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Birdsall completes Cisco Certificate at HGTC
John Birdsall had an interest in computers that started with a programming class he took in elementary school. From that time, he has played with computers and eventually decided to get the education he needed to support and enhance his experience.
Birdsall recently completed the Cisco Technical Certificate of Credit that is embedded in the Computer Information Systems – Networking Specialist Diploma Program that he is currently enrolled in at Heart of Georgia Technical College. Before completing the last Cisco class John had already passed the new Cisco CCNA industry certification with a score of 910 out of 1000. While taking the Cisco classes he also obtained a full time job with the helpdesk contractor that provides helpdesk services for the VAMC.
Birdsall also competed at the state Skills USA Internetworking contest for HGTC and placed second, receiving a silver medal. The Internetworking contest allows both Cisco CCNA and Cisco CCNP students to compete against each other. CCNA students take four classes over a year and CCNP students take eight classes over two years. Homer Moxley, Information Technology Instructor at HGTC says, “I am very proud of John’s second place finish since he is a CCNA student and he was only beaten by a CCNP student who had twice the amount of training. John is the student all instructors want and the employee that all employers are looking for. He has great work ethics, works well alone or with a team, and has the drive to excel in his chosen field of study.”
Birdsall chose to pursue the CIS – Networking Specialist Diploma because it offers the student education in computer basics, computer repair, operating systems, MS Office, basic programming (e.g. VB Programming), Cisco Local Area Network Switching, Cisco Wide Area Network Routing, basic networking (Network +), Microsoft Windows XP Professional in a network environment, Microsoft Windows 2003 Server in a network Domain environment, and more.
HGTC has both a CIS – Microcomputer Specialist Diploma program and a CIS – Networking Specialist diploma program. The core of these two programs offers the same courses until the last six classes. CIS – Microcomputer Specialist Diploma students may go a number of routes with the last six classes, but CIS – Networking Specialist Diploma students will take six networking classes. These networking classes will be in the areas of Microsoft Client/Server Domain networking, Cisco Local Area Network Switching, and Cisco Wide Area Network Routing. These networking fundamentals can be applied Cisco, Microsoft, and other manufacturers’ equipment. Many graduates of this program have achieved similar successes to Birdsall’s. Moxley says, “Just think of all John has achieved and he has not even completed his primary program, CIS – Networking Specialist Diploma. No doubt John has a bright future in his chosen field of study.”
Information on Computer Information Programs at HGTC can be found on their website, www.heartofgatech.edu.
Kimberly Gutierrez, instructor for Heart of Georgia Technical College, awards Hope Robinson the Certified Nursing Assistant pin at a ceremony held at the Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center on May 17, 2007. Hope and her other classmates, Kaniesha King, Brittany Lawrence, Angel Robinson and Hannah Vann, were students at Wheeler County High School who were dual-enrolled with the Heart of Georgia Technical College during their senior year.
Mrs. Bettye Van de Mark, an English instructor at the Heart of Georgia Technical College Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center, recently recognized and rewarded daytime, English, Math, Psychology, and Allied Health classes for perfect attendance this quarter. Attendance is one of the components of the Work Ethics Program which is a vital part of the HGTC curriculum. Pictured from left to right are: Mrs. Bettye Van de Mark, Montoya Eady, Amanda Thompkins, Brigette Gordon, Valerie Jones, Veronica McRae, Allied Health instructor Mrs. Kimberly Guiterrez, Juanita Bray, Amber O’Barr, and Jan Connell. For more information about classes at the Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center, call (229) 868-7834.
Mason received HGTC Foundation Scholarship
The Heart of Georgia Technical College (HGTC) Foundation awarded the first Chester Arthur Ryals, Jr./Merchants & Citizens Bank Scholarship to Robert (Bobby) Burner Mason at the Telfair County High School Honor’s Night on May 1. The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded in four $250 stipends.
