Americus, GA – Caterpillar dealers from Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina hosted a dinner for the South Georgia Technical College graduates receiving an Associate of Applied Technology Degree in Heavy Equipment Dealers Service Technology and Electric Power Generation Heavy Equipment Dealers Service Technology prior to the college’s 2025 Spring Commencement Ceremony.
South Georgia Technical College Caterpillar Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technician and Electric Power Generation graduates, their families and CAT dealer representatives gathered prior to graduation for a dinner sponsored by the CAT dealers for their graduates in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center.
Approximately 200 Caterpillar officials, students, family members and SGTC officials attended the event. The dinner was held in the Betty Deriso Pope Teleconference room in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the South Georgia Technical College campus.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford and Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Technology Instructor Donald Rountree welcomed the Caterpillar dealers, graduates, and their families to South Georgia Technical College.
This was the 23rd CAT Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technology graduating class since the program began at South Georgia Technical College and the eighth graduating class of the CAT Electric Power Generation Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technology program.
South Georgia Technical College serves as the Southeastern Caterpillar Dealers College of Technology and offers extensive technician training for Caterpillar Dealers as part of the specialized Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician Program. Students selected for the two-year program receive practical work experience from their sponsoring dealership during paid internships.
The Caterpillar program, which has the theme, “Think Big About Your Future,” features alternating sessions in eight-week increments of classroom instruction and “hands on” experiences for students at participating dealerships. Upon graduation from the program, the student receives an Associate Degree in Applied Science and a job can be offered at his/her sponsoring dealership.
The CAT Electric Power Generation Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technology program mirrors that curriculum for the heavy equipment program for the first year and then advances into the Electric Power Generation curriculum during the second year. The students also alternate between eight-week sessions of classroom instruction and “hands-on” experiences at participating dealerships. These students also earn an Associate Degree in Applied Science and the opportunity for a job at his/her sponsoring dealership.
A total of 20 students received their Associate of Applied Science Degrees in the Heavy Equipment Dealers Service Technology program or the SGTC Electrical Power Generation Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology program at 2025 South Georgia Technical College graduation ceremony.
The students who earned their Associate Degree in Heavy Equipment Dealers Service Technology included: Blake William Carroll of Hoover, AL; Timothy Warren Holder of Locus Grove; Garrett Boyd Hurst of Spring, TN; Jon Andrew Konieczny of Greeneville, TN; Justin blake Ladner of Gulfport, MS: Derek Cole Mase of New Tazewell, TN; Matthew Antonio McKendreee of Richmond Hill; Logan Lee Morgan of Graysville, TN; Spencer Jack Neville of Haleyville, AL; Noah Jacob New of Newmarket, TN; Lane Randall Parton of Lincolnton; Ryan Gino Roman of Lawrenceville; Joey Glen Sheffey of Knoxville, TN; and Walker Whalen of Orangeburg, SC.
The six students who were graduated from the SGTC Electrical Power Generation Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology program were: Alex Randolph Crawford of Salisbury, NC; Wyatte David Lee Davis of Corryton, TN; Samuel Everette Gillilan of Rockyface; Matthew Hartberger of Fort Lawn, SC; Wesley Gavin Lovorn of Richland, MS; and Connor Wesson Stephens of Semmes, AL
CAT machines today come with electronically controlled engines, satellite-based navigation systems, sophisticated computer-based diagnostics, and state of the art hydraulics. To work on these machines, service technicians must be highly trained in computers, electronics, hydraulics and more.
Students applying for this program must be accepted by South Georgia Technical College or another cooperating college, meet specific dealership requirements and completion of a portfolio before final acceptance.
The Caterpillar dealers who support the Think Big About Your Future program at South Georgia Technical College include: Thompson Tractor of Birmingham, AL; Yancey Brothers Company of Austell, GA; Stowers Machinery of Knoxville, TN; Puckett Machinery Company of Flowood, Mississippi, Blanchard Equipment of South Carolina and Carolina CAT of North and South Carolina.
Nearly 200 Caterpillar and South Georgia Technical College officials, CAT students and their families attended the special dinner. Following the dinner, graduates and their families and Caterpillar officials attended the college commencement ceremony.
For more information on how to enroll in the Caterpillar Think Big Program or the Electric Power Generation program, contact a local Caterpillar Dealer or go online at www.CAT.com/thinkbig or https://www.southgatech.edu/economic-development/partnerships/caterpillar/. Donald Rountree, drountree@southgatech.edu, Keith McCorkle, kmccorkle@southgatech.edu, and Rance Poss, rance.poss@southgatech.edu are the Heavy Equipment Technology Instructors for South Georgia Technical College.