Latest News Releases

          The Heart of Georgia Technical College (HGTC) Foundation recently elected Penny Mackey of Dublin to the Board of Trustees.

          The HGTC Foundation is the fundraising arm of the college dedicated to raising and providing resources for HGTC’s educational excellence and innovation. The Foundation is guided by a volunteer board of trustees composed of business and community leaders from the Heart of Georgia Tech service area.

Mackey is an attorney with the firm Robertson & Mackey and has been involved in the legal profession for over 20 years.   She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, and American Trial Lawyers Association.  She serves as a member of the Advisory Council for Office Technology with Heart of Georgia Technical College. Mackey is a member of Dudley Baptist Church.  She is married and has three sons.

Gwen Hentz selected as HGTC’s 2007 Instructor of the Year

Heart of Georgia Technical College (HGTC) recently named Gwen Hentz, Adult Education instructor at the Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center in Telfair County, as the 2007 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year.  Nominated along with Ms. Hentz were Paula McGowan, Public Service department chair; Susie Drew, Nursing instructor; Dr. Claire Livingston, Allied Health department chair; Johnny Howard, Welding program chair; and Karen Mountain, Business Technology instructor.  The announcement was made by Dr. Randall Peters, HGTC president.

Annually, the Technical College System of Georgia recognizes an outstanding instructor through the presentation of the Rick Perkins Award of Excellence.  Each technical college is invited to nominate a single individual from among its faculty for competition in this award.  Locally, the criteria for being nominated includes:  full-time credit or adult literacy faculty member with at least three years of service at HGTC; submission of a resume and lesson plan; presentation of a sample lesson; and participation in a panel interview.  

As HGTC’s 2007 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year, Hentz will compete among other technical college instructors at the local consortium level.  Consortia winners receive statewide recognition for their achievement, and then move to state-level competition.  Final state-level judging will occur in September.

Hentz earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Brewton Parker College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 2005 from Troy State University and a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management in 2007.  Ms. Hentz also completed professional development in middle grade education from Brewton Parker College.  She has been with Heart of Georgia Technical College since April 2003.

“It is truly an honor to be selected to receive this award, and I am proud to be the representative for Heart of Georgia Technical College for the Rick Perkins Award of Excellence.” Ms. Hentz commented.  “I feel very fortunate to work with such a great group of people who are dedicated to improving our communities through education.”

Dr. Peters commented, “Ms. Hentz  is a dynamic teacher and leader who focuses on her students in a caring way.  Her enthusiasm and love for people shows as she is constantly making a difference in the lives of students. I am proud of all of our instructors, but I am especially proud to honor Gwen Hentz as the HGTC 2007 Instructor of the Year.  She will represent us well.”   

Former NFL player to be keynote speaker at HGTC GED graduation

DUBLIN – Fred Stokes, former NFL football player, will be the keynote speaker at the Heart of Georgia Technical College GED graduation on Thursday, July 19, 2007.

Stokes was born and raised in Vidalia, Georgia, where during his high school years, he excelled in sports.  In 1982, he was offered a scholarship to play with the Georgia Southern Eagles.  In 1987, Fred was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and then later, the Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints.  He retired from the National Football league in 1997 after playing for ten years. 

Fred currently lives in Tarrytown, Georgia, and travels around the country speaking.  He is happily married and has three children.

              The graduation ceremony will recognize residents of Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens,  Telfair, Wheeler, and Wilkinson counties who have earned a GED diploma. Honor graduates will be recognized, and those graduates who made the highest scores on the GED exam will receive a plaque.

The ceremony, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Heart of Georgia Tech DuBose Porter Business and Industry Center, is free and open to the public.

Heart of Georgia Technical College recently held The Single Parent/Displaced Homemakers, Non-Traditional, Disabilities Support Group meeting at Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center.  Lydia Barfoot, Disabilities Coordinator and Janet Smith, Special Populations Coordinator shared with the group what their specific programs could offer. 

HGTC Students Compete and Place in National Competition

Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) students at Heart of Georgia Technical College attended and placed in the national competition which was held June 21-26 in Chicago. The following students represented HGTC: 

Sloan Dennis Sikes (Bleckley County), competed in computer applications

Yolanda Kratz (Bleckley County) and Angela Rowland ( Laurens County), competed in Desktop Publishing

Teresa Dean (Bleckley County) and Yolanda Kratz competed in Database Design and Applications

Charles Winston Bolen (originally from Telfair County; currently resides in Laurens County) competed in Networking Concepts and Sports Management & Marketing.  Mr. Bolen placed 5th in the nation in Networking Concepts and placed 3rd in the nation in Sports Management & Marketing.  He received trophies and was awarded $300 for his third place prize. 

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.”

HGTC Offering GED Classes through Communities in Schools

              Communities in Schools and Heart of Georgia Technical College have teamed up to offer Laurens and surrounding counties an opportunity to obtain their GED. Classes are offered at the CIS location on Calhoun Street from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on Friday and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Classes are designed to offer a classroom setting with a non-traditional time slot, making the program available for many who were not able to attend in the past because of transportation problems and scheduling conflicts.

