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Wilkinson County Students Honored Among GED Graduates

Fifty-one students recently walked across the stage at Heart of Georgia Technical College’s latest GED commencement ceremony and became graduates, the culmination in a long road for most of them and a tremendous accomplishment for them all.

GED graduates from all six counties within the HGTC service area were recognized during the ceremony, held at the Dublin campus. All of the graduates were recipients of General Educational Development certificates.

Through a generous donation by the Wilkinson County Exchange Club, all of the Wilkinson County graduates had their graduation fees waived.

“HGTC Wilkinson Adult Education Program so appreciates their recognition of our successes and support for improving literacy in Wilkinson County,” said Angie Jones, Wilkinson County adult education instructor.

The following Wilkinson County students were recognized as GED graduates during the ceremony: Brandon B. Stanley, Linda D. Ford, Cherie L. Harrell, Hunter B. McNeal, Jeffrey T. Smith, Steven Smith, Chelsea A. Wall, Terrence D. Thomas, John Michael Bridges and Melinda J. Daniels.

Among the Wilkinson County graduates, Brandon Stanley was recognized as the recipient of the Oscar McWhorter Award, sponsored by Oconee EMC, for earning the highest score on the GED exam in Wilkinson County. Brandon Stanley, a Wilkinson honor graduate, was recognized as one of the top two members of the graduating class and for scoring in the top 10 percent of high school graduates in the nation. 

“In addition to GED accomplishments, many Wilkinson County Adult Education students and/or graduates have taken the Work Ready exam and all have passed it following the extensive training they receive in the Adult Education classroom. We’ve even had some platinum scores,” said Jones. “Many students plan to return and retake the free test until they are able to score platinum overall and achieve that coveted Work Ready Platinum Certificate.”

Day and evening classes are offered in Wilkinson County in the Adult Education Center on Highway 57. Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and afternoon and evenings Monday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registration is held every Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. All classes are free and open to the public.

For more information on free GED prep classes and Work Ready training classes in Wilkinson County, call (478) 946-1080 or 1 (800) 200-4484 or visit www.heartofgatech.edu.

PHOTO ID:

1st photo (Group) Pictured (l to r): Brandon Stanley (HGTC honor graduate, Wilkinson County Oscar McWhorter High Scorer Award recipient), Terrence Thomas, Chelsea Wall and Travis Smith. Not pictured: Linda D. Ford (HGTC honor graduate), Cherie L. Harrell, Hunter B. McNeal, John Michael Bridges and Melinda J. Daniels.

2nd photo: Steven Smith

Wilkinson County Students Reach GED Milestone

MCINTYRE — Several Wilkinson County GED students were recently recognized for their literacy level improvements in reading, language and mathematics during the past several months.

Nineteen students in the Wilkinson County adult education program received certificates in recognition of their accomplishments.

“Whether the students in The Wilkinson Adult Ed Program are enrolled for classes to improve skills for Work Ready Certification, prepare for the GED Exam or just to brush up on skills for college courses or improve skills for personal reasons, students reach their goals by improving their literacy levels in reading, language and math,” said Angie Jones, Wilkinson County adult education instructor. “These students have reached this accomplishment by improving one or more literacy levels during FY2010. The NRS scores are determined by the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE). Level completers  were presented a certificate personally signed by President of Heart of Georgia Technical College, Dr. Randall Peters, ready for framing. Hats off to these hardworking students.”

In addition to Wilkinson County’s adult education program, Heart of Georgia Technical College offers free traditional GED classes in Laurens, Dodge, Bleckley, Telfair and Wheeler counties.

Day and evening classes are offered in Wilkinson County in the Adult Education Center on Highway 57. Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and afternoon and evenings Monday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information, call (478) 946-1080 or 1 (800) 200-4484 or visit www.heartofgatech.edu.

