SAVANNAH, Ga. – Welding and Joining student Skylar Huggett has been selected as the 2017 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner for Savannah Technical College.

Huggett is a top-performing student in her program. “Skylar works above and beyond to complete required course assignments, while working a full-time job as a server most nights and weekends,” said STC Welding and Joining Department Head William Burns. “Skylar shows an aptitude for mastering welding techniques on the first try. She works well with others and demonstrates excellent communication skills to accomplish group projects and achieve goals in a timely manner. She has demonstrated professionalism, accepted constructive criticism, and exhibited excellent work ethics.”

GOAL honors outstanding students at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions. She 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.

Huggett has an associate of science degree from Georgia Highlands College. She has been on the dean’s list with a 4.0 since she started at Savannah Technical College in 2015. She is the president of STC’s student chapter of the American Welding Society and has been selected to represent STC at the Skills USA Welding Sculpture competition.

A career with unlimited potential, Welding and Joining is the backbone of manufacturing and leads the way during economic recovery. The Georgia Department of Labor notes welding and joining careers will increase by 15% or more over the next decade. The need for new welders hasn’t gone unnoticed by local employers. With proactive industry partners like JCB and Mitsubishi, STC has developed multiple internship tracks for new and current students.

Advisory Board Members for the Welding and Joining department such as Pipe Fitters Union (Local 188), Iron Workers Union (Local 709), CST Coverings (formally Temcor), Savannah Tank, LMI Aerospace, and CSX – also work closely with instructors for new and updated course offerings, shaping the program to fit the needs and expectations of local businesses.

Savannah Tech offers a diploma in welding and joining along with technical certificates of credit in a variety of techniques for welding. Welding and Joining Technology is offered at the Savannah campus, along with welding labs in Hinesville and Rincon, Ga. For more information about Welding and Joining, contact STC Industrial Technology Advisor Secene Dorsey at 912.443.5859 or ssdorsey@savannahtech.edu.

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#1730 | March 14, 2017

 

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

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

 

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College welcomed honored guests today for its Baking and Pastry academic exchange/educational partnership with the Academy of Toulouse.

“We welcome our new students for the next four weeks, along with their pastry chef instructors and college leadership from the Academy of Toulouse to Savannah,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “This partnership continues Savannah Technical College’s exceptional training for Baking and Pastry arts students. Chef Jean Vendeville, his staff and students have planned a unique immersion experience for our new students from France.”

STC’s Department Chair for Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts Chef Jean Vendeville described the partnership as a friendship and looks forward to working with the French students training at Savannah Technical College. “Our students had wonderful success when they studied in France last year,” said Vendeville. “We look forward to teaching these students and learning from them.”

This educational partnership began last fall when five Culinary Institute of Savannah students studied and worked at the Academy of Toulouse. Training for these students includes Baking & Pastry classes along with English as a Second Language classes at Savannah Technical College from March 6 – April 2.

“I am thrilled to learn of the natural synergy that has developed between the Savannah Technical College and Lycée des métiers Lautréamont, and I applaud the initiative of Chef Jean Vendeville and Proviseur Cyrille Courade,” said Consul-General of France in Atlanta Louis de Corail.  “I look forward to following the growth and development of this exchange program in the years to come, and I wish everyone involved the very best success.”

This visit is the fruit of a blossoming relationship that has transformed into a first-of-its-kind exchange program between a French and American technical school. In 2015, representatives from the Académie of Toulouse came to Georgia to explore an academic partnership with Atlanta Public Schools. Chef Vendeville, department head of the Culinary Institute at Savannah Technical College, attended some of the exchanges. After meeting the principal of Lycée des métiers Lautréamont, Cyrille Courade, the two realized the great potential of establishing a bilateral connection between their establishments that would benefit generations of chefs to come.

STC Baking & Pastry student Hailey Maurer was one of the five STC students that studied in France last fall. “While we were in France, we had the pleasure of meeting and working with both the amazing students and their passionate instructors,” said Maurer. “Together we forged not just a partnership between our two schools, but also a life-long friendship with their students. They made our experience unforgettable, and the best experience of my life; I can only hope to return the kindness, knowledge and passion they showed us.”

Academy of Toulouse student Charline Goutoule is excited to study in Savannah. “This is an enriching opportunity to learn another life style and customs, because Americans work differently compared to French,” Goutoule said. “Savannah Technical College’s faculty and students know things that we don’t.” She compares the educational exchange to learning to dance. “There are steps Americans know that I can’t learn in France, and I would like know how Americans work, if it’s more traditional or commercial.”

