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Education and a Positive Attitude
For Daphne Williams, each day is a gift and she is determined to make the best of it. In her early twenties, Williams suffered kidney failure as a result of high blood pressure. Instead of giving up, Williams committed herself to pursuing an education and providing for her young daughter.
Williams enrolled in Heart of Georgia Technical College in 1995 where she studied nursing and became a LPN. However, as she worked in the medical field, her fragile immune system could not fight the illness she was often exposed to. Her education was not wasted, though, “It came in handy when my grandparents were sick. I was able to help them and use my skills,” says Williams.
After realizing the medical field would be a difficult place for her to work, Williams decided to enroll again at HGTC in the Early Childhood Program. “Even as a young girl, I would keep children a lot. I’ve always loved kids. I worked as a nanny for two years and loved it, so I thought this would be a good fit,” says Williams.
Although Williams takes dialysis nightly, she does not let her illness interfere with her studies. Gail Brooks, Early Childhood Education Program Chair, says, “Daphne is one of the most hard-working students I have taught. She is a very creative, conscientious, dedicated, and patient person. She has a genuine love for children and others. She will be a great asset to any childcare center, pre-k or as a paraprofessional in a school system.”
Williams works at the college in the after-school program and is interning at Kids’ Kingdom Daycare. This experience is preparing her well for her future goals. She would like to work in a daycare setting where she can help children with the education she has received at HGTC, “It is an excellent school and program. I would advise anybody to come to school here. I enjoy the hands-on activities and Mrs. Brooks really gets into teaching.” |
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Discipline, Determination and Skills Equal Success
At first look, Amelia Clark looks more like a model than a police officer. The beautiful nineteen year old currently works as a Correctional Officer at Bleckley Probation Detention Center.
A former student of Dublin High School and GED graduate of Heart of Georgia Technical College, Clark is a mature young woman with a good head on her shoulders. She began taking courses in the Criminal Justice program at HGTC in the fall of 2004. She goes to school while holding down a full-time job and staying in the National Technical Honor Society.
Clark developed her love for criminal justice from her grandfather and father. Her grandfather worked with the Georgia State Patrol and also with her father in a private detective business. She grew up hearing about the business and was hooked.
Criminal Justice Instructor Kevin Corbin says of Clark, “She knows what she wants to do. She entered a field that is not for everybody, but she manages very well. She has the discipline of a much older person and the focus and personality to make it happen.”
The program prepares graduates for the adult or juvenile correctional field. “Agencies are looking all the time. Our program qualifies graduates for positions with local police agencies and some state law enforcement. Internships help students decide if this is the right field for them. Many interns are chosen for employment by the agency they intern with,” says Corbin.
Clark has more education in mind once she graduates from HGTC. She would like to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. “The great thing about my education at HGTC is not only what I’m learning, but I can continue to work in a skilled job while I finish my education,” says Clark.
Local Family Day Care Home Named Home of Distinction
Barbara J. Martin has successfully participated in the Homes of Quality Program, earning Home of Distinction Accreditation. The Homes of Quality Program is a voluntary designation to recognize Family Child Care and Group Child Care providers, who provide a rich, interactive learning environment for children.
“Congratulations Barbara Martin, Family Day Care Home provider for earning the Home of Distinction certificate,” said Bright from the Start’s Commissioner, Marsha H. Moore. “The certificate means that the provider has demonstrated the ability to protect children’s health and safety, to build positive relationships and to provide stimulating opportunities for children to learn from their experiences.”
Child care providers participate in training sessions specifically designed to address the learning needs of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. These training sessions were developed using one of the most stringent internationally recognized evaluation instruments in the country, the Family Day Care Rating Scales instrument to help child care providers expand their skills in four primary areas related to early learning: Cognitive/Language: Physical/Motor; Social/Emotional and Self-Help Skills.
Martin’s Day Care, Bows and Bowties, was started in her home and will soon be relocated to accommodate more children. She currently has twelve on her waiting list. The business also has a new name, KIDS Kingdom, which stands for Knowledge, Integrity, Diversity and Satisfaction.
