SkillsUSA Chapter wins
2nd Place at State Competition
Posted: October
2005
Members
of West Georgia Technical College’s SkillsUSA
chapter this year competed at the 2005 Georgia SkillsUSA
Postsecondary Championships. These students were
competing for state recognition and for the chance
to go on to national competition. Competitions were
held in a variety of technical categories including
mechanical maintenance, welding, job interview skills,
and automotive. In addition to the students competing
in individualized events, members of the school chapter
also submitted a chapter display called the “Can
Crusher, which was a project that was designed to
compress cans for recycling. The “Can Crusher” won
second place in the state and a Silver Medallion
in the Chapter Display competition!
SkillsUSA is an organization which provides its
members with an opportunity to showcase their talents
and interests in relation to their chosen program
of study at West Georgia Technical College. In addition,
SkillsUSA provides opportunities for its members
to not only demonstrate technical knowledge of the
subjects in their field, but to also develop skills
that will help them to become successful leaders
in today’s industrial environment.
The Skills club is open to any student in any program
at West Georgia Technical College. Please see one
of the advisors for information about joining.
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JOINT
PRESS RELEASE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CLARK HOLDER CLINIC
WEST GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
September 14,
2005
Dr.
James McGowan, President, announced today on behalf
of the physicians of Clark-Holder Clinic that the Board
of Directors has approved a donation of $50,000 to West
Georgia Technical College. The funds will come from the
Clark-Holder Clinic Medical Education Foundation. In recognition
of this long-standing relationship and their generous gift,
Dr. Daryl Gilley, President of West Georgia Technical College
has also announced that the School of Health Sciences will
carry the Clark-Holder Clinic name into the future.
The Clark-Holder Clinic Foundation was established
in the mid 1980’s and developed to help young people
entering into the field of medicine. Dr. Jim McGowan,
President, said the Foundation gave 18 scholarships
to young men and women entering medical school, the
grants totaling $640,000, but not one of these individuals
came back to the Troup County area. The leadership
at Clark-Holder decided in 2001 to change the focus
of the Foundation and use the funds for specific
projects that would help the local area.
In June of 2003, the Foundation partnered with CB&T
to donate a house to the Jimmy Carter Work Project.
The Foundation has given several scholarships to
individuals pursuing advancement in the medical field
-- especially, in the field of radiology at West
Georgia Technical College, with the stipulation upon
graduation they practice their newfound skills in
LaGrange.
Clark-Holder Clinic has been a partner with West
Georgia Technical College since the early 1990’s,
and has provided faculty to the college and has provided
students internship opportunities for clinical experience.
Students work alongside Clinic staff, who provide
hands-on training for students in phlebotomy, radiology,
medical assisting, and licensed practical nursing.
For more information on either of our organizations,
please visit our web sites at www.clarkholderclinic.com,
and www.westgatech.edu.
Dr. Gilley and Dr. McGowan also indicated the College’s
and Clinic’s interest in expanding our relationship
in the radiology program to include several new programs
in the advanced imaging technologies including ultrasound
and sonography. There are very few programs in Georgia
for this specialty and a scarcity of these individuals
in the medical community nationally.
West Georgia Technical College has now obtained
the funds necessary to purchase the former Raytheon
building. Through the generous support of the community,
the $1.2 million additional dollars required to supplement
the $3 million appropriated by the State have been
pledged. This ensures the purchase of the building
by the end of this year. What remains are costs associated
with the renovation of the building. Thanks in large
part to the leadership of Representative Jeff Brown,
the State will provide $3.4 million of that amount
with the College responsible for raising the remaining
$2.6 million. Dr. Gilley is optimistic that the remaining
funds can be raised over the next two years to complete
the project as other members of the corporate community
choose to invest in the future of this community.
Photo Caption:(L
to R): Dr. James McGowan, CHC President; Dr.