About the Savannah Technical College’s Culinary Institute of Savannah
Under the direction of the American Culinary Federation’s 2014 Chef Educator of the Year Jean Vendeville, Savannah Technical College offers associate degrees in Culinary Arts along with Baking and Pastry Arts. The Culinary Institute of Savannah has earned distinction as one of the top four culinary programs in the country according to the American Culinary Federation (ACF). Vendeville has assembled a top-notch team of faculty, who have earned national ACF certification under his leadership. For more information about STC Culinary Arts visit:www.facebook.com/ChefJeanVendeville.

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03/06/2017

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah Technical College has selected Dr. Al Cunningham as its Vice President for Academic Affairs. As Vice President, Dr. Cunningham will administer, plan and evaluate institutional services including supervision and leadership in activities of instruction personnel, institutional academic programs, in-service activities and budget related to operation of the department.

Dr. Cunningham returns to Savannah Technical College with a career of more than 25 years’ experience in leading and directing technical college, community college, university, business and occupational programs. He previously worked at Savannah Tech as Dean of General Studies and Campus Dean for Liberty Campus (2004 – 2012).

He was Vice President for Academic Affairs at Coastal Pines Technical College (formerly Altamaha Technical College before merger) from 2012 through 2016. Prior to his time at Savannah Tech, he had more than a decade of leadership positions where he successfully developed and implemented occupational and academic programs, negotiated intergovernmental agreements, managed annual divisional budgets, successfully marketed training program to state governmental agencies and local business enterprises.

Dr. Cunningham has an Ed.D. in Adult Education from the University of Georgia, an MBA in Management from Golden Gate University and a B.A. in Business Administration focusing on Management from St. Leo University where he was conferred summa cum laude.

He served more than 21 years in the U.S. Army and retired at the rank of Major, while commanding a military unit at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

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#1725 | January 20, 2017
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Chatham Apprentice Program now offers a new jockey truck operator safety training thanks to a partnership with Savannah Technical College’s Professional Continuing Education Department and Step-Up Savannah’s Chatham Apprentice Program.

The Chatham Apprentice Program helps unemployed and under-employed Chatham County residents find or create career paths that offer family supporting wages and opportunities for advancement. Participants in the program learn professionalism, teamwork, conflict resolution and other employability skills while receiving Jockey Truck training provided by Savannah Technical College.

The jockey truck operator safety course will provide training on control systems, vehicle inspection, basic control, backing, visibility, communication, and space management as well as offer hands-on practice on a TICO jockey truck.

The jockey truck will be available through February 27 at STC’s Savannah Campus (5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, 31405). STC’s Continuing Education Department will be scheduling additional sessions with employers that are interested in training their staff. To be added to the schedule, please contact continuinged@savannahtech.edu or call 912-443-3012.

STC’s Professional Continuing Education Department provides short-term classes in both traditional and online classroom settings. Courses cover a variety of skills and workforce development options that match local employer’s needs. For more details about other classes visit: www.savannahtech.edu.

For more information about CAP visit https://stepupsavannah.org/cap/. Step Up Savannah, Inc. engages all sectors of the community to improve the economic mobility and financial stability of families in Savannah, Chatham County. To learn more about Step Up Savannah, Inc. visit its website at www.stepupsavannah.org.

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#1724 | January 18, 2017

STC Economic Development
912.443.5341 or dpinckney@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College has been named a Gold-level Military Friendly® School Award recipient in the category of community colleges for 2017 by Victory Media.

New this year, Military Friendly® Awards showcase the most powerful and effective programs of more than 200 companies and 1,200 post-secondary schools that were designated as “Military Friendly®”. Of those designated, 154 employers and 541 schools have been recognized for excellence. Gold-level colleges score within 20% of the top ten institutions.

“All of our Military Friendly® award recipients set the standard for excellence,” said Daniel Nichols, Chief Product Officer of Victory Media and head of Military Friendly® development. “They offer exceptional examples of what it means not just to build a program that meets federal requirements, but one that serves the military and veteran community from classrooms to careers.”

Earlier this year, Savannah Tech was ranked first in the U.S. by Military Times as Best for Vets: Career & Technical Colleges 2017 rankings.