Martin received her education in Early Childhood Education from Heart of Georgia Technical College after leaving a promising career in retail store management to pursue her dream of working with young children. She was one of the first two graduates of the program. She had graduated from Dublin High School 30 years before going to college.
While at HGTC, Martin was a member of the National Technical Honor Society, selected for the President’s List and was nominated for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL).
Since graduation, Martin says, “Everything has fallen into place, the new building, the staff, everything.” HGTC has been helpful in getting the business going. Interns from the college work with Martin, keeping her costs down and enabling students to fulfill course requirements.
Student members of the Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) organization at Heart of Georgia Technical College recently collected pet food. Over 1000 pounds of food was delivered to the local Humane Society. Pictured: Dennis Sikes, Angela Moore, David Cooke (club advisor), Yolanda Kratz, and Winston Bolen.
Scholarships Awarded at Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center
Eleven Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center Students have received the Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center Technology Fee Scholarship from the Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation for summer quarter.
Those receiving the award are Gingerlee L. Spires of Eastman, Shelia M. Tucker of Scotland, Pearl Moye of Alamo, Kishana Collins of Alamo, Keyona Ellis of McRae, Tameka Hudson of McRae, Brenda J. Anderson of Alamo, Mathew Reynolds Sr. of McRae, Pashion A. Williams of Glenwood, Ashley Jordan of McRae, and Rosa Woodard of McRae.
The Technology Fee Scholarship is awarded quarterly to students enrolled in a program of study at Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center (LOIC) of the Heart of Georgia Technical College. The scholarship is awarded to students who are in a good academic standing with the college. The scholarship is also based on financial need and the amount of funds available for the award.
The HGTC Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization. If you would like to make a donation to support the technology fee scholarship, please contact Laurie Wicker at 478-274-7878 or 478-274-7627, or visit the Foundation website at www.heartofgatech.org.
HGTC’s Peters named Ogeechee Tech interim
VP Crumpton assumes HGTC duties
By NATALIE DAVIS
The Courier Herald
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Dr. Randall Peters has been appointed interim president at Ogeechee Technical College, and Beth Crumpton will take over his duties at Heart of Georgia Tech in his absence. Peters was named to the temporary post last month after he was contacted by state Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Michael Vollmer about the move. “I instantly agreed,” said Peters of his conversation with Vollmer. Although he does not know an official time frame for the hiring process, Peters estimates he will be in Statesboro for about four months before a new president for the college can be named. In the meantime, HGTC Executive Vice President Beth Crumpton will serve as the Dublin college’s acting president. Crumpton, who holds degrees from Georgia College and Troy State University, served as vice president of administration for 18 years before being named the college’s executive vice president in March 2005. She has worked at HGTC since 1984. With fall quarter set to begin soon and a number of projects on tap at HGTC, Crumpton said plans will continue as projected even with the temporary shifts in positions. “During the absence of Dr. Peters, Heart of Georgia will continue to move forward,” she said. The first of HGTC’s new projects on the horizon is the opening of the new pre-k and early childhood education center in the Stewart Building. Thursday will mark students’ first official day in the new facility. Also, construction under way on the new allied health building, slated for completion sometime at the end of 2008. The facility will feature an 8,000 square foot fully functional library and will pave the way for the college to offer a number of new programs. “That will open many, many new doors for Heart of Georgia Tech,” said Crumpton. She added that Peters’ temporary move to Statesboro will not cause any delay time in the projects and that construction is on target so far. “Our construction projects are still on course and they will continue to move forward.” Crumpton said the college will also continue with plans to push for more dual enrollment students through area high schools, as well as new programs to offer those within HGTC’s service area. “We’re trying to bring new programs to the table,” she said. This is not the first time Peters has served as interim during a search for a president. Last year, he was appointed interim at Houston County’s Middle Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins