Students in Altamaha Technical College construction programs are building a mock-up house. The advisory board for Altamaha Tech’s air-conditioning program recommended this project in its long-range plan for the HVAC program. The house will be about 1,000 square feet and built on pressure-treated pillars so that it is moveable. A wood-frame structure with wooden siding, it will have interior walls of sheetrock covered with paneling and a white-shingled roof. In addition to providing construction students with hands-on building experience, once complete, the house will provide an appropriate space for simulated on-the-job training for HVAC students. Funding came from the Altamaha Technical College Foundation through the DTAE matching grant program.

Appalachian Technical College is proud to announce that Annamariea Thompson and Debbie Mashburn of Fannin County have been awarded Pace Learning System Scholarships, marking the first time Georgia students have won. Both students, dislocated Levi workers, studied at Appalachian Tech’s Adult Learning Center in Fannin County to earn GEDs, then enrolled as full-time students. Each student will receive a $500 scholarship; their teachers, Barbara Logan and Bev Whitmer, will receive a $500 product voucher. Thompson and Mashburn are now enrolled at Appalachian Tech.

Students at Coosa Valley Technical College will begin classes in the new state-of-the-art Allied Health Education and Library building in early 2004. The two-story facility is nearly 54,000 square feet, a “huge improvement” according to Dr.Teresa Resch, Vice President of Instructional Services. “The current CVTC Allied Health Building is approximately 11,000 square feet and presently houses 12 health programs of study. The new educational facility conference center will be able to accommodate between 400-450 people.” In addition to providing more room for CVTC’s Allied Health Programs, the new CVTC Library will also provide more room for books, periodicals, computer workstations and study areas.

Caterpillar’s Griffin Power Systems has presented two 3400 model diesel engines to Griffin Technical College. The two engines, valued at approximately $50,000, are used in electric power applications, marine vehicles, and off-highway equipment such as bulldozers and wheel loaders. Griffin Tech will use the engines for classroom training and to provide additional assembly training to Caterpillar employees. “We are fortunate to have a willing and resourceful partner like Griffin Tech for our community. They were a key element in the successful start-up of the Griffin facility, and we are excited that we will continue our partnership with them as we meet the new challenge of building engines here in Griffin,” said Bob Glinke, general manager of Caterpillar’s Griffin facility.

North Georgia Technical College is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Changing times are reflected in program offerings. First programs included dry cleaning, watch repair, appliance services, and radio and television repair. Programs today include environmental technology, pharmacy tech, aquaculture, and turf and golf course management.

The North Georgia Tech Foundation has set a goal of raising $60,000 during 2003 in honor of North Georgia Tech’s 60 years. North Georgia Tech has campuses in Clarkesville and Blairsville, with a new campus under development in Stephens County.

President Dr. Ruth Nichols commented, “This 60th Birthday just gives us another reason to celebrate what technical education has meant and continues to mean to the State of Georgia.”

The Okefenokee Technical College nursing program is celebrating the success of its graduates during the past year. The most recent three classes to graduate all had 100% pass rates on their board exams. The winter day class had 22 graduates with 95% job placement and a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The evening class graduating last summer reported job placement of 100% and pass rate on the NCLEX of 100%. The first class at the Alma Campus completed in March of this year with the same excellent report – 100% pass rate on the exam and 100% job placement. Along with the classroom and theory hours, the students rotated through many facilities and doctor’s offices in the area for their clinical experiences.

Valdosta Technical College is one of five Georgia technical colleges that will train the maintenance and production staff at five BP Fabric and Fibers plants in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina to maintain and operate new highly automated equipment recently purchased by the company. With the help of Quick Start, the group assessed needs, set a goal for high standards, defined the gap, and designed a curriculum for one and a half to two years of training. The BP plants all produce erosion cloth – the black plastic and fiber product seen on the sides of highways during construction projects – and carpet backing. Valdosta Tech will provide training for BP Fabric and Fibers Nashville mills. The other four colleges include Bainbridge College, West Georgia Technical College, North Georgia Technical College, and Altamaha Technical College.

Harvey’s Supermarkets has contracted with Valdosta Tech to train managers throughout the company in supervisory management – from top corporate management through mid- and entry-level managers in all 44 stores in south Georgia. Valdosta Tech will also provide customer service training for the chain.