Savannah elementary student wins first in state design contest

ATLANTA – Mina Smith, a fourth grader from Savannah, Ga., was honored in Atlanta today for her artwork supporting Georgia’s manufacturing industry.

Smith took first place in her division (grades K-5) of the 2014 Manufacturing Appreciation Week (MAW) student design contest. She received a $500 scholarship check at the MAW Governor’s Awards Luncheon held at the Georgia International Convention Center. Last year she won second place in her division.

“These winners are the best and the brightest, and our future depends on them and their understanding of the creative process,” said Larry Callahan, CEO of Pattillo Industrial Real Estate, as the awards were being presented.

Students from around the state submitted design entries featuring Georgia manufacturers and their products. Winners were named for grades 9-12, 6-8, and K-5.

During the ceremonies, Gov. Deal named Georgia’s 2014 Manufacturers of the Year: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation in Savannah and Brunswick in the large manufacturer category (more than 500 employees); Hitachi Automotive Systems Americas in Monroe in the medium manufacturer category (150-500 employees); and Tucker’s ddFoodSolutions in the small manufacturer category (fewer than 150 employees).

Co-hosted by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the awards luncheon is the highlight of MAW, celebrated this year April 14-18. This is the 20th year celebrating Manufacturing Appreciation Week in Georgia.

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#1438 | April 17, 2014
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

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.