SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College’s Professional Continuing Education (PCE) department will offer Introduction to Fly Casting starting in July 2015. The course is part of PCE’s Business After Hours Education Series.

Introduction to Fly Casting is a four-part class offered Mondays and Wednesdays (6-8PM) beginning July 20 at the College’s Crossroads Campus (190 Crossroads Parkway, Savannah, 31407). Students will learn how to put a fly rod system together, the skill of tying knots, and the art of perfecting a cast, along with information about fishing flies, line and rod care and much more. Cost for the class is $60. For more details visit: www.savannahtech.edu/business-industry/courses

The Professional Continuing Education Department provides short-term classes in both the traditional and online classroom setting. Courses cover a variety of skills and workforce development options that match local employer’s needs.

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#1541 | June 19, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College staff members Sherry Darnstaedt, Accounts Receivable Manager and Tammy Pierson, Grants Accountant were recognized for completing the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Administrative Services Executive Academy recently.  Darnstaedt and Pierson were presented with a certificate of completion for demonstrating professional education and commitment to their profession by TCSG Commissioner Gretchen Corbin, and TCSG Assistant Commissioner Lisa Eason at the Vice Presidents of Administrative Services meeting in Macon.

The TCSG Administrative Services Executive Academy was established in 2013 to provide college business officers training in four 8-hour sessions that encompasses all the areas involved in the Administrative Services departments of the Technical Colleges.  Such training topics included financial accounting and budgeting management, PeopleSoft accounting software, human resources, various reports to state and national offices, insurance, and business office functions.  Only 20 individuals were recognized for completing the Executive Academy in 2015.

“This is very important internal training for our senior accounting staff members,” said TCSG Assistant Commissioner Lisa Eason.  “I would like to especially thank Savannah Technical College’s Vice President of Administrative Services Sue Turner for her role in helping coordinate this year’s training session.”

Savannah Technical College President Dr. Kathy S. Love also congratulated Sherry Darnstaedt and Tammy Pierson on their completion of the Administrative Services Executive Academy:  “Sherry and Tammy are tremendous assets to our College,” said Love.  “We are very fortunate to have them as part of our team.  And, it goes without saying, that I am delighted that our system office recognizes Ms. Turner and tapped her to help lead the training efforts for the Executive Academy participants.”

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#1540 | June 8, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College has selected Brent Stubbs as its Dean of General Studies. In this role, Stubbs is responsible for all developmental education and general education courses to include mathematics and natural sciences, humanities and fine arts, language and communication, and behavioral sciences. These courses support the diploma and degree programs at the College and serve the needs of dual enrollment and transient students as well.

Previously, Stubbs was Dean of Adult Education for the College. Under his direction, the Adult Education program consistently met and exceeded all state and federally mandated benchmarks for enrollment and student learning outcomes. In addition, he was responsible for building the Accelerating Opportunity program, nationally recognized for excellence, which is transforming the way adult education students are being served both locally and nationally.

Prior to joining Savannah Tech, Stubbs was the department chair and coordinator for the GED^® and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program at Lake Technical College located in Eustis, Fla., which serves residents of Lake County. Stubbs holds a MBA from Brenau University with an emphasis in leadership and anticipates earning his doctorate in education from Georgia Southern in 2017.

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#1539 | June 5, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Sonny Dixon, local media legend, will deliver the commencement address at Savannah Technical College’s 2015 graduation at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23 in the Johnny Mercer Theatre at the Savannah Civic Center.

Savannah Tech has awarded 491 degrees and diplomas for students that completed coursework from fall 2014 through spring 2015. Also, 105 GED diplomas have been earned during that time. Savannah Tech expects more than 375 degree, diploma and GED recipients to participate in graduation.

Dixon retired from his 18-year career as a news anchor with WTOC-TV in May 2015. He became Savannah’s only Best Anchor Emmy Award Winner ever in 2011. (The “Best Anchor” category is the only Emmy competition that includes all markets, large and small, while all other categories are divided by market size.) He was chosen Georgia’s Best Anchor/Reporter by the Associated Press in 2005.

