WGTC News Releases & Events
The following articles have been released by West Georgia Technical College:
- West Georgia Tech Men and Women Open Season
- Spirit Day for West Georgia Tech Athletics
- West Georgia Tech Board Members Certified
- West Georgia Tech Librarian Selected for National Program
- WGTC State Officers to attend Fall Leadership Conference
- WGTC Land Donors Win State Award
- West Georgia Tech Welcomes 55 New RN Students
- WCTC Foundation Receives Support from Tanner
- Nix to Give WGTC Commencement Address
- Area Counties Get Look at Burson Center
- GED Program Marks First Anniversary
- Supporting America’s Deployed Troops
- Dental Hygiene Students Have A Busy Summer
- West Ga.Tech increasingly popular choice for county's recent high school grads
- West Georgia Tech popular with local grads
- WGTC Student Elected to State Office
- WGTC seeks funding from state for campuses
- No Vacancy: Blake Shelton Sells Out
- Ambucare Sponsoring Specialized EMT Training at West Georgia Technical College
- Dental Hygiene Program Conducts Recognition Ceremony
- Dixie Darlin’s to appear in LaGrange – Part of WGTC Adult Summer Reading Program
- It's Official: West Georgia Technical College Emerges
- Hotel Replica Unveiling July 4
- Blake Shelton: Ticket sales open July 1
- Walmart.com Donation to Aid Carroll County GED Students
- West Georgia Technical College Adult Education students celebrate end of quarter
- WCTC Foundation Announces Leadership
- Blake Shelton Concert
- Greystone Power Gives to WCTC Foundation
- WCTC Foundation Gets Dollar General Donation
- Ribbon Cutting marks Grand Opening of New WGTC Bookstore
- Radiologic Technology Graduates Receive Pins at Annual Ceremony
- Master The Art of Reading: A Summer Reading Program for Adults
- WCTC, WGTC credits will transfer to Southern Polytechnic
- National Technical Honor Society Inducts New Members
West Georgia Tech Men and Women Open Season
It was the first game ever for West Georgia Technical College’s women’s basketball team November 14, with the Lady Knights opening their season at home versus the Albany Technical College Lady Titans.
The men’s team opened their season the same day on the road at Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
The Lady Knights fell 105-49 to the Albany Lady Titans at the East Carrollton Recreation Center. For the Lady Knights, LaQuita Rogers had 13 points, LaBrittany Stokes had 13 points and Joy Jones had 7 points.
The men lost 94-83 in a competitive game against the Georgia Northwestern Tech Mustangs. For the Golden Knights, Courtney Farris lead the team with 32 points, Nicholas Mikkell had 19 points and Nicholaus High Bear had 9 points. Justin Poole had 17 rebounds.
“We are proud of the strides our program is making,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “They are working hard to establish themselves and West Georgia Tech in the competitive Technical College System Athletic Association.
WGTC Athletic Director Brian Henderson agreed. “The men’s team is really looking good and playing on par with where we believe they should be in their third season. For the ladies, it is their first season and Coach [Shaneka] Bates is working them hard and building this program from the ground up.”
Both Bates and men’s coach Walter Dunson are new to the Golden Knights this year and are working to put their stamp on the teams, Henderson said.
Both men’s and women’s squads play their first-ever game in LaGrange Friday against their counterparts from Middle Georgia Technical College. The Lady Knights tip off at 7 p.m. in the LaGrange College Gymnasium. The men’s game follows.
“We hope folks will come out and support us as both teams play in front of a home crowd this weekend,” Henderson said. “We think both teams can come out with their first win of the season.”
Spirit Day for West Georgia Tech Athletics
Posted: October 29, 2009
West Georgia Technical College is kicking off a third season of intercollegiate athletics with Spirit Day October 31.
The burgeoning Golden Knights sports program is undergoing several changes for the coming year, including the addition of women’s basketball and a new coaching staff for the men’s basketball team. Rosters for both teams have also been announced.
“Spirit Day is a great way for us to introduce the teams and coaches to our students and the community,” Brian Henderson – who is functioning as athletics sponsor – said. Henderson is also assistant director of information technology. “We are pleased with our new coaching staff and new players and want to show them off.”
Henderson said Spirit Day activities Saturday will include scrimmages for both teams as well as food, music, games and more, all free-of-charge. All activities will be held at the Carroll County Recreation Center, 1201 Newnan Rd., Carrollton, from 1-3 p.m. The recreation center is adjacent to the College’s Carroll Campus.
“We are starting only our third season of play,” Henderson said, “so we are still working on building our fan base and letting folks know that the College has athletics. We think that the addition of women’s basketball and the new coaching staff for the men’s team helps us in that respect.”
Former UWG standout Shaneka Bates has been named head coach of the Lady Knights in their inaugural season beginning November 14. Bates will graduate December 12 from the University of West Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in criminology. Bates received her associate’s degree from Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2007.
She is a native of Heflin, Alabama where she graduated from Cleburne County High School. Bates’ impressive performance on the basketball court led to a basketball scholarship to Shelton State under the leadership of Head Coach Madonna Thompson. She then received a scholarship to play under head coach is Craig Roden at UWG.
For the men’s team, longtime Carroll County residents will recognize the name of Walter Dunson, who is taking over as head coach.
Dunson is a native of Carrollton and graduate of Central High School where he began a sports career that saw him drafted by the Atlanta Braves out of high school. Instead of baseball, though, Dunson chose to play college football on a full scholarship to the Middle Tennessee State University. He was drafted in the National Football League by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round in 1993 and later signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Cardinals for legendary coach Buddy Ryan.
After leaving the field, Dunson worked as Director of NFL Youth Programs for the Atlanta Falcons, leading the youth football program from a few hundred participants in metro Atlanta to over 40,000 participants statewide.
The Boston Herald has called Dunson one of the nation’s most outstanding young motivational speakers, and he joins the Golden Knights after 34 years as a player, coach, director or official from youth sports to the professional level.
President Dr. Skip Sullivan said he believes Dunson can take the Golden Knights to a new level.
“One of the College’s core values is professionalism,” Sullivan said. “We wanted someone who had a wide spectrum of experiences and who could teach the players not only about basketball, but about what it means to be a professional and represent our College.”
Dunson continues in his other role as founder and CEO of Global Youth Sports Management.
Henderson said the Golden Knights cheerleading squad will also perform their halftime show and be on hand to pump-up the crowd. “They’ll also be doing face painting for children,” he said.
Attendees can also enjoy snow-cones, souvenir mouse pads, and other treats.
“We hope everyone will dress in Golden Knights wear, in gold or in their Halloween costume and come have some fun with us,” Henderson said.
West Georgia Tech Board Members Certified
Posted: October 27, 2009
Two members of the West Georgia Technical College Board of Directors were recognized as Certified Board Members by the Technical College Directors Association at its annual fall leadership conference in Macon.
Lynn Clarke and Bill Hightower, both of Bremen, represent Haralson County on the board and have completed all requirements for this TCDA distinction, the College has announced. Clarke is an attorney, while Hightower is vice president of Hightower Funeral Home.
“Lynn and Bill are to be commended for their efforts to serve their constituents with distinction,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “We are pleased with the excellent leadership of our Board of Directors.”
West Georgia Tech Librarian Selected for National Program
Posted: October 26, 2009
The American Library Association has selected a West Georgia Technical College librarian to participate in its Emerging Leaders program for 2010.
Douglas Campus Librarian Natalie Clewell is one of only 100 participants selected nationwide. The Emerging Leaders program was created in 2007 to encourage leadership in librarianship and the American Library Association.
“I wanted to participate in this program because I am very passionate about librarianship as a career choice,” Clewell said. “I see this as an excellent opportunity to expand my knowledge of librarianship in general, as well as to enhance leadership skills that I will need in the future. I definitely see myself moving towards a role in librarian leadership.”
ALA Emerging Leaders is a leadership development program which enables newer library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. It puts participants on the fast track to ALA committee volunteerism as well as other professional library-related organizations.
The EL program kicks off with a daylong session during the ALA Midwinter Meeting, to be held in Boston in 2010. Afterward, EL grows and develops in an online learning and networking environment for six months. The program culminates with a poster session presentation to display the results of the project planning work of each group at the ALA Annual Conference. The ALA Annual will be held in Washington, D.C.
“We are very proud that Natalie was chosen from a group of national applicants to participate in the Emerging Leaders program,” WGTC Director of Library Services Mary McClung said. “This will allow her an opportunity to network with librarians from across the country and also provide national exposure for our College.”
West Georgia Tech operates four libraries which served over 222,000 visitors last year, McClung said. The College has over 41,000 titles in its collection. The Douglas Campus – where Clewell is librarian – last year saw over 60,000 visitors, including 26,976 who used computers at the library.
The national EL selection committee seeks diversity based on geography, gender, ethnicity and type of library. Particular attention is given to candidates’ personal statements as well as those of their references. No more than one person from any institution can be selected for participation in the program.
