Plant Hatch Donates Testing Equipment to Southeastern Tech’s Electronics Technology Program

Plant Hatch recently donated a variety of testing equipment to Southeastern Technical College’s (STC) Electronics Technology program in Vidalia, Georgia. The donation of digital controllers, flow transmitters, pressure switches, signal conditioners, and pressure test equipment will be used by STC students to increase their knowledge and proficiency of this equipment, which is used in the nuclear environment.

Plant Hatch Site Vice President Johnny Weissinger stated, “Through the donation of this equipment, we are strengthening the technical relationship between Hatch and STC’s Electronics Technology program and helping to better prepare and develop interested students to enter our Instrument and Controls (I&C) program at Hatch, or even other locations throughout the fleet. This partnership and hands-on preparation with real-world equipment used in the nuclear industry is a win-win for the students, Hatch, and the Southern Nuclear Company fleet.”

Mr. Weissinger engaged Southeastern Technical College President Larry Calhoun and Electronics Technology Instructor William “Chip” Greene to initiate this partnership and the effort was brought to fruition with the help of Hatch I&C Manager Royce Clark and Senior I&C Technician Ben Campbell.

“This process control equipment donation is greatly appreciated,” said Mr. Greene, electronics technology program director. “The equipment will be immediately incorporated into our existing process controls courses to augment the students’ exposure to current equipment and devices used by our local and regional manufacturers and power industries. This will benefit both our students and employers by reducing the required training time for our graduates as new employees.”

“The equipment donated by Southern Nuclear for the STC Electronics program will enable our students to get hands-on with the latest technology being used at Plant Hatch. The modern equipment, along with our partnership, will help make our graduates better qualified for entry-level positions at one of the nation’s leading nuclear power generation operations. We look forward to continuing to grow our workforce development relationship with Southern Nuclear,” said STC President Larry Calhoun.

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

Photo: STC Electronics Technology Instructor William “Chip” Greene, STC President Larry Calhoun, Plant Hatch Site Vice President Johnny Weissinger, and Plant Hatch I&C Manager Royce Clark




A Special Thanks from Santa & STC

“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.

 




Boston Sworn into STC Board of Directors

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




First Board Meeting for Two New Southeastern Tech Board Members

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




STC Graduates Honored for Associate of Science in Nursing Bridge

The ASN faculty of Southeastern Technical College (STC) proudly pinned graduates in the 2022 Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Bridge Option program in a ceremony held in the Toombs Auditorium on the Vidalia campus.

The graduates were Rayne Binns and Amber Hood from Swainsboro, Jennifer Borders from Byron, Maeghan Carver and Harlee NeeSmith from Hazlehurst, Nicole Dasher from Metter, Kathryn Duncan and JaMeshia Kemp from Savannah, Jacob Floyd and Rya Simmons from Brooklet, Latosha Grace and Amy Price from Soperton, Summer Grantham and Racheal Thomas from Reidsville, Carley Jackson and Talia Williams from Baxley, Ashlyn Johnson from Cobbtown, Alison Jones and Monica Moseley from Twin City, Tanesha Jones, Raechel Roberts, and Brenna Vance from Waynesboro, Hayley Kuntz from Vidalia, and Bailee Small from Millen.

Jennifer Corner, Associate of Science in Nursing Program Director, opened the ceremony with a welcome. She congratulated and thanked the graduates for choosing Southeastern Technical College as part of their journey and charged the graduates, “As you enter the nursing profession, allow the same concepts of hard work, determination, and dedication to always drive you to provide the best care for your clients and your patients.”

The ASN Bridge Option program, accepting cohorts once a year, is offered on the Swainsboro campus and allows qualified individuals who possess current, Georgia unrestricted licensure as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or paramedic (EMT-P) to bridge their education into a degree program.

Rayne Binns has achieved all of her healthcare education goals through STC, receiving her Nurse Aide certificate in 1998, her Practical Nursing diploma in 2004, and now her Associate of Science in Nursing degree – all in Emanuel County where she calls home.

Rayne said, “I believe in technical education because it provided me an education that I could achieve in a short amount of time – just what I needed as a parent of three and as a full-time worker. My best advice to anyone considering this route is to go for it; always remember that opportunities do not just happen, you create them.”

To the audience she said, “It is a true honor to celebrate this occasion with so many wonderful people.” She also thanked the audience, as friends, family, and faculty, for stepping up to help this class to achieve this dream. “Without your selfless acts of love and kindness, we would have never made it this far. A year ago, we received what I like to call the golden ticket. It acknowledged that we were accepted into one of the most competitive programs that technical education has to offer. We, as graduates, accepted that invitation, but you all in the audience accepted that invitation as well.”