The scholarship is given in memory of Chester Ryals, a life-long resident of Telfair County. He was instrumental in the original 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) construction projects of the lodge at the Little Ocmulgee State Park, as well as the bridge over the Ocmulgee River going in to Abbeville. He is remembered most for his commitment to improving the quality of life for all Telfair County citizens by serving as the Mayor of McRae for 12 years during the 1970s and 1980s.
Mason plans to begin Heart of Georgia Technical College fall quarter. He will be studying electronics technology.
Corneva Robinson, a Wheeler County High School student who was dual enrolled in the Patient Care Assistant Program through Heart of Georgia Technical College, has been named the Medical Terminology Spelling Bee Winner for the 2006 - 2007 school year. She won after three rounds of tough competition. Her prizes included a stethoscope, blood pressure cup, palm planner, medical dictionary, several HGTC promotional items and a bag to carry her new equipment in. Prizes were donated by the HGTC Allied Health Nursing Department. Mrs. Guynell Martin was the instructor.
HGTC Students Place in State Competition
Heart of Georgia Technical College was recently the host location for the 2007 SkillsUSA Post Secondary State Championship. HGTC had several students who placed in the competition. First place winners will be advancing to the national competition to be held in Kansas City in June.
Amanda Mullens 1st place Medical Math
Daniel Fordham 1st place Diesel Equipment Technology
Lynn Hussey 1st place Precision Machining Technology
Bessie Butts 1st place Prepared Speech
Teresa Dean 1st place Quiz Bowl
Yolanda Kratz 1st place Quiz Bowl
Douglas Powers 1st place Quiz Bowl
Angela Rowland 1st place Quiz Bowl
Sloan Sikes 1st place Quiz Bowl
Jonathan Bryant 1st place Related Technical Math
Mike Arnold 2nd place CNC Lathe
Mark Northrup 2nd place Computer Programming
Bruce Payne 2nd place Criminal Justice
John Ware 2nd place Electronic’s Technology
John Wayne Birdsall 2nd place Internet Working
Justina Kunstbeck 3rd place Criminal Justice
Stephen Allen 3rd place Extemporaneous Speaking
Phillip Young 3rd place HVAC
Brittany Grainger 3rd place Practical Nursing
“Heart of Georgia Tech is very proud of all the state winners, and we wish them well in the national competition. I feel that everyone is a winner,” commented HGTC President, Randall Peters.
The SkillsUSA national student organization serves trade, industrial, technical, and allied health students, with membership open to any student interested in personal and professional development. SkillsUSA emphasizes leadership, dignity, workmanship, citizenship, and respect for others. Skills USA offers opportunities for community services through charitable organizations, local and national competitions, and leadership development.
HGTC to host Cool Car Festival
Heart of Georgia Technical College (HGTC) in Dublin will be the site for a Cool Car Festival on June 2, 2007. The event, which is sponsored by the HGTC Marketing Department, the HGTC Automotive Program, The Courier Herald, Advance Auto, Toyota Scion, Duncan Tire Company (Michelin and BFGoodrich), and Fuel Freedom International Independent FFi Distributor, will feature Classics, Muscles, Low Riders, Donks, and Imports. Activities scheduled for the day include Mark the Magic Man, who will be on hand performing tricks and magic for the entire family, and refreshments and prizes.
Anyone interested in registering to show a car should contact Brett Colston at 478-274-7867 or bcolston@heartofgatech.edu. There is not an entry fee to participate in this festival.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 10 am and end at 3 pm. HGTC is located at 560 Pinehill Road in Dublin. For more information call 478-274-7867 or 478-296-6117.
Stephen Allen, the Heart of Georgia Technical College Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner, recently presented his speech to the Telfair Rotary Club. Stephen will compete on the state level in May. Pictured (l-r): Joey Marchant, Telfair Rotary Club program chair; Beth Crumpton, HGTC executive vice president; Stephen Allen, HGTC GOAL winner; Janet Smith, HGTC GOAL coordinator; and Howard Abney, director of the HGTC Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center.
