SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College’s local Board of Directors announced changes to board leadership this week. James Williams, who was formerly Vice Chairman, completed his service to the board after nine years. The board voted to approve new leadership for the upcoming fiscal year with Donald Lovette as Chairman and Brandt Herndon as Vice Chairman.

Lovette is the retired Director of Laboratory Services for Liberty Regional Medical Center and is the CEO of Love-In Productions, Inc. He is a graduate of Bradwell Institute High School (1973), North Georgia Technical College and honor graduate of Brewton-Parker College. He is the chairman of the Liberty County Board of Commissioners. He is a member of the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority, The Fraser Center Board of Directors and a council member of coastal Regional Commission. He is a lifelong member of the Pleasant Grove AME Church, where he serves as Steward Pro-Tem, Men’s Choir Director and New Member’s Class Teacher. He is also a member of the Gospel Cousinaires.

Herndon is Chief Executive Officer for the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, and holds a Masters of Business Administration from Georgia State University. He also held positions at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, as well as Electric Cities of Georgia where he was an economic development project manager. He is actively involved on the board of the Southern Economic Development Council, the Realtors Commercial Alliance of Savannah and Hilton Head, as well as the Local Board of Directors for Savannah Technical College, and the Board of Directors for the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce. 

Williams worked more than 40 years in the power generation industry from field engineer to plane management to executive management. He retired from Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, Inc. as Executive Vice President in 2015. He now is president of JW Williams Consulting and Services, LLC. He has a bachelor of science in Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician, Associate of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He is a rotary volunteer, president of the Savannah Chapter of Christian Motorcyclists Association and a deacon and active member in men’s ministries at Compassion Christian Church.

STC 2022-23 Board of Directors: Dr. Kathleen Benton (Chatham); Brandt Herndon (Effingham – Vice Chairman); Todd Hoffman (Effingham); Donald Lovette (Liberty – Chairman); Tom Ratcliffe (Liberty).

The College’s Local Board of Directors is comprised of community and industry leaders, who strive to keep the College at the highest standard of excellence in education.  The local board facilitates the delivery of programs, services, and activities as directed by the TCSG State Board, advises the President and the TCSG State Board of local industry and community needs for the programs and services to be provided by the technical college, and advocates within the community and within the state on issues of importance in support of TCSG and Georgia’s workforce development efforts.

#2246 | June 23, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, GA – Savannah Culinary Institute student chefs will host a Big Pig Fundraiser feast to benefit the Chef Jean Vendeville Culinary Scholarship Fund. The pre-order meal pack (feeds six) features two smoked meats, three gourmet sides, two barbeque sauces, rolls, and dessert for $150.

Meals will be available to pick-up from 3 – 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 30 and 9 a.m. until noon on Friday, July 1 at the Eckburg Auditorium at Savannah Technical College (5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, 31406). Visit www.savannahtech.edu/big-pig to pre-order meals by noon on June 24.

Big Pig Fundraiser Feast take out menu (feeds six):

• Dry Rubbed Spare Ribs (two racks)
• Cheerwine Pulled Pork (3 lbs)
• Bourbon Baked Beans (1 qt)
• Roasted Potato Salad w/ Bacon Herb Vinaigrette (1 qt)
• Green Goddess Cole Slaw (1 qt)
• Alabama White Sauce (8 oz)
• Chipotle BBQ Sauce (8 oz)
• Potato Rolls (6)
• Dutch Oven Cherry Cobbler

Savannah Culinary Institute classes will prepare the items as part of instruction for Summer semester including Contemporary Cuisines (smoking, sauces), Baking Principles (cobbler, bread), and Principles of Cooking (sides). 

The Chef Jean Vendeville Scholarship was initiated (2017) and funded solely by Judy & Dick Eckburg in honor of the now retired STC Department Head Chef Jean Vendeville. Applicants must have completed at least one semester of Culinary Arts/Baking & Pastry Arts to be eligible with a 3.5 GPA. Preference will be given to students receiving no other financial aid. The award provides $2,000 per student per year for two years Funds are applied toward tuition, fees, books, uniforms and required tools/supplies. 

The amount of the contribution for the Big Pig Fundraiser feast, which is deductible for federal income tax purposes, is limited to the excess over the value of the goods or services provided by Savannah Technical College Foundation. The tax-deductible portion of the gift is estimated to be $100.

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.

About 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 the committee chair, the Culinary Institute of Savannah, 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.

#2245 | June 3, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Culinary Institute announced today that construction will begin this summer at 7 West Bay Street as the new downtown location for the expansion of Savannah Technical College’s Culinary Arts program.

