New Criminal Justice Chair Brings Vast Experience to Program
David Taylor is looking forward to serving the middle Georgia community he grew up in. His new position as Program Chairman for the Criminal Justice Department at Heart of Georgia Technical College brings his career full circle.
Taylor started in the Criminal Justice field while a student at Dublin High School when he worked with the Dublin Police Department as a Radio Operator. From that time, Taylor has earned education and experience in all three areas of Criminal Justice: courts, corrections, and law enforcement.
A believer of life-long learning, Taylor feels his new position will be a good challenge and an opportunity to make a difference in the life of the communities served by the program at HGTC, “Criminal Justice is an important field that affects everyone’s quality of life,” says Taylor.
Taylor earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia College. He has served as a Uniform Patrol Officer and Criminal Investigator with the Dublin Police Department. He also worked with Dublin Probation Office as Assistant Chief Probation Officer before leaving Laurens County. He has worked with the Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Juvenile Justice Training Academy and most recently as a Criminal Justice Technology Instructor with Okefenokee Technical College. During the 1996 Olympics, Taylor was on Special Assignment to the State Olympic Law Enforcement Command, serving as Area Supervisor of military personnel around the entrances to the Georgia Dome, Omni, and World Congress Center.
Taylor’s philosophy for Criminal Justice education centers on the need for public safety and the rights of an individual. The program at HGTC offers many different opportunities for the student. “The first thing I want to know is what a student wants to do with his education. Then we can work to plan an individual track for the student,” says Taylor. Programs offered include degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit studies.
Taylor is happy to be back in the middle Georgia area and to be working with HGTC. “Dublin is home. HGTC has a great reputation in the community and among other technical colleges. Technical college is the best value in education. HGTC is a progressive college and I look forward to working there.”
Taylor will be housed at the Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center in Telfair County and is looking forward to ingraining himself in that community.
Information on the Criminal Justice Program at HGTC or Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center in Helena can be found on the college website, www.heartofgatech.edu or by calling 229-868-7834 or 478-274-7842.
Mother and Daughter Duos Go to School
For mother-daughter duos Connie Floyd and Ashley Brue, along with Judy Veal and Kela Horne, education is a family affair. All four women are enrolled at Heart of Georgia Technical College and are in Introduction to Microcomputers Class together.
Both mothers have worked over 20 years in manufacturing and are in their forties. One mother’s plant closed and the other wants to make sure she has skills for another job if the same should happen at her plant.
When Veal’s plant closed, provisions were made through the business to provide for education for employees. She is studying towards an Associate of Applied Science in Electronics Technical Degree. In her previous position she worked with computers, but is now learning some of the office applications. Floyd continues to work a full-time evening shift while going to school. She briefly studied nursing previously and would like to work towards a diploma in Allied Health.
Daughters Brue and Horne are focused on getting an education in their fields. They both appreciate the atmosphere of HGTC and the attention the instructors give to each student. Horne has already earned a degree in Early Childhood Education and is now studying Health Information Technology. Brue started her education at a two year college away from home, but decided she wanted to be closer to home. She is studying towards an Associate in Business Technology in Banking. She appreciates the hands-on style of education at HGTC and would definitely recommend a technical college education.
Floyd and Brue travel from Telfair County to HGTC daily. They motivate and encourage one another while riding together and in class. Veal and Horne live close to the college and meet at school for their class together.
Instructor Belinda Gilbert enjoys watching the mother daughter students interact in her class. “Connie and Ashley try to “out do” each other on tests, and teasingly argue during class. They always entertain the other students as well as me with their funny family stories. It is obvious how much they love and respect each other. Although Judy is exceptionally smart, Kela will lean over and help her in class. In turn, Judy brags on how much Kela knows about the different software programs. They are so supportive of each other and seem to have a very nurturing relationship.”
The mothers were anxious at first about going back to school after having been out for so long. “I thought I was too old, but I’m making straight A’s so I feel like I’m doing pretty well,” says Veal. Floyd agrees, “If you want to go back to school, technical college is the way to go. The instructors will work with you and help you succeed.”
Pictured: Back row (l-r) - Kela Horne, Ashley Brue. Front row (l-r) - Judy Veal, Connie Floyd.
