Graduation seals career training for Savannah Tech Auto Collision Repair student

SAVANNAH – More than 375 Savannah Technical College degree and diploma students along with GED recipients will walk across the stage at the Johnny Mercer Theatre in the Savannah Civic Center for the college’s graduation ceremony at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, June 23 at the Johnny Mercer Theatre.

For Michael Thompson, who will be graduating with his diploma in Automotive Collision Repair, this year is the culmination of a journey that began in the 1980s when he first salvaged parts for a car damaged in an accident. He did such a careful job rebuilding his old Buick that when he took the car in to be painted, the shop owner suggested he might have a real future in collision repair and encouraged him to pursue it.

But Michael’s family had been in the construction business for many years. He and his brothers were second-generation in a well-respected local firm. Then in 2012, after years of cyclical layoffs and down times in construction, he began to think seriously about turning his longtime passion of auto bodywork into his livelihood. He later enrolled at Savannah Technical College and never looked back.

“Michael was an outstanding student – one of the best we’ve had in our program,” said STC’s Automotive Collision Repair Department Head Keith Padgett. “Because he was so knowledgeable and picked things up so quickly, other students often sought his assistance. He will be very successful.”

Michael has just opened M&M Paint and Body on East Gwinnett Street – a small shop, located in a non-descript building on the east side of Savannah. According to Michael, business is good and growing every day.

“I found that I enjoyed Auto Collision Repair courses and did really well – much better than when I was in school as a young man,” he said.

Savannah Technical College offers a diploma in Auto Collision Repair, as well as technical certificates of credit for auto collision repair and automotive refinishing. For more information about this and other Industrial Technology programs, contact Seceney Dorsey at sdorsey@savannahtech.edu.

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#1542 | June 19, 2015

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) is the premier provider of career-ready technical education in Coastal Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of nearly 150 market-driven programs, preparing students for high-demand careers including Aviation Technology, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation & Robotics, Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Public Services and more. With campuses in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, Savannah Tech serves more than 13,000 credit and non-credit students with a variety of pathways to success, including dual enrollment programs for high school students and specialized support services for military veterans and their families. Beyond academics, Savannah Tech is an economic and community development partner, collaborating with industry leaders to provide customized training programs, assessment services, and continuing education opportunities. For more information, visit www.savannahtech.edu.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Savannah Technical College complies with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The TCSG State Board prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status (“protected status”). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any TCSG program or activity because of the individual’s protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual’s protected status, except the preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.