Southern Regional Technical College students also among 11 selected for world competition

Atlanta, Ga. – Georgia is now the top state in the U.S. for the number of medals awarded in a national skills competition. Georgia high school and technical college students who progressed to the 2017 SkillsUSA National Conference after winning at the state-level competition brought home a combined total of 90 medals, up from 68 in 2016 and the most awarded to Georgia competitors in recent years.

“This is an outstanding achievement, especially considering that Georgia ranks 14^th in membership in SkillsUSA,” said Gretchen Corbin, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia. “It speaks volumes to the exceptional quality of talent that our high schools and colleges are training to enter the workforce in our state.”

In addition, a technical college team from Georgia has been selected to compete in WorldSkills, which is held every two years. Corey Cleghorn and Joshua Whittington from Southern Regional Technical College’s 2015 Mechatronics team will compete in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in October. They will be two of 11 competitors SkillsUSA has selected to compete in 10 contests.

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. Each March, SkillsUSA Georgia holds a statewide competition, the single largest construction event in the Southeastern United States. Winners go on to the national competition in Louisville, Ky. The national event will move to Atlanta in 2021.

Georgia Postsecondary, the state’s technical college contingent, sent 111 contestants to Louisville for the event, held June 19-23, and won a total of 53 medals: 24 gold, 12 silver and 17 bronze. The top three total medal recipient chapters were: Savannah Technical College (8); tied for 2^nd place were Oconee Fall Line Technical College (7) and Georgia Northwestern Technical College (7); and tied for 3^rd place were Gwinnett Technical College (6) and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (6).

Top three gold medal recipient chapters were: Oconee Fall Line Technical College (7), Central Georgia Technical College (4), and tied for 3^rd place were Gwinnett Technical College (3) and Georgia Piedmont Technical College (3).

The Dr. John Scott Award for highest-scoring individual competitor in Georgia Postsecondary went to Heidy Sosa from Gwinnett Technical College in the Health Occupations Professional Portfolio contest. The Curtiss Bell Award for highest-scoring team competitors in Georgia Postsecondary was a tie between the Opening & Closing Ceremonies team from Oconee Fall Line Technical College and the 3-D Visualization & Animation team from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.

Additionally, Georgia Northwestern Technical College received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for Families and Groups. The President’s Volunteer Service Award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation on behalf of the President of the United States to recognize the best in the American spirit, and to encourage all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service, and civic participation. The college was previously awarded SkillsUSA Georgia Postsecondary’s highest honor, the Chapter of Distinction award.

About the Technical College System of Georgia

The 22 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) are Georgia’s top resource for skilled workers. TCSG offers world-class training in more than 600 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs to students who are trained on state-of-the-art equipment by instructors who are experts in their fields. The system also houses Georgia’s Office of Adult Education, which promotes and provides adult literacy and education programs, including the GED® testing program, throughout the state. In addition, TCSG partners with companies through Quick Start, the nation’s top customized workforce training program, and through its individual colleges, who work with local industry to provide workforce and training solutions. For more information, visit www.TCSG.edu.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. This nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. Founded in 1965 and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 335,000 member students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. SkillsUSA programs are integrated into career and technical education through a framework of personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Local, state and national championships designed and judged by industry, set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide needed recognition to its students. SkillsUSA also offers technical skill assessments and other workplace credentials. For more information, go to: www.SkillsUSA.org.

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Contact: Alison Tyrer

              404-327-6913

              atyrer@tcsg.edu

SAVANNAH – Brin Carson became the first person in her family to earn a college degree thanks to a gift from her father, Richard, when he signed over his Post-9/11 GI Bill to fund her instruction at Savannah Technical College.

Education has always been important to Richard Carson. He promised his two daughters that he would finance their first degree to help keep them debt free. “Dad says, ‘They can take away everything – your property and your possessions, but they can never take away your education,’” according to Brin.

Sergeant first class (E7) Richard Carson has served 21 years with the U.S. Army National Guard. He currently works with the Georgia Army National Guard as a platoon sergeant at Fort Stewart and is in charge of soldiers, training and equipment for his platoon. He was part of the initial group deployed from the Florida Army National Guard in Iraq to earn a combat infantry badge.

Richard says Brin’s accomplishment is a promise fulfilled. “I’m so proud of her. She stuck with it and proved who she was. Even though she had obstacles, she never quit and completed her degree,” he said.

Brin earned an associate degree in Historic Preservation at Savannah Technical College, walking across the Johnny Mercer Theater stage with 300 other graduates on June 15.