“I feel that my position at West Georgia Technical College has directly contributed to my selection in this program,” Clewell said. “Technical college librarians are frequently underrepresented in our field, and I hope that my participation in this program will help to highlight the opportunities of technical college librarianship.”
Clewell holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in library sciences from the University of Tennessee. She has worked at West Georgia Tech since December 2008, where, in addition to her librarian role, she serves as the Cheerleading Coach for the Golden Knights. She and her husband reside in Douglasville.
West Georgia Tech President Dr. Skip Sullivan praised Clewell, McClung and other library staff for their excellent service to students.
“Our libraries play a very important role in educating students,” Sullivan said. “Having a wide array of books, periodicals, computers and other technologies available on our campuses is invaluable to students and our communities.”
Clewell agreed, pointing to student centeredness, one of the College’s four core values.
“We are educators and leaders, and as such I want to do everything that I can to provide the best services to our students,” she said.
WGTC State Officers to attend Fall Leadership Conference
Posted: October 21, 2009
West Georgia Technical College has three state level officers who will be part of the planning team and leading the annual Fall Leadership Conference in November.
Candy, National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) State Treasurer; Ginger Golden, Statewide Student Leadership Conference (SSLC) President; and Delondia Nelson, NHTS State Vice President, all attended training at Lake Blackshear in May and were appointed and placed into their state office positions.
“We are extremely proud of these students and their achievements on both the local and state level,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “We want our students to be active in leadership roles as these opportunities help them develop professionally and personally."
The Georgia Fall Leadership Conference is held annually and provides excellent leadership and networking opportunities for students who are members of the various student organizations that are available in the technical colleges that are a part of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Students participate in interactive leadership sessions, network with peers, and they have the option of participating in a March of Dimes walk and the Toys for Tots Drive. Time is also allotted for fun activities such as Bingo. This action-packed conference, held the third weekend in November, is the culmination of all TCSG student conferences.
WGTC Land Donors Win State Award
Posted: October 19, 2009
Newnan investment group Orchard Hills Golf Properties has won the Technical College Foundation Association of Georgia’s 2009 Benefactor of the Year award in recognition for its support of the West Central Technical College Foundation.
The award was announced October 15 during the TCFA’s annual meeting at the Macon Marriott City Center.
Jim Mottola and Joe Crain accepted the award on behalf of Orchard Hills, who donated 38 acres of prime Coweta County real estate to the WCTC Foundation for the construction of a new full-service, stand-alone campus there.
“It is a great honor to accept this award on behalf of my partners,” Mottola said. “We are excited about the new campus and believe it will have a great impact on the citizens of Coweta County and on the economic development of the county.”
The TCGA also announced William “Bill” Pinto as its Volunteer of the Year. Pinto – who was nominated by the Atlanta Technical College Foundation – is president of Hardin Construction Company and a long-time supporter of Atlanta Tech.
The TCFA’s Volunteer of the Year and Benefactor of the Year awards recognize the outstanding contributions that college foundation trustees, community leaders and major donors from across the state have made on behalf of the colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia. The winners embody the ideals of philanthropy, leadership and volunteerism in the service to Georgia’s technical colleges, which last year enrolled more than 156,000 students in certificate, degree and diploma programs.
The Orchard Hills donation is valued at $1.55 million and is one of the single largest land gifts ever made to a technical college foundation in Georgia.
“We continue to be grateful for Orchard Hills Golf Properties and their generous gift which has really boosted the entire Coweta County project,” West Georgia Tech President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “Our College is actively working with an aggressive timetable for groundbreaking and ultimate project completion of two buildings on the new campus. None of this would be possible without the Orchard Hills donation.”
The Volunteer of the Year and Benefactor of the Year each received a $1,000 check which will be donated to their respective foundations for student scholarships. Each winner also received a commemorative Frabel glass sculpture in recognition of their generosity and commitment to their respective colleges.
“The Foundation is extremely proud that Orchard Hills has received state-wide recognition for their support,” Vice President for Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook said. “It is not every day that a Foundation receives such a generous gift, so it is fitting that they be honored for their beneficence.”
West Georgia Tech Welcomes 55 New RN Students
Posted: October 14, 2009
For 55 new associate degree nursing students at West Georgia Technical College this fall, the next two years will be a marathon of new experiences which will culminate in their certification as registered nurses.
That was the message October 1, as ADN faculty and College administrators welcomed first-year students and 58 second-year students to the program with a luncheon and orientation on the Thomas B. Murphy Campus in Waco.
“To you students here today, I say there are many others who would love to sit where you sit,” Vice President for Academic Affairs Pat Hannon said. “Less than 10 percent of students make it through the competitive selection process and into the program. You are in a very coveted position.”
First-year students – program juniors – also were paired with seniors in a mentor/mentee relationship designed to help students get acclimated to the program.
Hannon addressed the assembly after a welcome by ADN Interim Program Director Japonica Morris and Dean of Health Sciences Cecilia Owens.
“I look forward to the start of a new year that will bring exciting challenges for our new group of students and the beginning of a life long career for our graduating seniors,” Morris said.
“You are entering a marathon,” Hannon told students, “but I encourage you to focus not so much on the destination as on the journey. The experiences of the next year or two years can make an impact on your life that will follow you the rest of your days.”
The West Georgia Tech ADN program is a two-year sequence of courses that awards graduates an Associate of Applied Science degree in Registered Nursing. Graduates are then eligible to apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Upon successful completion of the NCLEX-RN and licensure by the Georgia Board of Nursing, graduates are employable as registered nurses.
Earlier this year, the program received full accreditation from the National League for Nursing Accrediting Counsel, the nationally recognized specialized accrediting agency for both post-secondary and higher degree programs in nursing education.
“We are tremendously proud of these students and impact they will make in our community as registered nurses,” President Skip Sullivan said. “West Georgia Tech is committed to offering a program that produces the best RNs in the state. We look forward to seeing these students reach their own personal goals and help improve the health of our community at the same time.”
WCTC Foundation Receives Support from Tanner
Tanner Health System supports training for health services students
Posted: October 13, 2009
The West Central Technical College Foundation has received a gift from Tanner Health System in support of the College’s programs to train healthcare workers – including nurses, radiographers, surgical techs and lab techs.
The Foundation announced the gift publicly August 15 at its annual Black Tie & Boots concert.
“We are tremendously grateful for the support of Tanner Health System,” West Georgia Technical College President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “Tanner is a true leader and pace-setter organization in our community. They prove that they are a true community partner by supporting local educational entities like West Georgia Tech.”
Tanner President and CEO Loy Howard said the hospital system and WGTC have a long-standing partnership.
“West Georgia Tech trains a large number of the skilled medical personnel we need to operate our health system locally,” Howard said. “We clearly would not have the skilled workforce we require to function without their graduates. Conversely, we support them as their students have clinical rotations at our hospitals and offices, our staff serves on advisory committees at the College and we cooperate on a number of community initiatives.
“It is only natural for Tanner’s board to vote to support West Georgia Tech as the College is building resources for healthcare programs,” Howard said.
Sullivan agreed. “We have a decades-long relationship of cooperation between our organizations. The fact that Tanner is stepping to the plate and supporting us even in a time of economic turmoil is testimony to the fact that ours is a solid and lasting friendship – one that is built on the shared commitment to providing this community with the highest-quality healthcare available anywhere.”
Tanner’s gift goes to support the Foundation’s Healthcare Initiative, which is building resources for enhancing training, expanding existing Health Services programs, establishing new programs and improving equipment and facilities.
“We don’t believe there is a better organization our College could be associated with,” Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook said. “We speak proudly of our association with Tanner Health System in our community.”
Tanner Senior Vice President Larry Steed also serves on the WCTC Foundation board of trustees and spoke to the impact the gift will have for students.
“I see the gift as a way to invest in the lives of students,” Steed said. “They need to be trained on the very best and most current equipment, and WGTC provides this. But that is not a static goal. As fast as technology changes today, it requires constant investment in facilities, equipment, faculty, you name it. I am really proud to be a part of a partnership that can reap such great dividends for WGTC students who could be potential Tanner employees.”
Besides the Healthcare Fund, the Invest in the Next Generation campaign is raising funds in three other areas, the Coweta Campus Fund, the Student Scholarship and Grant Fund and the Adult Education and Literacy Fund, Cook said.
The WCTC Foundation has divided the campaign into county regions, with Cook and Sullivan co-chairing the Carroll County effort. GreyStone Power President/CEO Gary Miller is overall campaign chair.
Cook said teams in each county are beginning the process of making proposals for support to numerous businesses, organizations and individuals.
Bremen realtor Delores Goldin is serving as vice-chair for Haralson County. Georgia Power area manager Jan Alligood is heading the Coweta County area. Retired banker and current school administrator Julian Carter is vice-chair for Douglas County.
Cook encouraged those interested in the campaign to contact their county’s vice-chair, or to visit the College’s website, www.westgatech.edu, to give online.
