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The Educational and Career Partnership Program and Special Populations Program at Heart of Georgia Technical College recently hosted a Student/Industry Forum comprised of industry representatives and non-traditional students from HGTC, as well as two non-traditional speakers.  Eighth and ninth grade students, from area high schools, heard about the importance of finishing school, job expectations and salaries, education requirements, and work ethics.  Industry representatives were:  Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Alterra Bioenergy, Acuity Brands Lighting, BASF Catalysts LLC, Mohawk, Fred’s Distribution Center, and Golden Corral.   Heart of Georgia Technical College representatives were:  John Wong K (Licensed Practical Nursing program), Mandy Thigpen (Diesel program), Duane Floyd (Respiratory  program), and Jillyn Baggett (Diesel program instructor).  Other special speakers were Sgt. Champion (Dublin Police Department, Traffic/HEAT Unit) and Debbie Fountain (Dublin Police Department).   

As part of the Leadership Dublin Laurens Class of 2007-2008 Education Program on November 20, the class toured both the Dublin Center and Heart of Georgia Technical College and heard from representatives of all three local school systems. The class is pictured listening to HGTC pre-K teacher Misty Smith talk about her program and the early childhood care and education program offered at Heart of Georgia Tech.

The Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) organization at Heart of Georgia Technical College recently held election of officers for 2007-2008.  PBL is a national organization for business and information technology students.  It provides opportunities to develop vocational competencies for business occupations and promotes a sense of civic and personal responsibility.  Pictured (l-r):  Belinda Gilbert, PBL advisor; Teresa Dean, president (Bleckley County); Thomas Hightower, parliamentarian (Laurens County); Eddie Mathis, vice president (Wheeler County); Jill Horne, reporter (Dodge County); Tamara Jackson, secretary (Washington County); Beth Duggins, PBL advisor.

The Student Government Association at Heart of Georgia Technical College recently held election of officers.   The news officers for the 2007-2008 year are pictured (l-r):  Stephen Allen, president (Bleckley County); Shelanda Cray, secretary (Laurens County); Joy Lewis, parliamentarian (Laurens County); Matthew Ulery, historian (Laurens County); and Jermaine Burrell, vice president (Laurens). 

HGTC Foundation TOOLS Program set for December 7

        The Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation will award tools to 11 Heart of Georgia Tech students on Friday, December 7, 2007.

        The program is called TOOLS, Tools for Outstanding Occupational Leadership Students. This year marks the ninth awards program.

       TOOLS is made possible by the Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation, the Morris State Bank, and the Louie & Evelyn Livingston Family Foundation.

        The Heart of Georgia Tech Foundation is giving back to the community by preparing students to enter the workforce. Student recipients range from respiratory therapists to diesel equipment mechanics. “What potential employees need to enter the workforce varies,” said Laurie Wicker, executive director of the HGTC Foundation. “So the tools awarded can range from state licensing fees to physical tools such as a welding torch.”

        The recipients for 2007 are Latonia Brantley, early childhood care and education; Phoenix Davis, industrial systems; Laise Ellington, respiratory therapy; Jackie Monroe Mullis, air conditioning technology; Laurie Renee Nairn, accounting; Jason Saverslak, machine tool technology; Derrick K. Shepherd, respiratory therapy; Terrance Shields, air conditioning technology; Derek Sutton, diesel equipment technology; Eddie Swint, air conditioning technology; Julian M. Thigpin III, respiratory therapy.

The Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center of Heart of Georgia Technical College recently held a Halloween Costume Contest.  Winners were awarded small prizes.   Day and evening winners were:  Most original – Nikole Lawson (day) Pink Fairy; Kandi Purvis (evening) Candy Corn.  Most Funny:  Harley Lake (day) Devilish Dawg Fan; Betty Van de Mark (evening) Red Hat Lady.  Best Overall:  Krystal Howell (day) Nurse; Paulette Bennett (evening) Cowgirl.  Most Unique Employee:  Noelle McCoy, violinist.

Heart of Georgia Technical College to host Annual Festival of Trees

Heart of Georgia Technical College in Dublin will host the annual Festival of Trees during the holiday season.  Fifty trees will be decorated and special events will be held in conjunction with the festival.

