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HGTC Grad Finds Job Fulfillment Helping Others Find Careers of Their Own

Before enrolling at Heart of Georgia Technical College, Lola Owens admits to having her fare share of low-wage jobs, but she eventually set her sights on sustaining a career.

“I ran the gamut in fast foods and gas stations,” said Owens, who enrolled at HGTC in the business office technology program in winter 2007. “I started my first tax-paying job in 1974 at Ira’s Donut Shoppe in East Dublin at a whopping $2 an hour.”

From convenience stores to administrative work, Owens moved along and carved out a living, until an office job working in accounts payables led her to decide to further her education.

“I was the sole office employee of a small HVAC company for a little over seven years,” she recalled. “…I really enjoyed it. It was very satisfying. It was shortly after that, I decided to continue my education and came here.”

The “here” was HGTC, where she enrolled in winter 2007 and shortly afterward began working in the Career Services office via a work study opportunity.

That experience opened other doors and new career opportunities at the launch of the college’s Work Ready initiative.

The program, a part of a statewide economic initiative launched in 2006 through the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development, helps to match job seekers with career opportunities.

“I started immediately after I graduated (in spring 2008) as a Work Ready assistant and test proctor,” said Owens of her present position.

Owens said she enjoys the work, and the chance it provides her to assist others in finding their own fulfilling career opportunities.

“Work Ready is the ultimate in public service,” said Owens. “We are trying to help those who need it most, in the form of the unemployed. We are educators, supporters, and ears to all the individuals at large, to some degree. Graduating high school students along with HGTC students must take the Work Ready assessment also. These are tough economic times in our country, and we are trying to bridge the gap for the people. We are trying to help ease the transition for those that need it the most.”

“Everything I have ever done has been in the form of public service,” she said. “I may not know all their names, but I bet I have waited on at least three quarters of the people in Laurens, Dodge and Johnson counties.”

She considers those she has worked with, including Cecile Miller, Libby Lester and Lisa Kelly in Career Services, and now, Amy Harrelson, Jep Craig, Bob Dixon and Lisa Green through Work Ready as her mentors and role models.

“The whole experience to me has been eye-opening,” said Owens of her journey at HGTC from student to working professional. “I consider HGTC to be a community unto itself. Everybody here is very supportive, kind and patient. They rally around each other like a rather large family, which I think is great.”

For more information on the Work Ready initiative, visit www.gaworkready.org or call (478) 2764-3010 or (478) 274-7650.

District Attorney, Craig Fraser Slated for HGTC GED Graduation Speaker

                  Craig Fraser, district attorney of the Dublin Judicial Circuit, is slated to be the keynote speaker at the Heart of Georgia Technical College GED graduation ceremony.

                  Fraser is a native of Laurens County.  He was educated in the public schools and received a degree in Political Science from Georgia Southern College, a Juris Doctorate with honors and a Masters in Litigation from Atlanta Law School.

                  He was an Assistant District Attorney for 12 years before entering private practice at the law firm of Jones, Thompson, Fraser, and Jones.

                  In August 2004, Fraser was elected District Attorney of the Dublin Judicial Circuit, which consists of Laurens, Johnson, Treutlen and Twiggs counties.  He is currently serving his second term as District Attorney.

                  Craig is a member of the Dublin Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia and is admitted to practice law before the Superior Courts of Georgia, the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the United States District Court for the Southern District.  Fraser serves on the Board of Directors for WINGS and is a member of the District Attorney’s Association of Georgia.  He also serves on the prosecuting Attorney’s Council 2007-2008 Budget and Finance Committee, Rules Committee, and Long Range Plans Committee.  He is past president of the local Dublin Bar Association.

                  The HGTC graduation ceremony is free and open to the public.  Residents from Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Telfair, Wheeler, and Wilkinson counties, who have earned a GED diploma, will be recognized. Honor graduates will be acknowledged, and those graduates who achieved the highest scores on the GED exam will receive a plaque.  The event will be held August 4, 7:00 pm in the DuBose Porter Business and Industry Center in Dublin. 

HGTC Foundation Awards First McRae Rotary Club GED Scholarship

DUBLIN—The Heart of Georgia Technical College Foundation awarded the first McRae Rotary Club GED Scholarship on July 14 to Chelsea Mann of Helena.  Chelsea is a student in the criminal justice program at Heart of Georgia Tech.

The McRae Rotary Club established the scholarship, which will be awarded quarterly, to the HGTC Foundation for Telfair County GED (General Educational Development) graduates who enroll in a credit program at Heart of Georgia Technical College.

The scholarship is given in part to fulfill the Rotary International organization’s commitment to Adult Literacy and to encourage local GED graduates to continue their education.

 Chelsea became interested in technical education as soon as she started her GED classes.  “My GED instructor, Mrs. Hentz, influenced my decision very much, as well as my parents.  I feel that pursuing a technical career will be a great asset in helping me reach my goal of becoming a successful, productive adult,” commented Chelsea. 

To establish a scholarship, or make a donation to the HGTC Foundation, contact Jenny Shuman at (478) 296-6117 or jshuman@heartofgatech.edu.

Pictured:  Dr. Howard Abney, dean, Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center and Chelsea Mann.

HGTC Nursing Class Earns 100 Percent Pass Rate on State Boards

Heart of Georgia Technical College has produced a spring quarter 2009 LPN class with a 100 percent pass rate on the state board exams.

“I’ve very proud of them,” said nursing instructor Deb Thomsen of the results. “Our goal for educating our students is to prepare them for the state boards.”

