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HGTC Foundation awards Brandon T. Lawrence Scholarship

           The Heart of Georgia Technical College (HGTC) Foundation will award the Brandon T. Lawrence Scholarship at the Wheeler County High School Honor’s Night on May 9 to Brittany Lynn Ryals of Helena. The $500 scholarship is awarded in $250 stipends.

              The Brandon T. Lawrence Scholarship is given in memory of Brandon Timothy Lawrence who lost his life at age 15 in a car accident on February 6, 2004. Because of Lawrence’s zest for life, high academic achievements, and love of people, his family established the scholarship. This will be the second Lawrence Scholarship awarded at Wheeler County High School.

              Ms. Ryals plans to begin Heart of Georgia Technical College in the fall. Her program of study is criminal justice.

HGTC Students Place in State Competition

Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) students at Heart of Georgia Technical College attended and placed in the state competition which was recently held in Atlanta. The following students represented HGTC:  Winston Bolen, Ashley Brue, Teresa Dean, Tamara Jackson, Yolanda Kratz, David Mark Northrop, Jerica Ramsey, Angela Roland, and Dennis Sloan Sikes. Advisors for PBL are Belinda Gilbert and Beth Daniel. 

The following students were winners in the competition.

Computer Applications           Desktop Publishing

Sloan Sikes – 2nd place         Yolanda Kratz, Angela Roland – 1st place

Word Processing                   Database Design & Applications

Sloan Sikes – 5th place          Yolanda Kratz – 2nd place

                                         Teresa Dean – 2nd place

Information Management        Sports Management & Marketing

Ashley Brue – 4th place          Winston Bolen – 1st place

Networking Concepts              Sales Presentation

Winston Bolen – 2nd place       Jerica Ramsey – 5th place

Winston Bolen, Teresa Dean, Yolanda Kratz, Angela Roland, and Sloan Sikes will travel to Chicago in June to compete nationally.

PBL is a national organization for business technology and information technology students. PBL provides opportunities to develop vocational competencies for business occupations. PBL also promotes a sense of civic and personal responsibility. District, state, and national competitions are open to students in this organization. Phi Beta Lambda members are also involved in various community and charitable endeavors as well.

Dr. Randall Peters, HGTC president, commented, “These students exemplify the caliber of education and training that is on-going at Heart of Georgia Technical College.  I, as well as the entire faculty and staff, congratulate them on their success.”

Scholarships awarded at Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center

Ten Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center students have received the Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center Technology Fee Scholarship from the Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation for spring quarter.

Those receiving the award are LaNora Hamilton of Helena, Jenny White of Alamo, Jennifer Williams of Alamo, Miranda Conaway of Lumber City, Valerie Jones of McRae, Teesha Moye of McRae, Elaine Nelms of Hazelhurst, Angela Balcom of Hazelhurst, Kimberly McCowan of Lumber City, and Amber O’Barr of Helena.

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 478-274-7880, or visit the Foundation website at www.heartofgatech.edu.

HGTC Board Member Active from the Beginning

Marcia Dixon, General Manager of Flexsteel Industries, Inc., became involved in recruitment for Heart of Georgia Technical College when the school first opened in Dublin and has been active in supporting the college since that time.

Dixon sees the value of the education available at HGTC as beneficial not only to students but local employers and the community as well. “HGTC has opened the door for so many diversified career opportunities. Also, for individuals who have lost their jobs due to plant closings and downswing, HGTC has often meant for them the difference in a closed door for jobs versus an open door. From an employer standpoint, HGTC is a great asset! The school offers training along with opportunities for Quick Start programs to help new companies grow, as well as gives employers a skilled work force to attract new companies and encourage growth in our current industry base.”

Foreseeing the impact of foreign imports is one way technical colleges have been pro-active in researching and offering programs that will support and help United States businesses survive, according to Dixon.

“HGTC has offered the opportunity for individuals to obtain skills and education that can offer a future and career choices and the chance to meet goals; often being able to work and go to school here locally,” says Dixon. When choosing a career path and the education required to achieve goals, Dixon calls on her experience as a local business leader to give advice, “Do research and be honest with yourself! Research the projections for future job opportunities and where those opportunities will be in the next 5, 10 and 15 years. Look also at the physical location as to where those jobs will be and would you be willing to make that area your home. Next and very important is that you be honest with yourself as to where you would make the best “fit” into that job projection picture. It is important to choose a career that will afford you a nice income for the future, but in order to be successful, there needs to be enjoyment in the job that you go to everyday.”

Dixon is proud of the college and the positive impact it has made on the community, “Our community is so very fortunate to have a state of the art facility right here that offers so much to the individual who wishes to further their education and skills, but equally so to our industrial base and the benefits which we reap from their programs. I am very proud of the school and all of the staff who work everyday to make it the best it can be!”

Education is a Way of Life for HGTC Board Chair

For Shellie Stroman, being Chairman of the Board of Directors for Heart of Georgia Technical College is a natural fit. With over 40 years of experience in the field of education, Stroman brings a life of experience to his leadership of the board.

While most look forward to rest and relaxation after retirement, Stroman continues to work in his field as Assistant Principal and Math teacher at Macon Youth Development Center where he has been for eight years. Stroman previously retired with 35 years of service in public education.

Stroman’s experience gives him a unique appreciation for HGTC’s role in post secondary education, “HGTC has been very helpful to our citizens in this area who have lost their jobs due to industries moving away or being laid off. The future looks bright in technical education because 75% of the jobs now and in the future require some type of technical skills to be hired.”

The Quick Start Programs work with established and incoming industries to train the workforce needed for their business. Stroman believes this is one of HGTC’s greatest strengths because of the draw for industries to locate in HGTC’s service area.

Stroman also believes the education HGTC offers is efficient, “At the end of two years, students can receive a certificate, diploma or degree in the area of interest. They are almost guaranteed a job in their specific area of interest. Many of the students I’ve talked with at the YDC think they have to go to a four year college to get a good job. We need to convince students that graduating from a technical college is as significant as graduating from a four year college.”

HGTC Seeks 2007 Outstanding Alum

             The Heart of Georgia Technical College (HGTC) Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the 2007 Outstanding Alumnus. Each year the HGTC Alumni Association recognizes a former student who has proven to be exceptional in the community and/or work place.

              Those wishing to nominate a HGTC Alumnus, please send a written nomination to: HGTC Alumni Association, 560 Pinehill Road, Dublin GA 31021 or email a nomination to alumni@heartofgatech.edu. Nominations must include the nominee’s name, address, phone number and why this person demonstrates exceptional character. All nominations must be signed and include contact information on the individual submitting the nomination.

              The 2007 HGTC Outstanding Alumnus will be recognized at the Annual Alumni Meeting which will be held June 7, 2007, at the HGTC Porter Center.