“I’m extremely grateful to my dad for pushing me,” she said. “I knew I could do it, but he was my go-to for drive. I felt like I needed to fulfill my promise for what he’s been through and sacrificed. This was the greatest gift he could have given me.”

Brin says her dad missed a lot of family celebrations with his military service. “My dad tells me all the time that he was glad he did it and would do it all again just so I could graduate and get a college degree.”

She selected Historic Preservation because she loved history and did well with it in high school. On the first day in class, she discovered it was the opposite of what she expected and fell in love with historic preservation. While she thought it would be a class with textbooks and research, she learned how to repair and restore in multiple areas. She enjoys working with stained glass and blacksmithing, but says her forte is research, evaluation and documentation.

As a student she volunteered with the Georgia Historical Society, conducting field observation for historical markers in Chatham County, which used her research and documentation skills.

“Brin has shown a strong commitment to fulfilling her obligations to her family, her work, and her schooling,” said STC Historic Preservation Department Head Benjamin Curran. “Throughout her time in the Historic Preservation program she has maintained a high level of enthusiasm and engagement.”

She was one of three students who presented at the 2017 Georgia State Preservation Conference. The student’s presentation was titled Forging New Skills: The Design and Fabrication of the Historic Marker Collar Replacement Bracket. Students talked about the design process, the 3D scanning and printing of the prototypes, the construction of the furnace for melting aluminum, the mold fabrication, and casting.

Brin plans to start working immediately to earn additional funds to continue her education. She has found a connection with nature conservation and historic preservation and would like to earn a biology degree from the University of Florida.

Richard knew he could not require his daughters to earn a college education without completing his own degree. He is on schedule to complete an associate degree in May 2018 through American Military University and maintains a 3.94 GPA. “I wanted to show my daughters how important it was to me,” he said. “It wasn’t important to my family when I was a child, and I’ve seen how important it is in life. I wanted to provide a college education for my family.”

As the only public hands-on Historic Preservation program in Georgia, Savannah Technical College has led the way in preservation education. The program has gained international recognition and has contributed to a number of community-based preservation projects in the surrounding communities. Established in 2014, the Center for Traditional Craft is organized in three distinct but intertwined components; education, research, and community outreach. For more information visit: www.savannahtech.edu/CenterTraditionalCraft.

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#1748 | June 16, 2017
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912-443-5512 or ashaffer@savananhtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Logan Warren, 23, has always dreamed of caring for people in the medical field. She wanted a career with excitement that allowed her to work outside of a medical office. She found a great fit with training as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

After a year of instruction, last night she received an Emergency Medical Services Professions diploma from the College. She had previously been awarded technical certificates of credit for Emergency Medical Technician (Basic) and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician. Prior to enrolling at the College, she earned a GED diploma in 2012.

She graduated at STC’s commencement ceremony at the Savannah Civic Center with 300 graduates receiving degrees, diplomas and GEDs. The College has awarded 602 degrees and diplomas for students that completed coursework from summer 2016 through spring 2017. Also, 210 GED diplomas have been earned during that time.

While first-responder training runs in her family with both father/grandfather volunteering as first responders, Warren worked retail customer service jobs before enrolling at the College. She continued to work a 40-hour week while enrolled as a full-time student. Soon after her training began, EMT faculty encouraged her to work as a wheelchair van driver for Medics. Once she completed her EMT (Basic) training and certification, she started work at United EMS for non-emergency/everyday transport.

The EMS program presented job opportunities in the field to students throughout their training, according to Warren. She said her employers offered her a flexible schedule to accommodate her classes.

“Logan has always strived to learn more than what is taught in her textbook. With her confidence, compassion and caring, she understands going beyond providing patient care, or the art of EMS,” said STC EMT Instructor Lahoma Patton. “The Art of EMS is about creating a connection with each patient. Showing respect and treating individuals as they would want to be treated.”

Savannah Tech offers programs for Emergency Medical Services and Paramedicine Technology through its Health Sciences division. Offered at the Savannah campus and on post at the Fort Stewart Army Education Center, the EMS faculty members are practitioners as well as teachers.

Warren said EMT training gave her confidence to work in the EMS field. She said first-responders may traditionally be male roles, but her guidance from Patton, encouraged her.

“Being a woman in this industry is a really hard thing to do. Mrs. Patton showed me how to be confident and stand my ground as a female,” Warren said. Patton told students, “You’re just as good as everyone else, if not better. It’s okay to be who you are and do what you want. Just because you’re different, doesn’t mean you can’t do what everyone else does.”

Warren’s husband, Brandon, is a specialist in the U.S. Army working as a power plant mechanic on helicopter engines and is currently enrolled in STC’s Fire Science program. She will join him this fall for the firefighter program, as well to earn a second diploma for EMS/Firefighter. She plans to work in the field to gain more experience and return in the future to earn a Paramedicine Diploma.