One in four STC students is a veteran, active duty service member or a military dependent/spouse. The College waives all general mandatory fees for active duty service members using military tuition assistance. In 2015, Savannah Tech opened a Veteran’s Service Center at the Savannah campus. Savannah Tech has the largest enrollment of military-affiliated students in the Technical College System of Georgia.

The College offers career fairs, workshops and grants for veterans and their family members. In 2016, the Freedom Fund was established to provide scholarship assistance for soldiers, veteran and spouses thanks to a generous donation. The needs-based fun supports those who serve by buying books and tools for active duty service members, paying registration fees each semester for military spouses (MyCAA) students and covering unpaid tuition and registration fees up to 100% for those with VA benefits not covering 100% education benefits.

Another scholarship that supports Savannah Tech’s military spouses is funded by The Landings Military Family Relief Fund. This scholarship fund provides tuition assistance to military spouses eligible for the MYCAA program, who have exhausted their benefits. The Landings Military Spouse Academic Assistance Fund awards a maximum of $2,000 annually for up to two years, for a total of $4,000 per student.

Savannah Tech’s Military Outreach Coordinator Jeff Ashmen coordinates a variety of initiatives enabling current and former military personnel, as well as their family members, to enroll in the college, graduate, and engage in careers with our local industries and businesses. Ashmen’s extensive background in the U.S. Army includes more than three decades of experience in key military positions, culminating as the 3rd Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major at Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

Victory Media, originator of the family of Military Friendly® employment, entrepreneurship and education resources for veterans and their families, published its special awards for 2017 Military Friendly® Schools and Employers at https://militaryfriendly.com. For more than a decade, Military Friendly® ratings have set the standard for companies and colleges demonstrating positive employment and education outcomes for veterans and their families.

For more information about military services or enrollment, visit www.savannahtech.edu/military or contact Ashmen (912.443.4155 or jashmen@savannahtech.edu). 

About Military Friendly® and Victory Media:

The Military Friendly® Employers and Military Friendly® Schools designation process includes extensive research and a data-driven survey of leading companies and colleges nationwide. The survey, methodology, criteria and weightings are developed with the assistance of an independent advisory council of educators and employers, and tested by EY based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. The survey is administered for free. Criteria for consideration and recipients of the designation can be found at: https://militaryfriendly.com. Founded in 2001, Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, entrepreneurial and education opportunities through its G.I. Jobs^®, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur^®, STEM Jobs^SM and Military Friendly^® brands.  Learn more about Victory Media at www.victorymedia.com.

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#1723 | December 21, 2016

Military Services: Jeff Ashmen
912.443.4155 or jashmen@savannahtech.edu

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

SAVANNAH – The Savannah Technical College Foundation announced it has raised the most money ever in private funds to support the College – $7.27 million – at its 13^th annual Opportunity Gala. The event honoring technology had more than 200 in attendance.

“Thank you to all who have supported Savannah Technical College – Where Excellence really does meet Opportunity,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “We thank you for believing in us with your financial support. We appreciate your continued support hiring our graduates.”

STC Board of Trustees Chairman Sam McCachern announced a total of $500,000 for new major gifts recently received by the College.

Dr. Kathy Love recognized campaign leadership including Jim LaHaise, Stratton Leopold, Howard Morrison, Donald Lovette, Dick Eckburg, Bob Jepson, Arthur Gignilliat and Arnold Tenenbaum. “We appreciate your leadership and insight to making our campaign a success,” said Love. “We pledge to continue to be worthy of your respect, good will and financial investment.”

The Campaign, “Where Excellence Meets Opportunity” showcased the College’s excellence in instruction through opportunities it provides students. The College offers opportunity based on accessible, valuable career education in more than 150 different programs. Its excellence has been earned through statewide and national recognition in many key areas, as the Technical College System of Georgia 2013 Technical College of the Year and as one of the top four TCSG colleges in 2014. STC faculty have also been recognized beyond state borders as leaders in their fields.

“In my opinion, Savannah Tech is probably the greatest asset this community has,” said Dick Eckburg, STC benefactor and one of the campaign’s volunteer chairmen. “People from all ages, all walks of life go to Savannah Tech. Not only do they learn skills, but they also learn the dignity of work. Graduates are helping to make our society a better place.”

The campaign focused on five key areas: precision manufacturing, health sciences, culinary arts/heritage tourism, technology and student support.

The campaign was led by the Savannah Technical College Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that raises funds to support Savannah Technical College.

