John Deere dealers raise funds for John Deere Tech scholarships at SGTC

John Deere dealers from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama hosted the “South Georgia Classic” golf tournament recently to raise scholarship funds for the John Deere Tech Agricultural Technology students at South Georgia Technical College. The dealers raised nearly $3,000 at the golf tournament for the South Georgia Technical College Foundation that are designated for John Deere Tech scholarships. The tournament was held in conjunction with the John Deere 2017 Division P Optimization Training event which was hosted at South Georgia Technical College prior to the tournament. The two-day optimization event was a free training session for the parts, sales, and service professionals from five John Deere dealers in the four-state area. Nine different teams participated in the 18-hole tournament which featured a shotgun start at the Griffin Bell Golf Course in Americus. The Flint Ag and Turf team of Lonnie Ray, Blake Lodge, Jackson Pennington and Jackie Fleetwood took first place in the event with a score of 56. Raffles for a Yeti cooler and mulligans also were held to help raise funds for the John Deere Tech program. Students enrolled in the John Deere TECH Agricultural Technology program can earn a two-year associate of applied science degree in Agricultural Technology while partnering with John Deere agriculture and turf equipment dealers from across the southeastern portion of the United States for a career as a John Deere technician. To enroll in this program, students must be sponsored by a John Deere Dealer. The students spend eight weeks on campus in classrooms and labs learning specific objectives, then work with a dealer for eight weeks to put their knowledge to work in a dealer setting. The students return to the college for another eight weeks of classroom and lab training and repeat the pattern during the four semester program. Studies indicate that there is a critical shortage of technicians in this field and the John Deere TECH partnership helps satisfy this need. Students will graduate out of the John Deere TECH program having a detailed understanding of John Deere equipment and bring John Deere certifications in electrical, hydraulic and Service ADVISOR™ with them to the dealership. Students in the South Georgia Technical College Agricultural Technology program are enrolled in general education courses, but students also train and become John Deere certified in Electrical and Hydraulic systems as well as John Deere’s computer based diagnostic tool, Service ADVISOR™. Students utilize John Deere equipment, training components, and computer diagnostic tools to understand what makes equipment run. Students will also spend time understanding engines, drive trains, and product applications for a variety of agriculture and turf machinery. The instructors for the program at SGTC are Matthew Burks and Wayne Peck. For more information about the Agricultural Technology program, visit www.southgatech.edu, or call 229.931.2394 or 229.931.2401. Matthew Burks can be contacted by email at mburks@southgatech.edu and Wayne Peck can be contacted at wpeck@southgatech.edu. South Georgia Technical College is currently registering students for fall semester which begins on Monday, August 15th. The first registration will be held on Thursday, July 14th and then again on August 11th. For more information about fall semester registration contact the SGTC admissions office at 229-931-2394 in Americus and 229-271-4040 in Cordele. South Georgia Technical College offers over 200 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate of credit programs. The college also has on-campus housing and access to the complete college experience with nationally recognized academics, athletics, and student activities.