“Jingle Bell Jam Day” will be held on December 1, 10 am – 1 pm.  On this day, the public is invited to come out and view the trees and enjoy entertainment and refreshments.  Mrs. Claus and the elves will be on hand reading stories to children and presenting a coloring book and crayons to all children who attend.  Gingerbread House Decorating will begin at 10:30 am for children ages 5 – 10.  Only 125 non-edible gingerbread houses will be available.  Santa will be arriving at 11 am to ride the Santa Train with visitors.  The entertainment schedule is as follows: 

              Fancy Dancer Performers, 10:00 – 10:30 am

              South Dodge Washboard Band, 10:30 – 11:00 am

              Wilkinson County Middle School FCA Praise Dancers

                            & Choir, 11:05 – 11:30 am

              Bedazzled Dancers, 11:30 – 12:00 noon

              Trinity Christian School Elementary Honor Choir and

                            High School Ensemble, 12:00 – 12:30 pm

              The Hummingbirds, 12:30 – 1:00 pm

December 10, 11, and 13, from 6 – 8 pm, Liberty Baptist Church will be presenting a Live Nativity.  The HGTC Porter Center will be open for public viewing of the trees and hot chocolate will be served to visitors during the hours of the Live Nativity.

“Heart of Georgia Tech is very excited about this year’s Festival of Trees event.  With the increase in tree sponsors, our campus will be more festive than ever.  The public is invited to come out and enjoy viewing the trees and take part in the activities associated with the festival,” commented Jenny Shuman, marketing coordinator.

Tree sponsors are:  Advocates for Alzheimer’s Care – The Lighthouse, Angie’s Nail Salon, Area Residence for Kids, Atlantic South Bank, The Bead Basket, Bank of Dudley, Bella Flowers and Gifts, Caring Companions, Citizens Bank of Laurens County, Citizens of Georgia Power, City of Dublin, Coca Cola Bottling Company, Courier Herald Publishing, Cracker Barrel, Dublin Junior League, Dublin-Laurens Chamber of Commerce, Dublin-Laurens Habitat for Humanity, Dublin Rotary Club, Dublinair Health Care & Rehab, Duncan Tire Company, Easter Seals Middle Georgia, Elite MRI of Laurens, Farmers Furniture, Farmers State Bank, First Laurens Bank, Garrett Industries Fence Company, Georgia Federal Credit Union, Heart of Georgia Technical College, Heart of Georgia Technical College Alumni, Heart of Georgia RESA WIA Programs, Home Depot, Home Instead Senior Care, LaQuinta Inn & Suites, Liberty Baptist Church, Little Ocmulgee EMC, Medical Center, LLP, Mohawk/Communities in Schools, Morris State Bank, Oconee EMC, Parker Aerospace, Pitts Toyota Scion, Rockwell Automation, Serenity Hospice, Sheridan, Southern Care, Susie Dasher Elementary, Thigpen, Jones, Seaton, Williamson’s Bakery, WINGS, and YKK AP America.

Sponsors of the Festival of Trees event are the Heart of Georgia Technical College Marketing Department and the Heart of Georgia Technical College Student Government Association.  Friends of the Festival are Coca Cola Bottling Company, The Courier Herald Publishing, Cracker Barrel, Dublin Rotary Club, Liberty Baptist Church, Kroger, Caring Companions, and Advocates for Alzheimer’s Care – The Lighthouse.

Trees are on display November 21 – December 21, during normal business hours, in the DuBose Porter Center located on the Heart of Georgia Tech main campus in Dublin.  All events associated with the Festival of Trees are free and open to the public.  For more information, call 478-296-6117. 

    Phil Dowd (L), managing director Parker Hannifin Corporation, donates $1,000 to the Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation Annual Fund. Ed Touchberry (C), president HGTC Foundation, accepts the check, as Wendy Fennell (R), human resources team leader Parker Hannifin Corporation, looks on.         

     The Heart of Georgia Technical College National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) recently recognized Beth Smith from Dodge County and Edna Wilson from Wheeler County.  Ms. Smith and Ms. Wilson are enrolled in the Early Childhood Education Program at the Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center.

     The National Technical Honor Society is an honor organization for outstanding students enrolled in occupational, vocational, or technical programs. The purpose is to promote service, leadership, honesty, career development, and skilled workmanship; to reward student achievement; to encourage and assist students in educational and career goal setting; to promote a stronger linkage between local technical institutions and business and industry; and to promote the image of technical education in America.

