Savannah Technical College and its Foundation received two awards when the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) gathered for its annual leadership conference in Savannah recently.

STC Foundation Board of Trustees earns Role Model Board designation

Savannah Technical College Foundation Board of Trustees earned the designation of Technical College Foundation Association (TCFA) 2024 Role Model Foundation Board Certification for the ninth consecutive year at TCSG’s Fall Leadership Conference.

The TCFA Role Model Foundation Board Certification is an annual certification process sponsored by the TCFA of Georgia, a membership organization that represents the 22 Technical College System of Georgia foundations and more than 600 trustees statewide.

The TCFA Delegate Council presents this award to encourage and recognize foundation boards that engage in outstanding business practices and demonstrate the highest level of commitment. In order to obtain the certification, not only does the board as a whole have to meet certain requirements, but each individual board member must meet specific requirements.

To be eligible to receive the certification a foundation must engage in best practices in nonprofit governance, board management, and operations; have policies in place to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, especially in financial matters; be led by a Board of Trustees whose members are actively engaged in the foundation’s development activities; and support the professional development and state-level participation of their Trustees, Executive Director and college advancement personnel.

All trustees must demonstrate active engagement in the work of the board through regular attendance at board and committee meetings and college and foundation events, participation in leadership activities and personal professional development, and fundraising on behalf of the board.

The STC Foundation Board of Trustees 2024-25 membership includes: David Burkoff, Chair; Jesse Dillon, Vice Chair; Kay Ford, Past Chair; Taylor Mongin, Treasurer; Gary Sanchez, At-Large; Sam McCachern, At-Large; Dr. Bertice Berry; Scott Center; Lisa Colbert; Patrick Connell; Monica Dorsey; Matt Dowling; Dr. Franklin Goldwire; Nina Gompels; Brynn Grant; Denise Grabowski; Nick Puhala; Alfonso Ribot; Steven Stowers; Cecilia Russo Turner; Michael Traynor; Stacy Watson; Dr. Fran Witt; and Maria Whitfield.

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.

Local Board earns TCDA of Georgia, Inc. board certification for all members

Savannah Technical College’s Board of Directors earned 100% board certification for all members for the seventh consecutive year in academic year 2024. All local board members become members of the Technical College Directors’ Association (TCDA of Georgia, Inc.) when they join their respective local board. TCDA provides the training necessary to become a certified board member. To achieve the status of “certified board member,” board members are required to attend a series of professional development classes consisting of: new board orientation/governance; building relationships with elected officials; community advocacy; understanding the legislative budgeting process and financial management of technical colleges and an elective workshop.

In order to become TCDA Certified, a local board member must complete the four required workshops, one elective workshop plus two required and eight selected activities. Selective activities include attending 80% of local board meetings, going on a tour of the technical college, attending a TCSG State Board meeting or TCSG Leadership Conference, etc.

The STC Local Board of Directors 2024-25 membership includes Donald Lovette, Chairman (Liberty); Brandt Herndon, Vice-Chairman (Effingham); Dr. Kathleen Benton (Chatham); Col (R) Pete Hoffman (Chatham); Harry Lloyd (Chatham); William Mock (Chatham); and Tom Ratcliffe (Liberty).

#2513 | October 29, 2024

 

Savannah, GA – The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) has renewed Savannah Technical College’s grant ($190,638.72) for the fifth year (FY25) to operate the Coastal Georgia Center for Driver Safety.

Grant funds will continue to provide 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, and social media messaging.

“Part of the GOHS mission is to assist in the implementation of programs and campaigns designed to prevent crashes and eliminate traffic deaths on our roads,” said Allen Poole, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “GOHS will continue to develop new partnerships and continue existing ones in order to create, refine, and implement safety programs designed to help our state and nation reach our goal of zero traffic deaths.”

The Coastal Georgia Center for Driver Safety partnered with the SCCPSS, and colleges, attended resource fairs, and spent more time networking to reach nearly 20,000 high school students and their parents in FY24. The Center also continued its outreach by distributing traffic safety materials, using Fatal Vision kits to share the dangers of distracted, drowsy, and impaired driving and sharing monthly media campaigns about the dangers of distracted driving and impaired driving with a focus on young adult drivers in FY24.

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 Coastal Georgia Center for Driver Safety builds on Savannah Technical College’s stellar driver’s education program and utilizes grant funding for distracted driver education and alcohol-impaired driving prevention. It serves youth, young adults, and parents in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties.