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#1719 | Dec. 5, 2016
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College was ranked first in the U.S. by Military Times with the new rankings Best for Vets: Career & Technical Colleges 2017 rankings. The organization made up of Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times and Marine Corps Times focused on culture and curriculum that caters to military veterans when conducting and scoring the annual survey of schools that self-identify as career and technical colleges.

“I am so proud that Savannah Technical College has been recognized as the #1 Best for Vets technical college in the nation by Military Times,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “Our active duty military students, their family members, and our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country. I believe it is our responsibility to provide anything and everything they need as they pursue their higher education goals.” 

One in four STC students is a veteran, active duty service member or a military dependent/spouse. The College waives all general mandatory fees for active duty service members using military tuition assistance. In 2015, Savannah Tech opened a Veteran’s Service Center at the Savannah campus. Savannah Tech has the largest enrollment of military-affiliated students in the Technical College System of Georgia.

Just this week, Savannah Technical College hosted a Veterans Career Fair in partnership with the Georgia Department of Labor. This annual career fair offers local companies the opportunity to meet with veterans and their families about job openings.

Other services Savannah Tech offers for veterans include workshops and grants. In 2016, the Freedom Fund was established to provide scholarship assistance for soldiers, veteran and spouses thanks to a generous donation. The needs-based fun supports those who serve by buying books and tools for active duty service members, paying registration fees each semester for military spouses (MyCAA) students and covering unpaid tuition and registration fees up to 100% for those with VA benefits not covering 100% education benefits. 

Another scholarship that supports Savannah Tech’s military spouses is funded by The Landings Military Family Relief Fund. This scholarship fund provides tuition assistance to military spouses eligible for the MYCAA program, who have exhausted their benefits. The Landings Military Spouse Academic Assistance Fund awards a maximum of $2,000 annually for up to two years, for a total of $4,000 per student.

Savannah Tech’s Military Outreach Coordinator Jeff Ashmen coordinates a variety of initiatives enabling current and former military personnel, as well as their family members, to enroll in the college, graduate, and engage in careers with our local industries and businesses. Ashmen’s extensive background in the U.S. Army includes more than three decades of experience in key military positions, culminating as the 3rd Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major at Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

“We continue to look for ways to support military-affiliated students,” said STC Military Outreach Coordinator Jeff Ashmen. Savannah Technical College offers programs that help area veterans get the technical skills and certifications employers are looking for quickly. “Savannah Technical College has a 99 percent job placement rate overall and 89% placement in field, so we really have our fingers on the pulse of what employers are looking for in a trained workforce,” Ashmen said.

Career and technical colleges respond to the same Best for Vets: Colleges survey as two-year institutions on up, a highly respected analysis of a college’s complete offerings for veterans. As with all of the Best for Vets rankings, Best for Vets: Career & Technical Colleges is an editorially independent news project that evaluates the many factors that make an institution a good fit for military veterans.

For the full Best for Vets: Career & Technical Colleges 2017 rankings, go to: http://bestforvets.militarytimes.com/colleges/career-technical-colleges/2017.

Military Times’ Best for Vets survey-based rankings include Colleges, Career & Technical Colleges, Business Schools, Franchises, Employers and Law Enforcement.

For more information about military services or enrollment, visit www.savannahtech.edu/military or contact Ashmen (912.443.4155 or jashmen@savannahtech.edu).

About Military Times

The Military Times digital platforms and newsweeklies are the trusted source for independent news and information for service members and their families. The military community relies on Air Force Times, Army Times, Marine Corps Times, and Navy Times for reporting on everything important to their lives, including pay, benefits, finance, education, health care, recreational resources, retirement, promotions, product reviews, and entertainment. Military Times is published by Sightline Media Group. To learn more, visit www.militarytimes.com.

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#1715 | November 11, 2016
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College is now accepting entries for the 23^rd annual Manufacturing Appreciation Week (MAW) student design competition. The competition is open to all elementary, middle and high school students in Georgia.

The MAW Student Design Contest is held annually in conjunction with Manufacturers’ Appreciation Week and is designed to promote awareness of the important role manufacturing plays in the economy of the State of Georgia for elementary to high school students statewide.

Manufacturing is the process of creating physical objects that will be used by someone or used to build something else. Manufacturing provides jobs for approximately 384,800 Georgians. The more than 9,456 manufacturing facilities in Georgia are devoted to making products as diverse as textiles to automotive parts. Students should consider products made in their hometowns, counties or statewide to include Georgia products in their designs to illustrate the role that manufacturing plays in our community.

