The ASN faculty of Southeastern Technical College (STC) proudly pinned graduates in the Fall 2022 Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program. A ceremony was held in the Toombs Auditorium on the Vidalia campus on December 5.

The graduates were Ariel Black, Jessica Brown, Bailey Burgess, Erik Casas, Brooke Coley, Kaitlyn Corner, Riley Corner, Vonisha Smith Dudley, Destiny Ferguson, Rayza Forney, Brittnay Holm, Zoe Jones, Laura Lee, Alisia Nunn, Esmeralda Ortiz, Pearson Page, Rudolph Perkins, Jenifer Sanchez-Flores, Kara Sanders, Danielle Smith, Patricia Varnes, Brook Walters, and Amy Way.

Graduate Kaitlyn Corner thanked everyone in attendance and said, “Many people may say that this ceremony is just the start of our journey. I disagree. Our journey started last August. Tonight just happens to be when our paths split into 23 separate and unique roads. It’s funny to think about the first few days of nursing school. We spent our days staring at computer screens trying to associate a face with a name. I will never forget the day that I finally got to see everyone for the first time. I was nervous, but so excited, to be connected with people that knew the struggle I was going through and understood the sacrifices that a nursing student has to make.”

Kaitlyn continued, “Nursing school has been the most difficult thing I have ever done, but also the most rewarding. It has tested my limits but has shown me what I am truly capable of when I set my mind to something. We have all discussed our potential plans. Many of us have jobs already set up. As we look back on where we started and where we are now, it’s clear that we learned to take care of our patients by first learning to take care of one another. I feel incredibly honored and proud to speak on behalf of our amazing class. So, here’s to our class and the amazing faculty of STC.”

Graduates were awarded their pins by nursing instructor Donna Jean Braddy.

“It takes a special type of person to choose a career dedicated to serving the needs of others. These students pledge themselves to the sacred work they have chosen. Tonight, students light a candle in this ceremony in honor of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, and they pledge the Hippocratic Oath,” said ASN Instructor Mary Martha Jennings.

ASN Instructor Rachel Sikes added, “As this evening ends, I want to take a moment to express our gratitude for each student present tonight and thank you for choosing Southeastern Technical College. The pinning ceremony is one of my favorite parts of the nursing journey. It gives us an opportunity to honor the students in a special way and to show them how proud we are of their accomplishments.”

To the graduating class, Mrs. Sikes said, “As you reflect over the past few years, I am sure you will all remember the late nights of studying, the early morning clinical rotations, and the absence at family functions, but I hope you also remember the lives you changed, the friendships you made, and the knowledge you gained. Each of you has shown that you’ve got what it takes to make an outstanding nurse. We commend you for your dedication and perseverance during this demanding journey. I encourage you to practice integrity, patience, and compassion. Most importantly, I challenge you to make a difference.”

The Associate of Science in Nursing Program is designed to produce technically-advanced, competent, and caring individuals who are prepared to practice professional nursing in a variety of healthcare settings. The curriculum provides students with the necessary attitude, knowledge, and skills to practice competently and safely as beginning nurse generalists in acute, long-term, and community healthcare settings. Program graduates, who meet and fulfill exit requirements, are eligible to apply to the Georgia Board of Nursing to write the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

An ASN cohort is accepted each year, beginning in the fall semester. The Traditional Option program is offered on the Vidalia campus and spans over four semesters. A Bridge Option program is available on the Swainsboro campus for qualified individuals who possess current, Georgia unrestricted licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Paramedic (EMT-P) to bridge his or her education and training into the Associate of Science in Nursing Degree.

For more information on programs offered at STC, visit www.southeasterntech.edu or call (912) 538-3100 or (478) 289-2200.