#2512 | October 9, 2024

Savannah Technical College has selected Shonesha Evans as its Accounting Department Head. She is responsible for oversight of all instruction, curriculum development, administrative and budgetary aspects for the College’s Accounting program.

Evans has decade of experience with various accounting roles. Most recently, she was a senior accountant with St. Joseph’s/Candler. She has been an adjunct (part-time) instructor for the College since April 2022. She has a master of science in accounting/business from Liberty University and is a doctorate of business administration candidate with Franklin University.

She served in the U.S. Army for more than six years, as an Operations Non-Commissioned Officer. Stationed at Fort Campbell, Kent., she played a key role in planning, coordinating, and executing operational tasks for her unit. Her responsibilities included overseeing mission preparation, managing logistical support, and ensuring communication between various departments to meet mission objectives. In addition to her leadership role, she earned her Air Assault qualification, a testament to her physical endurance and tactical expertise. This specialized training equipped her with the skills necessary for helicopter operations, including sling load operations and rappelling. Her military experience instilled discipline, teamwork, and a strong ability to adapt and perform under pressure, all of which translate into her civilian career and academic pursuits.

STC’s Accounting training provides the skills necessary to handle financial accounting tasks such as maintaining a set of books for business entities, account classifications, subsidiary record accounting, fixed and intangible assets, current and long-term liabilities, partnerships, corporations and long-term liabilities. They will also be able to handle managerial accounting tasks such as financial statement analysis, job costing, cost behavior and cost-volume-profit analysis budgets, capital investment analysis; accounting for payroll, using computerized accounting systems, using spreadsheet for accounting applications, and income tax preparation. Graduates may earn an associate degree or diploma, along with short-term training in Computerized Accounting Specialist TCC and Tax Preparation Specialist TCC.

Last year, Accounting diploma/degree graduates had a 100% placement rate in field for the past five years (AY 2018-2022). Classes are available in-person and online. For information about the College’s Accounting programs, visit www.savannahtech.edu/Accounting.

#2511 | October 8, 2024

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College will host an interactive event led by Savannah Culinary Institute instructors with hands-on demonstrations paired with wines, known as Interactif, at 5:45 p.m., on Thursday, November 14 in the Eckburg Auditorium (5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, 31405).

Interactif 2024 will feature four destinations stations along with appetizers and desserts. Guests will travel around the world with elegant tasting opportunities paired with wine selections at the destination stations with take-home recipes. Three stations will feature chef demonstrations where guests work alongside chefs to learn techniques of making boxty potatoes, Vietnamese pancakes, and a cheese/potato pie. International cuisine will include Ireland, Vietnam, and Georgia. The fourth station will feature Sidney Lance.

Cost is $150 per person with proceeds supporting the Patrick Ansley Williams Memorial Scholarship at Savannah Technical College. Seating is limited to 100. Advance tickets may be purchased online: www.savannahtech.edu/Interactif.

Guests will enjoy Guinness braised Irish beef short rib with boxty potatoes, herb glazed root vegetables and spiced red cabbage, Banh Xeo “Happy Pancakes,” Ossetian Cheese and Potato Pie, along with artisan breads, cheeses, charcuterie, and hors d’oeuvres. The event is 21+ and all IDs will be checked. No one under 21, please.

This year Sidney Lance, owner of Rhoot Man, returns to the event to lead a tour of shrubs with craft cocktails. He was the lead bartender at the new Kimpton Hotel (Pacci) in Savannah. He has been voted Best Bartender in Savannah. He has designed bars, created menus and provided staff training. He has consulted distilleries for pairings and started his own line of mixers with Rhoot Man in 2021.  

This event has raised nearly $137,000 to benefit the Patrick Ansley Williams Memorial Scholarship Fund.

This scholarship was started in 2012 by Bill Dickinson to honor the late Patrick Williams. Five $1,000 scholarships are awarded annually to STC culinary and hospitality students with a minimum 3.0 grade point average, who are selected by the College’s scholarship committee. Funds are applied toward tuition, fees, books and required supplies.

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.

With support from the Savannah Technical College Foundation, the College purchased 7 West Bay Street as the new downtown location for an expansion of its Culinary Arts program, which will more than double the available instructional space. 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.

New students are admitted to the baking and pastry program year-round. For more information about Culinary Arts at Savannah Tech visit: www.facebook.com/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 its committee chair, the 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.

#2510 | October 7, 2024