SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College Business Management instructor Rushe Hudzinski has been selected as STC’s 2020 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year. The Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction honors outstanding faculty members at each of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) institutions. She will represent Savannah Technical College in the statewide competition.

“Ms. Hudzinski’s professional excellence and service in the classroom, as well as the local community, combined with her passion for helping students achieve their dreams and goals for college, career and life make her the perfect ambassador for technical education across the state,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love.

Hudzinski has been an instructor at Savannah Technical College since 2010 when she began working as an adjunct instructor. She became a full-time instructor in 2016. Leading up to this transition, Hudzinski was Chief Human Resources Consultant for New South Financial Group. Before coming to New South she served as the Director of Human Resources for Effingham County Board of Commissioners and oversaw personnel matters concerning the County Staff, Elected Officials and Constitutional Officers.

Prior, Hudzinski was the Training and Development, Staffing/Faculty Coordinators at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She served as a District Recruiting Specialist for Eddie Bauer, South East Region and held positions in several management capacities in the apparel, home and outlet divisions. Her early positions in management have retail and hospitality influence to include Talbots, Paradise Island Resort and Casino, the Hilton Corporation, and Walt Disney World.

At Savannah Technical College, she serves as a SkillsUSA advisor for the Entrepreneurship state competition team and is vice-president for the STC Faculty Senate. 

She serves as a board member for Heads-Up Guidance Services (HUGS). She is also a member of the following organizations: Lions Club of Savannah, Savannah Area Employer Committee, Association of Georgia Contractors, and Society of Human Resources Management.

She is a graduate of Elmira College where she earned a bachelor’s of science degree in International Business and Marketing. She completed her MBA at Syracuse University and participated in the international graduate programs in England and Italy. She currently holds the Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) and is a graduate of Leadership Southeast Georgia.

HR on Campus and CUPA-HR have recognized Hudzinski’s development of training programs in customer service and human resources office staff organization regionally and nationally. Two of Hudzinski’s community projects for Human Resources, Preserving Human Capital – An Active Shooter Response and the Community HR Collaboration Project, have won Best in Georgia and been a two-time recipient of the SHRM National Pinnacle Award. Her articles on human resource management trends and strategies are featured twice per year in Workplace Health magazine. Early in her career she received the Eddie Bauer Stine Award for her work in employee training, talent acquisition, and district revenue performance.

The Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year award has been an ongoing statewide event since 1991 and is designed to recognize technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields.  Formerly known as the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence, the Rick Perkins Award was renamed in memory and honor of Thomas “Rick” Perkins, an instructor at West Central Technical College, now West Georgia Technical College, who received the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence prior to his untimely death. TCSG provides oversight for the Rick Perkins Award program through the system office’s programming staff, the presidents’ Academic Improvement committee and the state planning committee.

###      

#2025 | February 17, 2020

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

Bass is a top-performing student in his program. “Devin has excelled as one of the top students in the Industrial Maintenance Systems Technology program,” said STC Industrial Maintenance Systems Department Head Travis Wright. “He helps students in the program that are having trouble in a particular subject area. His ability to connect with current and future students is to be commended.”

GOAL honors outstanding students at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions. Devin will represent Savannah Tech at the statewide competition in April in Atlanta, where the statewide GOAL winner will be selected. The highly competitive process involves academic success, community engagement and public speaking. Winners are nominated by their instructors and selected after interviews with a panel of business and community leaders.

He is a manufacturing apprentice at JCB North America. He has worked various positions at JCB North America. As a recruiter, he speaks with high school students about the opportunities with JCB, as well as those with the College. He is also a mentor for new apprentices with JCB.

Before training at Savannah Technical College, he served as an Infantry Section Leader with the U.S. Army. During his more than five years of service he distinguished himself as a combat veteran. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold).

He is on track to graduate this fall with an associate of applied science in Industrial Maintenance Systems and Precision Manufacturing. Also, he has completed welding training. He has been selected to represent the College at SkillsUSA in Georgia for the Mechatronics team, as well.

“I chose technical education because it provides an affordable, high-quality education with classes that I can attend around my work schedule,” Bass said. “The skills that I learn at Savannah Technical College are highly marketable. The time commitment in acquiring them is shorter, so I may put them to use in my field sooner.”