Terry Alford; Dr. Warren Henderson; Tony Dattilo,
CHC Executive Director; Dr. Diane McGowan; Dr.
Anna Kao; Dr. William Ayers; Dr. Daryl Gilley,
WGTC President; Ginger Booton; and Kay Durand,
WGTC Board President.
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West Georgia Technical
College Receives SACS Candidacy Status
Posted: September 12, 2005
At the June 2005 meeting, the Commission on Colleges
of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
granted candidacy to West Georgia Technical College
and authorized the institution to complete a compliance
certification and receive an Accreditation Committee
visit. During the next year, faculty and staff of
the College will be preparing the Compliance Certification
report. Within the very near future, a date will
be established for a SACS committee to visit the
college to confirm the institutions compliance with
the Principles of Accreditation of the Commission
on Colleges.
West Georgia Technical College is currently fully
accredited by the Council on Occupational Education
to receive Title IV funds. The Council on Occupational
Education is recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education to accredit two-year postsecondary education
institutions. Dual accreditation by both COE and
SACS will bring an additional level of accountability
to the programs and services of the College.
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WGTC employees assist
in Hurricane Katrina Relief Project
Posted: September 6, 2005
Just
one day after Hurricane Katrina ravaged parts of
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, employees of
West Georgia Technical College helped set up a Red
Cross Shelter at Tatum School in Troup County.
Mark Whitley and Crickett Coleman, partners in the
Whitley Construction Company, initially helped to
set up the shelter, build kitchen counters, wire
hot water heaters, and assist the Red Cross Director,
Barbara Hudson. They were happy to see WGTC employees
arrive with four computers loaned to the shelter
for communication purposes, which they wired at the
school, with the City of LaGrange setting up Internet
capabilities. These volunteers also assisted in the
grilling of hot dogs and hamburgers and in the arranging
of food and drink items for the hundreds needing
shelter. Over 150 cots are already at the shelter,
which houses clothes for all ages – from infants
to adults.
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County chips in on purchase
of Raytheon
Donation puts WGTC within $22,000 of goal
By Joel Martin, Senior Writer
- LaGrange Daily News
Posted: August 16, 2005
The Troup County Commission today approved $150,000
toward the purchase of the former Raytheon Systems
building on Orchard Hill Road, where West Georgia
Technical College plans to relocate its campus.
The donation was requested by the county Development
Authority, which doesn’t have any funds of its own.
The college “has played a vital role in the economic
development of the Troup County area,” authority
Chairman Charles Smith said in a letter Monday to
County Manager Mike Dobbs.
Kay Durand, board chairman at West Georgia Tech,
said the school had a 50 percent enrollment growth
over the past three years and “our facilities are
completely stretched to the limit.”
The Raytheon building has 242,866 square feet on
an 81-acre site, compared to 145,505 square feet
on the current campus, and will serve the school’s
needs for an estimated 20 to 25 years, Durand said.
The donation puts the school within $22,000 of
its $1.2 million goal to match the state’s $3 million
for the Raytheon purchase, which is scheduled to
close on Nov. 1. The property had been appraised
at $5.1 million.
“I don’t know of any other place that could raise $1.2 million in this short
a time,” Durand said.
School President Daryl Gilley said: “We have a
number of local commitments from corporations and
individuals” to secure the balance.
The legislature provided $3.4 million to renovate
the building over the next two to three years, but
Gilley said an estimated $2 million more will have
to be raised locally.
Joel Martin can be reached at
jmartin@lagrangenews. com or (706) 884-7311 ext.
235.
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County asked for $150,000
for Raytheon
by: Joel Martin,
Senior Writer - LaGrange
Daily News
Posted: August 15, 2005
The Troup County Development Authority today asked
the county government to contribute $150,000 toward
West Georgia Technical College’s purchase of the
former Raytheon Systems building.
The authority voted 4-0 in favor of the contribution,
which the County Commission is expected to approve
at Tuesday’s regular board meeting.