HGTC Grad Turns Love of Plants into Career
Chad Drew grew up on a farm in Johnson County. As a young man attending Johnson County High School, Drew learned about developing and growing food plots and working with landscaping. One of his responsibilities was maintaining the landscaping around his family home.
At Johnson County High School, Drew was a member and officer of Future Farmers of America where he learned more about plants in the school’s greenhouse he helped build. He continued in his love of horticulture by working at a golf course where he learned about turf grasses. During high school, Drew also studied welding through the Tech Prep program at Heart of Georgia Technical College. He was able to take the courses on location at Johnson County High School
After graduating from high school, Drew landed a job at Roche’s Farm and Garden. He also began attending HGTC in Business Horticulture where he developed a deeper understanding of horticulture and sharpened his skills in dealing with people. “I attended classes at night, which worked well with my schedule at Roche’s. Attending HGTC was an invaluable experience. I really learned a lot that I use every day in my current position,” says Drew, “my teachers were knowledgeable and made the course work interesting.” At age twenty, his current position is Assistant Manager at Roche’s.
Drew attributes his success at such a young age to his education and experience. He has continued learning more about horticulture by taking classes offered through the University of Georgia. He recently completed a class of turf grass offered by UGA. He is interested in pest control and would like to learn more about irrigation systems. “I learn something new every week. What is good for one plant isn’t always the best for another.”
At Roche’s, Drew is responsible for ordering plants the greenhouse he contributed to in the design stages. Drew likes to do business locally, using local nurseries to stock the greenhouse where he carries a variety of plants for every application.
Drew looks forward to increasing his knowledge of horticulture and loves his job, “I like helping the customers and have learned a lot about dealing with the public.”
Technical Education Meets Student/Business Needs
As a business owner and former educator, Susan Coffee is keenly aware of the impact of technical education in the workforce, “it has given our student customers a choice with their education. It has helped industry come to our area and it has helped existing industries grow. The economic impact of available education and training in our area cannot be understated.”
As a member of the Board of Directors for Heart of Georgia Technical College, where she serves as vice-chair, Coffee credits the variety of programs, the faculty and staff and their support of the students for the success of the college, “HGTC has also been mindful and responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.”
Coffee believes technical college is proactive in meeting the needs of students who may get discouraged in high school, “As jobs become more technical, the kind of training and education we provide becomes more vital. I hope more opportunities for dual enrollment with high schools will continue to open up. Our students are learning skills earlier than ever before and I believe that we must provide technical education opportunities earlier, also. I feel that by adding earlier technical college education to high school age students, it would provide an avenue for at risk students to complete their education thereby curbing the number of dropouts and increasing literacy overall in our service area.”
An active member in the Eastman Community where she lives, Coffee and her husband are chairmen of the Angel Food Ministry for Eastman First United Methodist Church where she is chairman of the Hospitality committee. Her family is the primary host family for the Georgia Rotary Student Program for Eastman Rotary Club.
Technical education is close to Coffee’s heart, “I am like a mother hen when it comes to technical education. I have a hard time understanding why we are still battling the turf wars over the advantages of a technical education even with other educators. Not every student wants, needs, or is able to get a B.A. or B.S. If you took any business and counted the number of academic college degrees necessary versus the number of technically skilled workers needed, it would surprise many people. I hope that someday technical college degrees/diplomas are appreciated just like any other degree.”
Technical Education Future is Bright
Assistant Superintendent of Wilkinson County Schools, Kathy Culpepper, realizes the value of a technical college education, “Statistics show and have shown 80% of our job market requires highly technical skills as opposed to 20% of the jobs that require professional degrees.”
Having first become involved with Heart of Georgia Technical College through the Wilkinson County Schools, Culpepper has seen first hand the impact of a technical education and the relationship between HGTC and its service area. Her current responsibilities as Assistant Superintendent include supervising Curriculum, Instruction, Professional Learning, Federal Programs, and Career Technical Education Programs. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for HGTC.