“I’d love to go work with fire and be on an ambulance,” said Logan. “I have a connection with people – so much empathy – I want to have a full range to do whatever I’d like as a first responder to help people.”

To learn more about EMS/Paramedicine training at Savannah Technical College, visit www.savannahtech.edu/EmergencyMedicalServices.

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#1746 | June 16, 2017
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912-443-5512 or ashaffer@savananhtech.edu

 

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah Technical College Foundation celebrated new scholarships created during the past year, recognized long-serving members, and welcomed new members at its annual meeting on June 8, 2017.

During the 2016-17 academic year, the STC Foundation received more than $70,000 for new scholarships to benefit STC students:

• Flo Thurman Leadership Fund for Paramedic/EMS Technology: Awarded to a Paramedicine Technology/EMS student who is not receiving any financial aid. Essay required: “Why I want to be in this field of employment” and “The impact I intend to make.” Full tuition, fees, required tools/equipment/uniforms and books. (Up to $6,000/year)
• Brenda L. Rucker Champion Scholarship: Awarded to African American student, who has completed more than half of their instructional program. Programs of study: Aviation Technology, Precision Manufacturing and Welding/Joining Technology. GPA 3.2. ($1,667)
• Chef Edna Lewis Scholarship: Funded by the Edna Lewis Foundation, provides full support for one year of study in culinary arts (tuition, fees, uniforms, tools and books as needed) for a student with a love of Southern cookery and a desire to celebrate and preserve its rich history and traditions.  Requires a 2.0 GPA and 1,000-word essay (2 awards/up to $4,500).
• Stephen Michael Kennedy Scholarship: Provides tools and uniforms for a first semester Culinary Arts student. Essay required: “What drives me to be a chef” and “The impact I intend to make.” ($500).
• Michael Max Sacks Memorial Scholarship: Provides award to veteran student studying in one of the paramedicine programs ($1,000)
• Hass Machine Tool Scholarship: Supports students in the Machine Tool Technology program who have completed at least one NIMS Certificate. ($1,000)
• Skylar Huggett Women in Welding Scholarship: Provides award for welding tools/equipment to a female welding student with the highest GPA after completion of one semester of study at Savannah Technical College. Student is selected by the Welding & Joining department head based on academic performance. ($500)

Celia Dunn, Brian Foster and Jim LaHaise were honored for their service of more than a decade each. Both Foster and LaHaise had served the board as chairmen. Bertice Berry,Ph.D., Thomas Bullock, Ed.D., and Cecilia Russo Turner were welcomed as new members.

Sociologist and award-winning lecturer, Berry, is one of the most sought after lecturers in the United States. She combines her skills as a sociologist and researcher with her ability to make her audiences think and laugh at the same time. She is the best-selling author of the inspirational memoir, I’m On My Way, But Your Foot Is On My Head. She has also published four best-selling novels and two humor books.

Bullock is the founder of LEADERS, Inc. a non-profit organization whose mission is to prepare undergraduate students for self-reliance, post-graduate opportunities and leadership through the facilitation of and exposure to social and cultural competencies, professional development and life skills. As a mathematics professor, Bullock has taught at Georgetown University, Towson State University, Trinity University, and the University of the District of Columbia. His higher educational leadership activities include Assistant to the President at Georgetown University, Chair of the Department of Education at the University of the District of Columbia, member of the PARCC National Advisory Committee for College Readiness, and member of the NCAA Division II Management Council.

Turner has managed and participated in philanthropic activities that have raised millions of dollars for nonprofit charities and civic improvements in communities in Savannah and the Low Country for more than two decades. In 2013, the Junior Achievement Small Business Hall of Fame named Cecilia as its Volunteer of the Year, and in 2016 the Susan G. Komen Society of Costal Georgia recognized her as the “Biggest BigWig of All Time” after she led a breast cancer fundraising campaign to record-setting levels. Her civic volunteer efforts include memberships and board positions on the Rotary Club of Savannah, Horizons Savannah and the Kiwanis Club of Skidaway Island. Previously, Cecilia served on the board of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire and Senior Citizens, Inc.

Founded in 1984, the Savannah Technical College Foundation is a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that exists to raise and disperse funds to support the College’s efforts to enhance learning, workforce training and economic development in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties. The Foundation also supports student success through its privately funded scholarships. The Foundation recently raised more than $7.2 million in its “Where Excellence Meets Opportunity.” The campaign focused on five key areas: precision manufacturing, health sciences, culinary arts/heritage tourism, technology and student support.

