Pictured: (l-r) (front row)Trina Fountain, Forest Technology AAS student from Emanuel County; Dr. Richard Thornton, Vice President of Instruction; Rodney Kellum, Forest Technology Instructor; Al Massey, International Paper Company in Augusta and Forest Technology Advisory Board member; Gerald Hooks, International Paper Company in Soperton; Cliff Smith International Paper Company in Soperton and Forest Technology Advisory Board member; Jessie Garrett, Department Chair; H.G. Yeomans, Yeomans Wood and Timber and Forest Technology Advisory Board member; Carol Yeomans, Yeomans Wood and Timber. (back row) Marshall Powell, Forest Technology Student from Johnson County; Dustin Davis, Forest Technology Student from Emanuel County; William Rosen, Forest Technology Student from Treutlen County; Josh Bedingfield, Forest Technology Student from Jefferson County; Kyle Ivins, Forest Technology Student dual enrolled from ECI; Chris Waters, Forest Technology Student from Emanuel County; and James Connell, Forest Technology Student from Treutlen County.

Swainsboro Technical College Forest Technology program in cooperation with International Paper Company has developed the Timber Harvesting and Heavy Equipment Operation Technical Certificate. As part of their support, International Paper has donated $8,500 to purchase equipment and supplies for the new program.

The Timber Harvesting and Heavy Equipment Operation Technical Certificate offered by Swainsboro Technical College is the only one like it in the state of Georgia; and is designed to give the student the knowledge needed to run a timber harvesting operation from the business aspects to the operation of equipment and all safety and environmental guidelines.

It provides the basic technical knowledge and skills in the safety, maintenance and operation of various equipment that are associated with timber harvesting and other heavy equipment. Graduates will be prepared to efficiently and productively operate different heavy equipment associated with timber harvesting and forest operations. Some of the equipment will include skidders, feller-bunchers, loaders, crawler tractors. Preventive maintenance and maintenance of the equipment will be a key part of the equipment program; as well as knowledge of equipment cost and analyzing the cost of operations. They may find jobs with private and company loggers, contractors for site preparation and land clearing, and equipment manufacturers.

According to Rodney Kellum, Forestry Program Instructor at Swainsboro Technical College, "we are very excited about this program and appreciative of the support from the forestry industry. Enrollment to the program is now open with classes being held at night to accommodate potential students that are employed in the timber and timber harvesting business.

Pictured: (l-r) Zachry Rhodes, Gail Ware, Johnny Ware, Blaine Burrell, and Joe Ware

Zachry Rhodes, Jenkins County High School senior and Swainsboro Technical College Tech Prep student was recently commissioned by Gail Ware, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness at Swainsboro Technical College, to create a pig structure for her husband, Johnny, on his birthday. The iron pig structure was placed in the flowerbeds at the West-side entry porch of the new Ware’s Old Mill Restaurant.

According to Mrs. Ware, "several months ago, I viewed a welding display showing how the welding students were incorporating various implements and old tools to create works of art. I quickly recognized distinct talents when viewing their work. My husband Johnny has a gift of wood carving, I knew he would appreciate Zachry’s talent in bringing life and personality to metal. I didn’t want to hinder Zachry’s creativity by telling him exactly what to produce so I simply gave him a Ware’s T-shirt and Zachry did the rest. His intricate cuts in the iron are simply amazing for someone his age and limited experience. When I asked Zachry if he was interested in some of the new robotic welding, he quickly and emphatically answered in his southern gentleman tone, ‘No, ma’am. I just like making things with my hands’."

"The pig will welcome all of Ware’s B Q guests with a cheery smile and curly-que tail, and stands as a symbolic tribute to: the iron strength and determination for Joe, Johnny, and Blaine in completing the seemingly impossible mill project; the strong-as-metal, sense of pride their families feel for the three of them; and the powerful appreciation our families have for the friends and honored guests who so graciously bless us with their business," continued Mrs. Ware.

Zachry lives in Perkins with his parents, Dennis and Lynn Rhodes. He attributes his beginning in welding to his Ag teacher, Virgil Rainey, who convinced him to sign up for the Swainsboro Technical College Welding program, taught by Michael Crumpler.

"As a Prep Tech student Zachry completed our Industrial MIG Certificate at Jenkins county High School in Millen and this past quarter he completed the Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welding Certificate as a night student on our campus in Swainsboro," said Mr. Crumpler. "He is enrolled in the Flux Cored Arc Welding class for the current Winter Quarter, and is a talented young man with a 4.0 average for all the courses. Hopefully, he will enter the diploma program since all these certificates are part of the Welding and Joining Technology Diploma that we offer at Swainsboro Technical College."

"I was impressed with the way Zachry saw the pig, knew what he wanted to do, and went about creating it on his own. It was his project and he took it seriously. Zachry supplied the materials and made the pig at his home shop in Millen, Georgia," concluded Mr. Crumpler.

"This may have been Zachry’s first commissioned work, but I’m quite sure it will not be his last paycheck," stated Ms. Ware. "We are extremely proud to display his work."

