SGTC honors student achievement at awards day

South Georgia Technical College students and faculty were recognized for their achievements over the past academic year in a recent awards assembly on SGTC’s Americus campus. SGTC student organization advisors addressed a crowd of SGTC students, faculty, staff, friends, and family members to speak of the accomplishments of standout SGTC students and staff members. “Excellent students tend to have a common set of characteristics,” said SGTC President Dr. John Watford, who welcomed the crowd of attendees. “I see a lot of positivity, intellect, and good work ethics in our student achievers.” SGTC’s Jets and Lady Jets basketball team members were recognized for the 2016-2017 season by Athletic Director and Lady Jets Head Coach James Frey. The Lady Jets traveled to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament in Lubbock, Texas earlier this year, where they made it to the Sweet 16. This was the fourth trip to the NJCAA national tournament for the Lady Jets, who tied for the best record in Lady Jets history with a 30-5 record for the 2016-2017 season. Their GCAA conference record was 13-1. Frey was named GCAA Coach of the Year, and standout Lady Jets received the following honors: Kanna Suzuki, GCAA Freshman of the Year; Desiree Corbin and Camille Coleman, GCAA First Team All-Conference; Esther Adenike, NJCAA Region 17 All Tournament Team; and Shaineequah Fluellyn, GCAA 2nd Team All Conference and NJCAA Region 17 Tournament MVP. Fluellyn was also named Lady Jets MVP at a recent Jets Booster Club recognition banquet. The 2016-2017 Lady Jets included Davesha Murray of Brunswick, Georgia; Camille Coleman of South Bend, Indiana; Houlfat Mahouchiza of Nice, France; Marina Balaguer of Mataro, Spain; Kanna Suzuki of Hamamatsu, Japan; Desiree Corbin of Griffin, Georgia; Madison Cameron of Alberta, Canada; Sceret Ethridge of Argyle, Georgia; Trakyra Kidd of Wesley Chapel, Florida; Esther Adenike of Lagos, Nigeria; and Shaineequah Fluellyn of Molena, Georgia. Kezia Conyers is the Lady Jets Assistant Coach. The Jets men’s basketball team had an overall record of 13-20 and conference record of 5-11 for the season. Pat Welch and Marquel Wiggins were named to the NJCAA Region 17 All Tournament Team, and Andre Kennedy was named to the GCAA 2nd Team All Conference. Pat Welch was also named Jets MVP at the Booster Club Banquet. The Jets Head Coach is Travis Garrett, and the Assistant Coach is Chris Ballauer. The 2016-2017 Jets were Tre’Von Teague of Cincinnati, Ohio; Andre Kennedy of Albany, Georgia; Bobby Jackson of Dacula, Georgia; Mike Boone of Charlotte, North Carolina; Jalen Thomas of Columbus, Georgia; Pat Welch of Pembroke, New Hampshire; Jordan Bates of Orlando, Florida; Derrick Trawick of Milledgeville, Georgia; Davion Clark of Dacula, Georgia; Kashif Davis of Harlem, New York; and Marquel Wiggins of Oglethorpe, Georgia. SGTC’s National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) advisors Raven Payne (Americus campus chapter) and Katrice Taylor (Crisp County Center chapter) recognized the honor society’s achievements over the past year, which included: 38 new inductees, participation in a student leadership retreat, participation in the Georgia Fall and Winter Leadership Conferences, Black History Program for the Crisp County Center campus, and many community service and fundraising activities. SGTC’s Americus campus NTHS hosted a Cupid’s Arrow Valentine fundraiser, Penny Wars, Domestic Violence Awareness Walk, Magazine and Book Drives, and Giving Tree. The Crisp County Center chapter held a Campus Cleanup Day, Trashion Show, Mail for Heroes, Tribute Tree, Book Drive, and Back to School Supplies Drive. Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) advisors for the Americus and Crisp County Center chapters were Dr. Andrea Oates (Americus campus), Karen Bloodworth, and Teresa Jolly (Crisp County Center). In April, five PBL members earned the right to compete at the PBL National Conference in Anaheim, California by earning first place awards at Georgia’s PBL competitions. Those students and their events were: Racarda Blackmon of Americus, Information Management and Network Design; Kia Blackmon-Mable of Americus, Emerging Business Issues and Future Business Educator; Branyon Kendrick of Montezuma, Integrated Marketing Campaign; Matthew Kent of Montezuma, Justice Administration and Organizational Behavior and Leadership; and Christian Powell of Cordele, Computer Concepts. A total of 40 awards and recognitions went to PBL’s Americus and Crisp County Center chapters at state competitions. Second place winners included Dakota Hall of Cordele, Networking Concepts; Christopher McGee of Cordele, Sales Presentation; MyKaula Harvey of Cordele, Administration Technology and Battle of the Chapters; DW Persall of Cordele, Battle of the Chapters; Ashley Halstead of Ellaville, Business Law; Kimberly Jackson of Americus, Business Ethics; Jesseca McCook of Leslie, Small Business Management; Shannon Stewart of Americus, Business Sustainability; and Curtis Walton of Americus, Network Design. The third place finishers included: La’Keista Davis of Americus, Business Ethics; Alicia English of Americus, Desktop Publishing; Crystal McCoy of Americus, Justice Administration; and Tonekita Rogers of Cordele, Administrative Technology.  