The money would put the school within $12,000 of
its $1.2 million goal to match the state’s $3 million.
“We have a number of local commitments from corporations and individuals” to
secure the balance, said school President Daryl Gilley.
“In dealing with industry, we know how important
West Georgia Tech is,” said development authority
attorney Fred Turner. “It’s a show of support by
the development authority and the commission too.”
Added Commission Chairman Tim Duffey: “I think
it’s great. It’s good to assist where we can. Most
times we can’t do that. It’s been such a valuable
asset to Troup County, I think it’s the way to go.”
“We’ve discussed it before and I think it’s a good
idea,” said Commissioner Ken Smith. “It’s a badly
needed facility and we don’t need to lose it.”
West Georgia Tech plans to relocate its campus
to the Raytheon building and start classes there
in January 2007.
The school already has cash commitments totaling
$1.28 million, including $300,000 each from the Callaway
Foundation and city of LaGrange, $200,000 from the
LaGrange Development Authority, $50,000 each from
Diverse Power Foundation and Diverse Communications
Solutions, $18,000 from local banks and $10,000 from
LaGrange Daily News.
The legislature provided $3.4 million to renovate
the building over the next two to three years, but
Gilley said an estimated $2 million more will have
to be raised locally.
Joel Martin can be reached at
jmartin@lagrangenews .com or (706) 884-7311 ext.
235.
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Top
Local funding in place,
WGTC assures state
By Joel Martin Senior Writer
- LaGrange Daily News
Posted: August 11, 2005
West Georgia Tech President Daryl
Gilley has assured state officials that $1.2 million
in local funds will be available to buy the former
Raytheon Systems building.
The school hopes to relocate its
campus to the Raytheon building in the LaGrange Industrial
Park and start classes there in January 2007. The
legislature earlier this year committed $3 million
toward the purchase price of $4.2 million.
As of Tuesday, Gilley said, the school had firm local cash
commitments totaling $1.028 million, including $300,000
each from the Callaway Foundation and city of LaGrange,
$200,000 from the LaGrange Development Authority, $50,000
each from Diverse Power Foundation and Diverse Communications
Solutions, $18,000 from local banks and $10,000 from La-Grange
Daily News.
Gilley said the West Georgia Tech Foundation has agreed
to borrow up to $172,000 – the remaining amount – from
Diverse Power.
“Therefore, the $1.2 million will be available by Nov. 1 (the owner’s deadline)
to supplement the $3 million appropriation by the state to purchase the former
Raytheon building,” Gilley said Tuesday in a letter to Tony Bruehl, director
of facilities management for the state Department of Technical and Adult Education.
Gilley said Bruehl will contact the Georgia Properties
Commission, which “I assume will go back to the owners
and make them an offer.”
The sale is expected to close in November or December.
The legislature provided $3.4 million to renovate the building
over the next two to three years, but Gilley said an estimated
$2 million more will be needed and must be raised locally.
“At least the immediate pressure is off,” he said.
Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@lagrangenews.
com or (706) 884-7311 ext. 235.
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Council aids fund
to buy Raytheon
WGTC hustles to meet deadline
By Mike Perry Staff Writer, LaGrange Daily
News
Posted: Wednesday, August 10, 2005
With time closing fast on its chance to purchase
the former Raytheon Systems building, West Georgia
Technical College has gotten a $300,000 pledge toward
the goal from LaGrange City Council.
College officials came into Tuesday’s meeting needing $400,000
in local funds to reach the $4.2 million asking price.
The legislature has appropriated $3 million toward acquiring
the 242,000-square-foot building on Orchard Hill Road.
But the school, which plans to use the building to expand
its curriculum, faced the challenge of raising the rest
locally. The LaGrange Development Authority recently gave
$200,000 toward the campaign, and the Callaway Foundation
donated a matching grant of $300,000.
Council’s decision Tuesday brings the school within $172,000
of buying the building, said college President Daryl Gilley.
