“I love cars,” says Patrick Henderson of Cordele, a Crisp County High School student and recent graduate of the drafting program at South Georgia Technical College (SGTC). “Combustion engines are very cool to me – the whole idea that you are basically containing an explosion to generate momentum.”
Henderson chose to generate his own momentum toward an engineering career by taking advantage of Georgia’s Dual Enrollment Program to study drafting at SGTC. “Engineers and drafters work together all the time, so drafting was a career-related field I could do while I was still in high school.”
Through dual enrollment, Henderson earned his associate degree at SGTC while still in high school. He graduates from Crisp County High at the end of May.
Henderson’s passion for cars really sparked when he started driving and got his first car, a 1999 Ford Mustang. Now the proud owner of a 2019 Ford Mustang GT, he plans to pursue a career as an engineer in the automotive field, and has committed to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Georgia.
Under the Dual Enrollment Program, the credit for several of the academic courses he took at South Georgia Tech will also transfer to UGA allowing Henderson to complete his four-year degree in a shorter time.
Students in Dual Enrollment can also take occupational and career courses that help them get a head start on an exciting, in-demand career. High School students can make the most of their time while saving money and being better prepared for their future.
Students interested in the Dual Enrollment Program must first contact their high school counselor to participate in the program. The dual enrollment team at SGTC can also provide any information needed to enroll. Learn more about SGTC’s Dual Enrollment Program at www.southgatech.edu.
South Georgia Technical College offers over 200 degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit programs in a variety of fields. Summer semester begins May 25, so apply now at www.southgatech.edu and earn 16 weeks of credit in an eight-week minimester.