The Technical College System of Georgia recently selected The Pinyan Company as the construction manager. The Pinyan Company is based in Savannah and has established itself as one of the most quality conscious and customer-oriented firms in the area. They are working on pre-construction estimating now and plan to start construction in mid-August. They anticipate it will be a 10- to 11-month project.

“We are honored to have been selected as construction manager for this incredibly unique project,” said The Pinyan Company President Danny Pinyan. “Savannah is widely known for its world class culinary venues and well-chronicled historic district. This restoration will only add to the luster of both. We have completed over 40 projects in downtown Savannah. Our team has never been more excited than we are to commence the work on this project.”

Hansen Architects, an award-winning Savannah-based firm with noted accomplishments in Historic Preservation, is the design firm. Savannah Technical College and the Technical College System of Georgia have collaborated with the firm on many projects over the years, noted Hansen president J. Paul Hansen. “We are very pleased to be trusted with this important project in the heart of historic downtown,” he said. 

With only 3,000-square-feet of classroom, lab and cooking space, Savannah Tech has had extremely limited resources at the Savannah campus. The kitchen operates 16 hours a day Monday through Thursday, plus four hours on Friday. In 2014, the College designated one classroom on the Savannah Campus as sugar and chocolate lab, allowing additional space beyond the kitchen to be dedicated to culinary arts instruction. With the success of the Baking & Pastry Arts program, classes are full, and the College is unable to offer enough sections to meet demands.

The expansion will more than double the available instructional space for Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts. Senior level (second year) students will take classes and work in the bakery and restaurant. Entry-level (first year) students will continue to take courses in the teaching kitchen and classrooms at the College’s campus on White Bluff.

“This has been a long time coming,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “We started dreaming about this project in 2009 and started really looking in 2011. We have had some near misses, and some great opportunities. This is exactly where we needed to be, and the building we needed to be in.”

“This location represents the very best real learning opportunity for our students,” said STC Culinary Arts Department Head Chef Gearry Caudell. “This has been a huge missing piece of the puzzle that we haven’t been able to do until now. We are excited about it.”

Savannah Culinary Institute graduates are working in the area’s finest restaurants and establishments, including the Alida Hotel, Local 11 Ten, Le Café Gourmet, Savannah Yacht Club, and The Landings Club in addition to catering, entrepreneurs and private chefs.

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. The priority application deadline for fall semester 2022 is July 22. 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 the ACF committee chair, the Culinary Institute of Savannah, 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.

#2244 | June 2, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, GA – Savannah Mayor Van Johnson announced that the City of Savannah will sponsor 100 forklift training scholarships for Savannah residents. This $13,500 workforce development donation will cover all costs associated Savannah Technical College’s Forklift Operator Safety Training Course. 

“When they have a good-paying job they are able to take care of their family; when they’re able to take care of their families a lot of good things happen. They’re able to own a home, they’re able to afford a home,” Johnson said on Wednesday as he, Savannah Tech and Workforce Coastal announced the scholarships. 

The program is geared toward city residents and the majority of the coursework can be completed online. The course includes four hours of lectures and one hour of hands-on demonstration. Students must also pass a written test and the hands-on operator skills review with an instructor before receiving their certificate. 

Savannah Tech President Kathy Love said the program fits into the sole mission of the college, which is workforce development. 

“We’d like to think you’ve come to the right place because this is what we do. This is all we do, whether our students are starting with a free adult education, high school equivalency, English as a Second Language class or short-term credit certificate like commercial truck driving, or a non-credit industry credential, like forklift safety operator,” Love said. 

“We know that these jobs are in high demand.”

The training scholarship will be managed by the Savannah Technical College Foundation and applications are available online. 

#2243 | April 6, 2022

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Eight students from the Savannah Technical College Peace Officer Academy were honored as program graduates with a completion ceremony.

The three men and five women 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 37th 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. Many candidates are in various stages of the application process with statewide agencies. All eight candidates have been hired by area police departments. STC’s Peace Officer Academy has a 97% 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 honors Deputy Sheriff Philip Kraverotis of Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, who passed away on August 6, 2020.  Deputy Kraverotis had served with the ECSO for 15 years and had served in various positions such as a jailer, explosive K-9 handler and as a Blue Coat.  He was survived by his wife, children, siblings, family and friends.

The College recently announced it will start an evening cohort for the Peace Officer Academy, which is a 30-week program running 6-10PM Mondays through Thursdays during summer/fall semesters (May 31 through December 5) at the College’s Crossroads Campus (190 Crossroads Parkway). While the majority of training will be at night, there is one week in the fall where students will be required to attend during the day for Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) training. The night program will be split into two semesters with a week off between semesters in July.

Information sessions about the night cohort will be held at 6PM on April 12 and 14 at the Crossroads Campus. POST applications approval takes about a month, so applicants are encouraged to start the process early. POST approval must be received by May 20.