He is a proud Savannah native, who has readily volunteered to help out in and around his hometown for decades, serving on numerous boards, including various Chamber of Commerce Boards, the United Way of the Coastal Empire, Savannah Technical College, Rape Crisis Center, American Cancer Society, Savannah Speech and Hearing, Boy Scouts of the Coastal Empire and many more. He currently serves on the Board of the Coastal Georgia Area Arthritis Foundation and the Savannah Area Florida Gator Club.

Dixon was elected to five terms in the Georgia House of Representatives, where he held key offices and served on prominent committees, before retiring from elected office in 1997. He was twice elected to the Garden City Council before moving on to the legislature.

Due to the increased number of graduates participating in commencement, graduates will receive five tickets for guests to attend the ceremony.

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1538 | June 4, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College students won five medals at the 2015 SkillsUSA Postsecondary State Conference, held March 26-28 at the Georgia International Convention Center at Atlanta Technical College.

STC Early Childhood Care and Education student Katelyn Cole brought home a gold medal (first place) for Early Childhood Education. Cole will move on to compete on a national level at the 51st Annual National Leadership and Skills Conference held June 22-26, 2015, in Louisville, Ky.

Savannah Tech students won three silver medals and one bronze medal in the competition. Emmett King, an automotive technology student, placed second for mobile electronics installation. STC Cosmetology student Kimberly NeSmith placed second in the employment application competition. A team of barbering students (LaQuisha Gonzalez, Wilbur Green, Brandon Sesson, and Tommy McCaskil) won silver for entrepreneurship. Practical Nursing student Nicole Bynum won a bronze medal or placed third in the practical nursing competition.

More than 500 college students from across the state of Georgia took part in the three-day competition. SkillsUSA is a career and technical student organization that annually serves more than 320,000 high school, college and postsecondary students–and their instructors–in technical, skilled and service-occupation instructional programs.

SkillsUSA is a national, nonprofit student organization that has developed more than 10 million workers through active partnerships between employers and educators. Hundreds of American industries have turned to SkillsUSA as the source for employees who exemplify “Champions at Work” in both skills and attitudes. SkillsUSA’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. At the heart of this mission are SkillsUSA’s core values: integrity, responsibility, citizenship, service and respect.

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#1536 | May 6, 2015
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 | ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

 

SAVANNAH – Six students from the Savannah Technical College Peace Officer Academy celebrated graduating from the program with a completion ceremony today.

The one woman and five men 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 16^th group of students to complete the program since its inception in 2009. To date, the program has graduated 232 P.O.S.T.-certified officers. Many candidates are in various stages of the application process with statewide agencies. Savannah Tech’s Peace Officer Academy has a 98% placement rate.

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 elected to honor Corporal Sam Parlin of the Chatham County Police Department.  Cpl. Parlin retired and then went to Iraq as a Police Advisor for the U.S. Department of State (contractor) and was killed by a roadside bomb.

The Basic Law Enforcement Technical Certificate of Credit provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to become competent law enforcement officers. The 18-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.

For more information about the Peace Officer Academy visit www.savannahtech.edu/PeaceOfficerAcademy or contact Sheree Rogers at 912.443.5191 or srogers@savannahtech.edu.

 

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#1535 | May 1, 2015

Peace Officer Academy Contact: Sheree Rogers
912.443.5191 or srogers@savannahtech.edu.

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

Today, representatives from The Landings Military Family Relief Fund, Armstrong State University and Savannah Technical College signed a gift agreement for a new scholarship fund designed to support local military spouses and to enable them to complete college.

The Landings Military Family Relief Fund will donate a total of $40,000 to the Landings Military Spouse Academic Assistance Fund, which will be split between Armstrong and Savannah Tech. The scholarship fund will provide tuition assistance to military spouses eligible for The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program, who have exhausted their benefits. The Landings Military Spouse Academic Assistance Fund will award a maximum of $2,000 annually for up to two years, for a total of $4,000 per student.

“The Landings Military Spouse Academic Assistance Fund came to fruition after Col. Peter Hoffman, director of the Armstrong Liberty Center, informed us about several military spouses who were struggling to finish their degrees because of financial circumstances,” said Tom Osborn, chair of The Landings Military Family Relief Fund. “This new scholarship fund is consistent with our mission to assist military families.”