HGTC Student Earns State Honor
Richard Yoder, Licensed Practical Nursing Student at HGTC, was recently selected as LPN Student of the Year by the Georgia Licensed Practical Nurses Association, Inc. Yoder attends Heart of Georgia Technical College.
Yoder’s strong work ethic was a main influence on the decision for his selection. He worked on his family’s dairy farm at age ten where working with his mother and father helped to create the strong work ethics he has developed.
As a teenager Yoder worked with the family’s vinyl window, decking and siding business. This position required long, hard hours in extremes of temperatures. In his early 20’s Yoder worked with his church’s outreach ministry where he traveled to Africa and Honduras for three years.
Yoder’s desire to become a Licensed Practical Nurse comes from his desire to help others. He plans to return to mission work after completing his education and receiving his license.
In the classroom, Yoder’s instructors describe him as a bright, peaceful and helpful student. He is always willing to help other students and is a positive influence in the classroom. Yoder has maintained a straight “A” average and has always earned excellent work ethic grades from his instructors.
HGTC Instructor, Sylvia Rozier, nominated Yoder for the state honor, “Richard is a young man that defines Nursing in the 21st Century. He grew up with the core values that Jesus Christ is the head of his life, his life is to serve others and hard work, dedication, patience and honor are the makings of a Christian man or woman. Changing the lives of others, making the world a better place in which to live, that is Nursing in the 21st Century and that is the life of Richard Yoder. ”
HGTC Alumni Association hosts trip to Georgia Aquarium
The Heart of Georgia Technical College Alumni Association invites all alumni and friends for a Great Georgia Aquarium Adventure. The HGTC Alumni Association is sponsoring a day trip to the Georgia Aquarium on February 19, 2007.
The group will travel by chartered bus to the aquarium for a day of fun. Cost for the trip is $35 per person.
For more information on the trip contact the HGTC Alumni Association at (478) 274-7627 or go to the college website, www.heartofgatech.edu, and select the Alumni link. Deadline to register is January 29, 2007.
Letter to the Editor
The Festival of Trees was held at Heart of Georgia Technical College from November 21, 2006 through the month of December. The community response was wonderful! More than 3,000 people visited the HGTC campus during this special time to view the trees and take part in the events.
Heart of Georgia Tech would like to extend a special thanks to the many businesses, industries, and individuals who had a vital role in the success of the Festival of Trees. The HGTC Marketing Department and HGTC Student Council were the primary sponsors of the event; however, many others made substantial contributions. Friends of the Festival this year were: The Courier Herald, Kroger, Coca Cola Bottling Company, HGTC Foundation, and Liberty Baptist Church.
The following businesses/groups sponsored a tree:: Advocates for Alzheimer’s Care, American Home Patient, Angie’s Nail Salon, Area Residence for Kids, Bank of Dudley, Bella Flowers & Gifts, Care One Home Health, Caring Companions, Citizens Bank of Laurens County, City of Dublin, Coca Cola Bottling Company, Courier Herald Publishing Company, Cracker Barrel, Dublin Artists’ Guild, Dublin Artists’ Guild Youth, Dublin Junior League, Dublin-Laurens Chamber of Commerce, Dublin-Laurens Habitat for Humanity, Dublin-Laurens Recreation Authority, Duncan Tire Company, Easter Seals Middle Georgia, Farmers Furniture, Farmers State Bank, First Laurens Bank, Garrett Industries Fence Company, Heart of Georgia Technical College, Heart of Georgia Technical College Bookstore, Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation, Heart of Georgia Technical College Pre-K, Home Depot, Home Instead, Kroger, Liberty Baptist Church, Little Ocmulgee EMC, Medical Center, LLP, Mohawk Industries & Communities in Schools, Morris State Bank, NOW Magazine, Oconee EMC, Parker Aerospace, and Susie Dasher Elementary. The following businesses also made contributions: A Touch of Class Florist in Eastman, Angie’s Nail Salon, Cake Art, Chick-fil-A, Freckled Frog and Home Depot.