“That is wonderful news,” he said of council’s support.
State officials were expecting to hear from the school
Tuesday to know if it could honor the $1.2 million commitment,
he said.
“I am confident today that we will be able to make that commitment,” said Gilley,
who was soliciting other groups Tuesday. “We may have to borrow some of the money,
but we are very close. I feel certain we will be able to come up with the shortfall.”
The cash has to be available by Nov. 1 to close on the
sale.
Kay Durand, representing the college, told council Tuesday
that the seller wanted to know this week if the school
could make the purchase. Otherwise, the building would
be placed back on the market.
The city pulled $250,000 from its fund balance and a previous
$50,000 grant from the Callaway Foundation to make the
donation. City Manager Tom Hall said the foundation board
of trustees first must approve use of the grant.
Mayor Jeff Lukken said expansion of the college and its
workforce training curriculum would help with luring new
industry to the area, especially in a time when jobs are
being lost to plant transfers and globalization.
“We should look at this in terms of an investment, instead of just giving money
to the state,” Hall said.
Mike Perry can be reached at mperry@lagrangenews.
com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 228.
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Chunk Newman Receives
Double Honors
Posted: July 2005
Frank
(Chunk) Newman received double honors at the June
2005 West Georgia Technical College graduation. He
first accepted a statute award from WGTC’s President
Daryl Gilley, for serving on the College’s Board
of Directors for nine years and also for serving
as the president of the Technical College Foundation
Association for the State of Georgia.
The second honor came from Claire Neme,
Department of Technical and Adult Education Director
of Resource Development. She gave a moving speech
about technical education and its importance to our
workforce. Ms. Neme stated to the audience of 850
that Mr. Newman has been a very interested and loyal
advocate of technical education for many years.
Mr. Newman served as President of the
Technical College Foundation Association for the
last year and he served on the Executive Committee
which formed this organization (TCFA) in 1999. He
has led initiatives which focus on networking and
educating key legislators about DTAE budget priorities.
He states, “The need for workers who have critical
skills for career occupations has never been greater
than it is today.”
Photo Caption:(L
to R): Chunk Newman, President of the Technical
College Foundation Association; Claire Neme,
Director of Resource Development, Department
of Technical and Adult Education; and Dr. Daryl
Gilley, President of West Georgia Technical College.
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2005 Lighthouse Institute
Winners
Posted: June 2005
Just
ask who exemplifies excellence and commitment to
the mission of West Georgia Technical College and
to the Department of Technical and Adult Education,
and you will see the College’s two Lighthouse winners
for 2005: Shirlee Ausman and Jim McNair. The Lighthouse
Institute Award is an annual award which recognizes
excellence in teaching at technical colleges in Georgia.
These instructors will be attending a week-long institute
in St. Simons, Ga. where they will share their innovative
teaching techniques.
Ms. Ausman, is an instructor in the Business Office
Technology Program and has also been named the 2005
Teacher of Excellence Award Winner for the College.
Mr. McNair is Dean of Industrial Technology Programs
and instructs full-time in that program.
Photo Caption: West
Georgia Technical College employees (L to R):
Dr. Darryl Harrison, VP for Academic Affairs;
Jim McNair, Lighthouse winner; Shirlee Ausman,
2005 Teacher of Excellence and Lighthouse winner;
and Dr. Daryl Gilley, President of WGTC.
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WGTC gears up to raise
money for building - Perdue OKs funds to buy Raytheon
site
By Jody Sloat
Staff Writer - LaGrange Daily
News
Posted: Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Local fund-raising efforts will kick into full
gear after the governor approved plans to purchase
and renovate the former Raytheon Systems building
for West Georgia Technical College.
“This is a good day for us,” college President
Daryl Gilley said this morning.