Fourth place winners were Christian Powell, Networking Concepts; Christopher McGee, Client Services; DW Persall, Business Communication; Jordan Smith of Cordele, Marketing Concepts; Dravian McGill of Cordele, Justice Administration; Andrea Burton Willis of Americus, Information Management; and Alicia English, Management Analysis and Decision-Making. Ashley Halstead, Microeconomics; Jesseca McCook, Management Analysis and Decision-Making; Fierra Riley of Americus, Information Management and Statistical Analysis; Shannon Stewart, Project Management; Curtis Walton, Networking Concepts; Jaleun Willis of Albany, Impromptu Speaking; and Jordan Smith, Retail Management all captured fifth place finishes. Dr. Oates was selected as the 2017 Advisor of the Year and received a five year service award. Crisp County Center PBL advisors Karen Bloodworth and Teresa Jolly were also recognized for five years of exceptional service as PBL advisors. Racarda Blackmon, Kia Blackmon-Mable, Fierra Riley and MyKaula Harvey achieved the Director level of The Career, Membership and Achievement Program and were recognized at the state conference. Racarda Blackmon completed the Executive level and DW Persall completed the President’s level.  Racarda Blackmon was also named Who’s Who Among PBL. First place awards for the Americus PBL chapter include Community Service Project; Interaction with FBLA; Corporate Sponsorships; and Largest Local Chapter Membership. The chapter also received second place in Local Chapter Annual Business Report and third place in March of Dimes and Foundation Scholarships. The Americus Campus Chapter also achieved the Platinum Seal award, which highlights the completion of 40 criteria that represent the highest level of achievement in the Seal Award program that also includes blue, bronze, silver, and gold levels. SGTC also has a Student Government Association (SGA) for both campuses. Paul Farr, former SGA advisor for the Americus campus, and Kari Bodrey, Crisp County Center SGA advisor, listed the accomplishments and activities of the SGA over the past year. The Americus campus hosted Spring Fling, Back to Campus Cookout, Fall Recruitment activities, trip to Wild Adventures, Pink Out for Breast Cancer, Halloween Costume Contest, and a variety of other student activities with excellent student participation. Officers for the Americus campus SGA chapter were Stephanie Tyson of Americus, President; and Deondria Cochran of Americus, Vice President. The Crisp County Center’s SGA also hosted a variety of community service projects, events, and fundraisers over the past year. SGA members attended the local leadership retreat, Georgia Fall Leadership Conference in Stone Mountain, and the GSGA/NTHS Winter Conference in Pine Mountain. The chapter also sponsored an Earth Day Event with Keep Crisp Beautiful, Spirit Week, Mardi Gras Celebration, Spring Fling, canned food drive, and more. The officers for the Crisp County Center chapter were Joshua Chappell of Cordele, President; Mykaula Harvey of Cordele, Vice President; and Lisa Simpson of Sylvester, Secretary/Parliamentarian. SkillsUSA advisor Dr. Michele Seay gave the results from Georgia SkillsUSA competitions, which included the following awards: Bailey Mills of Cordele, silver medal in Aviation Maintenance Technology; William Manning of Americus, bronze medal in Aviation Maintenance Technology; Nathan Prince of Americus, Annie Streeter of Americus, and Stephaine Tyson of Americus, silver medals in Entrepreneurship Team. Other competitors included Stephen Simmons of Oglethorpe, Automotive Service Technology; Josiah Copland of Montezuma, Aviation Maintenance Technology; Rachael Johnson of Oglethorpe, Cosmetology; Brennan Morris of Americus, Culinary Arts; Destiny Baker of Ellaville and Kaitlyn Carpenter of Oglethorpe; Esthetics. The students’ advisors that helped prepare them for competitions included Carey Mahone, Victoria Herron, Charles Christmas, Dorothea McKenzie, Ricky Watzlowick, Mike Collins, Brenda Boone, and Jaye Cripe. South Georgia Tech’s Student of Excellence winners over the past year were recognized by SGTC Dean for Academic Affairs David Kuipers (Americus campus) and SGTC Dean for Enrollment Management Julie Partain (Crisp County Center). Those students included Corey Long of Cusseta, Electrical Systems Technology; Calli Buttrey of Americus, Criminal Justice Technology; Monica Castaneda Parra of Ellaville, Accounting; Feng Jie of DeSoto, Air Conditioning Technology; Linda Kent of Montezuma, Culinary Arts; Annie Streeter of Americus, Accounting; Tyler Stanford of Lenox, Diesel Equipment Technology; Tia Edwards of Cordele, Marketing Management; and Christian Powell of Cordele, Computer Information Systems. Cynthia Carter, SGTC GOAL Coordinator, recognized the 2017 GOAL winner, Christopher McGee, a Marketing Management student from Cordele. McGee was selected from a group of GOAL semi-finalists by a panel of local community leaders and represented SGTC at the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) state banquet in Atlanta alongside SGTC’s 2017 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year Charles Christmas recently. Christmas is an Aviation Maintenance Technology instructor on SGTC’s Americus campus and was recognized by SGTC Rick Perkins Coordinator Vanessa Wall.