Nix to Give WGTC Commencement Address
Posted: October 1, 2009
District 69 State Representative Randy Nix (R-LaGrange) will give the commencement address to West Georgia Technical College graduates in fall exercises October 15, the College announced today.
Nix, a LaGrange resident, will address the first graduates from a newly merged West Georgia Tech, which now covers seven counties, five campus and over 7,700 credit students.
“We could not be more honored than to have Randy Nix speak at our first combined graduation, President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “He has proven himself a steadfast supporter of West Georgia Tech and of technical education across the state.”
Nix graduated from Troy State University with a B.S. in Business and is a graduate of Southern Trust School with advanced studies in financial planning. His business career includes financial services, investments, insurance and banking. He was endorsed by the Georgia Republican Party, Republican Liberty Caucus, the Rural Caucus, and is a member of the National Rifle Association and Rotary Club.
In the Georgia House, Nix serves on four committees: Banks & Banking, Economic Development and Tourism, Education, and Natural Resources & Environment. As a member of the these committees and the Secretary of Natural Resources & Environment, Representative Nix helps to promote good will and benefit the people of Georgia through the enactment of proper laws, conservation, and legitimate legislation.
In addition to his community and political activities, Nix served in the Alabama Air National Guard as a Weapons System Officer flying the RF-4C and was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. He was a graduate of the Academy of Military Science. He also served as a Chaplain’s Assistant in the Army Reserve as a Sergeant.
Nix will speak as West Georgia Tech awards about 175 associate degrees and technical diplomas. An additional 250 students will be recognized for completion of a technical certificate of credit.
Graduation will begin at 7 p.m. on the College’s Murphy Campus in Waco, Georgia.
Area Counties Get Look at Burson Center
Posted: September 24, 2009
A seminar held this week in Carrollton aims to share with other local counties a measure of Carroll Tomorrow’s success with its small business incubator, the Burson Center.
The seminar – held by the Economic Development Division of West Georgia Technical College and The Burson Center – brought together neighboring counties for a discussion about providing facilities, services and resources for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Representatives from chambers of commerce and development authorities in Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, and Heard counties heard a presentation by Burson Center Director Donna Armstrong Lackey and Daniel Jackson, president/CEO of Carroll Tomorrow and the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. The seminar was organized by Dr. Pete Snell, Assistant Vice President of Economic Development at West Georgia Tech.
Armstrong, Jackson and Snell agreed that the purpose of the seminar was to be informative and foster a level of cooperative regionalism with regard for economic development and, specifically, for offering facilities, services and resources to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
“We think the Burson Center provides a model and is the ideal location for this seminar,” Snell said. “We began with a tour of the facility and followed that with a roundtable discussion including topics from the inception of the Burson Center to the realities of sustaining the Center including stories of success and failure.”
The Burson Center is a nonprofit investment for local economic development that helps entrepreneurs and small businesses mature to a point where they may be successful with creating new jobs and commerce, Lackey said.
“We are pleased that West Georgia Tech could be a catalyst for this meeting,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “It is important that we, as a College, foster relationships across our region that help us share our strengths. The West Georgia region doesn’t need seven small business incubators that are competing with one another for the same market niche. We need to understand services that are already available so that every community can find something viable and practical for its area.”
The Burson Center, a Carroll Tomorrow initiative, hosts the Resources for Innovation, Small Business and Entrepreneurship program, often referred to as RISE. This system of services facilitates small business growth in the West Georgia region by encouraging new ventures, serial entrepreneurs, innovation and expansion of existing business. The Center houses a 24,400 square foot mixed-use incubator for new and growing companies, all operating under one roof, sharing services, programming and equipment.
Technical assistance is part of the incubation process, Lackey said.
“Developing business plans, cash flow projections, financing options, global trade opportunities and market research are just a few of the services coordinated through the Center in cooperation with our RISE Partners,” she said.
Other resources include in-house legal and accounting assistance, training seminars, mentoring, business to business networking and technical support.
Individuals planning to start a business in West Georgia or existing companies already in operation in the region are eligible for assistance through the Burson Center. Applicants should contact the Burson Center to obtain a copy of the Client Handbook which outlines requirements and explains program services. Completed Applications and accompanying business plans are reviewed for consideration.
For more information about the Burson Center, visit www.bursoncenter.com.
GED Program Marks First Anniversary
From: LaGrange Daily News
Posted: September 8, 2009
It’s been a year since ten nursing home residents from Twin Fountains Home went back to school to earn their high school diploma through the GED program at West Georgia Technical College. Since then, two of their classmates died. Despite their loss, they gained three new students; senior adults who live in the community and come to Twin Fountains each week for classes.
A celebration was held recently marking the first anniversary of the program. During that time, the students have been making steady progress according to instructor Jewell Albright, of West Georgia Technical College’s adult education program. “This is one of the best classes I’ve ever taught in my life,” said Albright, who teaches classes twice a week at the nursing home. “The students in public schools could learn a lot from these older students. They come in hurting from their physical ailments and with a lot of pain, but they want to be here.
One of the students, 87-year-old Sara Jones, has improved her writing and reading skills to the level that she wrote a song to share with the group. “Some people have asked me ‘why am I attempting to earn my high school diploma at my age’?” she said. “Well, I am doing it for my grandchildren. I plan to walk across that stage at graduation and show them my diploma.”
Her son, Mickey Jones has been her biggest supporter. “I am proud of my mama,” he said.
Dr. Edwin Smith, Troup County superintendent of schools, attended the anniversary celebration and presented the students with gift bags donated by WGTC. “You have this desire to build your skills and knowledge,” he said. “I congratulate all of you for continuing to learn. No one does it better than you.”
Albright agreed. “A doctor tried to tell me that you can’t learn new things past a certain age,” she said. “Don’t tell me learning stops, these students are proof that it doesn’t.”
Supporting America’s Deployed Troops
Posted: September 2, 2009
The RADS CLUB (Radiological Association for the Development of Students) at West Georgia Technical College’s LaGrange Campus is participating in a project that is on-going in Georgia that benefits our military now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s called Operation Sandbox Georgia.
Operation Sandbox GA, based in Oxford, Georgia, was founded in 2004 by Virginia and Julie Pearson and sends weekly care packages to military troops stationed overseas.
“A package from home is a nice way to let our military know we care,” said Wanda Barbee, Radiography Program Director. “We will be coordinating our efforts with Courtney Hall, a LaGrange wife and mother whose husband is currently serving in Afghanistan, and others in our community and state that are assisting in this project.”
Collection boxes are located in the three student centers on the LaGrange West Campus for those wishing to participate.
Suggested non-perishable items suitable for shipping are travel-size hygiene products, single powder-drink mixes, baby wipes, DVD’s (PG13 and family movies) and non-perishable snack foods. A full list of items can be found at www.operationsandboxga.com.
Dental Hygiene Students Have A Busy Summer
Posted: September 2, 2009
Dental Hygiene students from West Georgia Technical College assisted at the statewide Special Olympics held at Emory University on May 30. Our hygiene students assisted dentists by entering oral health information into a database and reviewed brushing and flossing techniques with the athletes. This event is held at Emory University every year and this was the fourth year our students have participated.
Two students, Tiffany Kessler and Heather Boyles, were chosen by a draw of names to attend the American Dental Hygienist’s Association’s (ADHA) Annual Session in June. This event was held in Washington, DC and while there, the students were able to meet and get a picture with Dr. Esther Wilkins, a pioneer in the dental hygiene profession.
In August, many students volunteered at the “Give Kids a Chance” annual event in Hiram by providing dental screenings for students before the beginning of the school year. The students that helped with this event were Erika Raye, Michelle Kneubuhler, Vanessa Childress, Lisa Melvin, Erica Tessereau, and Khoung Vu. This was the second year that WGTC students have participated.
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West Ga. Tech increasingly popular choice for county's recent high school grads
By: Laura Camper/Times-Georgian
Posted: August 27, 2009
Area high school graduates are nearly as likely to choose West Georgia Technical College to continue their education as the University of West Georgia, according to a report released by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement.
Perhaps not surprisingly, from 2000 to 2007, the top two schools chosen by local graduates, UWG and WGTC, are also local. Carrollton High School graduates were more likely to go the more traditional post-high school route. About twice as many graduates chose UWG as WGTC, with 436 or 32 percent attending the university and 206 or 15 percent attending the technical college.
Maybe more surprising, graduates of the Carroll County Schools system are almost as likely to choose WGTC as UWG. Thirty-five percent, or 1,012 of county graduates, chose to attend UWG while 901 or 30 percent chose WGTC.
That’s not surprising to Dawn Cook, vice president of Institutional Advancement for WGTC. She’s watched the median age of students fall as new graduates join the non-traditional students on campus.
“Our median age is between 26 and 27 right now, as opposed to 29 to 30 three years ago,” Cook said. “Our student population is actually getting younger.”