Gov. Sonny Perdue on Tuesday signed a budget for
next year that includes $3 million for purchase and
$3.4 million for renovation through a 20-year bond
issue for the vacant building in LaGrange Industrial
Park on Orchard Hill Road.
The purchase process now will be in the hands of
the state properties commission and the state Department
of Adult and Technical Education.
Southeast Office Partners of Tucker purchased the
building on Orchard Hill Road for $1.5 million in
2003, and put on a new roof and made other improvements.
The owner originally asked for $6 million, but reduced
it to the appraised value of $5.1 million. Further
negotiations reduced it to $4.2 million.
State Rep. Jeff Brown, LaGrange, said officials
with the state Department of Adult and Technical
Education will enter into further negotiation talks
with the owners.
If the price remains at $4.2 million, Gilley said
the remaining $1.2 million for the purchase will
have to be raised locally in about six months. The
state should sell the bonds in the late summer or
fall, and the purchase could be finalized by December.
To help with the purchase, the school will have
an “internal” fund-raiser focused on faculty, staff
and board members and send proposals to local foundations,
corporations and individuals in Troup, Heard and
Meriwether counties.
The state plans to auction the campus after the
college moves, which could be as early as the summer
of 2006, with classes in the facility that fall.
The Callaway Center of International Business is
to remain a part of the college at its current location.
West Georgia Technical College was fortunate – Perdue
eliminated several campus construction projects from
the budget, but those items were added at the last
minute and were low priority.
“We survived,” Brown said today. “There were 16
line items that were vetoed, and they were bond items.”
Jody Sloat can be reached
at jkent@lagrangenews.com or
(706) 884-7311, Ext. 229.
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to
Top
WGTC plans fund-raisers
for Raytheon purchase
By Jody Sloat Staff Writer,
LaGrange Daily News
Posted May 3, 2005
Gov. Sonny Perdue has a week to sign the 2006 budget,
and officials with West Georgia Technical College
are crossing their fingers that the plan to purchase
and renovate the former Raytheon Systems building
will be a part of the spending plan.
With that in mind, the school is preparing fund-raisers
to help with the purchase.
West Georgia Tech wants to relocate its campus
to the vacant Raytheon building in La-Grange Industrial
Park on Orchard Hill Road. “Being in this renovated
facility is probably one of the biggest turning points
in this college ever and in this community,” said
Kay Durand, head of the college’s board of directors.
Both the House and Senate approved budgets with
$3 million for purchase and $3.4 million for renovation
through a 20-year bond issue, but the governor has
the power to eliminate individual items.
“We’re hopeful it will be in there,” college President
Daryl Gilley said. “We have no reason to think it
will not be.”
Southeast Office Partners of Tucker purchased the
building on Orchard Hill Road for $1.5 million on
Sept. 8, 2003, and put on a new roof and made other
improvements. The owner originally asked for $6 million,
but reduced it to the appraised value of $5.1 million.
Further negotiations reduced it to $4.2 million.
If the project is approved, Gilley said the remaining
$1.2 million for the purchase would have to be raised
locally in about six months. The state would sell
the bonds in the fall, and the purchase could be
finalized by December.
To help with the purchase, the school would have
an “internal” fund-raiser focused on faculty, staff
and board members and send proposals to local foundations,
corporations and individuals in Troup, Heard and
Meriwether counties.
“We’re just in the planning stage now,” Durand
said. “We need to wait until the governor signs the
budget. We’re getting our ducks in a row.”
The college also would have a long-term capital
campaign to fund renovations such as reconfiguring
the heating and air systems.
The move would allow the college to accommodate
current enrollment growth and plan for the future.
About 300 students are on a waiting list for the
health science program, and the early childhood and
criminal justice classes are full. The college also
would be able to offer more employee training programs
for local industries.
“Being in this new facility will position us to meet the needs of the community,” Durand
said.
The Callaway Center of International Business would
remain a part of the college at its current location.
The center also would gain about 10,000 square feet
of room when the library and studio move to the new
campus.