The artwork submitted to Savannah Tech will be entered in the statewide competition where three winners will be chosen in each of the groups. The first, second, third place and honorable mention in each age category will be honored at the Governor’s Awards Luncheon on April 27, 2017 at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta, Ga. The first-place winners receive monetary scholarships for $500. The second-place winners receive $300, the third place winners receive $100 and honorable mention receives $50. The top entries will be displayed at the luncheon.

Entries must comply with the guidelines established by the Technical College System of Georgia. Art may be computer-generated or created with paint, watercolors, pencils, markers, crayons, charcoal, etc. but should be completely dry before shipping/delivery. Size for artwork is 11” by 17.”  All work must be flat and 3-D objects cannot be glued or pasted to submissions. Please note that designs will not be returned to contestants.

Entries must be labeled on the back, upper-right corner of each submission with the student’s name, school, school phone number and the words, “Savannah Technical College.”

Artwork must be received by the STC Marketing and Communications Office at the Savannah Campus by noon on Friday, January 13, 2017 for consideration. Mail or deliver entries to: Savannah Technical College, 5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, GA 31405, Attention Office of Marketing and Communications. Entries may also be delivered by the same deadline to the Effingham Campus (2890 Hwy 21 South, Rincon, GA 31326) or Liberty Campus (100 Technology Drive, Hinesville, GA 31313).

For more information contact STC Director of Communications Amy Shaffer at 912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu.

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#1714 | November 9, 2016
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – The Savannah Technical College Foundation Board of Trustees earned the designation of Technical College Foundation Association (TCFA) Role Model Foundation Board Certification at TCSG’s Fall Leadership Conference earlier this month.

“Congratulations to Savannah Technical College Foundation’s Board of Trustees for earning Role Model Board status,” said STC President Dr. Kathy S. Love. “This level of excellence reflects the Foundation’s commitment to engagement, leadership, stewardship and best practices. I am proud that our Trustees strive to be exemplary in all that they do to support the work of Savannah Technical College and the communities we serve.”

The TCFA Role Model Foundation Board Certification is an annual certification process sponsored by the TCFA of Georgia, a membership organization that represents the 25 Technical College System of Georgia foundations and more than 600 trustees statewide.

The TCFA Delegate Council says it presents this award to encourage and recognize foundation boards that engage in outstanding business practices and demonstrate the highest level of commitment.

In order to obtain the certification, not only does the board as a whole have to meet certain requirements, but each individual board member must meet specific requirements.

To be eligible to receive the certification a foundation must engage in best practices in nonprofit governance, board management, and operations; have policies in place to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, especially in financial matters; be led by a Board of Trustees whose members are actively engaged in the foundation’s development activities; and support the professional development and state-level participation of their Trustees, Executive Director and college advancement personnel.

All trustees must demonstrate active engagement in the work of the board through regular attendance at board and committee meetings and college and foundation events, participation in leadership activities and personal professional development, and fundraising on behalf of the board.

Founded in 1984, the Savannah Technical College Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization that exists to raise and disburse funds to support the College’s efforts to enhance learning, workforce training and economic development in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties. The STC Foundation is in the midst of a $10 Million capital campaign. The campaign is focused on five key areas: precision manufacturing, health sciences, culinary arts and heritage tourism, technology and student support.

 

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SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College Professional Continuing Education Division has partnered with the World Instructor Training School (W.I.T.S) to offer a Personal Trainer Certification Course. Participants in this course will receive a combination of lecture and hands-on practical training. Key topics for the course include exercise physiology, biomechanics, fitness testing, equipment usage, and more.

The course also counts as approved continuing education credits for massage therapists, athletic trainers and occupational therapists. In order to receive this national certificate, students must successfully pass the course, as well as complete a 30-hour internship and obtain CPR and AED certification.

The Personal Trainer Certification Course will run for eight weeks on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning October 11 at the college’s Crossroads Campus (190 Crossroads Parkway, Savannah, 31407).  Cost for the class is $749. For more details visit: www.savannahtech.edu/personal-trainer-certification-program or call 912-443-3012.

The Professional Continuing Education Department provides short-term classes in both the traditional and online classroom setting. Courses cover a variety of skills and workforce development options that match local employer’s needs.

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#1711 | September 29, 2016
Course Registration: 912.443.3012
Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912-443-5512 or ashaffer@savananhtech.edu