The younger students are just discovering the perks that drew the non-traditional students to the college, she said. WGTC doesn’t offer four-year degree programs, but it does offer an affordable, convenient and fast education that can lead into a well-paying career.
Some of the most popular programs are in the School of Health Sciences – programs such as nursing, radiological technology, dental assisting, clinical laboratory tech and surgical technology. For this coming fall, 36 percent of WGTC’s new student applications are for degree or diploma-level health-services programs.
“The job placement in those particular programs is so good, that’s one of the reasons people go into the health field,” Cook said. “Some of it is actually driven by the general growth in the health-care industry itself.”
Other popular programs are commercial truck driving, early childhood education, welding, automotive technology, criminal technology and business and administrative technology, she said.
Convenience is also a factor. With five campuses, evening and online classes, the college is very convenient to students, allowing them to work around jobs and other responsibilities. The school is seeing huge growth in its online courses because of the flexibility the classes offer, Cook said.
WGTC’s education programs are fast. The longest program the college has is a two-year associate’s degree program. The students are ready to move into their chosen careers in a matter of months in many cases. And the cost of classes at WGTC at $40 a credit hour is very affordable, especially when compared to $164 a credit hour at UWG.
For students who live in the area, WGTC is an accessible, affordable choice, Cook said.
“Our students tend to live, work, play and pay taxes right here in West Georgia,” she said. “There is a campus that is convenient to citizens in west Georgia. There is no reason for them to go off to another college.”
West Georgia Tech popular with local grads
From Staff Reports - LaGrange Daily News
Posted: August 24, 2009
West Georgia Technical College is a popular destination for high school graduates.
The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement has released a report highlighting where Georgia high school graduates from 2000-2007 attended college. West Georgia Tech, created by a July 1 merger of Carrollton-based West Central Technical College and LaGrange-based West Georgia Technical College, was rated the No. 1 choice of graduates in the Troup, Heard, Meriwether and Haralson county school systems. Additionally, WGTC is ranked No. 2 in Bremen City, Carroll County, Carrollton City, Coweta County and Douglas County schools.
WGTC ranks at No. 5 in Paulding County, which isn’t a part of its service area.
The findings show a Technical College System of Georgia school was one of the top 10 destinations for students in 165 out of 180 Georgia school systems from 2000-08, and the most popular choice for students in 62 systems.
The 200-page report highlights which schools were most popular to recent graduates, which out-of-state schools were most popular and the enrollment differences between public and private colleges.
WGTC Student Elected to State Office
Posted: August 24, 2009
West Georgia Technical College Registered Nursing student Nikal Redwine has been elected the 51st President of the Georgia State Society of Medical Assistants. She will take office in April.
Redwine will be the first African-American and the youngest person ever to hold the office.
“It is a great honor to be elected President,” Redwine said. “You have to give back, and the Society gives me that opportunity to share the knowledge and the experiences that I have had. I believe you have to pay it forward.”
Redwine began her education at what was then Carroll Tech in the medical transcription program. After completing her medical assisting certification elsewhere, Redwine got involved with the state society through West Georgia Tech’s sister school, Chattahoochee Technical College. Redwine serves on the medical assisting advisory committee at Chattahoochee Tech, which serves Paulding County, where she lives.
Prior to her election as President, Redwine has served the Georgia State Society as Vice President, Membership Chairman, and Awards Chairman. She currently serves as the President of the Cobb County Association of the Medical Assistants and is an active member of the American Association of Medical Assistants.
“I keep coming back to West Georgia Tech,” Redwine said. “I started when it was Carroll Tech, I started back here when it was West Central Tech, and now I am entering the RN program at West Georgia Tech. The College has truly been available at all stages of my life and education.”
Redwine credits the state and national societies with great opportunities for continuing education, networking and community service.
“As a medical assistant, you have to keep learning. The Society does a great job of providing continuing education classes to help medical assistants maintain their certification and to help us keep current on new developments in our profession.”
“We are extremely proud of Ms. Redwine and her achievements on both the local and state level,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “We want our students to be active in leadership roles as these opportunities help them develop professionally and personally. Ms. Redwine is certainly a good example of the excellence our students display on a daily basis.”
WGTC seeks funding from state for campuses
by Laura Camper/Times-Georgian
Posted: August 20, 2009
With the state and the nation in deep recession, asking the Legislature for money is especially difficult, but heating systems still break, growth still occurs and enrollments at schools still increase, making the requests necessary if not particularly welcome.
West Georgia Technical College was faced with that task Tuesday as it asked its local legislators to consider requesting $4 million for its West Campus in LaGrange and Carrollton to repair aging heating and cooling systems.
“We doctor, we tweak, we patch, we do whatever we can,” said Dr. Skip Sullivan, president of West Georgia Technical College. “We do not have the ability, in terms of dollars, to save dollars over time to replace something so expensive.”
Carrollton is the most populous of the West Georgia Tech campuses, with more students taking classes at the local site than any other, but the HVAC system is 40 years old and needs renovation. The LaGrange campus has one building that uses $40,000 in monthly utility charges. That building, a former industrial building, needs a new system to make it comfortable and affordable for the college.
State Sen. Mitch Seabaugh, R-Sharpsburg, noted that the LaGrange building had been renovated already and asking for more money now may be a hard sell, especially in this tough economic climate.
“The obvious question that is going to be on some people’s minds and more than likely we’ll get it from the governor’s office is, ‘OK, well what else is there?’” Seabaugh said.
Sullivan also had some requests that would affect the entire Technical College System of Georgia. The system is funded by a formula set by the state. But the state has not been fully funding the formula, making it very difficult for the colleges to accommodate the huge growth in student enrollments. In addition, colleges receive funding based on their enrollments from two years before. So, it will be two years before the schools see any funding for the growth they are experiencing now. Given the economy, Sullivan knows that funding will not happen this year. But, in the future, as the economy improves, that funding will help the colleges in the system catch up with the growth and prepare for future lean times.
“When the economy suffers, our enrollment goes up,” Sullivan said. “We have increased the number of students overall at the college so drastically that we need some help at some point in time going back and fully funding that formula for the colleges.”
Sullivan asked that legislators consider the impact of new buildings on a campus beyond just the construction and furnishing costs. Once the building is finished and open, staff and faculty will be working there, but the funding for the new building doesn’t include money to pay them.
“We are in the process of opening a building in Douglasville,” Sullivan said. “It’s the fourth building on our campus in Douglasville, about 55,000 square feet. It is opening this fall. ... But when the building comes on board, we have no extra dollars to fund the 10 faculty that we’ve already hired for that facility and the other support, the extra security or the clerical support. There’s nothing that comes with buildings.”
The college will also be constructing two more buildings over the next couple of years in Coweta County, where the college is seeing a lot of need for its services. Coweta is the most populous county in WGTC’s service area but has the lowest enrollment and the college is trying to make education more accessible to the population.
“For many of our colleges, and I would say for all of them that get new buildings without faculty and staff attached to it, it’s a huge burden,” said Frieda Hill, deputy commissioner for the Technical College System of Georgia. “What you end up doing is you’re raping your main campus or one of your other campuses trying to bring them in and then everybody gets spread really, really thin.”
It’s challenging to find money for anything but emergency projects during a time when cuts are costing jobs all over the state, not only in state agencies but in private business. The legislators are faced with possibly making more cuts when they head back to the Capitol in January. The state’s population is still increasing even as revenue drops month after month, said state Rep. Mark Butler, R-Carrollton.
“We already cut a significant amount of money out of this budget,” Butler said. “It’s getting to the point where it’s getting draconian.”
He doesn’t think things have hit bottom yet, but better days are coming. Even when the rest of the state starts seeing improvement, it takes several months for state government to reap the benefits. New funding may not be in the cards for this year.
“We are excited that we are employed, speaking for my staff,” Sullivan said. “But more than that, there are a lot of people right now who are unemployed who are knocking on our door every single day. They are at their wits’ end. They don’t have any other option.”
No Vacancy: Blake Shelton Sells Out
Posted: August 11, 2009
With featured artist Blake Shelton’s “I’ll Just Hold On” continuing to ride high on the country charts, the West Central Technical College Foundation has another sell-out crowd for its eighth annual Black Tie & Boots concert August 15 in Waco.
“We are proud to announce another sell-out for Black Tie & Boots,” Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook said. “Our community continues to embrace Black Tie & Boots as one of the premiere events in West Georgia. We believe this year’s concert will be one of the best we’ve ever had.”
As in years past, Cook emphasized that Black Tie & Boots isn’t about arena-sized crowds with binoculars from the back row.
“We pride ourselves on putting our guests in a very special, intimate environment with the artist,” Cook said. “We could set up 1,000 chairs in the conference center and hold a concert, but part of the elegance of the evening is in the atmosphere, the beautiful meal, the decorations, the professional photography, the valet parking. We really, literally roll out the red carpet for our guests,” Cook said.
While the event’s theme remains under wraps, Cook would say that it will likely play off of Shelton’s status as one of country music’s hunkiest heartthrobs.