As a former Career and Technical Teacher and current supervisor of these programs, Culpepper has a strong interest in successful and beneficial programs that will strengthen the community. She feels HGTC’s strength is the strong focus on “customer service”. “By that, I mean the college is truly interested in meeting the needs of the entire service area and is willing to think outside the box in order to provide services,” says Culpepper. HGTC is active in the communities it serves, also. “HGTC representatives are always willing to represent the college on county level committees and help facilitate communication and problem resolution to the county/municipal level.”
Culpepper currently serves on the Family Connection partnership and is a former chairperson of that organization. She has also served on several other professional organizations through membership and committee chair positions.
As far as the future of technical college education, Culpepper feels the future is bright. “HGTC and the technical college system is crucial to economic and workforce development in our area and the state. That covers several areas, including workforce training through Quick Start and Certificate/Diploma/Degree programs as well as adult literacy, recruiting of new industry, and support of existing industry.”
“I encourage everyone to consider technical college as an avenue for training or re-training for a career or for pursuing an individual hobby or area of interest. Technical colleges teach students the skills necessary to get and keep a job,” says Culpepper.
HGTC Foundation awards McCullough Scholarship
The Heart of Georgia Technical College (HGTC) Foundation will award the Alton Lee McCullough Scholarship May 17 at the West Laurens High School Honor’s Night to Joshua Greenway of Dublin. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded in $200 stipends over five quarters.
The Alton Lee McCullough Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating senior from the Laurens County School System who enrolls in a technical or industrial program at HGTC. The scholarship is given in memory of Alton Lee McCullough, a life-long resident of Laurens County. “Mr. Mac” was a retired vocational teacher, school administrator, and farmer. He was a Laurens County School Superintendent from 1965 to 1973 and in his capacity of superintendent was an advocate for the adjacent location of a comprehensive high school and technical school at the intersection of Interstate 16 and U.S. Highway 441—what we know as West Laurens High School and Heart of Georgia Technical College today.
Greenway is currently taking classes at Heart of Georgia Technical College as a dual enrolled student. He will continue his studies in the diesel equipment technology program at Heart of Georgia Tech this summer. “I have been interested in diesel for quite a while. And when the opportunity to go to school for it happened, I took the chance,” Greenway said. “I am enjoying it, so far.”
The Alton Lee McCullough Scholarship was established in August 2002.
HGTC Board Member Gives Reasons for Success
Richard Jones of Eastman first became acquainted with Heart of Georgia Technical College through the Rotary Club of Dublin. Through association with HGTC staff members at Rotary, he learned about some of the programs offered at the college. After hiring two graduates of HGTC, Jones became interested in learning about the types of training offered and now serves on the Board of Directors for HGTC.
As a Board member, Jones values the staff at HGTC, “HGTC’s greatest assets are their exceptional instructional staff. Through this highly qualified staff, the technical college is able to communicate to students excellent work ethics, such as dependability and the ability to work effectively either as a team member or as an individual. They teach students to obtain a high level of competency in their chosen fields. Other strengths are the college’s dedication both to providing the types of programs that the community needs for staffing existing needs and attracting new industries to the area and the staff’s involvement in the community.”
As Regional Director for Three Rivers Home Health, Jones predicts that the greatest projected needs over the next twenty years will be in health care fields providing Certified Nurse’s Aids, Licensed Practical Nurses and Medical Records personnel. “As the costs associated with instructing health care students increases, students desiring secure and fulfilling jobs in these health care positions will turn to technical colleges to provide the needed education. HGTC places an affordable education and training needed for the health care jobs within the reach of most people, both in terms of dollar value and location.”
Jones feels HGTC’s success will continue, “HGTC has excellent growth potential in our area. Their outstanding growth in student enrollment, classes offered, graduation rates, and most importantly in job placement is an excellent indicator of their success in meeting both the needs of students and business/industry.”
In addition to the commitment to HGTC’s success by the President and Senior Staff, Jones believes the instructional staff makes a difference, “While talking with HGTC students on several occasions, I noticed that the students mentioned the care and concern their instructors had for them and their success at the technical college. They mentioned such things as their instructors being willing to come in early or stay late to help them with lessons and their instructors calling and checking on them if they missed classes. They mentioned that their instructors really wanted them to graduate and to enter the workplace. They also said that their instructors cared about them.”
