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Wheeler County High School seniors visited Heart of Georgia Technical College on November 24, 2008.  They toured the school and earned their Work Ready Certification.

                                                     HGTC National Technical Honor Society

Inducts New Members    

           The Heart of Georgia Technical College National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) inducted 44 out of 75 eligible new members on December 8, 2008.  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.

Dr. Randall Peters, HGTC president,  addressed the group of recipients and congratulated them on their achievement.  He also thanked Ms. Kim Meeks, club advisor, for her hard work and dedication to the National Technical Honor Society. 

         The following students were inducted into the NTHS.  First row (l-r): Rebecca Harris (Laurens); Marie Smith (Dodge); Epiphany Walls (Laurens); Trenee Jackson (Twiggs); Darlene Bruemmer (Dodge); Johanna White (Laurens).  Second row (l-r):  Robin Floyd (Wheeler); Shirley McEntyre (Telfair); Eleanor Payne (Laurens); Patricia Coleman (Laurens); Marilyn Blue (Laurens); Roxanne Odom (Laurens); Blanca Flores (Laurens); Hannah Burns (Treutlen); Jennifer Beck (Bleckley); Brittany Warnock (Treutlen); Haley Burns (Treutlen); Walter J. Jones (Laurens); Elaine Norsworthy (Laurens); Third row (l-r):  Tommy Sanford (Dodge); Sherry Pittman; Linda Garner (Laurens); Mandy Wood (Laurens); Sandy Hall (Bleckley); Jeremy Dykes (Bleckley); Tyrethia Figueroa (Laurens); Javasia Thomas (Laurens); Joni Grimes (Wheeler); Laura Crosby (Twiggs); Leslie Swain (Treutlen); Stephen Thomas (Laurens); Cricket Ussery (Laurens).  Back Row (l-r):  Amanda Baggett (Laurens); Cecelia Henley-Webb (Dodge); Barbara Grant (Wheeler); Daniel Brown (Bleckley); Tommie Burns (Dodge); Tina Waters (Laurens); Melinda Harden (Treutlen); Shermayne Thompson (Greene); Steve Townsend (Laurens).  Not pictured:  Misty Smith, Tommy Smith, James Brandon Gay, Krystle Howell, Dallas Russ, Courtney Baird, Kasey Whitley, David Mark Northrup, Bruce Payne, Angel Bryant, Mia Jordan, Crystal Brantley, Colby Edge, Harris Miller, Sidney Rentz, Judy Veal, Sean Cobb, Richard Gierka, Ronald Nobles, Tim Sheffield, Ryan Waid, Forrest lane, Tameka Hunter, Heather Long, Tamara Jackson, Firoz Chhipa, William Tabayoyon, Regina Pope, Kathryn Dean, Kelly Lewis, and Kimberly Pope. 

As part of Telfair County’s 2008 Christmas Night Out activities, a number of participants enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies at Heart of Georgia Technical College’s Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center.  The Center had a Community Christmas Tree and invited local merchants and community members to place ornaments on the tree. 

HGTC Foundation TOOLS Program held December 5

                 The Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation awarded tools to 20 Heart of Georgia Tech students on Friday, December 5, 2008.

                  The program is called TOOLS, Tools for Outstanding Occupational Leadership Students. This year marks the tenth 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 Ed Touchberry, president of the HGTC Foundation. “So the tools awarded can range from state licensing fees to physical tools such a metric nut driver set.”

                  The recipients for 2008 are Joseph Beaugez of Dublin, machine tool technology; Phillip Brown of Dublin, management and supervisory development; Trenance Burger of Dublin, early childhood care and education; Sharon Giambrone of Dublin, business office specialist; Johnny Graham of East Dublin, industrial systems technology; Gene Haun of Eastman, diesel equipment technology; Iva Herrington of Tennille, medical office specialist; Tameka Hudson of McRae, medical assisting; Rebecca Jones of Dublin, respiratory therapy; Pamela Knight of Dudley, business office technology; Scott Lamb of Dudley, machine tool technology; Brandon Maddox of East Dublin, welding and joining technology; Eddie Mathis, Jr. of Alamo, computer information systems; Marie Smith of Chester, radiologic technology; Joel Taylor of Dublin, air conditioning technology; Amy Williams of Dublin, medical office specialist; Brad Williams of Glenwood, air conditioning technology; John Wong K of Danville, practical nursing; and Brenton Wood of McRae, automotive technology.