“This year’s artist was featured as one of People Magazine’s 2008 Sexiest Men of the Year,” she said. “And you have to take a fact like that into consideration.”
Shelton may be noted for his Hollywood good looks, but it’s the voice that his propelled him to the top of the country charts with hits like this week’s number 12, “I’ll Just Hold On.” Shelton’s Number Ones include “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” “Austin,” “The Baby,” “Some Beach” and “Home.”
His ongoing romance with fellow country star Miranda Lambert also has drawn attention. The two teamed up to perform “Bare Skin Rug” on Shelton’s latest album “Startin’ Fires.”
Longtime country fans will appreciate how Shelton has spent his summer – touring with George Strait. “I have the utmost respect for George Strait and to be invited to be on his tour is a huge honor,” Shelton said. “George is truly a living legend.”
Cook credits corporate sponsors for enabling the WCTC Foundation to land such big-name talent.
“I can’t thank our sponsors enough. They have caught the vision of technical education and what it means to our communities,” Cook said. “Having their support gives the Foundation the resources needed to support the College as it offers students the education and skills needed for high-tech, 21st century jobs.”
WCTC President Skip Sullivan said the concert is certainly unique among the Technical College System of Georgia.
“Some of our sister colleges have big fundraising galas and events, but no one else does what we do with the level of celebrity we are bringing to the state,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said he continues to be struck at the level of enthusiasm and curiosity people have for Black Tie & Boots.
“As soon as one concert is over, people want to know who will be there next year,” he said. “It has definitely become something the community and our sponsors look forward to each year. We’re very happy we can contribute to the fabric of our community.”
The Black Tie & Boots benefit includes a seated meal at 7 p.m. and the concert at 8 p.m. and is the WCTC Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year, Cook said.
“The proceeds go toward student scholarships, program improvements, facility upgrades and faculty development.
The event is absolutely crucial,” she said. “Our Foundation is giving $20,000 in student scholarships this year because of Black Tie & Boots and events like it.”
Cook said the WCTC Foundation continues forward with its plan to merge with the West Georgia Technical College Foundation headquartered in LaGrange.
“We believe it is the natural progression for foundations that have supported separate colleges to merge when those colleges merge,” she said. “We continue to work through this complicated process with assistance from our system office.
“We know it is confusing for people right now because of the different names, but the WCTC Foundation continues to support the work of the College as it always has, even though the College – since July 1 – is West Georgia Tech.”
Ambucare Sponsoring Specialized EMT Training at West Georgia Technical College
Posted: July 21, 2009
Ambucare Emergency Medical Services is sponsoring the first Critical Care Emergency Transport Program at West Georgia Technical College.
CCEMT-P is designed to prepare paramedics and nurses to function as members of a critical care transport team who deliver a specialized level of care for critical patients requiring transport between facilities.
WGTC’s first program has 16 participants who will gain an understanding of the special needs of critical patients during transport, become familiar with the purpose and mechanisms of hospital procedures and equipment, and develop the skills to maintain the stability of hospital equipment and procedures during transport.
The class of 16 includes a variety of medical personnel like Judy Waddle, a registered nurse at Higgins Hospital in Bremen.
Waddle said she wants the extra certification to be able to serve on a critical care transport team that can take patients to regional trauma centers such as those in Atlanta.
“Adding the paramedic portion of the program to the nursing skills I already have really puts it all together for me,” she said. “I’ll be able to transport critically ill patients as an RN on a critical care team.”
CCEMT-P was developed and is managed by the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The Medical College of Georgia, located in August, is one of the few organizations in the country that has been approved by UMBC for an Educational Site License.
Bill Hightower, owner and operator of Ambucare – Haralson County’s provider of emergency 911 critical care transport services and non-emergency transport services – recognized the demand for CCEMT-P in West Georgia.
Hightower and his staff were responsible for initiating the partnership between MCG and WGTC to offer the program.
“West Georgia Tech was the natural partner for this,” Hightower said. “They have five campuses providing the entire region a variety of workforce development services, and they have a proven track record in producing well-trained medical personnel in our community.”
WGTC, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, offers a variety of health services programs including EMT and Paramedic training, LPN, RN and several others.
“It is the support of business and industry partners such as Ambucare that allow for the College to develop and offer such a variety of workforce development programs,” Assistant Vice President for Economic Development Pete Snell said. “Ambucare not only helped the College initiate the implementation of this program, but they also provided a critical financial resource.”
President Dr. Skip Sullivan agreed.
“Bill Hightower and Ambucare have been steadfast supporters of our College,” he said. “The CCEMT program is just another example of a way the College is partnering with the private sector to fill a critical need in our community.”
Dental Hygiene Program Conducts Recognition Ceremony
Posted: July 9, 2009
The West Georgia Technical College Dental Hygiene Program presented pins signifying completion of the program to 12 graduating students at a recognition ceremony May 21.
Students receiving pins were Michelle Austin, Shannon Entrekin, Anna Hall, Jenny Heddinger, Melissa Knight, Keshia McCune, Carol Shumake, Vickie Stone, Scharrah Sylvester, Susan Thaxton, Jessica Vautin and Jessica Welch.
“As Clinic Coordinator of this program I want to acknowledge every one of these students for their commitment to quality care, for their hard work getting to this day, for the teamwork, and for excelling on so many levels," said Cherie Rainwater, Interim Program Director and Clinical Coordinator.
Several awards were presented at the ceremony.
Anna Hall was presented the Golden Scaler Award, which comes from the dental and surgical instrument manufacturer “Hu-Friedy” recognizing the student with the gift of instrumentation precision and the person that demonstrated the finest skills with patient care. This is the highest honor for clinical skills awarded at any dental hygiene pinning ceremony.
The Spirit Award was presented to Melissa Knight for being a quiet leader and good role model. This student accepted responsibility for her work, her success, and quietly did her job well.
Shannon Entrekin was award the Dental Hygiene Scholar Award for the highest National Board score.
Colgate Star Student Award was presented to Michelle Austin. This honor goes to a student who has exhibited compassion in patient care and has displayed enthusiasm for community service as a dental hygienist.
Pictured (l-r) bottom row: Jenny Heddinger, Keshia McCune, Susan N. Thaxton and Vickie Stone. Middle row: Jessica Vautin, Scharrah Sylvester, Carol Shumake and Jessica Welch. Top row: Michelle Austin, Anna Hall, Melissa Knight and Shannon Entrekin.
Dixie Darlin’s to appear in LaGrange – Part of WGTC Adult Summer Reading Program
Posted: July 6, 2009
WHAT: “The Dixie Darlin’s” a presentation of the West Georgia Technical College “Master the Art of Reading” Summer Reading Program
WHERE: West Georgia Technical College, LaGrange East Campus, Callaway Conference Center, 303 Fort Drive, LaGrange , Georgia 30240
WHEN: Saturday, July 11, 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
The Dixie Darlin’s, four Southern book-writing belles, will be serving up helpings of down-home humor and warmth at a 7 p.m. event Saturday, July 11 at the West Georgia Technical College LaGrange East Campus Callaway Conference Center.
And when the Dixie Darlin’s come to town, they don’t just sign books. They give a lively presentation, peppered with advice, animation and lots of anecdotes. Each Darlin’ has her own personality and her own books to her credit.
Julie L. Cannon is the author of Truelove & Homegrown Tomatoes, ‘Mater Biscuit, Those Pearly Gates, and The Romance Readers’ Book Club. Karin Gillespieis the author of Bet Your Bottom Dollar, A Dollar Short: Bottom Dollar Girls Go Hollywood and Dollar Daze which have been selected as Doubleday and Literary Guild featured alternatives. J. L. (Jackie Lee) Miles is the author of three books: Cold Rock River and Roseflower Creek and Divorcing. Patricia Sprinkle has drawn on her southern heritage to write 20 mysteries in three series, including the best-selling Thoroughly Southern series based in the fictitious Middle Georgia town of Hopemore.
The Dixie Darlin’s appearance at the LaGrange Campus is one of the highlights of the College’s summer reading program, in conjunction with the West Georgia Regional Library System, the Troup-Harris Regional Libraries and other area libraries.
“We are very excited to have the Dixie Darlin’s at West Georgia Tech,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “This is just one of several great events this summer, but it is one I think is going to be great fun for our guests. We hope they’ll enjoy the Darlin’s and get a hankering to read one of their great books.”
The event is free to the public and attendees are eligible for door prizes, including a basket of books. Individuals wishing to participate in the summer reading program can register online at www.wgrl.net/Home/AdultSummerReadingClub.htm and pledge to read at least one book this summer. Participants who register are eligible for daily drawings, as well as the grand prize drawing worth over $250. A full listing of program events can also be found at the website.
For more information please contact Karen Kirchler at 770-838-2541.
It's Official: West Georgia Technical College Emerges
Posted: July 1, 2009
A new state technical college is born today as Waco-based West Central Technical College and LaGrange-based West Georgia Technical College merge operations.
