2017 Year in Review (FY)

Best for Vets – #1 in U.S.: Savannah Technical College was ranked first in the U.S. by Military Times with the 2017 rankings Best for Vets: Career & Technical Colleges 2017 rankings. The College was also designated a Purple Heart Technical College by the by the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 596.

Skylar Huggett wins GOAL: STC Welding & Joining student Skylar Huggett won the state-wide competition for GOAL (Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership) in April 2017.

Baking & Pastry educational exchange with Academy of Toulouse: In November 2016, five STC students (competitive selection) studied and worked along bakers in France, and in March 2017, four French students studied at Savannah Technical College. The first-of-its-kind exchange program between a French and American technical school began last fall when five Culinary Institute of Savannah students studied and worked at the Academy of Toulouse. Students also studied English/French to prepare for and while they were on-site.

First Georgia Film Academy class graduates: Savannah Technical College began offering the two-semester Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) in Summer 2016. The first class completed the program in FY2017. Some students in this class recently released a documentary Feed the Hungry: the Vision, the Outreach, the Community Changer.

Students make “Savannah Grey” bricks:
STC Historic Preservation students made Savannah Grey bricks in Fall 2016, and made/fired the bricks in March 2017 for the first time in 150 years. The last time the bricks were produced was in Savannah during the pre-Civil War era. Production dwindled to a stop after the war, since most of the bricks were crafted by slave labor. Clay deposits in the Savannah River are a distinct cocktail of minerals. Savannah Greys get their name from the light gray coloring of the bricks.

GEFA Solar for Schools grant supports photovoltaic scholarships/equipment: Savannah Technical College was selected to receive a grant for $233,000 in the Solar for Schools Program funded by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA). The GEFA Solar for Schools Program will provide students the opportunity to enter the workforce specializing in electrical applications of installing, inspecting, and repairing solar panels. The grant also included $35,000 for photovoltaic student scholarships.

Campaign for Savannah Tech: The College has raised more than $7.2 million in a major gifts campaign ending in 2016. The Campaign, “Where Excellence Meets Opportunity” showcased the College’s excellence in instruction through opportunities it provides students. The campaign focused on five key areas: precision manufacturing, health sciences, culinary arts and heritage tourism, technology and student support.

Chatham County Manufacturers Collaborative: Small and mid-sized manufacturers in the Savannah/Chatham area met for the first time thanks to Savannah Tech. This is the fourth collaborative manufacturer’s effort in the four counties served by the College.

Welding students finish construction of SS Oglethorpe sculpture: Savannah Tech’s Welding & Joining student ‘Oglethorpe Team’ worked for more than a year on the 13-foot, exact-scale model of the Liberty ship SS James Oglethorpe, which was placed along the river in front of the Trade Center and dedicated to Savannah’s shipbuilding efforts during World War II.

Marketing graduate wowed audience as keynote speaker: Founder of Blessings in a Book Bag and STC Marketing Graduate Weslyn Bowers was the keynote speaker at the 2017 Tribute to Community STARs event. Bowers is also known locally as radio personality “Lady Mahogany.”