until a permanent replacement could be named. Peters said these types of moves allow him to gain insight into other colleges in hopes of bringing useful information back to Dublin. “I get to go look at different approaches and how other schools over time do business,” he said. He added that Ogeechee and HGTC have fairly similar demographic makeups in a number of ways. Although the heart of the college’s service area — Statesboro — is the home of Georgia Southern University and its more than 12,000 students, it also includes the mostly rural areas of Evans and Screven counties. “That’s pretty different than Dublin,” said Peters of the population GSU brings to Statesboro, although he noted that the fairly rural outlying counties are similar to Wilkinson, Bleckley and Telfair in the HGTC service area. “The schools are very similar in size,” he said. “They’re right about where we are in Dublin right now.” He said the changes will allow both colleges to see the different approaches that can be explored with the similar student populations. “I enjoy doing this,” said Peters. “I get to meet other dedicated professionals like the people in Dublin.” The positions shifts also give Crumpton an opportunity to provide insight and gain experience, noted Peters. “She will have a better experience level,” he said. “I think everyone wins.” |
Hollingsworth to succeed Wade as local director
by Natalie Davis
The Courier Herald
Nine years ago, George Hollingsworth enrolled in the Fatherhood Program at Heart of Georgia Technical College with hopes of finding a way to get back on his feet. Nine years later, he has become the new director of the program. Hollingsworth recently took charge of the program, which assists non-custodial fathers, after former director Ernest Wade was named regional director of the program. “I was one of the first participants in the Fatherhood Program,” said Hollingsworth, who after becoming a part of the program nearly a decade ago eventually became an HGTC graduate and later earned a degree in business administration from Fort Valley State. The Dublin native never lost his connection to the program that helped him following the loss of his job due to plant closure. And he hopes his ties to the program will better enable him to help fathers in similar circumstances. “It gives me experience in dealing with the clients and attempting to show them that it works.” First organized in 1997 as a pilot program in seven schools, there are currently Fatherhood Programs in 33 technical colleges and three colleges across the state. Since its inception, more than 15,000 students — an average of around 3,000 a year — have taken part in the program. Dublin was one of the original sites involved in the pilot program. Housed on the HGTC campus, the local program assists around 125 non-custodial parents a year through workshops, training and child support services. “We deal with non-custodial parents,” said Hollingsworth. “We provide vocational training and we do workshops in lifeskills and raising fathers and raising children.” Helping fathers become gainfully employed, stressed Hollingsworth, is key to the program’s overall effectiveness. “That’s our biggest goal,” he said, to aid program participants in not only finding employment, but also in helping to raise their skill level so they can make money to support their families and have something left over at the end of each month. “Our overall goal is to help parents in gaining employment and to help get better income.” To help fathers in the program along the journey to becoming better parents, workshops are held throughout the year on such topics as problem-solving, how to find a job and maintain a job and improving communication skills. “One of our other goals is to make a father a better partner in his child’s life,” he said. Training is available on the main HGTC campus in Dublin, at the Little Ocmulgee Center in Telfair County and at the Georgia Aviation Technical College in Eastman. The local programs covers all of HGTC’s service area: Laurens, Bleckley, Wilkinson, Dodge, Telfair and Wheeler counties. “Anyone who would like to get a trade or better employment can come to us,” said Hollingsworth. “We’ll be happy to help.” After witnessing the program thrive since its inception nine years ago, Hollingsworth hopes to see the program further expand through working with other agencies regarding employment opportunities for dads in the program. “We’re trying to work with different agencies and different employers to provide jobs for our parents.”
Medical Assisting Graduates Earn 100% Pass Rate
Heart of Georgia Technical College graduates of the Medical Assisting Program are finding themselves well-prepared for the work force with every one passing the Medical Assisting Certification exam.
The program, which has been in place at HGTC for three years, is designed to produce Medical Assistants who work in physicians’ offices in any position from Receptionist to Billing to running a Lab. The entire curriculum takes eighteen months to complete.
