to continue his studies in 2023 to earn an associate degree and is also considering PC Repair. He is a member of National Technical Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa.

He works as a barber at Royalty Kutz barber and beauty shop in Hinesville, Ga. He has worked as an advanced repair agent on Best Buy’s Geek Squad. He has also worked various retail positions as an assistant store manager, an electronics sales associate and a stocker. He is a graduate of Robert W. Groves High School in Garden City, Ga.

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 at Savannah Technical College. The Barbering Program features barbering services such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, styling hair, trimming beards and giving shaves. It is offered at Savannah Tech’s Savannah and Liberty campuses. For more information visit www.savannahtech.edu/Barbering.

One in four STC students is a veteran, active duty service member or a military dependent/spouse. Last year, the College was ranked as the top Military Friendly® and Military Spouse Friendly School in the U.S. (2021-22). For the past four years, the College has been ranked as one of the top Best for Vets public technical and career college in the U.S. by Military Times.

GOAL honors outstanding students at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions. He 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. Links to Savannah Tech’s previous honorees for GOAL (student), Perkins (instructor) and Eagle (adult education student) are available at www.savannahtech.edu/honorees.

#2326 | December 23, 2022

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College’s Marketing and Hospitality Management Department Head George Erwin has been selected as STC’s 2023 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 (TCSG) institutions. He will represent the College in the statewide competition.

“Mr. Erwin has a passion for helping students achieve their goals for college, career and life,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “His legacy of leadership in the classroom and on campus has led to this honor.”

He has been a marketing instructor at Savannah Tech since 2006 and has taught hospitality courses since 2019. He was president of STC’s Faculty Senate (2012-2016). He served on the TCSG State-wide Program Review Committee for both the Hospitality and Marketing programs. TCSG State-wide Articulation Committee for the Georgia DOE pathways for both the Hospitality and Marketing programs. He has worked with the Tourism Leadership Council to develop a concierge training program.

He has undergraduate and graduate degrees from The University of Georgia earning an MBA. He has 37 years of higher education teaching experience for institutions including The University of Georgia, Brenau University and Savannah Technical College.

He has been state chairman of Ducks Unlimited in Georgia and was a member of the national marketing committee for Ducks Unlimited. He has been a judge at regional DECA competitions for middle and high school students.

Marketing Management training prepares students for careers in the areas of buying, selling, merchandising, advertising, customer relations, or promotions with short-term training options for customer service, entrepreneurship, small business marketing and sales. STC’s Hospitality Management programs include hotel, restaurant, and tourism training.

The Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year 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. 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. For a list of past student, instructor, and adult education student of the year visit www.savannahtech.edu/honorees.

#2325 | December 23, 2022

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

Savannah, GA – Joshua Wallace has been selected as the 2023 Savannah Technical College Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) recipient.

“Joshua was an excellent student, who not only invested in himself, but also invested his time into helping his classmates succeed,” said STC Adult Education Instructor Marvin Williams. “Joshua’s future is bright; he believes in himself and he believes in others, which are two characteristics that will help ensure his success.”

He earned his GED in October 2022 and is enrolled as an Avionics student for Summer 2023. 

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 1-2, 2023). 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.

#2324 | December 19, 2022

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College has selected Christopher Jeancake as its Admissions Director. He is responsible for planning and managing admissions activities of new and re-entering students. He will manage the financial/budget operation of the department, monitors activities of personnel, develop a comprehensive recruitment plan and direct processing of student applications for acceptance.

He has more than 25 years of experience working in higher education for admissions, recruitment and enrollment. Prior to coming to Savannah Tech, Jeancake was Admissions Director at Coastal Pines Technical College. He served as campus director for Brewton-Parker College’s Liberty Campus and was a recruiter/enrollment counselor for Armstrong Atlantic State University.

He has a master’s of education in adult education and community leadership from Armstrong Atlantic State University (now Georgia Southern University) and a bachelor of arts in English with a history minor from the University of South Carolina in Aiken, S.C.

#2323 | December 15, 2022

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Fourteen Savannah Technical College Peace Officer Academy cadets celebrated graduating from the program with a completion ceremony on December 9, 2022.

These graduates completed 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 40th 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. Eight of the 14 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 Lt. Dale Sylvester of Port Wentworth Police Department, who passed away on August 11, 2021. Lt. Sylvester had served with the Chatham County Police Department/District Attorney Office for 26 years and as a Criminal Investigation Division Officer with Port Wentworth Police Department for five years. He was survived by his wife, children, parents, 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.

The College offers both day and evening cohort options. Students that qualify for HOPE may receive additional funds through the HOPE Career Grant with this program. 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 day cohort begins in January 2023 and night cohort is scheduled to begin in March 2023.

#2322 | December 9, 2022

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

Savannah Tech’s Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) Club loves children! The club exceeded its goal and donated $1,011 to the City of Hinesville, GA Police Department’s Shop with a Cop Christmas initiative. 100% of the funds help children to enjoy a great Christmas with a one-on-one shopping experience with a local police officer.