The state would auction the rest of the campus
after the college moves, which could be as early
as the summer of 2006, with classes in the facility
that fall.
Jody Sloat can be reached at
jkent@ lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, ext.
229.
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More than shop class
By Michael
F. Vollmer, Commissioner
Department of Technical and Adult Education
Not long ago, if you mentioned technical education
to someone, he would have had an image of a student
learning a simple, routine trade, usually something
involving grease and a wrench. Today, however, that
image could not be further from reality. The programs
that have been developed in our technical colleges
in recent years have made that old stereotype as
quaint and out-dated as black-and-white silent movies.
The old “shop class” is a thing of the past. Today,
the students at Georgia’s technical colleges are
mastering sophisticated disciplines, studying in
fully equipped classrooms, and training in state-of-the-art
labs. In the 21st century, Georgia’s technical colleges
have become a central part of our state’s educational
system, and are critical to its economic development.
Our system will be responsible for building Georgia’s
future workforce.
In addition, our technical college system has evolved
to become an important part of our state’s ability
to attract industry and grow jobs. Since I became
commissioner of the Department of Technical and Adult
Education last fall, we have begun aggressively promoting
a pro-active approach to addressing Georgia’s workforce
training needs. We know that different regions of
our state need different skill sets, so our colleges
are developing programs to respond directly to those
needs. Working with Governor Perdue’s Commission
for a New Georgia, strategic industries are being
identified that will expand Georgia’s job base and
prosper in our communities. As we adapt our colleges
to support these growing industries – heath care,
transportation, life sciences, agriculture, aerospace,
energy – we will be able to ensure that Georgians
will be able to get the training they will need for
the 21st century workplace.
It is through all these avenues that our technical
college system is helping to build a better Georgia.
Visit our technical colleges and what you’ll find
there won’t be the old trade-school stereotype, but
the key to Georgia’s prosperous future, and the economic
engine of our state.
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Mama Jama creates interest
in reading
By Jody Kent
Staff Writer - LaGrange Daily
News
Posted: Sunday, April 17, 2005
LaGrange
native Debbie Burdette wears many hats – she’s executive
director of the Certified Literate Community Program,
a member of the Troup County Board of Education,
a wife and mother.
But to many local children, she’s known for another
hat, or colorful turban – that of Mama Jama, the
lively storytelling character who shares her love
of reading with little ones through their TV.
“I love Mama Jama because she wants people to learn
and she loves to read,” Berta Weathersbee Elementary
School fourth-grader Celsea Dowell said. “Mama Jama
is the best teacher in the whole world.”
Burdette recently celebrated the one year anniversary
of the “Mama Jama Show” airing on LaGrange Government
TV, Charter Cable channel 19. The program airs daily
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. TV 33, Charter Cable
channel 10, recently began televising the show at
4:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
“Hello, everybody. I hope you all are ready to read,” she
says at the beginning of each episode.
Mama Jama reads two children’s books per episode,
which also features scenes from local elementary
schools and tips on reading. The shows last about
26 minutes.
“Mama Jama is so sweet and cares for a lot of kids,” Hollis
Hand Elementary School second-grader Emily Pauley
said. “What I really like about Mama Jama is that
she loves kids and has her own show just for kids.”
Mama Jama was born eight years ago when Burdette
was asked to tell Bible stories during First Presbyterian
Church’s vacation Bible school, which had a safari
theme that year.
“We had a bamboo hut in the session room. and kids
would stop in like they were stopping during a safari
in a forest,” she recalled. “It helped them remember
their Bible stories.”
Mama Jama became a permanent fixture at vacation
Bible school and around town. Word about her spread,
and teachers asked to have Burdette’s alter ego speak
to their classes.
Burdette was named executive director of the Certified
Literate Community Program in June 2001, and West
Georgia Technical College offered her office space
in its Callaway Center, which also houses the college’s
video production department. That’s when she got
the idea for a TV show.