“This program is different from nursing in that graduates from nursing are responsible for taking care of patients. A Medical Assistant may be the one who talks with you in the office about your reason for being there, but they are qualified to work as the Office Manager, also,” says Susie Drew, former Medical Assistant Instructor.
Graduates of the program earn locally around $9.50 to $10.00 an hour to start out, but recently a graduate secured a position earning $12.00 an hour. More offices in larger cities are using Medical Assistants, which means the demand in rural areas will likely increase. The Georgia Department of Labor rates Medical Assisting as the fastest growing career in the state. Many students choosing this career are middle-aged.
Although Drew’s work experience was as a nurse, she has had success in developing a program that produces graduates with the skills employers are requesting. Recently, Brenda Gurr has joined HGTC as Medical Assistant Director with many years’ experience working in a physician’s office.
The Heart of Georgia Technical College Eastman Practical Nursing class of December 2006 held a Capping Ceremony on August 10, 2006. Eleven students received their caps. Pictured (l-r): Front Row - Karla Jones (Dodge County); Tiffaney Hinson (Bleckley County); Dana Gregory (Dodge County); Crystal Davis (Emanuel County); Christy Collins (Dodge County); Donna Odom (Laurens County). Back Row - Sylvia Rozier, RN, MSN,HGTC Program Chair; Tina Taylor (Dodge County); Dana Sapp (Dodge County); Sara Roberts (Telfair County); Wendy McLoon (Telfair County); Charlotte Manyitabot (Laurens County); Bobbie Lowther, RN, BSN, HGTC Instructor.
HGTC Automotive Program Receives National Certification
The automotive training program at Heart of Georgia Technical College in Dublin has received certification by NATEF and The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). HGTC’s automotive program has been certified in the following areas: Manual Drive Train and Axles, Engine Performance, Automatic Transmission/Transaxle, Engine Repair, Heating and Air Conditioning, Suspension and Steering, Electrical/Electronic Systems, and Brakes.
To achieve this coveted recognition, the school’s automotive training program underwent rigorous evaluation by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). Nationally accepted standards of excellence in areas such as instruction, facilities, and equipment were used.
“This is great news for automotive-minded young people and their parents,” said Donald Seyfer, NATEF Chair. “Because this program increases cooperation between local education and industry leaders, it gives added assurance HGTC’s graduates will be employable entry-level technicians. As a result of the quality education provided by HGTC, the motoring public will benefit since better repair technicians will join the work force.” Upon completion of the evaluation, NATEF recommended that HGTC be certified by The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). ASE is a national non-profit organization which tests and certifies repair technicians, in addition to certifying automotive training programs.”
Brett Colston, Automotive Instructor, added, “During the past few months, we have worked closely with NATEF to make certain that our program would meet strict industry standards, and now we are delighted to join the ranks of the ASE certified training programs. Students will be assured of a quality education, and shop owners will be assured of getting quality job applicants.”
Colston joined HGTC as an instructor eight years ago after seeing the need for qualified mechanics. Having worked in the automotive business all his adult life, Colston was disappointed with the understanding and knowledge of most mechanics. He approached HGTC and ended up being asked to be part of the solution by teaching at the college. Eight years later, Colston has been instrumental in the success of the automotive program, “We have a 100% placement rate among our graduates. HGTC’s reputation as a quality school for mechanics is well known.”
Pictured are HGTC staff who worked on the team to achieve the certification. (l-r): Kevin Livingston, program chair, technical and industrial programs; Dr. Randall L. Peters, interim president, Ogeechee Technical College; Beth Crumpton, HGTC acting president; Brett Colston, automotive program chair and instructor; Becky Carroll, dean of instructional services; Marsha Ussery, secretary, technical and industrial programs; and Dr. Katie Davis, director, institutional effectiveness.
From Undecided to Computer Specialist
When David Young graduated from East Laurens High School in 2001, he wasn’t sure what career path he wanted to take. He was interested in architecture, but found his calling in a different field.
After working in an architect’s office, he decided to start school at Middle Georgia College, but couldn’t make up his mind what he wanted to do. From Architecture to Engineering to English, he tried a number of fields to find his niche.