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.

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. Group photo by Doug Currie.

The next night cohort begins May 31 and the next day cohort begins in July 2022.

#2242 | April 1, 2022

Peace Officer Academy: Nancy Jones
912-443-5191 or njones@savannahtech.edu

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

SAVANNAH, Ga. – In order to meet the increasing demand for law enforcement officers and provide an option for students that work during the day, Savannah Technical College Peace Officer Academy will offer night training for the Basic Law Enforcement Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC). Successful completion of the program qualifies graduates to be state-certified peace officers.

“Never before have so many demands been placed on Law Enforcement and never have we had so few officers to meet those demands,” said Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie.

The College is finalizing the schedule for new night cohort. One option being considered is a 30-week program running 6-10PM Mondays through Thursdays during summer/fall semesters (May 31 through December 5) at the College’s Crossroads Campus (190 Crossroads Parkway, 31407). 

Information sessions about the night cohort will be held at 6PM on April 12 and April 14 at the Crossroads Campus. POST applications approval takes about a month, so applicants are encouraged to start the process early. POST approval must be received by May 20.

The College’s Peace Officer Academy traditionally is an 11-week program offered during the daytime on week days. The coursework includes the Georgia Peace Officer Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Law Enforcement Training Course. The next day cohort starts July 11.

The Basic POST Certification Technical Certificate of Credit provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to become competent law enforcement officers. The 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. To date, the program has graduated more than 400 P.O.S.T.-certified officers. Many candidates are in various stages of the application process with statewide agencies. STC’s Peace Officer Academy has a 97% placement rate in field (AY20).

For more information about the Peace Officer Academy visit www.savannahtech.edu/basic-law-enforcement or contact the office at 912-443-5191 or njones@savannahtech.edu.

#2241 | March 31, 2022

Peace Officer Academy: Nancy Jones
912-443-5191 or njones@savannahtech.edu

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

St. Joseph’s/Candler and Savannah Technical College have created two innovative programs to give employment, a full-time salary and free tuition while quickly developing students into healthcare professionals.

The two accelerated apprentice programs will give students the opportunity to obtain Certified Nurse Aide or Patient Care Technician certifications while going to school and working shifts at St. Joseph’s/Candler.

“This is a great example of how we can come together to creatively address workforce development, create new jobs and meet the healthcare needs of our community,” said Paul P. Hinchey, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s/Candler. “Not only will these students earn a great wage, full-time benefits and practical, on-the-job training, but they will have their tuition covered while they go to Savannah Technical College, which is known for producing highly-skilled students ready for the workforce.”

“We know there is tremendous demand for healthcare workers, and we are excited to partner with St. Joseph’s/Candler to offer this accelerated healthcare training,” said Savannah Technical College President Dr. Kathy Love. “Thus far, our apprenticeship programs have centered around the manufacturing sector. We are pleased to see those opportunities for students expanded to our Certified Nurse Aide and Patient Care Technician training.”

 

How it works

Potential students will apply for a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and Patient Care Technician (PCT) position at St. Joseph’s/Candler and at Savannah Tech simultaneously.

Students will work part-time at St. Joseph’s/Candler and attend classes part-time at Savannah Technical College while earning a full-time salary for the duration of the program. St. Joseph’s/Candler will pay for tuition and fees for the Nurse Aide Accelerated program at Savannah Tech and a state program covers fees for the PCT program. 

The Nurse Aide Accelerated program is eight-weeks long and the PCT program is 18-weeks long. For  details, please visit www.sjchs.org/CNA-PCT-apprentice.

 

What does a CNA do?

Certified Nurse Aides are an important position in any healthcare setting, with many responsibilities that make them integral to patient care. CNAs help patients with direct healthcare needs, often under the supervision of a nurse. They perform critical, sometimes physical and complex, tasks that ensure patients are well-cared for and safe during their hospital stay. Specific tasks vary, but you may help patients with:

• Eating
• Dressing
• Bathing
• Brushing their teeth
• Answer calls for help
• Deliver messages
• Serve meals
• Make beds
• Help tidy up rooms

Being a CNA is a great stepping stone to other healthcare professions, especially nursing. Becoming a CNA will not only teach students how to interact with patients, but it also will introduce them to the healthcare field so that they can determine if healthcare is the right career choice. CNA is the first step toward PCT. 

 

What does a PCT do?

Patient Care Technicians also work directly with patients, taking care of basic needs, such as feeding and hygiene. However, different than CNAs, PCTs have more training that allows them to complete other tasks as well. PCTs help patients with procedures such as:

• Taking vital signs
• Performing glucose testing
• Blood draws
• Other needs under the direction and supervision of a doctor or registered nurse

For more details and to apply, go to sjchs.org/cna-pct-apprentice.