Latosha Grace, 2013 Practical Nursing graduate of STC, said, “After nine years of nursing, I decided it was time to level up, so I came back to where I started. Tonight, I walk across the stage ready for the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).”

Graduates pledged themselves to the work they have chosen by lighting their ceremonial lamp, a tradition in honor of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Graduates were awarded their pins by their instructor Beth Hendrix.

Nicole Dasher said, “As much as I love being a paramedic, I look forward to being a nurse in an ER setting. I attended the Bridge Option program because I wanted a more stable setting for my children and my family.”

For more information on the various nursing 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): Carley Jackson, Maeghan Carver, Talia Williams, Amy Price, Nicole Dasher, Bailee Small, Summer Grantham, Hayley Kuntz, Alison Jones, Rayne Binns, Kathryn Duncan (Back Row L-R): Monica Moseley, JaMeshia Kemp, Harlee NeeSmith, Amber Hood, Latosha Grace, Jacob Floyd, Ashlyn Johnson, Tanesha Jones, Jennifer Borders, Racheal Thomas, Rya Simmons




Noteworthy Turn Out at STC Financial Aid Check Up

On Thursday, July 28, Southeastern Technical College (STC) hosted its first Check Up event for 2022-2023 financial aid.

Throughout the day on both the Vidalia and Swainsboro campuses, new and returning students were assisted one-on-one in completing their financial aid applications for the new school year. Financial aid status is required to be renewed annually before the beginning of fall semester which begins August 15, 2022.

Rebecca Ethredge, Director of Financial Aid, stated that during this one-day event, her department was able to help dozens of students complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit documents for their aid requirements.

“Many students do not realize they are eligible for federal aid, so we encourage all students to complete a FAFSA application,” said Ethredge. “It is very important that college applicants respond to emails and text messages from STC to begin this financial aid process and to track the status of their application so they are aware if any additional documentation is needed.”

Southeastern Tech’s Financial Aid Office is available to assist students and potential students between now and August 15 to clear up any issues for this coming semester, Monday through Thursday 8 am to 6 pm.

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




Rad Tech Program Graduates Nine in STC Class of 2021

Nine students graduated from the Radiologic Technology program on Thursday, December 2, at Southeastern Technical College’s (STC) pinning ceremony in Vidalia.

Ansley Brannen and Grace Reed of Statesboro, Deyra Colmenares of Vidalia, Cesar Marquez and Jennifer Sabillon of Hazlehurst, Maegan McCumbers of Oak Park, Stormy Messex of Swainsboro, Corissa Vaughn of Baxley, and Katrina Walker of Uvalda graduated from STC with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Radiologic Technology, completing a program that took two years on- and off-campus.

“These graduates have persevered without complaints and have done a great job. They have completed 54 programmatic credit hours of academic instruction and over 900 hours of clinical education time,” said Radiologic Technology Program Director Tara Powell. “Additionally, they have completed clinical competency exams and performed and participated in about one-quarter of the total exams performed at each of our clinical education sites.”

The guest speaker for the event was Kristie Eudy, salutatorian of the first Radiologic Technology class of STC. She is currently the diagnostic imaging director at Jeff Davis Hospital.

“You’re entering one of the most rewarding careers in the medical field, with countless opportunities for learning and advancement,” said Ms. Eudy. “I have had the privilege to teach, mentor, work with, and hire many students who have come from this college. Of all my experiences, this class has really touched me. They have shown integrity and tenacity while conducting themselves in a professional manner far beyond their training.”

The students paid back part of their education by giving awards to several departments and employees with whom they studied before receiving awards of their own.

The award for Most Outstanding Student Technologist, voted on by the program’s clinical education affiliates, went to Stormy Messex. The Academic Achievement Award of Excellence went to Katrina Walker, who had the highest GPA in the program.

For more information on the Radiologic Technology program at STC, visit www.southeasterntech.edu or call (912) 538-3100 or (478) 289-2200.

Photo: (L to R) Program Director/Instructor Tara Powell, Cesar Marquez, Grace Reed, Jennifer Sabillon, Deyra Colmenares, Maegan McCumbers, Corissa Vaughn, Stormy Messex, Katrina Walker, Ansley Brannen, and Clinical Coordinator/Instructor Keegan Spell