Jets News

South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Cosmetology Instructor Dorothea Lusane McKenzie was selected as the 2026 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year during a recent breakfast ceremony in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the college’s Americus campus. SGTC President Dr. John Watford presented the award. In addition to McKenzie, seven other instructors were nominated and named finalists for the award. The other instructors’ competing for the honor included: ...

The South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets finished out the Lady Jets Holiday Classic tournament and the 2025 year with an impressive 76 – 66 win over the Eastern Florida Titans in Tuesday’s final game in the Hangar. They are 5 – 10 on the season. Earlier in the day, the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) 11th ranked Shelton State Lady Bucks upset the previously undefeated and number two team in the nation, Chipola College Lady Indians, 72 – 57. ...

The Chipola Lady Indians demonstrated why they are ranked second in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national rankings Monday night when they moved to 14 – 0 on the season in an 83 – 46 win over the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets in the SGTC Holiday Classic. In the opening game Monday night, 11th ranked Shelton state defeated St. Petersburg Community College, 77 – 56, and then Eastern Florida came from behind to defeat Cleveland Community...

Freshman point guard Candice Ganga from Paris, France, scored four points in the final minute and a half to allow the South Georgia Technical College Lady Jets overcome a 63 – 64 deficit and secure a 67 – 64 victory over the St. Petersburg Titans in the Lady Jets Holiday Classic Sunday night. The win stopped a four-game losing streak for the Lady Jets, which are now 4 – 9 on the season. St. Petersburg is 3 – 8. The Lady Jets will have their work cut out for them tonight as...

Americus, GA – South Georgia Technical College Criminal Justice Technology graduate Jeffery Thomas Gordy of Buena Vista, was awarded the Smarr-Smith Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice scholarship recently by the South Georgia Technical College Foundation. The Smarr-Smith endowed scholarship at South Georgia Technical College was created in memory of fallen Americus Police Officer Nicholas R. Smarr and Georgia Southwestern State University Campus Safety Officer Jody C. Smith. The...

Americus, GA —The Sumter Electric Membership Corporation Foundation, Inc. awarded a grant in the amount of $2,500.00 to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation, Inc. Proceeds from the grant will be used to continue the Sumter EMC Foundation endowed scholarship fund for students. Dr. John Watford, South Georgia Technical College President and Su Ann Bird, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and SGTC Foundation Executive Director accepted the donation for the SGTC...

Sean Reed of Americus was awarded the Smallwood-Sondron Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship at the conclusion of the South Georgia Technical College Law Enforcement Academy Class 25 – 01 training. Lou Crouch of Elko endowed this scholarship for the South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) Law Enforcement Academy in memory of Peach County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Patrick Sondron and Daryl Smallwood. The two deputies died in the line of duty in November 2016. Reed...

South Georgia Technical College recently donated nearly $700 worth of holiday gifts to Clark’s Christmas Kids, a statewide initiative that collects presents for children in Georgia’s foster care system. This year, SGTC sponsored six children, purchasing gifts from their individual wish lists to help ensure they experience the joy and magic of the holiday season. Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Josh Curtin personally delivered the donations to the Clark’s Christmas...

South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) recently honored 17 graduates of its Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) program during a pinning ceremony held in the LaPorte Auditorium at the college’s Crisp County Center. The event was attended by more than 50 family members and friends, who gathered to celebrate the students' accomplishments. Instructors Chad Mays and Brittany Bertelson led the ceremony, recognizing the students for their dedication and hard work throughout the...

The South Georgia Technical College Adult Education department has led the Technical College System of Georgia in Postsecondary Transition percentages for two consecutive years. The report was for the FY 24 and the FY25 years. “This is extremely impressive and I am very proud of SGTC Dean of Adult Education Tracy Israel and her department,” said South Georgi Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “On behalf of the college, I would like to congratulate Tracy Israel and...

South Georgia Technical College Foundation Trustee Daniel Lindsey Torbert was recognized as SGTC’s Champion for Education at the Chattahoochee-Flint RESA Champions for Education celebration held recently in the John M. Pope Center on the SGTC Americus campus. Approximately 25 individuals were selected by local school districts and partners of the Chattahoochee-Flint RESA to be recognized as the 2025 Champions for Education. These individuals are often the unsung heroes whose...

Two brothers from Vienna, Georgia—Joshua and Luke Bartlett—are proving that a strong foundation in math and a supportive family can spark success in both the classroom and the workforce. Homeschooled by their mother, Heather Bartlett, a longtime wedding cake baker, the brothers developed independent thinking and a deep appreciation for learning early on. Joshua Bartlett earned his diploma in Electrical Systems Technology from South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) in 2023 under...