Ogeechee Tech Funeral Service Education Student Presented GFDA Scholarship

Charles Blewett, a student in the Funeral Service Education program at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, was presented a $1000 scholarship at the Georgia Funeral Directors Association annual conference on St. Simons Island, Georgia recently. GFDA annually presents a scholarship to an Ogeechee Tech FSE student who works at a member firm and who meets the academic criteria set forth by the association. A resident of Effingham County, Blewett works with Thomas C. Strickland and Sons Funeral Homes in Effingham and Chatham Counties. Georgia Funeral Directors Association president, Bryan Evans, of Platt’s Funeral Home in Evans, Georgia, presented the scholarship check and a certificate commemorating the recognition. Ogeechee Tech instructor, Crystal Vinson, was on hand for the presentation.In making the scholarship presentation, Evans stated, “It is an honor to assist deserving students by supporting them financially. We trust this is money well spent by investing in the future of funeral service.” Blewett thanked the assembled group of conference attendees and said that the funds will be put to good use.

Ogeechee Tech Rad Tech Students Pinned

Eleven Radiologic Technology students who completed their program of study at Ogeechee Technical College were recognized at a pinning ceremony on June 10 at the College. Students celebrated with family members, friends, faculty, and staff in the Joseph E. Kennedy auditorium. Students and faculty members participated in making presentations at the event, and a special slide show was presented commemorating the students’ time at Ogeechee Tech. Rad Tech instructors, Matt Dunn and Jan Martin, affixed an Ogeechee Tech Rad Tech pin to each student’s uniform. A reception immediately after the pinning ceremony was held in the Kennedy lobby.

OTC Vet Tech Students Receive Pins

Veterinary Technology students at Ogeechee Technical College celebrated the completion of their program of study with a pinning ceremony on June 9. Held in the auditorium of the Joseph E. Kennedy Building on Ogeechee Tech’s main campus, the ceremony provided an opportunity for reflection about their time spent in the Vet Tech program, and allowed family members, friends, and College officials to join in recognizing students for their accomplishments in completing the program.Eight students were spotlighted as they lit a ceremonial candle, and received their Veterinary Technology lapel pin to be worn on their uniforms. Following the ceremony, attendees moved into the lobby of the Kennedy building for a reception.

Lyman Monroe Joins OTC Fire Science

Ogeechee Technical College’s new Fire Science Program Director and Instructor, Lyman Monroe, is a decorated and dedicated fire and emergency service professional with 38 years experience. He holds a Masters Degree from Jacksonville State University, a BA, from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and an Associate’s Degree from Illinois Central College. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and has taught as an adjunct faculty in the emergency response to Terrorism program.
Mr. Monroe is a founding member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and served as an in house faculty member to DHS’s Center for Domestic Preparedness whose primary mission is to train our nation’s first responders to deal with and manage terrorism related responses. A type 2 Incident Commander, he can manage large scale, multiple discipline, and jurisdictional disasters. A recognized SME (subject matter expert) in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive incidents, and Incident Management, he has trained personnel from all 50 states and protectorates.
Monroe is a preferred presenter/lecturer at the bi-annual Homeland Security Summit in Arlington, Virginia. In 2007 he traveled to Guam to be the lead controller in Guam’s emergency operations center for DHS’s worldwide Top Officials (TOPOFF) terrorism exercise.
It is not all work and no play; he is a Bagpiper with Savannah Pipes and Drums, an accomplished blacksmith, and enjoys kayaking and water sports. Welcome, Lyman Monroe, to Ogeechee Tech!

Sonography Students Receive Pins at OTC

The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Ogeechee Technical College held a pinning ceremony on June 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Kennedy Auditorium. Eight Sonography students received their pins with family members and friends looking on. Following the ceremony, the students hosted a reception in the lobby of the Kennedy Building. The students who received their pins are pictured here.

Regional Law Enforcement Academy at Ogeechee Tech Recognizes Students

The Regional Law Enforcement Academy of Ogeechee Technical College celebrated the completion of the program by another group of students on June 8. An awards ceremony was held in the Joseph E. Kennedy Building auditorium, with a reception following in the Kennedy lobby. Twenty LEA students completed the Academy, marking the largest group so far to complete the program. A large number of family members and friends were on hand to witness the students receiving their certificates of completion, along with several special awards.
LEA faculty and staff members, Greg Rabeler, Chris Findley, Jim Mitchell, and Shelly Brinkley, and Dean Teresa Allen were on hand to acknowledge the accomplishments of the class, and to welcome the guest speaker for the occasion, Chief David Lyons, of the Garden City Police Department. The Regional Law Enforcement Academy provides Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) certified training at Ogeechee Technical College’s Evans County Workforce Development Center in Claxton.