“I had an idea to reach children without books
in their homes through television,” Burdette said. “There
really are a lot of children who don’t have books
in their homes.”
An African proverb says that it takes a village
to raise a child. The same can be said about creating
a children’s show. Several professionals donate their
time and services to make the show a reality. LaGrange
Mayor Jeff Lukken and West Georgia Technical College
President Daryl Gilley offered their support, and
the city allowed the show to be broadcast on its
TV channel.
David
Arnold, director of video production services with
the college, and Valerie Longshore, production coordinator
with the department, digitally film and edit the
episodes between their other projects that include
commercials for state agencies and 14 technical colleges.
The two also are in charge of animation, sound
effects, lighting and makeup for the show. Longshore
also created the set. Students in Arnold’s classes
also help.
“They are so good,” Burdette said about Arnold
and Longshore. “They don’t work 40 hour weeks – they
work about 80 hours. They are that dedicated to making
this work.”
Arnold, Longshore and Burdette prefer to tape about
four shows at a time, which can take an entire day.
Six shows are currently ready to be edited. Longshore
said it takes about two days’ worth of work to create
one show.
Musician and LaGrange College professor Lee Johnson
and the Young Singers of LaGrange performed the opening
theme song, which was created the same summer as
Mama Jama: “Hey Mama Jama, hey Mama Jama, hey Mama
Jama, the storytelling mama.” Burdette called Johnson
and sang the song over the phone.
“It really gets stuck in your head,” Arnold said.
Pine Mountain resident Todd Turner, who owns a
production company, is a consultant for the show.
“All of this has been pro bono,” Burdette said. “It’s really wonderful what they’re
doing for us, but we would like to have sponsors or have it underwritten.”
Burdette also sought help from a former LaGrange
High School classmate, Fred Newman, who is a a writer,
actor, sound designer and musician. Newman has showcased
his vocal talents for children’s programs including
PBS’s “Between the Lions” and Nickelodeon’s “Doug.” His
first piece of advice – don’t have kids on the show.
Burdette did not follow the advice at first and had
children on set during the pilot to listen to the
stories.
“I had in mind the old ‘Popeye Club,’ which showed
kids playing games,” Burdette said. “But the children
here got real antsy.”
The show now includes children when Mama Jama visits
a school, but they are no longer on set when she
reads.
“The kids at home watching are the ones who are
important,” Arnold said.
Mama Jama and her crew hope those children develop
a lifelong love of reading, and so far, it seems
to be working. Lisa Modling, a third-grade teacher
at Long Cane Elementary School, has a 5-year-old
son who loves the show.
“My son, Wesley, is always asking, ‘When can we
go see Mama Jama?’” she said. “He loves being able
to read and thinks Mama Jama is the ‘coolest storyteller
ever.’”
Wesley is not alone.
“I like the funny stuff Mama Jama says,” Whitesville
Road Elementary School first-grader Donovan Brown
said.
“I like the big brown hat she wears and the stories she tells,” Ethel Kight Magnet
School first-grader Jayvianna Hurston said.
Photos by Mike Jacoby
Photo Caption 1: David Arnold
prepares to film Debbie Burdette in the ‘Mama Jama Show.’ Arnold
is the director of video production services at West Georgia
Tech and films the reading show between other projects
and teaching classes. ‘It’s a lot of fun,’ he said.
Photo Caption 2:Valerie
Longshore, production coordinator with West Georgia Technical
College, powders the shine off Mama Jama’s face before
taping the program. Longshore also created the Mama Jama
set and does animation for the show.
Jody Kent can be reached at
jkent@lagrangenews.com or (706) 884-7311, ext.
229.
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Phi Beta Lambda, Come
on down!