While this is not the first HGTC class to net a 100 percent pass rate, the 10 who recently earned the distinction, all of whom were first time test-takers, comprise the first class for Thomsen, who was the group’s instructor throughout the students’ four quarters of nursing instruction.

“This is my first 100 percent passing and I’m thrilled,” said Thomsen. “I’m proud of it.”

HGTC’s licensed practical nursing program trains students in the nursing field to care for the sick, injured and disabled under the direction of physicians and registered nurses and prepares them for the state board exam. The program includes core curriculum classes as well as four quarters of nursing instruction. Near the end of the program, during their last quarter, students file an application for their LPN licenses and they apply to take the state board exam.

Each licensing exam is different, and which test a student receives is determined at random, Thomsen said.

Students have a choice of testing sites where they can take the computerized exam. The test includes anywhere from 85 to 205 questions and takes five hours to complete. Students receive a pass or fail rating and they must pass with at least an 80 percent. The pass designation denotes that the graduates are safe to practice in Georgia

“They randomly will administer the entire test to the students,” Thomsen explained. “They never know what [test] they’re going to pull.”

After taking the exam, the state board reviews applications before licenses are issued. All 10 HGTC students in the spring 2009 class have received their licenses.

“We set that goal for ourselves,” said Thomsen.

This is the last LPN class at the college to have the same instructor throughout the year-long nursing instruction as the college will transition to a different instructional format for nursing students where they take classes from a different nursing instructor each of their four quarters.

Said Thomsen: “That makes it more special to me.”

Pictured:  Thomsen teaching in class.

Foundation Awards NRCW Scholarship

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

The 2009 NRCW was held in June at Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton. The mission of the workshop is to expose high school students, ages 15-18, to Georgia’s natural resources, and opportunities and responsibilities they provide. According to Dennis Brooks, 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 gain insight into careers through their counselors and visiting professionals. Scholarships are awarded based on test scores from the week’s activities. 

          Richard Sapp of McRae, GA received the HGTC Foundation scholarship.

Pictured:  Sherry Carson, assistant director, USDA-NRCS, presenting the award to Richard Sapp.

HGTC Student Brings Home Silver Medal from SkillsUSA Nationals

Heart of Georgia Technical College (HGTC) captured a silver medal (2nd place) at the 45th annual National SkillsUSA competition in Kansas City recently.  Over 5,000 outstanding career and technical education students from across the nation competed in 91 different trade, technical and leadership fields.  Only the top SkillsUSA winners from each state earned the right to participate at the national level.

Elaine Norsworthy of Dublin captured the silver medal for HGTC by placing second in the Customer Service contest. 

“I am so excited to bring home the silver medal for Heart of Georgia Technical College.  The experience of attending the SkillsUSA national competition was wonderful,” commented Norsworthy.  “Being able to compete against others and proving my expertise was a great experience – I wouldn’t trade it for anything!”

Other students from Heart of Georgia Technical College who competed in the national competition were:  Stephen Allen of Laurens County (Quiz Bowl), Cricket Ussery of Laurens County (Quiz Bowl), Gene Haun of Dodge County (Quiz Bowl), Royce Raid of Laurens County (Quiz Bowl), Michelle Moore of Laurens County (American Spirit), John Edwards of Laurens County (Related Technical Math) and Cody Darnell of Laurens County (Precision Machining).

“We are proud of all of our students, but we are particularly proud of those who competed in the SkillsUSA National Competition, and of Elaine for placing second in the nation in Customer Service,” commented HGTC president Randall Peters.  “It takes a lot of dedication on the part of the students, staff, and instructors to prepare for a competition of this magnitude.” 

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled work force.  The program hosts local, state and national competitions for students to showcase their skills learned through hands-on training in the classroom.

Pictured:  Elaine Norsworthy

HGTC Radiologic Technology class of 2009 announces Clinical Awards

Each year, the senior students in the Heart of Georgia Technical College in the Respiratory Therapy Program vote for the “Technologist of the Year” award.  The technologists that work with the students during clinical rotations have a vast knowledge of the imaging sciences.  They encourage the students to be the best in their field.  The technologist honored this year is Mr. Jim Turner.  Mr. Turner has been a professional radiographer for 33 years.  He graduated from Fort Sam’s Radiography Program in Houston, TX.  For the past 18 years, Mr. Turner has been employed at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center.  The students appreciate Mr. Turner for challenging them with radiographic positioning skills and anatomy.

The seniors also vote for the “Clinical Instructor of the Year” award.  The clinical instructors voluntarily accept the position to work hands on with the students during clinical hours.  The clinical instructors supervise the daily activities of the students during clinical rotations and also act as liaison between the students, hospital administration and radiology instructors.  The clinical instructor honored this year is Mr. Brian McDonald.  After graduating from Okefenokee Technical College in Waycross, GA, Mr. McDonald joined the Radiology Department at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center.  He has worked in this capacity for 11 years.  Mr. McDonald is a valuable asset to the radiology program and its students.

The technologists at our clinical sites vote for the "Student of the Year" award.  Heart of Georgia Technical College is very proud of our students.  They each maintain a commitment to professionalism both in class and on clinical rotations.  The students work hard to perfect their role as upcoming radiographers. 

This year’s Radiologic Technology Student of the Year is Elizabeth Bailey.  Elizabeth has had exceptional evaluations throughout this program.  She is proof that if you work hard and believe in yourself you can make a difference.  Elizabeth is employed with Fairview Park Hospital.

Pictured:  Brian McDonald, RT; Elizabeth Bailey and Jim Turner, RT

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