The new college, retaining the name West Georgia Tech, has campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional instructional sites in Heard and Meriwether counties.
College officials said though the merger was fast-tracked after a September vote of the Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, all systems are go for students who return to class July 7 for summer quarter.
“From the very beginning, this merger has been about students,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “We looked at both colleges and everything that had to be done and made a conscious choice that every decision we made would be to improve the student experience.
“We have more programs of study than ever before, we have more locations than ever before, we have more instructors than ever before. Every campus has a bookstore; every campus has admission, financial aid and business office personnel. A student can go to any campus to enroll, to pay a bill, to buy a book,” Sullivan said.
The College welcomed an evaluation team from the Southern Association of Colleges and schools in June that examined the entire operation based on accreditation standards.
“Our staff – to a person – has devoted many extra hours, nights and weekends to making sure we are ready for July 1, and truthfully, many of our processes and divisions were merged sooner than that,” Sullivan said.
Several divisions combined operations April 1, notable Institutional Advancement, which was charged with development of a new website – www.westgatech.edu – which is operational, and overseeing logo and name changes.
Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook said the entire process has been done with a careful eye on cost.
“We are always working to make the very best use of state funds,” Cook said. “And this merger is no different. Yes, new letterhead, new envelopes, new recruitment materials, all those items are needed, but we have managed our inventory in all these areas to consume old stock before switching to new.”
New signage, Cook said, will be purchased as funding is available.
“Signs have been purchased and installed at the Carroll Campus,” Cook said, but several of those were already needed because of construction and renovations at that campus, including construction of a new welding facility.
“We were actually able to save money when we changed the main sign in Carrollton by using a bucket truck that was on campus instead of having it come back out again,” Cook said.
As for the student experience, Sullivan said, if anything, it should be better.
“Most students won’t notice any change at all,” he said. “We hope those students that do will see changes that improve their experience.”
He pointed to the June 8 opening of a new bookstore in LaGrange that is owned and operated by West Georgia Tech – a first for that campus.
“We are delighted that students in LaGrange now have access to a wide variety of products in addition to their class textbooks,” he said. “We hope they will see this as ‘their bookstore,’ as we commit to providing affordable, high-quality merchandise.”
Jackie Earnest, a Registered Nursing student, made the second purchase at the store.
“I think the new bookstore is great,” Earnest said. “There is more merchandise to select.”
Sullivan said he and his staff are already anticipating fall quarter when student enrollment should brush 7,000 students.
“We are aiming for 7,000 students in the house this fall,” Sullivan said. “WCTC has seen eight consecutive quarters of double-digit enrollment growth, and we don’t plan to slow down.
“We see every number as a real life here in West Georgia that can be improved with the right training and education. These individuals have dreams and ambition for their own lives and our job is to empower them to realize those dreams.”
Hotel Replica Unveiling July 4
Posted: June 29, 2009
For 66 years, no one has seen the famous Lithia Springs Hotel – except in faded black and white photos.
That will change July 4 when the Tallapoosa Historical Society unveils a 9-foot high scale model built entirely with volunteer labor – including architectural design work by West Georgia Technical College Computer Aided Drafting Instructor Chris Summerville and six of his students.
The replica – housed at Tallapoosa’s West Georgia Museum – recreates in ¾ inch to 1 foot scale the fallen Tallapoosa landmark once claimed to be the largest wooden structure in the South. The Lithia Springs Hotel – built in 1881 and 1882 – was named for the nearby mineral springs which were the centerpiece of a 13-acre park that featured tennis courts, bowling alleys and riding trails. The hotel itself had 175 rooms, a large ballroom, banquet hall, billiard and pool rooms and an elevator. It was razed in 1943.
Work on the replica began about 18 months ago, Summerville said, when the board of the historical society decided to undertake the project. The first nine months were devoted to design work.
“We did drawings based on actual photos of the hotel,” Summerville said. “We would take the design to the historical society and let them make changes based on photographic evidence, personal recollection and other sources. After nine months of going back and forth, we decided we had everything we could find.”
The actual construction began when Summerville supplied Johnson Cabinet Shop with the architectural drawings. Owner Rodney Johnson was able to produce the main structural assembly on his CNC machine.
“We have had so many people contribute to this project, that once you start naming people, you leave someone out,” volunteer Jim Carter said. He has served as coordinator for the entire project, a job he said that grew in the doing.
Carter listed several local contractors – from roofers to woodcarvers – who have volunteered their time. The society bought the materials.
Summerville said the project gave his students a real work application of their technical training.
“The students really enjoyed it,” he said, listing Randy Redden, Hubert Hammack, Pat Chambers, Michael Wilson, David Carreno, and Kristen Cox as the main contributors. The students worked on the project every Wednesday, Summerville said.
West Georgia Tech President Dr. Skip Sullivan said he was most pleased with the fact that students had learned technical skills and applied them in a way to aid the community.
“What this class has done is a great example of the partnership and the involvement that West Georgia Tech has with our community,” Sullivan said. “We want to be more than a ‘good neighbor.’ Each of our campuses in integrated into its community. Our staff and students are members of this community and we, as a College, endeavor to give back to this community.”
After its unveiling immediately following the Tallapoosa July 4 parade, The Lithia Springs Hotel replica will be on permanent display in Tallapoosa’s West Georgia Museum. The parade begins at 1 p.m.
For Summerville and Carter, the day will mark the end of a satisfying project that began in a stack of old photographs.
“I believe we’ve built something that will be here when I’m dead and gone,” Carter said.
Blake Shelton: Ticket sales open July 1
Posted: June 29, 2009
If you’re yearning to see Blake Shelton live, you’ve still got a chance.
Despite robust demand for corporate sponsorships, West Georgia Technical College announced today that on July 1 it will open a limited block of tickets for its August 15 “Black Tie & Boots” benefit concert.
“Even in a soft economy, we have seen impressive demand for corporate sponsorships this year. Although seating is limited, we have added additional seating capacity to accommodate the demand for tickets,” Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook said.
The eighth annual concert includes valet parking, a professional photographer, and a seated dinner, so Cook and her staff have to consider not only seated capacity but also room for guests to comfortably maneuver throughout the venue.
“As our sponsors know, this is an elegant evening,” Cook said. “It is a black tie event with a wonderful meal and a stellar performance from one of country music’s top performers today. It is a great way for organizations to reward their employees for a job well done or simply to share an evening with family and friends.”
This year’s headliner, Blake Shelton, is one of Nashville’s hottest young hit-makers. He’s joining George Strait’s summer tour this year before riding to Waco for WGTC’s August 15 show at the Murphy Campus Conference Center.
The seventh annual concert is very close to selling out, Cook said. The limited number of individual and group tickets will go on sale July 1 at $125 per person or $950 per table, but corporate sponsorships which include tickets are still available.
The “Black Tie & Boots” benefit includes a seated meal at 7 p.m. and the concert at 8 p.m. and is the Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year, Cook said.
“The proceeds go toward student scholarships, program improvements, facility upgrades and faculty development. The event is absolutely crucial,” she said. “Our Foundation is giving $20,000 in student scholarships this year because of ‘Black Tie & Boots’ and events like it.”
The Foundation will also award its second “Spirit of Giving Award.” Last year’s inaugural award went to Carrollton resident Ronnie Jordan, owner of Jordan Truck Sales.
Past country artists who have performed at the annual concerts are Mark Wills, Patti Loveless, Diamond Rio, Collin Raye, Crystal Gayle and Lee Greenwood, Jo Dee Messina, and Sara Evans, who rocked West Central last year.
“This is our eighth year doing this,” Cook said, “and it has become such a community event that people in the west Georgia area eagerly anticipate the entertainer each year,” she said. “There is a lot of community awareness and networking that builds from this fundraising event each year.”
President Dr. Skip Sullivan said the College has come to rely on the Foundation’s support.
“When you look at the way they are supporting our students with scholarships, our faculty with reimbursement for continuing education, our plans for future growth through facility improvements, the Foundation is an essential part of our College going forward. We cannot do what we need to do for students without the Foundation and its support.
“I encourage people to come out and see Blake Shelton, have a good time and do something good to support our community and our students,” Sullivan said.
For more information about becoming a sponsor or to purchase tickets, contact Cook at dawn.cook@westgatech.edu or (770) 537-6010.
Walmart.com Donation to Aid Carroll County GED Students
Posted: June 25, 2009
The West Central Technical College Foundation and Carroll County LIFT were recipients June 22 of grants from Walmart.com of $1,000 each.
LIFT coordinator Laura Miller and WCTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook were on hand for a presentation ceremony at the Walmart.com distribution center in Carroll County. Both organizations will use the grants to aid the WCTC Adult Education division as it provides GED preparation and testing to Carroll County adults.
In the case of LIFT, the money will be used to provide school supplies to local literacy classes offered free by West Central Technical College.
The WCTC Foundation donation goes toward its Adult Education and Literacy Fund, which supports GED preparation and testing at West Central Tech.