Posted: April 2005
There
are some award ceremonies you can attend, and you
just don’t see much action. Not so at the PBL’s 47th
Annual State Banquet in April! West Georgia Technical
College’s Phi Beta Lambda members marched up to the
podium many times to receive awards the organization
had won. One of the best awards of the evening? Pam
Hawkins, a WGTC Business Office Technology instructor,
was named PBL Advisor of the Year. She had already
taken the reigns as the State PBL Chair, and will
begin her duties as chair in July 2005.
Pam Hawkins serves as the Lead Advisor for WGTC’s
PBL organization and Jill Cohen, an instructor in
the College’s Computer Information Systems Department,
serves as the Assistant Advisor. Both accompanied
four WGTC students to the State Conference.
Sonja Dean, a WGTC student who goes on to the National
PBL Conference in Orlando, Florida, won in the Business
law competition; Annette Vines accepted the College’s
Floy McGarity Silver Seal Chapter Award of Merit.
Marcus Johnson was in the top five for his Future
Business Executive award and he accepted the club’s
certificate for the Local Chapter Annual Business
Report. Montevia Gamble, one of the evening’s presenters,
was given a plaque for serving as the State Secretary
of PBL this past year.
Other chapter recognitions the College’s PBL members
received included the Corporate Sponsorship of Competitive
Events Award; the Interaction with FBLA Award, and
the March of Dimes Project First Place Award (for
raising $3002.00 for March of Dimes).
Another highlight of this ceremony? WGTC’s PBL nominated
Carla Starlings, Director of the Troup County March
of Dimes, as Business Person of the Year. She was
the State winner this year and stated, “I enjoyed
my association with the College’s PBL and I so appreciate
this honor.”
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The Stars come
out at night
Posted: April
2005
The
Stars of Education Distinguished Award for Post secondary
Education is a prestigious one. Washington, D.C.
was the location where this honor was given. And
the winner?
Tom Smith, Director of Fire Science Program at West Georgia
Technical College.
Smith received this national award and going to
congratulate him were Charlene, his wife, and Dr.
Daryl Gilley, President of West Georgia Technical
College. Smith states, “To me, this is the Academy
Award of Teaching. I thank John Barge, John Goddard,
Dr. Harrison and Dr. Gilley from the College, and
the Department of Technical and Adult Education.”
Known as an innovator in teaching, Smith strives
for his Fire Science Program to be the best. He developed
and instructed his College’s first Dual Enrollment
Public Safety Technical Certificate of Credit in
Georgia, which allows students to gain college credit
while still in high school. Under his guidance, students
have the opportunity to gain 26 credit hours from
the Public Safety program, and these hours can transfer
to either a diploma or a degree in Fire Science,
Criminal Justice or Emergency Medical Service fields.
Smith has also been instrumental in developing and
initiating the only complete online Fire Science
program in Georgia, which allows firefighters to
gain an education with national accreditation. This
education program incorporates the innovative use
of technology, including CD-ROMS, interactive games,
and virtual reality.
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WGTC receives Innovation
of the Year Award
Posted: April
2005
West
Georgia Technical college recently received the Innovation
of the Year Award from the League for Innovation
in the Community College.
Dr. Darryl Harrison, Vice President for Academic
Affairs for the College, states, “The College submitted
its Critical Thinking Module, believing that traditionally,
the nation’s higher education systems—and in particular—its
technical colleges, have prepared students for careers
in a known world. It was a world where the problems
that might be faced by new graduates were predictable.”
As anyone who has watched the educational scene
will readily attest, this scenario no longer exists.
Today’s graduates are required to find solutions
to problems that they might not have faced in another
time.
In an effort to address this challenge, WGTC faculty
fully engaged in a process to include the teaching
of critical thinking skills into every class of every
educational program offered on campus. For the past
year, the College has been involved in the creation
of a series of ten critical thinking modules that
will be used to teach critical thinking skills to
all students—regardless of academic program choice.
These ten modules are included in an instructional
manual and include the following:
John
and Susan Rowan are willing to drive pretty far
to hear a good story.