     Candidates for NTHS membership are students who have demonstrated scholastic achievement, skill development, good character, leadership, honesty, and responsibility. Membership is open to students from all diploma and degree programs. Students may be nominated for membership based on the following criteria: a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater, a minimum of 24 credit hours completed in a diploma or degree program, and demonstrated qualities such as dependability, worthy character, good mentality, credible achievement, and a commendable attitude.  Pictured:  Beth Smith, Edna Wilson, Mary Bond (instructor), and Howard Abney (HGTC director).

Night classes at HGTC helped graduate excel

              When Jennifer Wilkins decided to return to college, she chose Heart of Georgia Technical College because her first experience there had served her career well. A 1999 graduate of Dublin High School, Wilkins first attended HGTC after graduation and earned a Diploma in Microcomputer Specialist while working. “I chose HGTC because I knew they had a good computer program. The second time I chose HGTC because I found out they had a degree program that I could take that pertained to banking and I had such a good experience the first time,” says Wilkins.

              The second time Wilkins attended HGTC, she earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Allied Business Technology-Banking. She also received a Technical Certificate of Credit-Certified Customer Service Specialist. While at HGTC, she was a member of the National Vocational Technical Honor Society, was an Honor Graduate and received a Certificate of Achievement for maintaining a 4.0 GPA while earning her degree. She attended night classes while working during the day. This GPA earned Wilkins a $1000 community scholarship to DeVry University per semester and received 76 credit hours toward her Bachelor Degree in Technical Management with Finance as her specialty. The total credit hours needed for this degree is 122, so she only needs 46 additional hours to complete her Bachelor’s degree. Velma Albert, Middle Georgia Advisor for DeVry University has been in contact with Wilkins for months, working toward her enrollment and receipt of the scholarship, “We are excited to have Jennifer continue her education at DeVry University and look forward to her building on the foundation she received at Heart of Georgia Technical College.”

              Wilkins currently works as an Administrative Assistant at the Bank of Dudley where her responsibilities include typing loans and doing closings of loans along with other tasks including customer service. Her position offers her a variety of activities in assisting customers. Clift Crews, Senior Vice President, has been pleased with Jennifer’s performance and education, “The education Jennifer received at HGTC gave her the skills to be more efficient and increased her level of production.”

              Wilkins will begin courses with DeVry University in January taking online classes, “I hope through hard work, school, and experience I will become a loan officer.” She has been given many opportunities because of her education, including being part of a team who went to Chicago to help develop a new teller system. “This experience was made possible because I had continued my education,” says Wilkins.

              At HGTC, Wilkins attended night classes where she found the support she needed, “The teachers that teach at night understand how hard it is to work all day and then come to class because a lot of them did the same thing when they were in school, and some of them worked during the day and taught at night. At HGTC, you learn skills that can be used everyday on the job. One thing I think is really good is that they have an ethics grade. This is a grade you get based on work performance, punctually, and other qualities that employers look for. I have been able to use all the skills that I have learned at HGTC in my daily tasks.”        

Students in the Air Conditioning Program at Heart of Georgia Technical College recently took a field trip to the new Livingston Hall building on the HGTC campus.  While there, they observed mechanical equipment, chillers, air conditioning equipment, duct work, and electrical equipment.  Pictured kneeling (l-r): Robert Smith (Laurens), Monterrio McCloud (Laurens), Tommie Burns (Dodge), Steven Lord (Bibb), Brad Williams (Wheeler), Danny Spivey (Wilkinson), Kyle West (Bleckley).  Standing (l-r):  James Dean (Bleckley), Jackie M. Mullis (Laurens), William Grey (Laurens), Corey Dudley (Laurens), Xaiver Bennett (Laurens), Reginald Edmond (Laurens), Myrio Whitten (Laurens), and Gil Claxton (Laurens). 

The Heart of Georgia Technical College nursing class of March 2008, recently held a capping ceremony. Pictured are front row (l-r):  Tracey Edwards (Laurens), Amanda Lasher (Telfair), Monica Morris (Wheeler), Robyne Taylor (Johnson), Sandra Pittman (Laurens), Audrey Branham (Johnson).  Back row (l-r): Ashley Coup (Laurens), Brandi Bryant (Wheeler), Jennifer Thornton (Wheeler), Sylvia Brantley (Laurens), Tangie Bostic (Treutlen), Mei Chen (Laurens), and Deb Thomsen, instructor.