Pictured: (l-r) Swainsboro Rotary Club President Athen Walden; Rotary Member and Swainsboro Technical College Foundation Trustee Shelba Youmans, and Swainsboro Technical College Vice President of Instruction Dr. Richard Thornton.

At the weekly meeting of the Swainsboro Rotary Club on January 22^nd, Dr. Richard Thornton, Vice president of Instruction at Swainsboro Technical College, conducted a PowerPoint presentation at the request of Shelba Youmans, Rotary Member and a Trustee of the Swainsboro Technical College Foundation.

The presentation came after the business meeting which followed a delicious lunch at Catered Creations in Swainsboro. Dr. Thornton commented on the many programs and services offered at Swainsboro Technical College. He highlighted the new programs being offered and pointed to the increase in enrollment over the past two quarters. "We are certainly proud of the results of our efforts to increase the number of students," commented Dr. Thornton, "and we feel that we are on the right track for that to continue."

Dr. Thornton called on Shelba Youmans to comment on the remainder of the presentation that concerned the efforts of the Trustees of the Swainsboro Technical College Foundation in raising funds for the College during the annual financial drive. She explained that the Trustees from each of the counties in the service area were diligently working to secure funds to help the College in its endeavors.

The presentation concluded with a brief question and answer period and the meeting was adjourned.  

Pictured: Trustees of the Swainsboro Technical College Foundation celebrate successful annual financial campaign.

Garry Pittman, Chairman of the Swainsboro Technical College Foundation, reported that the Foundation had a successful fund-raising drive for 2006, raising $200,963.67. "We are very appreciative of the support from individuals in our communities and the Trustees that worked so hard to make this a success," commented Mr. Pittman. "It certainly speaks well of our community that we can report such a successful fund-raising drive. There were many people that worked very hard to help make this a success and I am appreciative of all the hard work that they provided."

"The proceeds from this drive will provide equipment, teaching aids, and other training that is possible only through the Foundation." continued Mr. Pittman.

The announcement was made at the Winter Quarter Trustee meeting held in the Child Care Resource and Referral meeting room on the Swainsboro Technical College campus. According to DR. Glenn Deibert, Interim President of Swainsboro Technical College, "The funds raised through the Foundation enable us to replace obsolete equipment in a time when the economic situation otherwise would not allow us to do so. We are very thankful to our Trustees and individuals in the communities that have been supportive of our efforts."

Dr. Deibert continued, "We have been so fortunate to have talented individuals who give freely of their time and leadership to help Swainsboro Technical College provide services to the citizens of our five county service area: Candler, Emanuel, Jenkins, Johnson, and Treutlen. The proceeds from this drive will go a long way in supplementing the needs of our College; but more importantly, it reflects that ours is a partnership, all of our service area joining hands in working toward a common goal of providing the very best we can for the citizens we serve."

Trustees serving on the Swainsboro Technical College Foundation from Candler County: Dennis Allen, Felix Johnston, Paul MacGregor, Terry Manuel, Richard Price, and Ronald Sikes; from Emanuel County: Dickson Durden, Sandra Dye, Wally Gallian, Jessie Garrett, Donald Jenkins, Gloria Mason, Lynda Morgan, Homer Moxley, Sr., Bill Rogers, Jr., Garry Pittman, Sid Shepherd, Sonny Stephens, Shot Strange, Jean Strange, Ray Woods, and Shelba Youmans; from Jenkins County: Bobby Anthony, Lynford Cook, J. C. Douglas, Pamelia Dwight, Carolyn Fields, and Carroll Gay; from Johnson County: Carolyn Brantley, Mary Jo Buxton, Mary Cook, Patricia Glover, Mary Ann Norris, John Powell, and Rebecca Thomas; from Treutlen County: John Ellington, Chuck Ellington, Jimmy Gillis, Phillip Jennings, and Will Peterson.

Pictured: (l-r) Honoree Jessie Garrett, and Chairperson of the Swainsboro Technical College Board of Directors Pam Griner.

At the January meeting of the Swainsboro Technical College Board of Directors, Jessie Garrett was recognized for twenty-five years of service. Pam Griner, Chairperson of the Board of Directors presented her with a monetary award from the Swainsboro Technical College Foundation.

Mrs. Garrett is currently the Department Chair of General Education & Personal Services Department and the Psychology Instructor. She started in 1982 as the Displaced Homemaker Coordinator & Sex Equity Coordinator; then taught Consumer Education for years before evolving into the Psychology Instructor. She also taught other classes through the years when needed in Early Childhood Education, Introduction to Computers and even a couple of English classes. She is a co-writer of numerous grants to promote special programs; the most recent being the Stay In School Grant. Recently, Mrs. Garrett was requested to serve as the Interim Vice-President of Instruction, and she graciously accepted.

Mrs. Garrett received her B.S. and M.Ed. from Georgia Southern University. She is a Certified American Heart and American Safety & Health Institute Basic Life Support Instructor. In 2000, she received the Jay Gaultney Award of Excellence. She is married to Donnie Garrett, and they have 3 daughters in the Emanuel County school system: Gena a senior, Erin a junior, and Lani an eighth grader.