Photo: ASN Nursing Graduates (Front Row L-R): Laura Lee, Jenifer Sanchez-Flores, Rayza Forney, Danielle Smith, Jessica Brown, Erik Casas, Patricia Varnes, Brook Walters, Kara Sanders, Bailey Burgess, Brittnay Holm (Back Row L-R): Vonisha Smith Dudley, Kaitlyn Corner, Brooke Coley, Alisia Nunn, Esmeralda Ortiz, Pearson Page, Rudolph Perkins, Ariel Black, Amy Way, Riley Corner, Zoe Jones, and Destiny Ferguson

“The annual Santa visit at Southeastern Technical College in Swainsboro once again brought the Christmas spirit and provided joy to the community,” said Santa’s photographer Mitchell Fagler. “I am always awed by the sense of family exhibited by our team in making this event successful.”

Santa and his magic sent back this message to everyone. “I am so happy to have returned to STC to once again see all the smiling children, both young and young-at-heart. It brings joy and enrichment to my heart that lasts ALL year. I would like to send a special thanks to all my elves that made the night possible. I hope to see you all again next year! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

“We would like to thank everyone that attended and everyone that helped with the event. As my first time coordinating the event, I am truly humbled to be a part of the STC legacy,” said Emily Jarrell.

With approximately 600 in attendance, 375 being children, this event is an annual tradition of 15 years. Each child went home with their own photograph taken with Santa. Crafts and activities were provided while children waited to share their Christmas wishes with Santa.

Southeastern Technical College had two Dual Enrollment students from Tattnall County High School sign with NCAA Division II colleges to play softball.

Alex Bruce signed with the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, Georgia to continue her softball career as a Nighthawk and pursue an education in biology and pre-med.

Kaylee Odum signed with Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina to continue her softball career as a Flying Fleet and pursue an education in veterinary medicine.

We spoke to the two about their Dual Enrollment experiences with STC and the importance it has in their college timeline.

“Using Dual Enrollment with Southeastern Technical College has been incredibly beneficial for me. I have gotten a jump-start in college and I have completed most of my core classes. By the end of this 2022-2023 school year, I will be one course shy of completing my freshman year of college. Thanks to STC, I am ahead in school and I have learned so much from the help of my instructors,” said Alex Bruce.

Kaylee Odum shared, “I have had many great opportunities and experiences because of being a dually enrolled student at Southeastern Technical College. I am currently a senior in high school and because of the opportunities STC has given me, I will begin Erskine as a sophomore. Through STC, I have gained 30 credit hours for college and a lifetime of knowledge. I could not be more grateful for that.

Pictured: Dual Enrollment students Alex Bruce and Kaylee Odum with Jennifer Johnson, STC’s Student Affairs Technician for High School Initiatives

The Technical College Directors Association of Georgia (TCDA) Annual Leadership Conference was held in Savannah, October 24-26, 2022, in conjunction with the Technical College Foundation Association (TCFA).

Southeastern Technical College’s (STC) Board of Directors was recognized as having 100% board certification at this year’s Leadership Conference.

In order to become TCDA certified, local board members must complete required workshops and activities which educate board members on various policies and procedures concerning Southeastern Technical College and the Technical College System of Georgia. The majority of the required workshops are taught at the Leadership Conference each year. Other requirements include attending 80% of college board meetings and touring the College campus.

The required and selected professional development sessions allow board members the opportunity to learn about community advocacy, budgeting and financial management, and much more in relation to the operations of technical colleges on both state and local levels.

“The conference was a wonderful opportunity to network with fellow board members across the state and gain a more solid understanding of the technical college operations and sources of funding,” said Jeffrey Harden who was sworn into the board of directors in October.

This annual certification process recognition is to encourage outstanding boards to continue demonstrating professional business practices and commitment to the Technical College System of Georgia’s 22 colleges.

The STC Board of Directors meets at least eight times per year. Board members serve a three-year term and may serve two additional three-year terms, for a maximum of nine years before retiring from the local board.

The STC Board of Directors are: Don Betts, Brandon Boston, Dustin Durden, Kenny Griffin, Jeffrey Harden, Michael Harrison, Will Heath, Chris Hopkins, Mandy Underwood, Ken Warnock, and Angie Woolard.

Southeastern Technical College Foundation’s 2022 Board of Trustees was recognized as being a Role Model Board for the third consecutive year.
The TCFA Role Model Foundation Board Certification is an honor bestowed on the TCSG foundations that 1.) engage best practices in nonprofit governance, board management, and operations; 2.) have policies in place to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, especially in financial matters; 3.) are led by a Board of Trustees whose members are actively engaged in the foundation’s development activities; and 4.) support the professional development and state-level participation of their trustees, executive director, and college advancement personnel.