The Landings Military Family Relief Fund was originally founded in 2007 by Jack Munroe, a Landings resident. Since that time, the fund has assisted more than 3,600 individuals at Hunter Army Air Field and Fort Stewart. The local Red Cross chapter manages the disbursement of funds. The fund currently supports a number of initiatives including a nutritional program in the Wounded Warriors Unit at Fort Stewart and a program to provide therapeutic chairs to aid injured area soldiers with sleep problems.

“We appreciate this generous support for our military spouses,” said Savannah Technical College President Dr. Kathy S. Love. “By relieving the financial burden of achieving educational goals, this fund will help military spouses complete their programs of study and quickly enter the workforce. This scholarship is a welcome addition to our arsenal of military-friendly initiatives.”

Both Armstrong and Savannah Tech have a long history of being military-friendly, serving active duty soldiers, veterans and their families. G.I. Jobs has honored both institutions as Military Friendly Schools for five consecutive years.

In 2015, Military Times ranked Armstrong 12th among four-year schools on its Best for Vets list and ranked Savannah Tech 8th in the U.S. for Career & Technical Colleges. Armstrong also has an active Green Zone initiative, which provides an extensive support network for active duty military students and veterans on campus.

Savannah Technical College has the largest enrollment of military-affiliated students in the Technical College System of Georgia. One in four students at Savannah Technical College is a veteran, active duty service member or a military dependent/spouse. The College waives all general mandatory fees for active duty service members using military tuition assistance. In 2015, Savannah Tech opened a Veteran’s Service Center at the Savannah campus.

“This is a great day for Armstrong, Savannah Tech and the military population both institutions serve,” said Armstrong President Dr. Linda M. Bleicken. “Military spouses deserve to be recognized and supported for the sacrifices they make each and every day. This new scholarship fund is an important way to thank area military spouses for their support and to help them achieve their goals.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Armstrong President Linda M. Bleicken, The Landings Military Family Relief Fund Chair Tom Osborn and Savannah Tech President Kathy Love (l-r) recently signed a gift agreement establishing a new scholarship fund to support local military spouses.

ABOUT SAVANNAH TECHNICAL COLLEGE:

ABOUT ARMSTRONG STATE UNIVERSITY:

Armstrong State University, part of the University System of Georgia, was founded in 1935. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate academic programs in the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Science and Technology, the College of Education and the College of Health Professions. Armstrong serves approximately 7,100 students at its main campus in Savannah and a regional center in Hinesville. The institution’s diverse student population comes from 45 states, the District of Columbia and 72 countries. For more information, visit Armstrong.edu.

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#1534 | April 27, 2015

SAVANNAH – The Savannah Technical College Foundation Community Council honored 21 stars at the 2015 Tribute to Community STARS today. The event, now in its ninth year, honors individuals, nominated for their service and dedication at work or in the community. This year’s honorees join the ranks of 150 men and women who have been nominated in previous years.

The following were honored at the 2015 Tribute to Community Stars:

• Scott Boylston | Program Coord. of Masters in Design Sustainability, SCAD
Sponsored by DIRTT

• Randy Bugos | President & CEO, YMCA of Coastal Georgia
Sponsored by Wells Fargo

• Ruth Ann Dutton | 2015 STC GOAL Student of the Year
Sponsored by Savannah Technical College Foundation Community Council

• Marsha Fogarty | General Sales Manager, WTOC-TV
Sponsored by WTOC-TV

• Steve Green | President & CEO, Stephen Green Properties
Sponsored by Georgia Ports Authority

• Austin Hill | President, Austin Hill Realty
Sponsored by Historic Savannah Foundation

• Sarah Hunt | 2015 STC Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year
Sponsored by Savannah Technical College

• Bob James | President, Carver State Bank
Sponsored by SEDA

• Eric Johnson | Principal, Hussey Gay Bell
Sponsored by National Office Systems

• Peggy Jolley | Regional Mgr., Community & Econ. Development, Georgia Power
Sponsored by Georgia Power