“According to the latest census data, about 18,000 adults in Carroll County lack a high school diploma,” Cook said.
“Last year, West Central Technical College’s Adult Education program produced 849 GED graduates across Carroll, Coweta, Douglas and Haralson counties who decided to take control of their futures and take that first big step. Just based on sheer numbers, there are thousands more who desire this instruction and this most fundamental of education credentials. The Foundation is working to make this possible in our community.”
WCTC President Dr. Skip Sullivan agreed. “When I speak to GED graduations, I often tell them that the GED is the hardest diploma to earn, bar none. There is such a fear and dread of taking that first step and going back to school, that if you can do that, you should know that there is no dream too big for you to achieve,” Sullivan said. “We are proud to work with LIFT and literacy programs like it throughout our area.”
Pictured: Carroll County LIFT Coordinator Laura Miller, WCTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook and WCTC Vice President of Economic Development Peter Snell outside of Walmart.com after receiving checks to support adult education in Carroll County.
West Georgia Technical College Adult Education students celebrate end of quarter
Posted: June 25, 2009
More than 40 students enrolled in the Adult Education program at West Georgia Technical College recently celebrated the end of spring quarter with a pizza party and award ceremony. Troup County Certified Literate Community Program sponsored the event as a sign of appreciation for the work students are doing towards earning their GED.
Debbie Burdette, Executive Director of Troup CLCP commended the students saying, “We appreciate your hard work in the classroom. Earning your GED will not only change your life but the lives of your family and your community.’
“The support our program receives from Debbie and CLCP is invaluable in our efforts to increase the number of GED recipients in Troup County,” said Mary Edmondson, Executive Director of Adult Education at West Georgia Technical College.
Matthew Osborn has recently completed the battery of tests and successfully earned his GED. Osborn, who will start course work in the Health Sciences program at West Georgia Technical College in July, thanked Burdette for her work and also for the GED scholarship which covered the cost of the exams. “I was going through some tough financial times and the GED scholarship made it possible for me to complete the tests and earn my GED. I couldn’t have done it without them,” said Osborn who has dreams of one day becoming a doctor.
Pictured top (l-r): CLCP Board Members Dave Marler and Jane Carwell join student Mary Jim Pierce and Adult Education Instructor Jewel Albright in reviewing Pierce’s successful GED test results.
Pictured bottom: CLCP Board Member Dave Marler and Matthew Osborn review Osborn’s GED test scores. Osborn will receive his diploma at the June 26 GED Graduation Ceremony.
WCTC Foundation Announces Leadership
Posted: June 23, 2009
The West Central Technical College Foundation today announced its leadership team for the 2009-2010 year.
Malcolm Jackson, a retired industry executive from Coweta County, takes the gavel as Foundation President, replacing Douglas County banker Ned Fowler who is term limited from serving again. Retired manufacturing executive Don Moore of Douglasville is the Vice Chairman. Taking the Treasurer’s position is Larry Steed, Senior Vice President, at Tanner Health System.
“I am very pleased that we have such a great slate of officers for the 2010 year,” College President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “Each of these men have years of experience in large organizations that will serve them well as the Foundation enters new territory in the coming year.”
The WCTC Foundation has announced a 38-acre land donation in Coweta County that will enable the College to build a stand-alone campus there.
“New ventures for the Foundation in the next year – like the Coweta Campus and the merger of the WCTC Foundation and the West Georgia Tech Foundation – require sound leadership, which each of these men is well-capable of providing.”
Jackson served on the College’s local board of directors for nine years before taking a seat as a Foundation Trustee in 2008.
“This is an exhilarating time to be a part of the College and the Foundation,” Jackson said. “After many years of work, we are moving forward on a new Coweta Campus, and the merger with West Georgia Tech is providing our students with many more opportunities. I look forward to helping lead this great Foundation forward.”
Moore recently retired after 38 years in the manufacturing field including 11 at Southwire Co. and 25 at various levels of management with Bonnell Manufacturing Co. His last 12 years at Bonnell were as plant manager of the Newnan facility.
Moore has been active in support of Douglas County’s new College and Career Institute, which will open in the fall on the Douglas Campus of the College. The CCI is a charter career academy which will provide classes for dually enrolled high school students as well as adult learners.
“I look forward to this leadership role for the Foundation,” Moore said. “We have much work to do, but I think we have a great team in place to accomplish our goals over the next year.”
Steed brings years of experience in the healthcare industry to his role as Foundation Treasurer.
“I look forward to the work of merging the WCTC Foundation and the WGTC Foundation, as both boards have voted to do,” Steed said. “Complying with federal, state and our own internal regulations for these nonprofit organizations makes the merger challenging, but it will result in a strong Foundation that will be prepared to support West Georgia Tech as it fulfills its mission in seven counties.”
Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook said that though the Colleges officially merge July 1, the Foundation merger is following a different timeline due to federal guidelines for nonprofit agencies.
“We are working concurrently with both Foundation boards to get our processes, bylaws, policies and all our internal controls in place to make the merger go smoothly,” Cook said. “I’m very appreciative to Malcolm, Don and Larry for committing to the work ahead for the next year.”
Cook said once the Foundation merger is complete, the newly merged board will elect new officers.
“This will likely be the last slate of officers for the West Central Technical College Foundation as we know it,” she said.
Blake Shelton Concert
Posted: June 18, 2009
West Georgia Technical College is proud to welcome country music superstar Blake Shelton to our Eighth Annual Black Tie & Boots benefit Saturday, August 15, 2009.
Corporate sponsorships which include concert tickets and admission to a ‘meet and greet’ reception with Black Shelton are now available. Corporate sponsors will also receive acknowledgment in concert advertising, preferred seating and other benefits, depending on level of sponsorship.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public July 1 for $125 per person or $950 for a table of eight. Tickets include a seated dinner beginning at 7 p.m., followed by the concert at 8 p.m.
Black Tie & Boots is held at the Murphy Campus Conference Center, 176 Murphy Campus Blvd., Waco, Georgia 30182.
For more information on corporate sponsorships, tickets or any aspect of the event, contact Dawn Cook at dawn.cook@westgatech.edu or 770-537-6010.
GREYSTONE POWER GIVES TO WCTC FOUNDATION
Posted: June 12, 2009
The West Central Technical College Foundation today announced a $250,000 donation by GreyStone Power Corporation and the GreyStone Power Foundation, both headquartered in Douglasville.
The gift is part of the WCTC Foundations major gifts campaign “Invest in the Next Generation.”
“We are tremendously thankful for the support of GreyStone Power Corporation and its Foundation,” College President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “GreyStone is a leader in our community, and they are proving it by supporting local causes like West Central Tech.”
“For our part, we recognize the incredible impact West Central Tech has in our community,” GreyStone President/CEO Gary Miller said. “The work of the College changes the lives of real people in our community. As a community, we need to stand up and support that effort.”
Miller also is serving as Chairman of the Invest in the Next Generation campaign, which had its public kickoff April 30 at the College’s original campus in Carrollton.
GreyStone Power Corporation is a member-owned electric cooperative which serves portions of eight metropolitan Atlanta counties including Douglas, Paulding, Fulton, Coweta, Cobb, Fayette, Carroll, and Bartow.
“Our College is in the economic development and workforce development business,” WCTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook said. “Garry Miller and GreyStone Power recognize that our students are fuel for West Georgia’s economic engine. They live, work, play and pay taxes here. They have homes and businesses that use electricity supplied by GreyStone. Supporting this campaign is all about this community helping itself.”
The Invest in the Next Generation campaign is raising funds in four areas, the Coweta Campus Fund, the Student Scholarship and Grant Fund, the Healthcare Fund and the Adult Education and Literacy Fund, Cook said.
The WCTC Foundation has divided the campaign into county regions, with Julian Carter heading the Douglas County effort. Carter was recently named CEO of the College and Career Institute, a collaborative partnership between West Central Tech and Douglas County Schools.
“I can’t say enough about the fine job Gary Miller is doing leading this campaign,” Carter said. “For his organization to come back to us with this level of support – a lead gift – is really terrific.”
Cook said teams in each county are beginning the process of making proposals for support to numerous businesses, organizations and individuals.
Bremen realtor Delores Goldin is serving as co-chair for Haralson County. Georgia Power area manager Jan Alligood is heading the Coweta County area. Sullivan and Cook are co-chairs for Carroll County.
Cook encouraged those interested in the campaign to contact their county’s co-chair, or to visit the College’s website, www.westgatech.edu, to give online.
Pictured: GreyStone Power Corporation and the GreyStone Power Foundation are donating $250,000 to the West Central Technical College Foundation. Douglas County Vice Chair Julian Carter and WCTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook are shown with GreyStone Power President/CEO Gary Miller.
WCTC Foundation Gets Dollar General Donation
Posted: June 10, 2009
The West Central Technical College Foundation has been awarded a $12,000 Adult Literacy Grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
“We are so grateful for Dollar General’s support of our adult literacy and education programs,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “Our adult literacy and GED preparation classes empower real people to change their lives through education.”