STC Foundation Board of Trustees are: Pam Dwight, Peyton Frye, Tres Herin, Greg Hudgins, Dennis Ingley, Greg Johnson, Mike Lisenby, Paul MacGregor, Lynda Morgan, Charleen Norfleet, Mark Thompson, and Dianna Wedingcamp.

The Southeastern Technical College Foundation is a non-profit organization that partners with donors to support and invest in students, faculty, and staff of STC to build stronger communities. The Foundation helps recognize unmet needs by providing financial support required to sustain current operations and afford future growth, supporting Candler, Emanuel, Jenkins, Johnson, Montgomery, Tattnall, Toombs, and Treutlen counties.

In 2021, the STC Foundation had 100% employee participation in annual giving and awarded $61,641 in scholarships and assistance to students.

For further information on STC, visit www.southeasterntech.edu or call (912) 538-3100 (Vidalia) or (478) 289-2200 (Swainsboro).

Photos:
(L-R) TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier, STC Board Member Jeffrey Harden, STC Executive Assistant to the President Twan Broughan, STC Board Member Kenny Griffin, STC Board Member Brandon Boston, and TCDA Executive Director Adie Shimandle

(L-R) TCFA President Mike Cheokas, STC Executive Director of Institutional Advancement Blythe Wilcox, STC Trustee Paul MacGregor, STC Trustee Lynda Morgan, STC Trustee Tres Herin, and TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier

 On September 29, the Atlanta Section of the American Welding Society (AWS) held a welding competition on the Swainsboro Campus of Southeastern Technical College (STC).

The competition consisted of students using their blueprint reading skills to fabricate a weldment and produce the correct size welds using various welding processes of gas metal arc welding (MIG) and gas tungsten arc welding (TIG) in different positions – horizontal, vertical, and overhead.

Area schools were invited to participate. Southeastern Technical College students who competed were: Jack Williams from Swainsboro, Kade Johnson from Millen, and Dawson Claxton from Lyons.

Dawson, a Vidalia campus student, won first place and a $1,000 scholarship. Jack, a Swainsboro campus student, won second place and a Jackson auto-darkening welding hood. Kade, a Swainsboro campus student, won third place and a DeWalt 4 ½ inch angle grinder.

Discussing the full morning of events, Claxton said, “It’s very humbling – a full test of our skills. The AWS reps will have a lot of pointers to give us in our individual critique sections after lunch.” Claxton was working with the boilermaker’s union when he decided to attend STC to obtain his welding credentials.

Williams is a homeschooled student who toured Southeastern Technical College when he was in the sixth grade and said he knew at that time that he wanted to try welding. He’s a sixth-generation welder with plans to work on the pipeline in Texas after graduation.

Coming from several generations of welders, Johnson said, “It’s a learning experience and it’s hard. It looks easy on paper.” He plans to continue his education in building construction.

All three students will complete the requirements for their Welding and Joining Technology diplomas during the next couple of semesters. Two of the three have participated in Dual Enrollment at STC for a portion of their credits.

Each student was also awarded a complimentary student membership into the American Welding Society from the Atlanta Section.

Rene Engeron and Robert Trudelle from the Atlanta Section sponsored the competition. Certified welding inspectors Robert Trudelle and Joe Waldroup judged the competition.

These students are under the instruction of Jason McDonald on the Swainsboro campus and Michael Crumpler on the Vidalia Campus.

“We are grateful to the AWS and the Atlanta Section for choosing us to host the competition,” stated McDonald.

“These young men are all winners today and they leave with valuable information and experience as a result of this competition,” stated Crumpler.

A pizza lunch was provided for all in attendance, courtesy of the Atlanta Section.

Information about future welding competitions and scholarships can be found at www.aws.org. One other scholarship will be awarded by the Atlanta Section for the northern region of Georgia, later this year.