STC’s Industrial Maintenance Systems program prepares students for an in demand career. Required maintenance of machinery is vital to the production of manufactured goods. Those employed as industrial systems technologists are trained in fluid power, programmable logic controls, electricity, mechanics and other specified areas of machine functionality. Industrial Maintenance is one of Georgia’s high demand jobs that qualify for the HOPE Career Grant. For more information visit: www.savannahtech.edu/IndustrialSystems.

###      

#2024 | February 17, 2020

Industrial Technology Advisor: Secene Dorsey
912.443.5859 or sdorsey@savannahtech.edu

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

 

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College’s Savannah Culinary Institute offers its eighth annual online, pre-order Sweetheart Sale featuring assorted artisan chocolates, pastries and artisan breads for Valentine’s Day at www.bistrosavoir.com.

Hand-made chocolates include dipped strawberries (6) and an assortment of 15 handmade chocolate truffles in five flavors: passion fruit/white chocolate, orange butter ganache/milk chocolate, honey caramel/dark chocolate, amaretti/milk chocolate, raspberry/white and dark chocolate. Truffles will be sold in a heart-shaped cardboard box for $24 or an artisan dark chocolate bon bon box for $36. The sale also features chocolate eclairs, dark chocolate coconut macaroons, fudgy brownies, lemon/raspberry mousse cake and chocolate/strawberry mousse cake. Artisan breads include a heart-shaped brioche loaf and a sourdough white chocolate baguette.

Online pre-order sales are available through February 12, or when quantities are sold out. Orders will be available for pickup at the College’s Savannah campus February 13 from 2-6PM and on February 14 from 9AM – noon in the Eckburg Auditorium (5717 White Bluff Road). By request only, pickup will be available at the Crossroads, Liberty and Effingham Campuses. For a list of items for sale and to place orders, visit www.bistrosavoir.com.

The Sweetheart Sale features the finest quality ingredients that are locally sourced, milled and handmade under the direction of Chef Zebulon Berry. Proceeds will benefit Savannah Technical College’s Junior Chefs Fund, which supports activities like competitions.

Orders will be available for pickup at the College’s Savannah campus on February 13 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m., and February 14 from 9 a.m. until noon. By request only, pickup will be available at the Crossroads, Liberty and Effingham Campuses. For a pick-up schedule, a complete list of items for sale and to place orders, visit www.bistrosavoir.com.

Savannah Tech’s baking and pastry program that 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.  Graduates are working as pastry chefs in the area’s finest restaurants and establishments, including Local 11 Ten, Le Café Gourmet, Savannah Yacht Club, and The Landings Club. There are 40 students are currently enrolled in the baking and pastry program.

With support from the Savannah Technical College Foundation, the College has purchased 7 West Bay Street as the new downtown location for an expansion of its Culinary Arts program that 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 application deadline for summer semester 2020 is April 30. For more information about Culinary Arts at Savannah Tech visit: www.facebook.com/ChefJeanVendeville.

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.

###

#2023 | February 3, 2020
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512
ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, GA – Savannah Technical College’s Aviation Division, in partnership with Savannah Aviation, will offer a six-week Private Pilot Ground School starting February 25. The class will meet from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the STC Aviation Training Center (170 Crossroads Parkway).

Savannah Aviation Director of Operations David Scroggs is excited to partner with the College to offer flight training opportunities for Savannah and surrounding areas. “The Savannah Technical College Aviation Training Center is an ideal venue to teach the finer points of flying aircraft. We look forward to building a strong workforce of qualified aviators to meet the pilot shortage that is affecting the entire aviation industry.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for the certification of every pilot from the initial private level all the way to the airline transport category and as such requires a three pronged approach in the form of a knowledge test, an oral exam, and a practical check ride before granting any individual a pilot license.  Within this course students will have a thorough understanding of the science, theory, history, and regulations pertaining to flight which is not only critical, but necessary for anyone who seeks to fly whether as a hobby or pursuing a lifelong career in aviation.

Successful completion of this course, along with instructor endorsement, will authorize the student to take the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge examination.  After successfully passing the knowledge exam, the student can move on to flying lessons in an actual aircraft with a certified flight instructor who will endorse them for the FAA required oral exam/practical check ride.

Attendees must be at least 16 years of age. Cost for the six-week Private Pilot Ground School is $550 and includes course materials and 25 hours of instruction. Register by Feb. 18 at www.savannahtech.edu/GroundSchool. For more information, contact aviation@savanahtech.edu.