Dawn Cook, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, said the grant will support the Adult Literacy and Education Initiative of the Foundation’s Major Gifts Campaign.
“The College’s Adult Education Division has put together a plan to develop a GED FastTrack program that would prepare students who are at or near test readiness in an accelerated fashion – like a boot camp for adult education,” Cook said. “The grant will help with this.”
Ribbon Cutting marks Grand Opening of New WGTC Bookstore
Posted: June 10, 2009
Students on West Georgia Technical College’s LaGrange Campus now have a College-owned and operated retail center.
WGTC’s newest bookstore celebrated its grand opening on the LaGrange west campus June 8.
“We are delighted that students in LaGrange now have access to a wide variety of products in addition to their class textbooks,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “We hope they will see this as ‘their bookstore,’ as we commit to providing affordable, high-quality merchandise West Georgia Tech can be proud of.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony featured remarks by Provost Perrin Alford and Vice President of Administrative Services Greg Nelson in front of the bookstore.
Bookstore Assistant Earnestine “EJ” Jones and Bookstore Manager Barbara Treadwell used ceremonial scissors to open the doors of the new college bookstore.
Following the ribbon cutting, faculty, staff, students and community members were able to tour the spacious new facility located just off the main lobby. The bookstore was open for business and Registered Nursing student Louis Jimenez made the first purchase. Jackie Earnest, another RN student, made the second purchase.
“I think the new bookstore is great,” Earnest said. “There is more merchandise to select.”
The bookstore is open to the public and offers textbooks, giftware, clothing and other supplies. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The store is closed from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. each day for lunch.
Pictured (l-r): EJ Jones, Bookstore Assistant and Barbara Treadwell, Bookstore Manager.
Radiologic Technology Graduates Receive Pins at Annual Ceremony
Posted: June 10, 2009
Graduates of West Georgia Technical College’s Radiologic Technology program received pins signifying successful completion of their academic and clinical coursework at a pinning ceremony held at the Callaway Conference Center June 4th.
Students receiving pins include: Megan Barber, Marcia Boutte, MeLinda M. Brunair, Cindy Crawley, Abimbola O. Daramola, Jann Dawe, Victor A. Emekwue, Levi Graves, Ian Mathews, Kim Metzger, Jo Lynn Rosemas, Jesse Slaughter and Dessrae Smith.
Awards for academic excellence in the program were also presented during the evening. Jesse Slaughter received the CT Cowart Best All Around Award. Marcia Boutte received the Edward Mallinckrodt Award of Excellence for highest scholastic achievement. The JT Mitchell Clinical Award for highest clinical achievement was presented to Cindy Crawley.
MASTER THE ART OF READING: A SUMMER READING PROGRAM FOR ADULTS
Posted: May 28, 2009
WHAT: “Master the Art of Reading” Summer Adult Reading Program sponsored by West Georgia Technical College
WHERE: WGTC campuses and libraries throughout Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, Heard, Meriwether and Troup counties.
WHEN: June 6th through July 24th
CONTACT: Karen Kirchler, 770-838-2541
Summer reading’s not just for the kids anymore.
With a goal of promoting literacy throughout its seven-county area, West Georgia Technical College is launching a summer reading initiative, “Master the Art of Reading.”
The College, which officially forms July 1 from West Central Technical College and the current West Georgia Technical College, hopes to encourage the community at large – not just students – to read this summer.
The College is partnering with the West Georgia Regional Library System, the Coweta County Library, and other area libraries and literacy providers to increase public access to the program.
“Reading is an essential skill in our society,” President Skip Sullivan said. “As a College, our mission is workforce development. A workforce can’t be prepared unless it can read. But even beyond that, reading opens us to new ideas, thoughts and possibilities we might never have considered. It is extremely important.”
While area libraries have typically run summer reading programs for kids, Roni Tewksbury of the West Georgia Regional Library System said their system has wanted to run an adult summer reading program for years.
“It’s always been about resources – not having enough of them to do everything we want,” she said. “But the partnership with West Georgia Tech makes it possible for us to do it this year.”
Program events include book talks and presentations by a number of regional writers including Georgia Writers Hall of Fame member Terry Kay, the Dixie Darlins (authors Patricia Sprinkle, Karen Gillespie, Jackie Miles and Julie Cannon), mystery writer Fran Stewart, Native American author Billie Jane McIntosh, and local author Shirley Garrett. Other events will be added as the project grows.
The program also requires participants to take a pledge – to read at least one book this summer. For avid readers, that may sound like a small commitment, but as Sullivan pointed out, “reading is a real luxury for some, especially in terms of time. When we get away from reading, we forget how much it enriches us.”
Sullivan said for busy people, months may pass without picking up a book. He said he hopes the program will remind people of the importance of taking the time to read.
Program participants can sign up and pledge through the West Georgia Regional Library System website, www.wgrl.net/Home/AdultSummerReadingClub.htm. A full listing of program events can be found at the website and individuals who attend program events and pledge to read a book are entered into drawings for door prizes.
WCTC, WGTC credits will transfer to Southern Polytechnic
Posted: May 28, 2009
The leadership of the Technical College System of Georgia, Southern Polytechnic State University and the University System of Georgia have signed an agreement which expands transfer credits between TCSG colleges and SPSU.
Locally, students at West Central Technical College and West Georgia Technical College are covered under the agreement.
TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson, SPSU President Lisa Rossbacher, USG Chief Operating Officer Rob Watts and presidents from 22 TCSG colleges added their signatures to the agreement that allows TCSG students to apply their associate’s degree credits to one of five technology-focused baccalaureate degrees at SPSU. To qualify, students will have to graduate in designated programs from any of the 22 TCSG colleges that are regionally accredited by the SACS - Commission on Colleges.
The five degrees from SPSU are industrial engineering technology, mechanical and electromechanical engineering technology, and bachelor of applied science in manufacturing process, information technology, or management.
“This is an exceptionally important partnership because it expands and strengthens seamless access to higher education opportunities for college students throughout Georgia,” Jackson said. “I’m very grateful to SPSU President Lisa Rossbacher and the University System of Georgia for their commitment to working with the TCSG to strengthen articulation between our systems. We’re collaborating to create learning avenues that better serve our students and contribute to a more educated and prosperous Georgia.”
West Central Tech and West Georgia Tech are merging July 1, and students from both colleges will be covered by the agreement
“We believe it is extremely important that our graduates have many opportunities in the job market and in other institutions of higher learning,” WCTC President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “We stay in touch with many colleges across the state – both within the University System and without – and we continue to pursue additional articulation agreements.”
WCTC currently has articulation agreements with several college and universities including Brewton-Parker College, Mercer University, Strayer University and the University of West Georgia. Articulation agreements define course credit that can be transferred from one college to another.
National Technical Honor Society Inducts New Members
Posted: May 14, 2009
West Georgia Technical College inducted 35 students into the National Technical Honor Society on Tuesday, May 12. NTHS has a long history of recognizing outstanding career and technical students. The society was founded in 1984 and continues today to carry out its mission to lift up and publicly acknowledge students committed to excellence, values, courage, and achievement.
Students inducted into NTHS are recognized as honest and responsible student-citizens who have made a personal commitment to excellence through academic, leadership and service achievements and contributions.
New Officers for 2009 - 2010 are: Sherry Williamson, President; Candy, Vice President; Delondia Nelson, Secretary and Linda Sykes, Treasurer.
New inductees are: Candy, Accounting; James Aaron, Fire Science; William Anderson, Industrial Mechanical Systems; Kristy Atterberry, Business Administrative Technology; Marcia Boutte, Radiologic Technology; Christian Brown, Business Administrative Technology; Dewey Brown, Applied Manufacturing Technology; Amanda Bulloch, Nursing; Bruce Clair, Network Systems; Jennifer Copeland, Business Administrative Technology; Cynthia Crawley, Radiologic Technology; Janice Dawe, Radiologic Technology; Lauren Elliott, Accounting; QiaoLing Greer, Accounting; Patricia Hamre, Accounting; Jennifer Harris, Accounting; Tyron Harris, Machine Tool Technology; Yulanda Holloway, Accounting; Joshua Hudson, Drafting; Mae Kurihara, Health Occupations; Barbara Larson, Accounting; Alisha McClellan, Business Administrative Technology; Jeffrey McKenzie, Fire Science; Kimberly Metzger, Radiologic Technology; Delondia Nelson, Business Administrative Technology; Ken Pangle, Applied Manufacturing Technology; Jo Lynn Rosemas, Radiologic Technology; Chad Schaefer, Fire Science; Jesse Slaughter, Radiologic Technology; Coleman Strother, Industrial Mechanical Systems; Linda Sykes, Accounting; James Vickers, Fire Science; Thomas Waldroup, Fire Science; Sherry Williamson, Business Administrative Technology and Kevin Wynn, Fire Science.
