Kathy Holt, Allied Health Department Chair at Swainsboro Technical College announced that during their meeting on March 07, 2007, The Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses reviewed the National Council Licensure Examination-PN for all practical nursing programs for calendar Year 2006. The Final Annualized Licensing Examination Passing Percentage Rate Report for Swainsboro Technical College Practical Nursing Program is 100% for 33 first time takers with 33 who passed the examination. The Annualized Licensing Examination Passing Percentage Rate for the State of Georgia is 89.9%.

"We are very pleased with this report," commented Mrs. Holt. It speaks well of our graduates and our faculty. Passing the State license exam is a great achievement, and especially on the first attempt. I am extremely proud that 100% of our last year graduates last year passed the licensing exam; and I look forward to hearing more of their accomplishments as they advance in their careers."

Pictured: (l-r) (front row) Richard Barber, Roger McCullough, (middle row) Eugene Jones, Daniel Hinojasa, Swainsboro Technical College Interim Vice President of Economic Development Susan Cross, Irvin Woods, Terry Hudson, CMS Instructor Randy Minton, (back row) Mark Bell, Marvin Harrison.

Swainsboro Technical College conducted a Safety and Procedures of Power Lift Truck Operation certification class for employees of Handi-House Manufacturing. The class was recently held in the classroom at Hand-House. The Instructor for the course was Randy Minton, Certified Manufacturing Specialist Instructor at Swainsboro Tech.

Students were evaluated on classroom work and competency operating a forklift that required testing each phase of the training. OSHA requires that a student must achieve a combined score of 80% to meet their requirements for forklift safety operation." After completion of the class, the students were presented with certificates and their certification cards. According to Mr. Minton, "the training session consists of classroom discussion emphasizing safety and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) rules and regulations.

Those completing the training were Richard Barber, Roger McCollough, Eugene Jones, Daniel Hionjasa, Irvin Woods, Terry Hudson, Mark Bell, and Marvin Harrison.   

Pictured: (l-r) Richard Hammock, Advisor Peggy Braswell, Advisor Tony Criswell, Interim President Dr. Glenn Deibert, and Mindy Story.

(not pictured) Amenia Boswell, Latarsha Foreman, Robert Cuyler, and Ashley Davis

Six Swainsboro Technical College students received certificates from the Georgia Leadership Conference. The Conference is for the leaders in Georgia’s 5 Postsecondary Student Organizations: SkillsUSA, Student Leadership Council, National Technical Honor Society, Phi Beta Lambda, and Delta Epsilon Chi (DEX).  Those being certified were: SkillsUSA- Robert Cuyler from Emanuel County and Mindy Story from Jefferson County; Student Leadership Council- Ashley Davis from Jefferson County and Richard Hammock from Johnson County; National Technical Honor Society- Amenia Boswell from Emanuel County and Latarsha Foreman from Candler County. Also attending were advisors for SkillsUSA- Tony Criswell and Peggy Braswell.

The Georgia Fall Leadership Conference is held every year by the Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) where over 800 students come together to enhance their professional skills.

The students received a certificate for actively participating in the conference and the advisors received certificates for serving as an outstanding advisor in Georgia’s Postsecondary Organizations. The Conference consists of a variety of leadership sessions, including: Prioritizing Life and Relationships, Money Management, Dress for Success, Parliamentary Procedures, Healthy Lifestyles, Career Exploration, Legal Issues, Public Speaking, Etiquette, and Personality Types.  

Pictured: (l-r) (1^st row)  Kathryn Way, Sander Turman, Mary A. Hill (Gerontology Instructor); (2^nd row)  Tiffany Mincey, Melissa Boatwright, Jessica Coleman; (3^rd row)  Angelica Moody, and Annette Parker.

(Not pictured)  Kristen Smith

Eight students recently completed the course for Certified Nursing Assisting at Swainsboro Technical College. This course is part of one of the newer programs at Swainsboro Technical College. In addition to completing the nursing assistant course students have the option of completing additional course work to receive a certification in Patient Care Assisting or Geriatric Care Assisting. Interested students enrolled in the Geriatric Care Assisting program can continue their education in Geriatric Care by entering the Gerontology Diploma program, which is five quarters in length.

"Anyone who enjoys working with the elderly population, are encouraged to seek advanced education in geriatric care. The courses are designed to increase knowledge of understanding the older population to include disease process, behavior health issues, cultural diversities and other related issues with the older population," reported Mrs. Mary A. Hill, Swainsboro technical College Gerontology Instructor.

Sander Turman from Burke County completed all of the course requirements for the Geriatric Care Assisting Certificate and will be eligible for employment as a Geriatric Care Assistant (GCA) which is higher than the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Five students (Melissa Boatwright, Jessica Coleman, Tiffany Mincey, Angelica Moody, and Kathryn Way) from Emanuel County Institute (ECI) completed the certified nursing assistant training and will continue to attend Swainsboro Technical College to complete remaining courses in Patient Care Assisting or Geriatric Care Assisting. The ECI students are able to complete high school course work and attend Swainsboro Technical College through the Dual Enrollment Program. Our Tech Prep Coordinator, Sherida McMillan and her staff, work closely with area high schools to encourage students to enroll in the program. Student receives high school credit as well as Technical College credit. The remaining students (Annette Parker from Emanuel County and Kristen Smith from Jenkins County) completed the nursing assistant training and are eligible to complete their certificate at a later date.

The pinning ceremony was held at Swainsboro Technical College on Friday, March 16, honoring those who completed training, with family, friends, agency representatives, and community members in attendance. Staff members with the New Connections program assisted students throughout the quarter with needed supplies to complete the course. The New Connections staff also will assist students in resume writing and finding employment at students’ request.

For more information on the Gerontology program at Swainsboro Technical College contact Mary A. Hill, RN, BSN, MSA at (478) 289-2344.