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#1745 | June 9, 2017
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912-443-5512 / ashaffer@savananhtech.edu

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College has established a new scholarship to cover gap funding for spouses of U.S. Coast Guard members.

This scholarship will provide financial support for tuition, fees, books and tools/equipment that students need for programs at the college up to $4,000 per student. To be eligible for the college’s new U.S. Coast Guard spouse scholarship, spouses must receive the HOPE Grant and enrolled in a diploma or certificate program. Other areas of the armed forces have a program called My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) for spouses, however this benefit is not available for U.S. Coast Guard spouses. Funding for this scholarship comes from the college’s Freedom Fund established in 2016 with a generous donation.

“With over 250 Coast Guard families in the Savannah area, we are incredibly grateful to Savannah Tech for going the extra mile to ensure that ALL Armed Forces spouses have the opportunity to receive scholarship support to pursue higher education,” said CDR Marshall Branch, commanding officer for the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in Savannah, Ga. “We often acknowledge that one of the toughest jobs in the military is that of the military spouse. The MyCAA program is a fantastic opportunity to support those spouses, and we thank Savannah Tech for opening that door to U.S. Coast Guard families as well.”

Savannah Technical College is a regionally accredited Institution of Higher Learning and approved to participate and administer Veteran’s Education Assistance programs.

Ranked #1 in the U.S. as “Best for Vets” in 2016 by Military Times for Career & Technical Colleges, Savannah Technical College has the largest enrollment of military-affiliated students in the Technical College System of Georgia. One in four STC students 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.

For more information about military services or enrollment, visit www.savannahtech.edu/military or contact STC’s Military Outreach Coordinator Jeff Ashmen (912.443.4155 or military@savannahtech.edu).

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#1744 | June 7, 2017
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912-443-5512 or ashaffer@savananhtech.edu

 

RINCON – Manufacturing career opportunities are growing in Southeast Georgia. In partnership with Effingham and Bryan County regional manufacturing partners, Savannah Technical College will offer a Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS) technical certificate of credit in the summer semester 2017.  The College will host an information session/open house for the program from 5:30-7PM on May 23 at the STC Effingham Campus (2890 Hwy 21 South, Rincon, GA 31326).

The CMS program prepares students for entry-level employment in a manufacturing environment. Topics include organization principles, workplace skills, manufacturing production, automated manufacturing skills, and representative manufacturing skills.

“The manufacturing industry is growing, and there is a serious shortage of qualified workers,” said Silver Lake Automation CEO Robert Lahman. “Those that have the desire and aptitude to learn will be able to create their own jobs in the future.”

The College’s collaboration with regional manufacturers leads to the development and offering of applicable education that sustains and grows an exceptional workforce for Effingham County manufacturers. This short-term credit program gives graduates the skills and capabilities needed to begin a successful career in regional industries.

To get started in a manufacturing career path and obtain skills regional partners are looking for entry-level manufacturing positions, are encouraged to enroll in the Certified Manufacturing Specialist Program, which begins May 30.

Information sessions will feature an overview the Certified Manufacturing Specialist program and along with representatives from local manufacturing hiring companies. For more details, visit www.savannahtech.edu/CertifiedManufacturingSpecialist or call 912-443-3012.

STC’s Economic Development division is dedicated to delivering workforce solutions and partnering with our regional business and industry leaders to stay current on growth trends.

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#1743 | May 12, 2017
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912-443-5512 or ashaffer@savananhtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Flo Thurman never received a penny for her 40-year volunteer service career in emergency medical services. As the first woman chief of Swansboro EMS/Rescue squad, Thurman blazed a path for many to follow, including her daughter Lahoma Patton.

This year for Mother’s Day, Patton has created a legacy in her mom’s honor that will support EMS students at Savannah Technical College. The Flo Thurman Leadership Scholarship was created as an endowed fund that will fund full support of tuition, fees, books, uniforms and materials for one EMS/Paramedicine student annually, a value of up to $6,000 per year to start.  This scholarship will be available for STC students who do not qualify for state or federal financial aid like HOPE or Pell.

“My mom has touched so many people in her lifetime and never asked for anything in return,” Patton said. “She has given a lifetime to this incredible field, and we want her legacy to live on.”

Patton is one of six of Thurman’s children and a Paramedicine/EMS instructor at Savannah Tech. She was named the College’s 2014 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year. She says her mom “conned” her into working in emergency medical services.

“My mom needed someone to drive the ambulance, so she encouraged me to go to Coastal Community College (Jacksonville, NC) for EMS training to go calls with her,” Patton said. “She saw something in me when I was a selfish and self-absorbed teen, which helped transform me into a caring and empathic adult.”