Jones also credits the GOAL program for encouraging students to keep up their good work, and to realize they are all spokespersons for the technical college concept in general and specifically for HGTC. The winner of the program represents HGTC at the state level, gains valuable poise and confidence, and is encouraged to continue to represent the college as they enter their chosen fields in the workplace.
“I would tell anyone who is looking for a career in technical education or for a career change to investigate the courses offered at HGTC, and I would encourage them to talk both to previous graduates about their educational experiences and to employers about their respect for the quality of education offered there. Next, I would encourage them to visit the college, talk with those employed there, and request a tour of the facilities to see how much is offered there,” says Jones.
HGTC completes 2007 employee fund drive
The Heart of Georgia Technical College completed its 2007 Employee Fund Drive this month (April) to benefit the HGTC Foundation.
The goal for the internal fund drive was 100 percent participation from the full-time employees. “The goal each year is participation,” said Laurie Wicker, director of development. The Employee Fund Drive had 97 percent participation for 2007. “Our theme this year was ‘One plus One is so much more than two. You too can be the One’.”
“We realize the importance of the support from the Heart of Georgia Tech family,” Wicker said. “That’s why we have a participation goal rather than a monetary goal. Even though we did not make our 100 percent goal, reaching 97 percent is outstanding!”
“Our employees know first-hand the difference the Foundation makes in the lives of the Heart of Georgia Tech students,” Wicker said.
The mission of the Foundation is to support and enhance the college by encouraging private giving. Because the college is state-assisted, it is increasingly reliant on private contributions to fund programs, scholarships, student emergency grants, professional development grants, library resources, instructional equipment/technologies, and other programs for which the state dollars are insufficient or unavailable.
The Foundation began holding an annual internal fund drive in 1999. “During that first drive we raised $1,282,” Wicker said. “This year we have raised $19,512! We have outdone ourselves.”
“Our employees make a difference,” said Randall L. Peters, HGTC president. “They believe in the college. They see first-hand how we change lives.”
Peters set a challenge to employees to join the 1% Club last year. He issued the same challenge again this year. Peters said, “I give one percent of my salary to the Foundation. I encourage other employees to also give a thoughtful and proportional gift.” Heart of Georgia Tech had 14 employees who stepped up and joined the 1% Club this year.
Prior to each community fund drive, the Foundation holds an internal campaign for the HGTC employees. The Foundation will hold its annual community fund drive in the fall.
For more information on the HGTC Foundation or on how you can help, contact Laurie Wicker at (478) 274-7878 lwicker@heartofgatech.edu or visit the HGTC Foundation’s website at www.heartofgatech.edu.
Mr. Charles Selph of Alamo has recently earned a General Education Development (GED) Diploma from Heart of Georgia Technical College, his first step in preparing for a new career. He is pictured with adult education instructor, Ms. Gwen Hentz. Charles attended classes at the HGTC Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center in Helena for about five months to prepare for the GED test.
In addition to obtaining his GED, Charles also received a HOPE GED Voucher for $500. The voucher is mailed to recipients along with their GED diploma and may be used to cover eligible educational costs when the student enrolls at HGTC (or any HOPE-eligible postsecondary institution in Georgia). GED students can also qualify for the HOPE Grant for Certificate and Diploma Programs covering tuition, approved mandatory fees, and a $300 per academic year book allowance at public colleges and technical colleges. The HOPE Grant is in addition to the $500 GED Grant.
Currently Charles is making the second step of his new career plan happen at the HGTC Dublin campus by enrolling in the Electronics Fundamentals program. The program prepares students for entry level positions in the electronics field. Heart of Georgia Technical College Electronics Program participates in a cooperative agreement with Warner Robins Air Force Base. (For more information about the Electronics Fundamentals cooperative program, call Mr. Doug Mottern at HGTC at
1-800-200-4484.)
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