              Angela McCloud, Instructor for the program, has ties to CIS, “My daughter attended Communities in Schools when she was younger. The after school program and the summer programs have always been fun for the children. CIS has grown considerably since then. They now offer many programs that help the students as well as the adults in this community. I found out about the GED program offered here from Mrs. Jackie Curtis, Director of CIS.”

              Upon registration, students are given the TABE test to determine the areas in which they will need to focus on most. All of the study materials are provided by Heart of Georgia Technical College. Each student is registered through HGTC. Classes generally include four to six students.

              McCloud is pleased with the success she is seeing, “I have all kinds of students ages 19-45. I have some students that walk and some that car pool. Some students get together and study and some prefer to work on their own. Because we all work at different levels many lessons are taught in one session. They are all positive and they encourage each other. I have one student who is a writer. I have another who owns her own business. I have one student who is a supervisor. I have two brothers who attend and encourage each other.   When my older students grasp a concept that they never understood in school, they are eager to tackle the next task.  Their reaction alone motivates the other students.”

              The goal of the program is to help people obtain their GED in a convenient manner. McCloud encourages anyone interested to check out the program, “This program is great! We applaud every effort and we are willing to go the extra mile to help you reach this goal. We give you the opportunity to learn at your own pace. We want you to move from level to level until you obtain your GED. Please call us in the Adult Literacy Department - HGTC or CIS to learn more about this program.”   

Pictured (l-r):  Student, George Tobridge; Instructor, Angela McCloud.          

                                                           HGTC Helps Single Mom Succeed

              When Kathy Tapley graduated from Dublin High School in 1976, she didn’t have any interest in going to college. She wanted to get married and have children. It wasn’t until after she been married for several years and had stayed home with her three daughters that she found herself in a dire financial situation that caused her to go to work. Tapley began working with Dublin Internal Medicine as a Receptionist in 1986 and has been there since that time.

              After her divorce in 1997, Tapley applied for and was accepted as a recipient of a Habitat for Humanity House. In 1998, she moved into her new home. More life changes came as her employer suggested she take some courses at Heart of Georgia Technical College to help her learn new skills.

Tapley completed the Financial Recordkeeping Clerk Technical Certificate of Credit after going to college for the first time at age 47, “I was scared to death. One of my classmates had been in school with my daughter. But I just loved it. I had a blast and learned so much. Most of my classes were individualized, so I could complete the work by mid-term of the quarter,” she says.

              Her education didn’t stop there. Tapley recently earned a Diploma in Accounting and is currently working on an Associate of Applied Business Technology. Her education has been very helpful in her work, “I understand so much more of why bookkeeping works like it does. I’m able to answer questions for employees and I have more confidence.”

              Tapley has worked in many areas including insurance, billing, and bookkeeping. She is currently Manager of Accounts Payable.

              While at HGTC, Tapley has been a member of the National Technical Honor Society. She recently received the Leadership Dublin-Laurens County HGTC Scholarship. She enjoys working with the children in her church when not at work and school.

              Tapley’s greatest joy in her education was that her grandmother, age 97, was able to attend her HGTC graduation.           

Kratz Elected to State Secretary for PBL

        Heart of Georgia Technical College student, Yolanda Kratz, was recently elected to the position of Secretary for Phi Beta Lambda for the state of Georgia. Phi Beta Lambda is a nonprofit educational association of college students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. The PBL Mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.

              Kratz is actively involved in the local chapter at HGTC. She has won state competitions in Database Design, Desktop Publishing, and was part of the state champion Quiz Bowl team. Competitors represent four and two year colleges, along with technical colleges. PBL participates in various community service activities including the collection of blankets and fans for the elderly, Humane Society food drive, Angel Tree, and March of Dimes bake sale.

              Kratz will soon complete the Micro Computer Specialist program at HGTC. She has completed the CISCO program and looks forward to earning a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems.

Kratz is a member of the National Technical Honor Society and serves as Secretary for the Student Government Association. She participates in the Work Study program at HGTC.

              Kratz accomplishes all she does while being legally blind. She has not let her disability slow her down. Belinda Gilbert, Advisor for PBL, says, “Yolanda is very smart and can do anything she wants to do. She is a take charge person and is always looking for a better way to do things. I can’t say enough about how smart and hard working she is.”

              Kratz and four other students participated in the national competitions for PBL in Chicago. From there she traveled to Kansas with eight other HGTC students to participate in the competition for SkillsUSA, national-level competition for public high school and college/postsecondary technical students enrolled in trade, technical, and skilled service profession instructional programs including allied health occupations.           

Heart of Georgia Technical College recently held a pinning ceremony at Little Ocmulgee State Park, honoring the 2007 Radiologic Technology class. Pictured are the following  seniors:  Seated (l-r) Kayla Hall (Dublin); Mendy Horne (Soperton); Krisi Young (Rockledge); Crystal Lee (Kite); Morgan Tapley (Milledgeville); Kara Rawls (Dublin); Maureen Graham (Eastman).  Standing:  Tony Wright (Dexter); Angie DiFazio (Dublin); Chris Kersey (Rentz); Sylvia Baker (Eastman); Brian Rowland (East Dublin); Latasha Davis (Macon); Ray Widener (Cochran); and Leslie Pittman (Dexter).