HGTC Wilkinson County Adult Education Center

Students Achieve State Benchmarks

Students from Heart of Georgia Technical College Adult Education Center in Wilkinson County are making great strides in their education -working toward that GED. The mission of the adult education program is to enable every adult learner in Georgia to acquire the necessary basic skills in reading, writing, computation, speaking and listening to compete successfully in today’s workplace, strengthen family foundations, and exercise full citizenship. The Technical College System of Georgia Office of Adult Education has established procedures in achieving this mission. The National Reporting System (NRS) requires that local eligible programs assess and place all adult learners from the initial assessments (pre-test) into an educational functioning level at intake.  Educational gain is a key outcome in the NRS and provides a measure of student literacy gains resulting from instruction. After a predetermined amount of instruction or time period the program conducts follow-up assessments (post tests) of students in the same skill areas and uses test scores aligned to the educational functioning levels to determine whether the adult learners have advanced one or more levels or are progressing within the same level.  

According to Angie Jones, HGTC Wilkinson County instructor, “ Several  students in the HGTC Wilkinson County classes accomplished  this important state bench mark by demonstrating improvements in literacy skill levels in reading, writing, and speaking the English language, numeracy problem-solving, English language acquisition, and/or other literacy skills based on post testing.   They were presented a certificate for framing, signed by Dr. Randall Peters, president of Heart of Georgia Technical College and Dahlia Allen, HGTC dean of adult education”.   

Students pictured are:  Miranda Mosley, Tracy Marshall, and Melissa Etheridge.

Those achieving this accomplishment and not available for photo are:  Katie Stanley, Darrin Langley, Amanda Borders, Chris Critcher, Demetric Sims, Jennifer Brewer, Justin Parker, Yulitzu Ford, Kinsley Overton, Cory Phelps, Lavonia Whipple and Stacie Smith.                                 

If anyone is interested in enrolling in the free GED classes, please call Angie Jones at 478-946-1080 for more information.

Heart of Georgia Technical College students recently attended the Georgia Fall Leadership Conference in Atlanta.  Members of various student organizations meet to learn how to enhance leadership skills and to learn from one another.  The students were able to attend workshops on the following topics:  Legal Issues, Cultural Diversity, Etiquette, Healthy Lifestyles, Prioritizing Life and Relationships, Personality Assessment, Dealing with Difficult People, Dress for Success, and Money Management.  Pictured Front Row( l-r) are:  Shonte King (Laurens County); Javasia Thomas (Laurens County); Sheland Cray (Laurens County); Stephanie Sailem (Laurens County); Cricket Ussery (Laurens County); Tonya Parish (Dodge County).  Back Row (l-r):  Amanda Tompkins (Wheeler County); Sylvia Rozier, HGTC allied health department chair; Melinda Harden (Treutlen County); Lewis Otis Fortner (Johnson County); Walter Jones (Bleckley County); Shannon Roland (Laurens County); Stephen Allen (Bleckley County); David Hall, HGTC machine tool program chair; Kim Meeks, HGTC English instructor. 

Miranda Mosley will represent Heart of Georgia Technical College at the 2009 EAGLE Leadership Institute to be held Feb. 11-13, 2009. She is a student in the Wilkinson County GED class and was nominated by her instructor Angie Jones. She began attending the class in May and has completed four parts of the GED exam. The statewide Leadership Institute recognizes and honors those students who have demonstrated superior achievement in adult education classes and programs. Delegates from the 37 adult education programs of the Technical College System of Georgia will attend the three-day Institute in Atlanta. The student recognition program is designed to create greater awareness of educational opportunities that are available in local communities across the state and to foster involvement in lifelong learning pursuits.   

TCSG State Board Reaffirms Technical College Merger Plan

Board also raises quarterly tuition cap for students taking more than 12 credit hours

The state board of the Technical College System of Georgia voted today to reaffirm the system’s plan to merge the administrations of 13 of the state’s 33 state technical colleges. 

The 13 colleges will become six colleges on July 1, 2009. 

