Four South Georgia Technical College Adult Education students participated in a new Integrated Education Training program recently and all four students passed OSHA-10 Certification exams, received the ServSafe Food Handler Certificate and also completed Employability Skills training. The four students recognized were Ryan Lamar, Darrius Daniels, Alex Hale and Alexis White.
The Integrated Education Training Program is a promising practice based in adult learning theory. Through IET programs, participants seek goal-oriented, relevant, practical knowledge while also pursuing their GED. This was the first time that South Georgia Technical College had offered this opportunity to the students enrolled in the GED Adult Education classes.
Students were able to combine their adult education and literacy activities concurrently and contextually with workforce preparation activities and workforce training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster for the purpose of educational and career placement.
“Dreams Don’t Work Unless You Do,” was the quote that South Georgia Technical College Dean of Adult Education Lillie Ann Winn chose to use for the ceremony to recognize the four students who had completed and passed the three different certifications in 12 days.
“This has been an exciting time here in the South Georgia Technical College Adult Education Department over the past 12 days,” said Winn.
“These students made a commitment to be here for 12 days for eight hours a day and their hard work paid off today. They each passed the certifications and now when they finish their GED exams, they will be fully certified for employment.
“These students put a lot of work into this program and now they have certifications. Everyone has obstacles or struggles. Life is hard and not always fair but we are expected to work through those challenges. We all have stumbling blocks but with hard work, those stumbling blocks can become stepping stones. There is nothing these students can’t do, but they are going to have to work at it. And the thing that they have learned now is that they have the encouragement and support of people who love and care for them,” said Winn.
The students began the program working on their computer skills and then completed and passed the OSHA 10 training programs. Their next hurdle was undergoing the Employability module taught by SGTC’s Al Harris and Cynthia Carter. Carter, who is the SGTC Director of Career Services, also conducted Mock Interviews with the students.
SGTC Culinary Arts Instructor Chef Ricky Watzlowick conducted the ServSafe Food Preparation training for the students and they each passed the exam at the end of his training. While they were sharpening their workplace knowledge, SGTC Adult Education Transition Specialist Tracy Israel worked with them on their GED studies.
After the students completed each of the certifications, South Georgia Technical College arranged for the students to visit Golden Gourmet in Americus and tour the facility and also undergo interviews for employment. After seeing the caliber of the students, Golden Gourmet has agreed to re-interview the students when they received their GED diploma.
At the conclusion of the awards ceremony, Winn encouraged the four participants to now become stepping stones for someone else.