A special thanks to the many volunteers who assisted with the Festival events – the HGTC faculty, staff, and students, members of Dublin-Laurens Leadership, Laurens Youth Leadership, the Dublin Service League, Katrina Waters and the Dublin High School art class who designed holiday scenes, Reece Lester, and the Stop One Recovery Center participants. Entertainment for Jingle Bell Jam Day was great with the following groups performing: Fancy Dancer Performers, The Knightingales, Trinity Christian School Ensemble and Drama Club, Wilkinson County FCA Praise and Worship Team and High School Chorus, South Dodge Elementary Washboard Band, Vision of Praise, and the Telfair County High School Concert Ensemble. This year HGTC Festival was thrilled to have the Dublin Artists’ Guild hold their art show on our campus, and the Dublin Junior League’s “Breakfast with Santa” was a great addition.
The Festival of Trees would not have happened without the many participants, volunteers, and visitors. It’s great to live and work in a community where everyone joins together to make an event successful!! Thanks again for making the HGTC Festival of Trees a signature event for the holidays!
Jenny Shuman
Marketing Coordinator
Heart of Georgia Technical College
Student Gets Back on Track with Education Studies
When Alisa Stubbs graduated from high school, she knew she wanted to be a teacher, but before long found herself in love, getting married and giving birth to her daughter, “I kind of lost track of what I wanted to do.”
As her daughter grew, Stubbs again realized her interest in teaching and decided to enroll in the Early Childhood Education program at Heart of Georgia Technical College when her daughter started Pre-K in the summer of 2006, eight years after Stubbs graduated from high school. She determined not to entertain thoughts that would discourage her from accomplishing her dream, “I am a mom and I’ve been out of school eight years. I thought I was too old, but I realized I was not and that I’m more determined and wiser than I was eight years ago.”
Stubbs’ daughter has had some obstacles to learning and is currently overcoming speech problems, “I really knew I wanted to work with Pre-K aged children when I started working to help my daughter overcome her disability. She has inspired me to work with children her age. I love seeing the light come on and the joy on the face of a child when they understand what you are teaching.” Stubbs has seen this light many times as her daughter has progressed.
Stubbs is currently working on earning a diploma in Early Childhood, and has recently taken a job with Humpty Dumpty Child Care in Laurens County. She would like to work as a Paraprofessional with special needs children. She may even continue her education and become a lead teacher in the future. “I enjoy the classes at HGTC. They are hands-on and experience oriented. The instructors have given me valuable insight and information about educating young children. They know the field and give practical knowledge,” says Stubbs. The Early Childhood program has an onsite lab for students to observe children and put into practice the skills that are learned in class.
Stubbs has made an impression on her instructors, “ Alisa Stubbs had been at HGTC only two quarters but knows exactly what her goals are and how to accomplish them. She desires to be a paraprofessional in a special needs classroom. She is very patient, soft spoken, and has a genuine love for children. She is always well prepared and participates in class discussions. She has excellent work ethics and is encouraging to the other early childhood students. She has observed and assisted in our HGTC pre-k like many of our early childhood students. It is a pleasure to have her as part of our early childhood program,” says Early Childhood Program Chair Gail Brooks.
“I knew what I wanted to do with my life at age 17, but I got side tracked. Now I have the chance to get back on track with my plans,” says Stubbs.
A Love of Teaching Offers New Career for Laid-Off Worker
After working with a local manufacturing firm for over 20 years, Ellen Walden found herself laid off from her position. It was at this point that Walden realized a love for working with children and decided to enroll in Heart of Georgia Technical College in the Early Childhood Education program.
While earning her diploma in early childhood, Walden worked part-time as a substitute teacher in Dublin City Schools. “I enjoyed teaching and knew I’d like to work with students and help them,” says Walden. Recently Walden has also worked with a local health club running the nursery program that sometimes hosts 50 children at a time ages six weeks and older.
Walden began a full-time position with East Dublin Head Start in October. Head Start serves the child development needs of preschool children and their low-income families. Walden currently works as a Secondary Teacher in the program, but will qualify for a Primary Teacher position once she completes her associate degree in Early Childhood Education at HGTC. She enjoys the work because she is able to use the “hands on” experiences she has in her classes at HGTC.
A single mom, Walden has worked hard to get where she is, but her education has been worth the work, “It is a good program for people who want to be with children, and it doesn’t take too long to go through all the classes.”
Completion of the associate degree two-year program of study qualifies students to apply for a Paraprofessional position in Georgia Public Schools or to become a director of a licensed child care facility in addition to qualifying for positions such as those offered by Head Start. The diploma program emphasizes the development of skills and knowledge needed to become a successful employee in a child care facility. |