“The administrative mergers mean more efficient use of college resources, greater cost-effectiveness in how we administer the campuses, and improved opportunities for our first priority, which is always our students,” said TCSG Board Chairman Carl Swearingen.  “This transformation is vitally important if we are to build the strong and talented workforce that Georgia needs to compete in the 21st Century global economy.” 

The board’s vote follows a decision made during their November meeting to examine the merger concerns that were raised by a state legislator.

The following technical colleges will be merged under the plan:

- Appalachian Tech, Chattahoochee Tech and North Metro Tech

- Coosa Valley Tech and Northwestern Tech

- East Central Tech and Valdosta Tech

- Flint River Tech and Griffin Tech

- Southeastern Tech and Swainsboro Tech

- West Central Tech and West Georgia Tech

New names for the merged colleges are still to be determined by the combined colleges’ boards of directors.

The TCSG state board also voted today to approve Commissioner Ron Jackson’s selections for the leadership of three of the merged colleges.

Dr. Bobby Arnold, who is currently the president of Griffin Technical College, will be the president-designee for the combined Griffin and Flint River technical colleges.  James Wheeless, currently the vice president for student affairs at Flint River Tech, was named interim president of Flint River effective January 1, 2009; he will become the campus provost in July.

Dr. Cathy Mitchell, the president of Southeastern Technical College, is the president-designee for the combined Southeastern and Swainsboro technical colleges.  Larry Calhoun, president of Swainsboro Tech, will be the provost over the Swainsboro campus.

Dr. Skip Sullivan, the president of West Central Tech, will become the president-designee for the combined West Central and West Georgia technical colleges.  Perrin Alford, the current interim president at West Georgia, will become the campus provost.

“Presidents Arnold, Mitchell and Sullivan are strong leaders and dedicated educators who will work closely with their provosts and guide their respective colleges through the merger process.  Each is fully committed to ensuring absolute success on every campus and in every community,” said Jackson. 

The TCSG state board has already approved president-designees for two other mergers:  Dr. Sanford Chandler over Appalachian, Chattahoochee and North Metro, and Dr. Craig McDaniel over Coosa Valley and Northwestern.

A president-designee has yet to be named for the East Central and Valdosta merger.

In other business, the state board voted to raise the technical colleges’ tuition cap from 12 hours to 15 hours.  Currently, full-time technical college students pay an average of $432 for 12 credit hours; they are not charged for additional credit hours. 

Now, those taking between 13 and 15 credit hours will see the cost rise by as much as $108.

Two-thirds of Georgia’s technical college students are taking 12 credit hours or less and will be unaffected by the increase.  Of the remaining third, many will see the extra cost covered by the HOPE grant.

Less than 10% of the TCSG’s quarterly enrollment, or approximately 9,000 students, will incur the additional out-of-pocket expense.  

The increase will take effect beginning with the Winter Quarter 2009.  It is expected to generate an extra $10 million annually for the technical college system.

Despite the credit hour increase for some students, the cost of a Georgia technical college education remains among the lowest in the nation, and most of those costs are paid for under the Georgia HOPE and federal Pell grants.

     The Heart of Georgia Technical College Practical Nursing Class of March 2009 recently held a capping.  Pictured (l-r):  Front Row - Amanda Baggett (Laurens); Penny Bannister (Laurens); Joni Grimes (Wheeler); Laura Crosby (Twiggs); Melody Stuckey (Houston); Rusty Glover (Dodge); Javasia Thomas (Laurens); Leslie Swain (Laurens); and Deb Thomsen (HGTC nursing instructor).  Back Row - Janella Hart (Laurens); Stacey Roland (Bleckley); Leigh Light (Laurens); Eleanor Payne (Laurens); Melissa Mullis (Laurens); Carolyn Xicoteneatl (Laurens); Brittany Widener (Telfair).

Mayor of Dublin - The Honorable Phil Best, is shown earning his Work Ready Certificate at Heart of Georgia Technical College.   HGTC Assessment Proctor, Lola Owens,  is looking on.

              Single mother earns GED to make better life for her family

              When single mom Alteria Kates-Scott made the decision to return to school, she did so with a new mindset.