Photo ID:

Front row (l to r): Margie Dean, Lavonia Whipple, Cynthia Brown; back row: Robbie Bloodworth,  Sharon Jones, Sherri Carithers, Mary Coverson. Not pictured: Brandon Stanley, Chelsea Wall, Terrence Thomas, Melinda Daniels, Hunter McNeal, Dawn Ford, Jeffrey Smith, Cherie Harrell, Terri Whipple, Laura Whipple, Martin Phillips and Michael Brewer. 

Human Patient Simulator to Enhance Learning for Allied Health Students

State-of-the-art technology at Heart of Georgia Technical College will soon enable students to better make the transition from the classroom into the real-world field of health care.

Beginning fall quarter, students enrolled in the allied health programs at HGTC will make use of hands-on instruction in the college’s new Human Patient Simulator (HPS) lab, which allows them to learn and work in a controlled environment set up to mirror various scenarios in a real hospital or medical facility.

The lab, which utilizes SimMan 3G computerized patient simulators, allows students to see and discover their areas of weakness in a controlled, virtual emergency environment so they can improve, according to Sylvia Rozier, HGTC’s Allied Health Department chair and Practical Nursing Program director.

The SimMan 3G fully computerized lab is used to create scenarios for students to respond to and work together to resolve using the simulators — full-sized male, female and infant robotic simulators set up to mimic real-life human responses to medical emergencies. The lab will be used by students in the respiratory therapy, licensed practical nursing, paramedics, emergency medical technician, pharmacy and radiology programs.

The students will be able to do everything from dispense medications, take vital signs, diagnose and treat patients in the lab. Students from multiple programs will work together  on some assignments, just as they would in a hospital or actual emergency situation.

“Everybody works together and knows their role,” said Rozier.

Instructors have already undergone training on the new technology, which was made possible through a grant written by HGTC Work Ready/Community Education Coordinator Amy Harrelson. The college was awarded a grant to purchase the simulators through the United States Department of Rural Development. Rozier says the human simulator lab is the fulfillment of the coordinated vision of the college’s administration and the allied health department.

“Our administration is supportive of our vision,” said Rozier. “We’ve merged those visions together. This is just the beginning.”

There are also plans to make the simulator lab accessible to local health care professionals for training.

“Our vision is that the public be able to access this and use this for training,” said Rozier of the new technology.

Rozier says the changing world of medical health care and the evolving roles of medical professionals require a new level of technology to ensure adequate training of the next generation of health care professionals, because when patients are in transit, every second is vital.

“If there is an accident, between Macon and Savannah, healthcare professionals should be able to provide the best care possible with the best training possible.”

Frank G. Wall, Jr. Scholarship presented to HGTC student

                  Heart of Georgia Technical College welding student, Blake Grove of Irwinton, is the recipient of the Frank G. Wall, Jr. Scholarship.  The scholarship was established by The Development Authority of Wilkinson County, in partnership with the Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation, to provide a $500 scholarship annually for a graduating senior from the Wilkinson County School System who will enroll in a program of study at Heart of Georgia Technical College.  The scholarship was established in honor of Mr. Frank G. Wall, Jr., a leader in his community and an advocate for technical education.

“We are very pleased to partner with the Development Authority of Wilkinson County to offer the Frank G. Wall, Jr. Scholarship,” said Jenny Shuman, executive director of the HGTC Foundation.  “Mr. Wall is a former member of the HGTC Foundation’s Board of Trustees and is most deserving of this honor. 

Mr. Grove was excited to receive his first stipend for the scholarship.  He began his studies as a high school student, and, after graduation, has continued in the welding program.  He has three quarters left to complete his training.

For information on establishing a scholarship, contributing to an existing scholarship, or making a general contribution to the HGTC Foundation, contact Jenny Shuman at jshuman@heartofgatech.edu or 478-296-6117.

Pictured (l-r):  Ralph Staffins, director Development Authority of Wilkinson County and member of the HGTC Board of Trustees; Blake Grove; and Frank G. Wall, Jr., chair, Development Authority of Wilkinson County.