#2240 | March 30, 2022

St. Joseph’s/Candler: Scott M. Larson
PR and Digital Manager
912-596-5084 or larsons@sjchs.org

Health Sciences Advisor: Cindy Cole
912.443.5721 or ccole@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Film Academy’s new logo won silver in the logo/letterhead design category with the 37^th Annual Educational Advertising Awards.

The logo represents the film and digital aspects of Savannah Film Academy training by combining imagery of traditional film and digital media. It was designed by Kevin Nightingale of Nightingale Creative under the direction of STC’s marketing team.

The Savannah Film Academy at Savannah Technical College prepares graduates for below-the-line on-set careers in the film industry. Earning this technical certificate of credit training signals those hiring for the film industry that graduates have the hands-on experience to be prepared work on any production. In addition to the basic level of on-set film production skills and knowledge of organizational structure, graduates gain experience with professional equipment and on-set procedures. It may be completed in three semesters.

The College has trained nearly 200 graduates in the past five years to work in the film industry. These students have filled more than 600 intern positions with productions for feature films, television, documentaries, short films, SCAD films and webisodes. Productions have included Peanut Butter Falcon, The Beach House, Antman and the Wasp, Gemini Man, Emperor, Lady and the Tramp, Ford vs. Ferrari, The Glorias, The Reckoning, The Act, Florida Girls, American Idol, America’s Got Talent, Underground, and more.

Apply now to start training for a career in the film industry this summer or fall. Visit www.savannahtech.edu/SAV-Film to learn more.

The Educational Advertising Awards is the largest, oldest and most respected educational advertising awards competition in the country. Judges for the Educational Advertising Awards consist of a national panel of higher education marketers, advertising creative directors, marketing and advertising professionals. There were more than 2,000 entries in the competition from more than 1,000 colleges, universities and secondary schools from across the country.

#2239 | March 29, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

ATLANTA, Ga. – Billy Smith was honored as Savannah Technical College’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year for the Adult Education program last week at the Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE program. Launched in 1993, the Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) program celebrates adult learners in pursuit of excellence.

Smith has taught Adult Education classes as the lead teacher at Coastal State and Effingham County prisons since 2011. His students have achieved above average results, leading Georgia Department of Corrections outcomes statewide.

“Mr. Smith is an extremely reliable and high performing instructor, who makes learning engaging,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “His creativity and compassion with his students make him truly exceptional.”

He is a STC graduate (Marketing & Management), who earned a Bachelor of Science in history from Savannah State University and master’s degrees in adult education (2002) and special education (2005) from Armstrong Atlantic State University.

This year, 25 outstanding teacher honorees from the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), school system, and community-based organization providers were celebrated on March 14-15 during the Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE program. Teachers engaged with each other through networking activities, recorded public service announcements that will be used to promote Adult Education services over the next year, and were treated to a professional development, “Time Management for Educators: Creating More Time, Balance, and Peace.”

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.

#2238 | March 21, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

ATLANTA, Ga. – Savannah Technical College Early Childhood Care & Education instructor Stephanie Grant was named the Georgia Skills USA Advisor of the year at the Georgia 2022 SkillsUSA Postsecondary State Conference. She has been one of STC’s SkillsUSA advisor for the past four years. 

She incorporates the SkillsUSA Framework into chapter efforts through mentorship and collaboration: “A technical education opens our students’ minds to soft skills that are essential life skills to achieve the unthinkable,” Grant said. “I teach the importance of integrity, responsibility, teamwork, diversity, safety, and self-motivation. Personal, workplace and technical skills prepare students for leadership in the world of work.”

Grant also serves as STC’s Faculty Senate Ethics Committee Chair and ECCE Student Organization Advisor. She is the Instructional Faculty Consortium Committee South Region Vice-Chair.

She is a graduate of Hershel Victor Jenkins High School in Savannah. She started her college career at Armstrong Atlantic State University. After two semesters, she felt like she was not “smart” enough. She met with the President of Armstrong, who told her of an articulation agreement with Savannah Technical College. She completed STC’s Early Childhood Care and Education Associates Degree program and then went back to Armstrong to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a minor in Elementary Education. She also earned a master’s in Adult Education, specializing in Early Childhood Education.

She has taught Pre-Kindergarten in Savannah at Windy’s Preschool, where she was honored as employee of the year in 2013. She also taught at Ridgeland Elementary School in South Carolina. She has worked with reputable community leaders to create an influential professional learning community. She currently serves as the PTA president for Woodville Thompkins Technical and Career High School.

SkillsUSA is a national career and technical student organization/competition that annually serves more than 395,000 high school, college and post-secondary students–and their instructors–in technical, skilled and service-occupation instructional programs.

#2237 | March 17, 2022
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu