GNTC’s Estes Shares Future Of Technology Education, Technology Industry Relationship

Chattanooga Technology Council Hosts Roundtable Summit

(Chattanooga, TN) – More than 100 industry leaders were on hand May 15 as technology educators and technology business professionals spoke on the future of the relationship between the education and business world of technology during a roundtable summit at Chattanooga’s Business Development Center.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Computer Information Systems Program Director Charles Estes was among the educators selected to address the issue to the industries of the Tennessee Valley. “We want our businesses to know that when it comes to the skill sets and quality of students we are sending out into the world that we are ahead of the game,” said Estes.

The Chattanooga Technology Council is a non-profit organization which helps promote growth in the business of technology in the tri-state area. The summit discussed the skill sets and background the colleges are generating in their students, as well as the qualities and experience the technology business leaders are looking for in future professionals.

Georgia Northwestern is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. Last year, instructors at the 25 TCSG colleges educated and trained more than 170,000 students.

Estes is the only TCSG employee who has won his college’s awards for both top student and top instructor. Estes was selected as Georgia Northwestern’s GOAL Award winner (top student) in 1999. Eight years later, he would win the Perkins Award (top instructor) for GNTC.

Georgia Northwestern’s Nursing Program Continues Accreditation

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) Associate Degree Nursing program has been granted continued accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). Accreditation will continue until the next visit scheduled for fall 2015.

“(NLNAC) accreditation shows that a program has met certain standards,” said GNTC’s Program Director of Associate Degree Nursing Ose Martinez.

“It shows the public and prospective students that the education offered is of good quality.”

“I am proud of the Associate Degree Nursing faculty and all the hard work they do each day,” added GNTC’s Dean of Academic Affairs Denise Grant.

The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission is responsible for the specialized accreditation of nursing education programs (clinical doctorate, master’s, baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and practical programs). The Commission has authority and accountability for carrying out the responsibilities inherent in the application of standards and criteria, accreditation processes, and the affairs, management, policy-making, and general administration of the NLNAC. The NLNAC is nationally recognized as a specialized accrediting agency for both post-secondary and higher degree programs in nursing education.

Georgia Northwestern Inks Ridgeland (GA) 6-Footer For 2013 Volleyball

By Scott Herpst/NPCO

When Ridgeland senior Layna Jenkins began playing competitive volleyball in the seventh grade, she had no idea that the sport would be a part of her future after high school.

However, that’s the reality for Jenkins after signing a letter of intent with Georgia Northwestern in front of family and friends at Ridgeland High School this past Wednesday.

“It’s an exciting day because I get to start college and keep doing one of my favorite things,” she explained. “I knew I wanted to play for (GNTC) Coach (Carrie) Powell after I met her because she’s really sweet. The school is also close to home and wanted I stay close to home.”

Jenkins was the top offensive player for the Lady Panthers in her senior season, finishing with 109 kills and 15 aces to go with 79 digs, earning her first-team status on the Walker County Dream Team.

“I’m just really excited for her that she’s getting this opportunity to work on her game and go on to the next level,” said Ridgeland head coach Kari Cooper, who also played volleyball in college. “I know she wasn’t ready to quit playing volleyball, so I’m happy she’s getting this chance.”

“She’s a great hitter and she has a great personality,” said Powell, who added she first met Jenkins on the club ball circuit. “She’s fun to be around, easy to get along with, and very coachable.”

Powell said the signing of the 6-foot Jenkins also helps fill a glaring need for the Lady Bobcats.

“All the girls I’ve signed so far this year have been hitters, with the exception of one setter that we needed,” explained Powell, who did not have a player taller than 5-8 on last year’s roster. “We lacked in that department last year, but we’re taking care of that this year.”

Jenkins played club ball with the North Georgia Rage on a team that included three of her future Lady Bobcats teammates, Victoria Sprouse and Rachel McGill of Ringgold and Casey Chapman of North Murray.

“It’s good to go into this having people there you already know,” Jenkins added. “I wanted to play volleyball in college, but I really didn’t know much about the program (at GNTC). “But when I found out they were signing there, I talked Coach Powell and decided it would be a good fit for me.”

Powell added that being a Ridgeland alum herself, the signing of Jenkins was “special”.

“All the signings are special, but this one even more so because I went to Ridgeland and played here,” she added. “It’s neat to come over here and walk the halls again. I’m glad to say I’ll have a Ridgeland alum on the team.”

Jenkins plans to major in education and take her core classes at GNTC before transferring to another school to finish her degree.

Courtesy: NPCO

Lady Cats Continue To Grab Region’s Best Hitters

(Chatsworth, GA) – State girls’ volleyball quarter-finalist North Murray High School (GA) loses seven seniors to graduation this month. Two of those Lady Mountaineer leaders have now inked with another North Georgia Volleyball power in Georgia Northwestern.

Hitters Casey Chapman and Hannah Jones made the move this month to sign with the Lady Cats who have made a name for themselves on the national junior college level over the past six years. “Signing Casey and Hannah is a huge step towards making 2013 an amazing year for us,” said Georgia Northwestern Head Women’s Volleyball Coach Carrie Powell.

Powell, a 6-foot hitter herself for the college’s first team in 2008, helped lead the program to key wins over several Southeastern Conference women’s club programs. “This year appears to be shaping up to eclipse that inaugural season,” said Powell. “We’ve got some great power and size coming in to the ranks this summer.”

After a hard-fought 15-15 season in GHSA’s 4-AAA, North Murray Head Girls’ Volleyball Coach Connie Hudgins has big holes to fill. “Casey did whatever was needed to take care of business,” said Hudgins. “Losing experience like what Casey had is going to be tough. I mean, she’s 5-foot-10. But she played like a solid 6-foot-2 hitter. It will be hard for us to lose her.”

As for Jones, Hudgins loses big power in the service column. “Hannah has killer serves with serious placement ability,” said Hudgins. “Plus, she is incredibly strong on the right side. That’s rare,” said North Murray’s second-year coach.

Jones, a 5-foot-2 right-side hitter, has filled slots on the front and back lines. However, the Lady Cats will show her time in the right hitter slot, as well. “She’s a lefty and a right side hitter. You hardly ever see that. It’ll be nice to come at them from both sides.”

Chapman and Jones will bring chemistry to the collegiate court. However, these signees have also played on the travel circuit with several other Lady Cat incoming freshmen in Ringgold’s Rachel McGill and Victoria Sprouse and Ridgeland’s Layna Jenkins. “They were locked in on going there and I really enjoy playing with them in travel ball,” said Chapman. “We are really solid together. We communicate well on the court.”

Jones is happy to be getting a shot at playing at the next level without going far from home. “Georgia Northwestern gives me a great chance to take my core classes and keep things affordable, too,” said Jones. The 2013 season for the Lady Cats Women’s Volleyball program is entering its sixth season of intercollegiate volleyball participation.

For more information on Bobcats Athletics at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, contact the Office of Sports Information at 706.764.3813, through BobcatsCountry.com, or by e-mail to dfoley@gntc.edu. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is the largest college in Northwest Georgia educating more than 10,000 students every year. GNTC offers more than 200 programs on five different campuses and online throughout the year.

Dalton’s Fanber Signs With Georgia Northwestern Cheerleading

Bobcats Ink Latest Prep Cheer Standout

(Dalton, GA) – Dalton (GA) Catamount cheerleader Desirea Fanber says she’s looking for opportunities. Georgia Northwestern Bobcat Cheer Coach Karen Stoker says that opportunities are exactly what Fanber brings to the college’s newest intercollegiate athletic program.

Fanber is a four-year starter for Dalton’s Cheerleading program. And, although the Catamount program loses 17 seniors this year, Fanber is leaving a huge hole to a fill. “She’s incredibly dedicated and serves at a level above the rest,” said Dalton Cheer Coach Tami Fleming.

The 18-year old senior competed in basketball, football, and competitive cheer capacities for the Catamount nation during her four years at DHS. “When you list the top things we lose with Desirea moving on it would be leadership, leadership, and leadership,” said Fleming who will be entering her ninth year as Cheer Coach at Dalton when school opens its doors this August.

The region’s best competitive cheer squads on the prep level are proving to be successful recruiting grounds for Georgia Northwestern as the enter year one of NJCAA Cheerleading. “We have several more competition cheer recruits we are signing this next week,” said Stoker. “We have an amazing core for this pilot season. If it goes the way we hope it will, this should quickly take off into something special.”

Although it’s only been 13 years since Fanber first put on a cheer outfit for the Dalton Recreation Department to cheer for little league football, she says it’s the spirit of it all that she loves. “To be able to go to college close to home, give back a little in the ways cheer programs can do, and to compete on the next level is so exciting to me,” said Fanber.