Congressman John Barrow Tours Ogeechee Tech

Congressman John Barrow toured Ogeechee Technical College Wednesday, June 2, and one of his stops was at the College's Imaging Sciences Department. OTC is the only college in Georgia to offer certification to become a Radiology PACS Specialist and Barrow is shown in front of a PACS image as he listens to the benefits of the program. Barrow also learned about the College’s Photovoltaic program.

OTC Rad Tech Students Hold Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A

Ogeechee Technical College Radiologic Technology students, through the Rad Tech Student Club, recently held a Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A in Statesboro. Students distributed Spirit Cards prior to the event which allowed customers to come into the local restaurant for dinner on the Spirit Night with 10% of the sales for the evening going to the Club. In addition to the percentage of sales, students bused tables, carried trays, and generally assisted diners in order to earn tips. A spinning wheel allowed those attending to earn a coupon for free food after making a contribution. The proceeds from the event will be used to fund the students’ national seminar and pinning ceremony. In addition, the evening was a great way to raise awareness about Ogeechee Tech’s Rad Tech program, according to Rad Tech Program Director, Jan Martin.
Contact: Barry Turner-Executive Director for Public Relations

Phone: (912) 688-6958

Email: bturner@ogeecheetech.edu

The Student Chapter of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (SCNAVTA) from Ogeechee Technical College recently held a pet pageant to help generate support for the club’s efforts in supporting pet rescue causes. Contestants were garbed in a variety of creative outfits while many of their owners also dressed to compliment the pet contestants’ costumes. After parading across stage, a brief bio was presented about the pet and his or her interests and hobbies. A panel of judges critiqued each contestant and the audience voted on their favorites by placing contributions in containers with each contestant’s picture affixed. The pet pageant is an annual event at Ogeechee Tech, and is always a hit with employees and students.
Contact: Barry Turner-Executive Director for Public Relations

Phone: (912) 688-6958

Email: bturner@ogeecheetech.edu

Cynthia Sims Honored as One of Nine Regional Finalists for the TCSG Student of the Year

Atlanta – Cynthia Simms, a student in the Computer Information Systems program at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, was recognized as one of nine regional finalists in the Technical College System of Georgia’s 2010 student of the year competition.

The acknowledgement came during the TCSG’s annual GOAL award banquet at the Atlanta Hyatt Regency Hotel on May 27.

GOAL, the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership, recognizes the best of the best students from among this year’s record-breaking state technical college enrollment, which is expected to surpass 185,000 students.
“It’s a great achievement to be named one of the nine best students in the Technical College System of Georgia,” said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson. “Cindy Simms is an outstanding student who excelled and earned her place as one of the regional finalists for this year’s student of the year award. I commend her strong effort and thank her for being such a fine representative for Ogeechee Technical College.”

Simms and her nominating instructor, Terry Hand, were introduced to the audience of 400 banquet attendees that included the TCSG leadership, college presidents and their staffs, and other dignitaries.

“Cindy is a great representative for Ogeechee Technical College. Her unique story and dynamic personality make it easy to understand why she was chosen to be a finalist in the GOAL competition,” stated OTC president, Dr. Dawn Cartee. “Our GOAL nominees consistently do well from year to year, and that speaks volumes about the quality of the students we have at Ogeechee Tech.”

Judging for the GOAL award starts at the 28 technical colleges and one Board of Regents college with a technical division, then moves to the regional and state levels. In each step of the competition, the students are interviewed and judged on their academic accomplishments, leadership qualities, community involvement and future aspirations.

The competition for the award is intense, for not only is the winner named Georgia’s technical college student of the year, the student also gets the keys to a brand-new Chevrolet Cobalt, presented by Chevrolet and the Atlanta Chevrolet dealers, sponsors of the GOAL award program.

The 2010 state GOAL winner and student of the year is Brian Jones, a practical nursing student at North Georgia Technical College

About the TCSG: the Technical College System of Georgia oversees 28 technical colleges throughout the state. Affordable access to quality technical education programs that remain in demand despite the downturn in the national economy is a big reason why enrollment at the TCSG colleges is up by almost 25% over last year.

TCSG colleges offer small classes, hands-on experience and focused instructor attention in more than 600 programs, including healthcare, automotive repair and manufacturing technologies aerospace, agribusiness, life sciences, and energy and the environment. The TCSG also manages the state’s adult education and GED programs as well as Quick Start, an economic development incentive for attracting new investment to the state and promoting job creation.