Thurman, now 75, lives with two of her daughters in North Carolina. She served on countless committees and boards on the state level for emergency medical services. First-responder service ran in their family, as her husband, Duke Thurman, was a police officer and volunteer firefighter, who started the hazmat team in their county as well. Her oldest daughter is a registered nurse, and another daughter worked as a dispatcher.

“My favorite calls were the ones I ran with my mom. Her guidance of how to be a compassionate, caring and confident medic. With her as my mentor, I wouldn’t have done anything else,” Patton said.

Patton has been teaching at Savannah Tech since 2007 and has worked in emergency medical services for more than 25 years. She dedicates her entire career to her mom. She says this scholarship brings a new metaphorical grandchild to life for her mom. The endowed scholarship will be funded by Michael and Lahoma Patton through their emergency medical services business, United EMS, which unites patients, providers and treatments through professional transportation.

This scholarship lives and breathes her commitment and philosophies, says Patton. “We are proud to share you with the world through the scholarship, as you taught us to leave it better than when you came.”

With America’s aging population, the demand for EMS professionals is expected to grow steadily in the coming years. And, their skills are becoming more critical as many area hospitals and trauma centers offer specialized treatments requiring ambulance transport from community hospitals to specialty providers. Savannah Tech offers programs for Emergency Medical Services and Paramedicine Technology through its Health Sciences division. Offered at the Savannah campus and on post at the Fort Stewart Army Education Center, the EMS faculty members are practitioners as well as teachers. Like Patton, they’ve been there, done that and want to help students learn.

To learn more about EMS/Paramedicine training at Savannah Technical College, visit www.savannahtech.edu/EmergencyMedicalServices.

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SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College inducted 43 students into its 2017 class for Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s Beta Xi Tau Chapter recently. To be eligible for membership, students must have completed a minimum of 12 degree-level semester credit hours and have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. The STC Beta Xi Tau Chapter now has more than 475 members.

In the ceremony, STC Academic Vice President Dr. Al Cunningham challenged the new members to continue their hard work at Savannah Tech, at future colleges/universities or occupations.  “Phi Theta Kappa is not the end of your studies,” said Cunningham. “It is, in fact, just the beginning.”  He also encouraged the members to step into leadership positions as they further their education or enter into their future occupations.

The American Association of Community Colleges recognizes Phi Theta Kappa as the official honor society for two-year colleges.

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#1741 | April 27, 2017
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912-443-5512 or ashaffer@savananhtech.edu

SAVANNAH- Savannah Technical College’s Georgia Film Academy is hosting a screening of the documentary, Feed the Hungry: the Vision, the Outreach, the Community Changer at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 28 in the Savannah Technical College Eckburg Auditorium. There will be a red carpet meet-and-greet from 6-7 p.m. The documentary will be shown at 7 p.m., followed by Q&A at 7:30p.m. with Georgia State Representative Carl Gilliard and the film’s producers and director.

“I’m so proud of my first graduating class of students,” said STC Georgia Film Academy Technical Film Instructor John Grace. “They’re already changing the world for the better.”

The documentary was recently recognized by Georgia House Resolution 661. The film chronicles the rise of the Savannah Feed the Hungry organization and its founder, Rep. Gilliard. According to the resolution, “this documentary focuses on the challenges and hardships that Rep. Gilliard faced while building the organization and serves as a way for people of Georgia to gain a better perspective of the charity and its founding family.”

The film was created by William Martin (director) and Kareem McMichael (producer), two graduates of the inaugural class of film students at Savannah Technical College.

The Georgia Film Academy will hold information sessions for summer semester at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 27 and at 10 a.m., on Saturday, April 29 in room 7126 at the Savannah Technical College Savannah Campus.

The projected film industry growth in Georgia during the next three to five years will generate 3,000 to 5,000 new jobs, and the average earnings for jobs on set are $84,000 a year.  That’s why Georgia has launched the Georgia Film Academy, a unique-in-the-nation, statewide initiative to prepare Georgia citizens for these high demand careers. For more information visit: www.savannahtech.edu/GA-Film.

About the Georgia Film Academy
The Georgia Film Academy is a collaborative effort of the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia supporting workforce needs of the film and digital entertainment industries. The academy certifies workforce ready employees in needed areas, connect students and prospective employees with employers, and offer a unique capstone experience for top students that will provide them a path to employment in Georgia. Special partnerships include Pinewood Studios located in Fayetteville, Georgia.

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#1729 | April 18, 2017

Georgia Film Academy Academic Advisor: Secene Dorsey
912.443.5859 or ssdorsey@savannahtech.edu

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