Savannah Technical College’s Aviation division offers specialty aviation continuing education courses, like the new Private Pilot Ground School, and credit aviation programs for Aircraft Structural, Aviation Maintenance and Avionics training. For the past three years, graduates from STC’s credit aviation programs have a 100% placement rate and 97% placement in field (AY 2016-18).

###

2022 | January 30, 2020

Amy Shaffer, APR
Director of Communications, Savannah Technical College
912-443-5512
ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

Joseph I. Rodriguez.  CFI, CFII
Flight Instructor, Savannah Aviation
757.329.0266
joseph.i.rodriguez.01@gmail.com

 

 

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

The eight men and eight 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 29th group of students to complete the program since its inception in 2009. To date, the program has graduated 380 P.O.S.T.-certified officers. Many candidates are in various stages of the application process with statewide agencies. Twelve of the eighteen candidates have been hired by area police departments. Savannah Tech’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 Cpl. Luis Molina of the Savannah Police Department, who passed away on August 18, 2018. He leaves to cherish his memory his mother, brothers & several nieces and nephews and dear friends.

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 the office at 912.443.5191 or njones@savannahtech.edu.

The next class begins in March 2020.

###

#2019 | November 15, 2019
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

Savannah, GA – Savannah Technical College’s Advanced Aviation Maintenance training offers an opportunity for active-duty military personnel and veterans with aircraft maintainer experience to advance their careers in 15 weeks or less.

The advanced Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) training prepares students to take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) A&P Certification including written, oral, and practical examinations. With assistance from the Defense Community Economic Development Fund awarded earlier this year, the College has been able to offer A&P Certification testing at no cost to the students.

Using military tuition assistance, HOPE Grant and HOPE Career Grant, the only cost to these students would have been the three-part (written, oral, and practical) exam, which totals $1,080 each. By covering testing fees, the grant offers a cost-free pathway with flexible scheduling that limits the operational impact to military units and the financial impact for service members.

This summer, first cohort was in a condensed 10-week schedule for members of the 3^rd ID before they deployed. The College is currently offering three cohorts filled with aircraft maintainers and has tailored class schedules to work with their active-duty assignments.

“The $65,000 grant was originally written to support additional instructors and testing for 45 military-affiliated students,” said STC Dean of Aviation Tal Loos. “The College absorbed the additional instructor expense, so we could expand the grant for more students. We should have up to 60 students receiving assistance for testing fees to complete the grant’s funding.”

Military aircraft maintainers have the work experience and training, but often lack the certifications required to work in the civilian sector. Students must have 30 documented months of A&P work and FAA-approval/sign-off of that work experience to enroll in the advanced training program.

Students in the advanced class have an overall familiarity with aircraft to earn the FAA sign-off. “This training broadens their aircraft maintenance knowledge and gives them an understanding of the civil side of requirements and paperwork,” said Loos. “It fills in the holes of their knowledge with highlights, so they will successfully pass all four parts of the FAA A&P certification training.”

Aviation Ground Support Equipment Manager Angel Rivera is a member of the U.S. Army 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) enrolled in one of the cohorts that is receiving the benefit of 100%-covered testing fees thanks to the grant.

“We don’t get a lot of opportunities to do these kind of certifications, so when I heard about it, I wanted to take action,” said Rivera, who worked with leadership to bring 10 soldiers from his unit into this cohort. “This training will get these guys certified. The A&P license is good for life and good in the military,” said Rivera. “It is a great credential to have if you plan on working on aircraft, and you can use it in a couple of different fields as well.”

Rivera is already screening the next group of soldiers, who work on rotary-wing aircraft like Blackhawks and Chinooks. “We have guys with 10 years aviation experience that still haven’t had a chance to do this,” he said. “All of my guys are experienced, so there’s a great need for this training. I can get 12 in every class all year round in my unit.” The biggest challenge is scheduling to make sure they will be state-side for 15 weeks to attend the class. He also noted that additional grant funds would allow more soldiers to take advantage of the benefits, without the out-of-pocket testing fees.

The College worked with the 160^th to schedule the class around their duty schedule, so they could be in class two nights and one Saturday.  The other two cohorts this semester are also offered based on the military group’s schedule.