It was not until Young began taking courses at Heart of Georgia Technical College that he discovered his true interest. Young enrolled and graduated from the college’s Computer Information Systems program as a Microcomputer Specialist.
The instructors and staff are what Young valued most at HGTC, “David Cooke had more of an impact on me than anyone else I encountered while going to school. He and the rest of the staff were always eager to help with any situation whether it was class related, job finding or on the job advice.”
While at HGTC, Young worked part time at Oconee Regional Library. Upon graduation, he became employed full-time with the library as the Assistant Computer Specialist. His responsibilities include anything involving computers such as: ordering new computers/software, designing the current public menu, additions to the web site, updates and upkeep, and he is currently involved in adding a branch of the library in Glascock County where he will assist in adding their network.
Young’s experience at HGTC was very positive, “It’s a great environment to learn. Many of the classes are hands on and the professors are personable.”
HGTC Staff and Graduates Attend International Fatherhood Seminar
Representatives from seventeen countries, including three attendees from Heart of Georgia Technical College, participated in an International Fatherhood Seminar at Morehouse College in Atlanta recently.
Earnest Wade, Regional Director for the Fatherhood Program, has been involved with the program for years. Although the program methods vary throughout the different countries, the goal is create a better future for children through working with fathers. In other countries, the Fatherhood program focuses on fathers exclusively and generally. The Georgia program was designed to help non-custodial parents, fathers or mothers, to become better parents and providers for their children by helping them get the skills and education they need.
HGTC Fatherhood graduate, Earnest Dixon was honored as Father of the Year at the seminar. In addition to Wade and Dixon, Fatherhood graduates Micah Kyler and Ryan Asselin, attended the seminar.
Topics for the meeting included issues that arise among the program participants. “We are trying to help the working poor, people who don’t make enough money to meet their financial obligations to their children. It’s not good enough to just give a helping hand. It is imperative that we stick with the process long enough to help them make it,” says Wade.
“The issues we deal with are common to lower income families. We don’t deal with minorities only, although nearly 90% of babies born of minorities are born out of wedlock. We’d like to get people early enough to make a difference in the lives of their families,” says Wade.
The success of HGTC’s Fatherhood Program has brought representatives from other states to the college to observe and learn from the program.
Pictured: Earnest Dixon.
A CHANGE OF HEART
The events of September 11, 2001 changed the life of college student Taronza Craig in a dramatic way. She had been pursuing an education in the field of Accounting when she heard the news of the terrorist attacks.
My first thought was, “I wish I was in some kind of health related field so I could go and help the victims. It was then that I realized I wanted to do more to help others.” This revelation caused Craig to reconsider her choice of study. She decided on the field of Respiratory Therapy and enrolled at Heart of Georgia Technical College.
Since arriving at HGTC, Craig has excelled in her courses. She maintains a 3.7 GPA for which she has worked hard. “The courses are hard, but I feel very qualified and equipped for my clinical studies.” Natalie Smith, Respiratory Therapy Instructor, says, “Taronza is an ideal student. She is always up to the challenge of learning new concepts and will make an excellent respiratory therapist. She is enthusiastic about her classes and about helping her patients improve their quality of life.”
While at HGTC, Craig has been accepted as a member of Lambda Beta Honor Society. She received the Leadership Dublin-Laurens scholarship, and has hopes of receiving others.
Community involvement is a priority in the Respiratory Therapy Department. The program raised the most money for an organization for the March of Dimes and participates each year in the Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament. Students recently raised funds for the American Heart Association and worked with the Dodge County Health Fair. “This place has made me want to do more for the community,” says Craig.
In addition to being prepared in her education, Craig feels she has chosen a field that has a good job market. “I absolutely love the Respiratory Therapy Program. The teachers are wonderful. When I go to my clinical classes, I feel like I can keep up with the tasks at hand. The teachers here are so helpful and the resources are available to help students succeed. I look forward to coming to school each day.”
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