              After dropping out of high school in her junior year, then re-enrolling briefly only to leave a second time, Scott made the decision to refocus and set new goals.

              This time, she had more than just herself to consider.

              “I was a single parent, and I wanted to have my education to make a better life for my kids,” said Scott, who moved from Atlanta to Telfair County when she was 12.

              Scott knew she needed a better job to support her burgeoning family — and that she had to have a high school diploma to get one.

              “It was a tremendous step for me to be a role model for my kids,” she said. “That was my main goal. I had to have a better job to support them.”

              She enrolled in the Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center’s Adult Education Program through Heart of Georgia Technical College, and though she admits it was challenging, she was able to get the guidance and support she needed to succeed.

              HGTC offers adult education classes in Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Telfair, Wheeler and Wilkinson counties for students 16 or older who are out of school. The program helps students prepare to take the GED exam and improve their reading, writing and math skills.

              The Workforce Investment Act, which offers labor support and job training, provided Scott with financial assistance through a work study program that enabled her to work while pursuing her GED. And she credits WIA caseworker Karen Dunn and adult education instructor Gwen Hentz with giving her an additional push when she needed it.

              “She always let me know that I could do it,” said Scott of Hentz’s guiding hand.              

              “With the assistance of Ms. Hentz, my GED instructor, and Mrs. Dunn, my WIA case manager, I was able to map out my new life, receive money management training, and attain my GED.”          

              Through their assistance, Scott said she has been able to set new priorities for both herself and her family.

              “Through my work experience and WIA experience, I have been able to attain what were once unobtainable dreams and my self-esteem has flourished to the point that I am now a motivating force for others.”

              And, she says earning her GED was just the beginning.

              “I am no longer a single parent,” said Scott, who wed husband Tyler in November 2007. “And, I was able to interview, using the skills and techniques I acquired through my work experience, and secure a position as a correctional officer at Georgia State Prison in Reidsville.”

              Now, Scott is employed as a certified correctional officer — but she views the job as a stepping stone to other aspirations.

              “I want to be a youth advocate.”

              And she wants others to know that they, too, can have a second chance.

              “First, you have to have the motivation to do it for yourself,” she said. “You still have a second chance.”

              For additional information on HGTC’s GED program and adult education centers, visit www.heartofgatech.edu or call 478-274-7848.

              Business graduate provides daycare as service to community

              Cami Brantley still fondly remembers the childcare provider who impacted her life at a young age.

              “She was kind, patient and gentle,” Brantley recalls of her childhood in Rentz. “She understood at a child’s level. She always had a smile on her face and a song in her heart.”

              Growing up in a rural community, Brantley says childcare was limited if it was present at all. Based on that experience, Brantley views her daycare, Cami’s Kids, as a service to her community.

              “I know what I have to offer,” she said. “God has equipped me, and when I’m working with children, I feel I’m at my potential.”

              Brantley’s journey to fulfilling that potential began when she enrolled at nearby Heart of Georgia Technical College in 1984 in the business and data processing program. A fairly new school at the time, Brantley qualified for a Pell grant that allowed her to go to school full-time.  

              A graduate of West Laurens High School, Brantley was a novice to computer technology compared to some of her younger classmates.

              “They were all computer savvy,” she recalled of her classmates.

              Though she had been out of high school for 10 years, she stuck with the program and caught on quickly through guidance from her instructors.

              “I treated it like a job,” said Brantley. “I was serious about it.”

             Brantley finished in 1986, but ventured into childcare instead of her original program of study.

              “If you wanted to work in computer programming in 1986, you had to relocate,” said Brantley.

              Born and raised in Rentz, Brantley stayed close to home, though other members of her class made the move to relocate. That’s when her vision for Cami’s Kids began. 

Brantley has been a childcare provider since 1993.

            Brantley’s daycare on any given weekday morning is bustling with activity, as she and her staff tend to the needs and help shape the minds of her children. She says her favorite moments at her job are when parents tell her they don’t have to worry when their children are in her care, and she strives to provide service her parents can trust.

            “That’s where my heart is — it’s with children.”

             She credits her faith in God and her husband Ricky with supporting her through the process of growing her business.

            “I had a good childhood, so I would like to bless other children that way,” said Brantley. “It blesses my heart.”