For more information about upcoming welding courses, contact Jason McDonald at (478) 289-2242 or Michael Crumpler at (912) 538-3257 or visit www.southeasterntech.edu.

Photo (L to R): Jack Williams, Rene Engeron, Sonya Wilson, Kade Johnson, Jason McDonald, Robert Trudelle, Michael Crumpler, Dawson Claxton

Brandon Boston was sworn in at the Southeastern Technical College (STC) Board of Director’s September meeting on Thursday in Swainsboro by Emanuel County Probate Judge Don Wilkes (former chair of the board).

Boston joins the board to represent Toombs County. He currently serves as J.D. Dickerson Primary School Principal for Vidalia City School System. He brings experience from both Northwest Laurens Elementary School as a fourth-grade teacher and Toombs County School System as Lyons Primary School Assistant Principal.

Boston has a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Southern University, a M.Ed. in School Psychology from Georgia Southern University, and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Georgia Southern University. He and his family live in Lyons.

Board members may serve up to three three-year terms.

Photo: STC Board Member Brandon Boston and Emanuel County Probate Judge Don Wilkes

Southeastern Technical College (STC) representatives toured Emanuel County industries on September 6, 2022 with other educators from area schools.

The goal was to inform the high school teachers of the job opportunities in the Emanuel County area so they could share these opportunities with their students.

“The industry tours initiative of the Emanuel County School System will better enable their teachers, counselors, and administrators to inform their students about the great career opportunities available in our local area. Southeastern Tech is proud to partner with Swainsboro High and Emanuel County Institute (ECI) to provide the skilled training needed for these careers,” said STC President Larry Calhoun.

The industries toured were Crider Foods, Faircloth Forest Products, Stitch-N-Print, Advanced Metal Components, AirStar Charter & Flight Support, Hotset America Corporation, Emanuel Medical Center, Nordson, America Knits, Wincore Window Company, and American Steel Components.

“STC employees were there to share information about the programs that align with some of the career opportunities on the tour. Our goal is to all work together to help the students and employers of Emanuel County,” said Mrs. Melissa Rowell, STC High School Initiatives Coordinator.

Swainsboro teachers toured in the morning and went back at Swainsboro High School where ECI joined the group for lunch sponsored by Britt McDade of Chick-Fil-A. ECI toured the industries in the afternoon.

Mr. McDade shared his personal story and reasons why he opened a Chick-Fil-A franchise. He challenged the teachers to remember their “why” in daily encounters as they educate youth.

Mr. Ken Warnock of Swainsboro-Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority spoke with the teachers about the importance of knowing the community and its opportunities for employment and sharing the knowledge with the students of Emanuel County.

For more information on STC, visit www.southeasterntech.edu or call (912) 538-3100 (Vidalia) or (478) 289-2200 (Swainsboro).

Photo: Emanuel County Educators on Industry Tour

Two new board of directors attended their first Southeastern Technical College (STC) board meeting last week.

Brandon Boston, J.D. Dickerson Primary School Principal, joins the board as representation for Toombs County. Boston moved to Toombs County in 2014 and has spent the last seven years working with Vidalia City Schools.

“I look forward to serving on the board and helping the community,” said Boston.

Jeffrey Harden, Chief Nursing Officer at Memorial Health Meadows Hospital for the last five years, will represent Toombs County.

“Our hospital has had a close relationship with Southeastern Tech for many years and we value the education Southeastern provides,” said Harden.

Board members are selected from a wide variety of occupations, businesses, schools, and industries across STC’s service area of eight counties to have input from all communities.

The new members will be sworn in during the September board meeting. They will also attend the upcoming Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Leadership Conference in Savannah where they will attend the Technical College Directors Association (TCDA) to further orient themselves with the latest updates and offerings of technical education. The TCDA workshops during the two-day conference will earn them board certification.

For more information on STC, visit www.southeasterntech.edu or call (912) 538-3100 (Vidalia) or (478) 289-2200 (Swainsboro).

Photos: Jeffrey Harden, STC President Larry Calhoun, and Brandon Boston

Southeastern Tech congratulates these student on taking 12 or more hours during Summer Semester to achieve the President’s List.