Hinnant honored by AWS with Georgia Section Educator Award
ATLANTA, GA. – The American Welding Society (AWS) Atlanta Section representing the state of Georgia selected Savannah Technical College Welding & Joining Department Head Jonathan Hinnant for the Howard E. Adkins Georgia Section Educator Award in 2024. He was honored in recognition of his quality of instruction and devotion to the growth of knowledge and skills of his students in the field of welding.
“It is an honor to work with and have nominated Jonathan, who goes above and beyond for his students and the welding industry,” said AWS Atlanta Section Chairman Robert Trudelle. “He promotes and encourages students’ growth in the field of welding through involvement in welding competitions, career day events with local industry, guest speakers, and continued involvement with industry leaders to improve the effectiveness of the welding program at Savannah Technical College.” Hinnant is the advisor to the AWS Savannah Student Chapter at Savannah Technical College.
He was selected for this award during the annual AWS District Conference. The Howard E. Adkins award is sponsored by Mrs. Wilma Adkins and family and is given as a means of recognizing high school, trade school, technical institute or community college instructors whose teaching activities are considered to have advanced the knowledge of welding to students in their respective schools.
Prior to being appointed department head for Welding & Joining two years ago, Hinnant was a welding instructor through the College’s economic development training program. He has two years of industry experience fabricating structures and producing weldments on different metal alloys. He was a squad leader for the U.S. Army for eight years, training more than 600 recruits with basic skills and knowledge before progressing to other military units. He also assessed training needs and evaluated training effectiveness for his platoon/team. He is a STC graduate with a Welding & Joining diploma.
Welding & Joining Technology training prepares students for careers in all types of welding including shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, gas tungsten arc and flux cored arc. Graduates master all types of welding with a degree or diploma or may take short-term technical certificates of credit to focus on specific types of welding. Welding and Joining Technology is offered at the Savannah and Effingham campuses, along with welding labs in Hinesville and Richmond Hill, Ga. Welding diploma graduates have had a 100% placement in field for the past four academic years (AY19-22).
For more information about Welding and Joining, contact STC Industrial Technology Advisor at 912.443.5859 or landerson@savannahtech.edu.
About American Welding Society
Founded in 1919, the American Welding Society is a nonprofit organization with a global mission: to advance the science, technology, and application of welding and allied joining and cutting processes worldwide, including brazing, soldering, and thermal spraying.
By fostering knowledge, embracing change, and providing real-world opportunities through scholarships, fellowships, and workforce development, AWS provides the tools to help members succeed—and to inspire future generations of welding professionals. The AWS Foundation awards over $2 million annually for education and training in welding and related fields.
#2436 | March 5, 2024
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.