The Radiologic Technology Department at Heart of Georgia Technical College recently presented three awards.  The following individuals were recognized.

Angie DiFazio of Dublin was named Radiologic Technology Student of the Year for the 2007 class.  Angie was voted on by all of the clinical sites and was chosen on her exceptional clinical skills and positive attitude shown through the program.

Brian McDonald was named Radiologic Technology Clinical Instructor of the Year for the second year in a row.  Mr. McDonald works at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital.  He is dedicated to the development of the students through clinical instruction.

HGTC Offering Georgia Work Ready Program

              In 2006, Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce formed a partnership to develop a program designed to meet economic and workforce needs called the Georgia Work Ready Program. Perdue’s vision, “We need a workforce development system that links workforce development and education together and aligns to the economic needs of the state, its regions and local communities,” is being implemented throughout the state by technical colleges like Heart of Georgia Technical College.

              According to a press release in May from Governor Perdue’s office, Georgia’s Work Ready Program is comprised of a skills assessment and certification for job seekers and a job profiling system for businesses. By identifying both the needs of businesses and the available skills of Georgia’s workforce, the state can more effectively generate the right talent for the right jobs. “Work Ready is putting Georgia ahead of the pack in creating a talented workforce ready to succeed in the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Governor Perdue. “By aligning education and training programs with the needs of business, we are making sure that Georgia is meeting hiring needs and delivering a competitive advantage.” The news release included the Work Ready Community already in existence and expanded the program to include the Work Ready Region. The expansion is designed to encourage communities to work together to accomplish program goals.

              The program goals include: develop the workforce pipeline within the education community, engage at risk and out of school youth, increase life long learning, remove barriers to work, align workforce to economic development, and increase public awareness.             

              Amy Harrelson, Work Ready/Continuing Education Coordinator for Heart of Georgia Technical College, has seen data on states that have implemented similar programs with success, “Studies have shown a reduction in the cost to hire from $2300 to $770 and a reduction in the time to fill a job opening from 45 to 15 days.” Harrelson has completed training to become a Certified Job Profiler. The Profiler is available to any company presently hiring employees to evaluate positions. HGTC has been designed a Work Ready Assessment Center where job skills are tested. The profile is free of charge to the company or employee. If an individual tests below the set skill level required, internet based GAP training is available at no cost to increase that person’s employability and knowledge base.

              A unique facet of the program is the focus on increasing graduation rate. Harrelson says, “A major area the state is focusing on is increasing the graduation rate by catching the at-risk student prior to them becoming the out-of-school youth. This program’s goal is to hone in on the skills of the individual, giving them the opportunity to soar in their given talent area. This is particularly missed in the rural regions of the state where the graduation rate can be lower than the dropout rate.”

              Information on the Georgia Work Ready Program can be obtained by calling at 478-274-3010 or visiting www.gaworkready.org.

Foundation awards NRCW Scholarship

                 The Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation partnered with the Natural Resource Conservation Workshop to award a $1,000 scholarship this summer.

                  The 2007 NRCW was held June 24-28 at Middle Georgia College in Cochran. The mission of the workshop is to expose high school students, ages 15-18, to Georgia’s natural resources and opportunities and responsibilities that they provide. According to Britt Parker, workshop director, the camp utilizes classrooms and field trip activities to help interested young people learn the basic principles and wise use of our natural resources.

                  At the workshop students gained insight into careers through their counselors and visiting professionals. Scholarships were awarded based on test scores from the week’s activities.  The HGTC Foundation scholarship was based on test scores and the intent of attending Heart of Georgia Tech.

                  Caleb Trice, 15, of Bleckley County received the HGTC Foundation scholarship. Trice will be a sophomore at Bleckley County High school this fall.

                  Pictured (l-r):  Laurie Wicker, HGTC director of development and Caleb Trice.

Students at the Heart of Georgia Technical College Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center attended a workshop sponsored by Career Services at HGTC.  The session was conducted by Mrs. Libby Lester, career planner and assessment specialist, and concentrated on “Study Skills” and Time Management.”  The next workshop, “Test Taking Strategies,” will be held on July 19.   Pictured are students:  La’Nora Hamilton, Sacha Bennet, Sharpetha Daniels and Justina Kunsbeck.   

Heart of Georgia Technical College recently held an Articulation Agreement Signing Ceremony between school superintendents and HGTC.   Pictured are Dr. Randall Peters, HGTC president,  Mr. Cary Clark, Telfair County School superintendent,  Mr. Aubrey Corbitt, Dodge County School superintendent, Mr. Ronny Clark, Wheeler County School superintendent, and Dr. Elaine Connell, Dublin City School superintendent.  The signing ceremony was the result of agreements which were set forth by the secondary teachers and post secondary instructors in February 2007.  This activity takes place between area high schools and HGTC to promote seamless education for high school students interested in post secondary education at Heart of Georgia Technical College.