The head of the Cats Cheer program is excited about more than the physical ability of Fanber. “Not only does Desirea bring an amazing skill set to us, but also a giving spirit,” said Fanber. “She has a giving heart and invests in her school and her community. That’s what our program is all about. It’s a great fit.”

The incoming Bobcat freshman hopes to enroll in Georgia Northwestern’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Fanber joins other competitive cheer standouts in Ridgeland’s Makayla Derryberry, and LaFayette’s Mina Winters and Tara Clark. All four will head to Cats Country this fall for the inaugural season of Georgia Northwestern’s intercollegiate Cheer program.

For the 2012-13 season, the Cats Cheer program will solely cheer for the college’s NJCAA Region XVII Men’s and Women’s Basketball programs which run from October through March. The college is looking into the possibility of expanding the program in the near future, as well as adding more athletic offerings through its Northwest Georgia campuses. The Bobcat Golf program is set to tee off in spring of 2014 as the search for the program’s first coach is now underway.

For more information on Bobcats Athletics at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, contact the Office of Sports Information at 706.764.3813, through BobcatsCountry.com, or by e-mail to dfoley@gntc.edu. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is the largest college in Northwest Georgia educating more than 10,000 students every year. GNTC offers more than 200 programs on five different campuses and online throughout the year.

GNTC’s Peco Donates His State Top Teacher Prize To School

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GNTC To Start “Team With Troy” Automotive Scholarship Program

(Rock Spring, GA) – Just one week after winning the honor of the State of Georgia’s top technical college instructor, Troy Peco turned a local reception Thursday into a brand new scholarship possibility for Northwest Georgia students.

The Technical College System of Georgia named Peco the Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year last Thursday in Atlanta, Georgia. As part of his prize package, Peco received a $1,000 award.

With the summer approaching, that could help fund a vacation, pay for tires on the family car, or do some work around his North Georgia home. However, Peco decided to practice what he preaches.

“He always talks about how important it is to give back to the community. Troy felt this was the perfect opportunity to give back to our students,” said Georgia Northwestern Director of Institutional Advancement Jason Gamel. Peco announced Thursday to more than 100 faculty, staff, and friends at the reception that he would be donating the $1,000 prize to start the “Team With Troy” Automotive Technology Scholarship Program available only at Georgia Northwestern. The gift will be available through the Georgia Northwestern Technical College Foundation.

Peco has served as the college’s Automotive Technology Director on the Walker County Campus of Georgia Northwestern since 2006. “We have some really great young men and women come through this program,” said Peco. “But, for one reason or another, they have a hard time paying for some of the tools they need to succeed in the program. I wanted to help them change all of that.”

Before the accolades and praises were handed down this past week, Peco was already finding ways to have an impact on the community. His past eight years of training and graduating students ready to perform successfully in automotive technology has left a real influence in the region.

Steven Hanshaw has been with Dalton’s Brooker Chevrolet since 2003. The Georgia dealership’s Service Manager says he was not surprised by Troy’s decision. “He’s the right man in the right job at the right time,” said Hanshaw. “His training and this scholarship benefits the community. It benefits the consumer, too. Better training means better efficiency which means better service at a better price.”

Hanshaw, a 1977 graduate of the same college, has returned the favor himself by bringing in Georgia Northwestern graduates to work in the Brooker Ford service department. “The students Troy sends are extremely qualified,” said Hanshaw. “They are flat out interested in the automobile, in general. Troy has been great for these young students. The fact to remember with all of this is that his work with our students in the area is going to add up to real relief when it comes to fixing their cars and trucks. That applies to the bill they pay for repair and the quality of repair they are getting. Everyone benefits.”

Anyone interested in contributing to the “Team With Troy” Tools Scholarship Program at Georgia Northwestern Technical College can contact GNTC Office of Institutional Advancement Director Jason Gamel by e-mailing to jgamel@gntc.edu or calling 706-764-3810.

Judging for the Rick Perkins Award begins at the 25 Technical College System of Georgia Colleges and a Board of Regents college with a technical division. Next, a regional competition narrows the field to nine finalists. Judges choose the top instructor based on criteria that include teaching experience, use of innovative learning techniques, leadership and community involvement, and a strong devotion to the technical education mission of the TCSG.

For the next year, Peco will serve as the TCSG ambassador for technical education instruction. He will make numerous appearances around Georgia and speak about the many education opportunities offered by the technical college system. He will also be honored by the Georgia General Assembly and receive a personal commendation from the Governor.

Last year, instructors at the 25 TCSG colleges educated and trained more than 170,000 students.

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