“This certification gives them promotion points now, but also helps them on the way out,” said Rivera. “It gives them something to fall back on, and provides valuable certification they can use on the outside. They can step out to find jobs all over the world working on aircraft, which helps the economy.”

According to Loos, there continues to be great demand for A&P certification. “The average age of workers is 53-70 and many are retiring,” said Loos. “Soon we will lose 50% or more of the aviation mechanic workforce.”

Certified aircraft mechanics are in high demand throughout the nation with a 5% increase in job openings between 2016 and 2026. In Georgia, however, that increase is projected to be 12%. With a median income of more than $60,000 per year, completers of this program who have the highly-sought-after FAA A&P certification, as well as the work ethic and soft skills will seamlessly transition into the civilian aviation workforce.

The Military Affairs Council of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the College, was awarded $65,000 in grant funding through the Defense Community Economic Development Fund to support expanded curriculum and to cover the cost of certification testing for military aviation mechanics earlier this year. The fund is administered by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Office of Workforce Development. This funding allows for the expansion of training to prepare military members to earn the FAA Mechanic’s Certificate with A&P rating.

The College’s Aviation Maintenance program, for those without the required FAA 30-month experience, runs two years. Enrollment is open for spring semester for students to start taking required general core courses for admission into a cohort in the fall. STC’s Aviation division has an in-field placement rate of 100% based on academic year 2018 graduates.

STC’s state-of-the-art Aviation Training Center is located at the Crossroads Campus. For information about the College’s Aviation programs, call 912.443.4094 or visit www.savannahtech.edu/AviationTechnology or www.savannahtech.edu/military-aviation-mechanic/.

The College has the highest military-affiliated enrollment in the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). One in four STC students is a veteran, active duty service member or a military dependent/spouse. For the past three years, the College has been ranked the top Best for Vets public technical and career college in the U.S. by Military Times.

###

#2017 | November 13, 2019

Aviation Technology Division:
912.443.4094 or aviation@savannahtech.edu www.savannahtech.edu/AviationTechnology

Media: Amy Shaffer, APR
ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH –Savannah Technical College’s Savannah Culinary Institute proudly offers Bistro Savoir, a pre-order sale of artisan breads and desserts for Thanksgiving. Pre-orders will be available through November 20, or when quantities are sold out at www.bistrosavoir.com.

Bistro Savoir features the finest quality ingredients that are locally sourced, milled and handmade by STC Baking & Pastry students enrolled in the Retail Production course this fall.

Artisan breads include pumpkin, apple honey walnut and zucchini muffins, dinner rolls (12), tart flambée, coffee cakes (apple or cherry) made with brioche dough, sourdough and Many Seeds German Bread. Popular flavored butters from previous sales (kalamata olive, honey and lemon herb) are back for the 2019 sale. Desserts include cookies (cowboy, oatmeal raisin, and chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons), pies (pumpkin, pecan, coconut cream, apple with streusel topping), and fresh fruit tarts. Cakes will be sold in six-inch or nine-inch sizes including dark/white chocolate mousse cake surrounded by almond sponge and raspberry, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and Charlotte Russe (raspberry Bavarian crème surrounded by lady fingers and topped with whipped cream and fresh berries. Proceeds from the sale benefit STC’s Culinary Arts Baking & Pastry program.

Orders will be available for pickup at the College’s Savannah campus on Tuesday, November 26 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m., and Wednesday, November 27 from 9 a.m. until noon. By request only, pickup will be available at the Crossroads, Liberty and Effingham Campuses on November 27 from 9 a.m. until noon. For a pick-up schedule, a complete list of items for sale and to place orders, visit www.bistrosavoir.com.

Savannah Tech’s baking and pastry program that 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.  Graduates are working as pastry chefs in the area’s finest restaurants and establishments, including Local 11 Ten, Le Café Gourmet, Savannah Yacht Club, and The Landings Club. There are 40 students are currently enrolled in the baking and pastry program.

With support from the Savannah Technical College Foundation, the College has purchased 7 West Bay Street as the new downtown location for an expansion of its Culinary Arts program that 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 application deadline for new students in spring semester 2020 is December 15. For more information about Culinary Arts at Savannah Tech visit: www.facebook.com/ChefJeanVendeville.

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.

###

#2015 | November 1, 2019

STC Foundation: Gail Eubanks
912.443.3022 or geubanks@savannahtech.edu

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