Approximately 20 Taylor County students took part in the Taylor County Schools Summer Enrichment Program that included spending time on the South Georgia Technical College Americus and Crisp County Center campuses to learn more above the over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit educational programs offered.
SGTC Career Services Director Cynthia Carter and SGTC Crisp County Center Accounting Instructor Tammy Hamilton helped coordinate the visit to the SGTC campuses.
Taylor County students enjoy the hands on experience in the SGTC Cosmetology department.
In addition to visiting the SGTC Cosmetology, Barbering and Culinary Arts programs on the Americus campus, the Taylor County group also visited the SGTC Crisp County Center campus as well as Career Services Industry visits at The Beauty Academy in Byron and Koinonia Farms in Americus.
Students began their two-week SGTC summer enrichment program tour by visiting the Cosmetology classrooms with Instructor Dorothea Lusane McKenzie as well as the Barbering classroom and lab with Instructor Andre Robinson. The students were able to ask questions of the SGTC instructors and students and take part in different demonstrations in those labs.
The Taylor County group also participated in a Career Services Industry visit at The Beauty Academy in Byron, GA with Dr. Victoria Brown as part of their first week activities. During the second week, the group toured the SGTC Americus Culinary Arts lab and kitchen area with Instructor Chef Ricky Watzlowick and Crisp County Center Culinary Arts Instructor Chef Johnny Davis.
As part of the culinary arts experience, students had the opportunity to make pizza and chocolate chip cookies. The students learned to wear the appropriate attire for the kitchen area including apron’s and hair nets and washing hands before preparing their food. The students learned to flatten dough and make it into a circular shape using a rolling pin. Then the added olive oil to the outer edge of the dough and added pizza sauce and toppings including cheese, sausage, and/or pepperoni. Then they baked the pizzas and enjoyed their labor for lunch. They also had the opportunity to make chocolate chip cookies for their dessert. After the luncheon, they also worked to clean the kitchen and make everything ready for the next day.
The students talked with SGTC Culinary Arts Instructors Johnny Davis and Ricky Watzlowick as well as their students about the different career opportunities available in this field. Chef Ricky also allowed the students to make their own lunch on the Americus campus during the visit.
In addition to touring the SGTC Culinary Arts facilities on both the Americus and Crisp County Center campuses, the Taylor County group visited Koinonia Farm outside of Americus and toured the Bakery House to see how fudge is made. The group sampled roasted pecans, milk chocolate covered pecans and extra dark chocolate pecans.
Koinonia has machines that are still in production that were built in 1910. Most of all of the organic products that are created there, are raised on the 575 acres of the peaceful, woodland trail, pasture, and pecan orchards.
The students toured the property to see the dining hall, the home of the late Miller Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity, who started the foundation at Koinonia Farm. Inside the property there are homes for residents that would like to complete an internship. The students toured the library, which included a section for adults and a section for the students to enjoy. Several students saw books that they had previously read. The tour was a great success of local history for the students.
South Georgia Technical was pleased to be able to expose students to the many educational and career opportunities available on its Americus and Crisp County Center campuses. The college is currently accepting students for Fall Semester. The first registration is planned for July 23 and the second one will be held August 13th. Classes start August 15.
Interested persons can apply on-line at www.southgatech.edu by clicking on Apply button on the top of the front page.