• Don Kole | Chairman, Kole Management Company
Sponsored by First Chatham Bank

• Aaron Levy | Former Owner & President, Levy Jewelers
Sponsored by Tenenbaum Consulting

• Beth Logan | Director of Marketing & Volunteer Svcs., Hospice Savannah
Sponsored by Advertising Specialty Services

• Brandon Matias | 2015 STC EAGLE Student of the Year
Sponsored by United Way of the Coastal Empire

• Sam McCachern | President & CEO, Thomas & Hutton
Sponsored by Savannah Morning News and Savannah Magazine

• John McIver | Former Mayor, Riceboro & Former Chair, Liberty Co. Comm.
Sponsored by SNF Holding Company

• Colin McRae | Partner, HunterMaclean
Sponsored by HunterMaclean

• Michael Owens | President & CEO, Tourism Leadership Council
Sponsored by StayInSavannah.com

• Tom Oxnard | President, Board of Directors, Horizons Savannah
Sponsored by Mary & Howard Morrison

• Bill Wessinger | Orthopedic Surgeon, Memorial Health University Physicians
Sponsored by Judy & Dick Eckburg

• Linda Zoller | Community Leader
Sponsored by Helen Downing

The event is sponsored by the STC Foundation Community Council. This volunteer group of young professionals is charged with expanding the local knowledge and profile of Savannah Technical College and its mission and with raising funds to support the college, its programs and students. The Community Council is co-chaired by Alethia Zadach and Mike Miller, and the Tribute to Community STARS event is chaired by Heather Gordon. Dr. Bertice Berry, best-selling author, comedienne and speaker, delivered the keynote address. Sonny Dixon and Dawn Baker were the co-master of ceremonies.

 

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#1532 | April 10, 2015
Executive Director Institutional Advancement and Communications: Gail Eubanks
912.443.3022. or Email

Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or Email

SAVANNAH –Savannah Technical College’s Culinary Institute of Savannah proudly offers Bistro Savoir’s Springtime Sale featuring artisan chocolate bunnies and eggs, traditional breads and desserts.

Bistro Savoir from the Culinary Institute of Savannah at Savannah Technical College features the finest quality ingredients that are locally sourced, milled and handmade under the direction of Chef Jean Vendeville, world renowned pastry chef and department head for culinary arts at STC.

Online pre-order sales are available through noon on March 30, or when quantities are sold out. This sale features made-to-order chocolates in milk, dark or white chocolate. Chocolate bunnies and eggs of all sizes will be sold, along with an 8” foil wrapped chocolate egg with a 6” plush bunny inside. Showpiece artisan chocolate eggs include an egg house, a 12” tall ten-pound egg and a giant 22-pound showpiece egg that stands nearly three feet high. Traditional artisan breads include hot cross buns, Paska Bread, Tsoureki Greek Bread, roasted potato bread and challah. Carrot cake and petit fours are also sold with sale.

Orders will be available for pickup at the College’s Savannah campus April 2 from 2-6PM and on April 3 from 9AM – noon. By request only, pickup will be available at the Crossroads, Liberty and Effingham Campuses. For a pick-up schedule, a list of items for sale and to place orders, visit www.bistrosavoir.com.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the College’s baking and pastry program. Savannah Tech’s baking and pastry program was developed by the College to teach the art of creating tasty baked goods, pastries, and confections, from traditional bread baking to beautiful showpieces. Students learn a variety of international and classical pastries and desserts using basic and advanced techniques, which meet industry quality standards. More than 70 students are currently enrolled in the baking and pastry program.

Under the direction of the American Culinary Federation’s 2014 Chef Educator of the Year Jean Vendeville, the College offers associate degrees in Culinary Arts along with Baking and Pastry. The Culinary Institute of Savannah has earned distinction as one of the top four culinary programs in the country according to the American Culinary Federation (ACF). Vendeville has assembled a top-notch team of faculty, who have each earned national ACF certification under his leadership. For more information about STC Culinary Arts visit: www.facebook.com/ChefJeanVendeville.

 

 

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#1530 | March 10, 2015

Public Service Academic Advisor: Amber Robinson
912.443.5719 or arobinson@savannahtech.edu 

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