Week Ending April  20, 2007               

Pictured: Governor Sonny Perdue and Treutlen Middle student Brittany D. Meeks

Soperton Student Winner

in Manufacturing Appreciation Week Poster Design Contest

Atlanta, GA—April 12, 2007: Brittany D. Meeks, a seventh grader from Soperton, Ga., had lunch with Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue today.

Meeks, 12, won third place in the poster category of the 2007 Manufacturing Appreciation Week (MAW) student design contest. She received a $100 scholarship check, presented by Gov. Perdue at the MAW awards luncheon held today at the Cobb Galleria. WXIA-TV’s Wes Sarginson was Master of Ceremonies.

Meeks, who attends Treutlen Middle School, wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up, but says she enjoys drawing as well.

"I was so excited about winning, I just told everybody," she said. "The best part was just accomplishing something."

"We are very proud of all the entries from the students in our service area," commented Susan Cross, Interim Vice President of Economic Development at Swainsboro Technical College. "Some very talented students participated in the contest this year and we congratulate Brittany on being recognized as a State winner. "

Thousands of students from around the state submitted design entries featuring Georgia manufacturers and their products. The three design categories were placemat, poster and t-shirt.

The awards luncheon is the highlight of MAW, celebrated this year April 9-13. Co-hosted by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education and the Georgia Department of Economic Development, MAW brings attention to this significant component of Georgia’s economy. According to the governor’s proclamation declaring Manufacturing Appreciation Week, more than 10,000 manufacturing facilities are located in Georgia. They provide 450,622 jobs, contributing more than $100 billion to the state’s economy each year.

This is the 13th year celebrating Manufacturing Appreciation Week in Georgia. This year’s sponsors include BB&T; Georgia Power; the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute; Fullscope; Habif, Arogeti & Wynne; and Pattillo Construction.

Pictured: (l-r) Susan Cross, Interim Vice President, Swainsboro Technical College Office of Economic Development, Roy Dailey, Operations Manager, Cavalier Home Builders and Jay Dames, General Manager, Cavalier Home Builders.

Cavalier Home Builders Nominated For Manufacturer of the Year Award

Jenkins County Development Authority and Swainsboro Technical College joined together to award Cavalier Home Builders of Millen with a plaque commemorating their nomination as Manufacturer of the Year during Manufacturing Appreciation Week which was celebrated in Atlanta on April 12.

The company was represented by Jay Dames, General Manager and Roy Dailey, Operations Manager. They expressed their appreciation for this recognition on behalf of their company and employees; Mr. Dames added: "I considered this an honor to be nominated."

Susan Cross, Interim Vice President of Swainsboro Technical College’s Office of Economic Development presented the plaque signed by the Governor, the Commissioner of the Department of Technical & Adult Education, and the Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development.   

Pictured; Randy Minton, Management and Supervisory Development (MSD) Instructor at Swainsboro Technical College

Swainsboro Technical College Minton Completes Certification as CCSS Trainer

Randy Minton, Management and Supervisory Development (MSD) Instructor at Swainsboro Technical College successfully completed the requirements as a Certified Customer Service Specialist Trainer at the DTAE Quick Start Training Center in Atlanta.

The Certified Customer Service Specialist (CCSS) program is a state Certification designed to create an available skilled workforce in Georgia. It is industry driven and is the result of cooperation between Georgia industries and technical colleges.  The purpose of the program is to meet industry requirements for employees providing an available, skilled work force for Georgia's service, hospitality, retail and other service industries in which customer contact is a vital operation. Areas of study include Service Industry Business Environment, Customer Contact Skills, Business Skills, and Personal Effectiveness. The CCSS Program is HOPE Grant eligible for qualified students.

Mr. Minton commented, "In addition to the CCSS training we are currently approved to provide to local business and industry in this area, we will be working with our Business Advisory Committee to add a technical certificate of credit (TCC) in Customer Service in the near term for our on campus student population. Since we believe that every organization can benefit from employees who are trained to be customer-centered, we are looking forward to expanding this program of study".

Susan Cross, Interim Vice President Economic Development stated, "The Office of Economic Development continues to present this valuable customer service program to our existing industry in our Service Delivery Area counties of Candler, Emanuel, Jenkins, Johnson, and Treutlen Counties. Any individual or any company that is interested in more information related to the Certified Customer Service Specialist Program should contact, Randy Minton or Janene Betts in the Office of Economic Development at 478.289.2230 or 289.2326."   

Pictured: (l-r) Jaclyn Winskie, Assistant Director of CCR&R; Gopiann Shah with her mother, Rupal Shah, and brother, Pujan Shah; and Gena Sapp, Director of Swainsboro Tech Child Development Center.

Swainsboro Technical College Participates in Child Abuse Prevention Month

Swainsboro Technical College Child Development Center and Childcare Resource and Referral (CCR&R) of East Central Georgia of Swainsboro Technical College participated in celebrating April as the National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The designation of April was made in a Proclamation by the President of the United States of America. Part of the proclamation states that "childhood is a formative time, and abuse can have devastating long-term effects on young lives. In order to provide a safe environment for our young people, parents must work to protect their children from the dangers that threaten them. Family members, educators, public officials, and faith-based and community organizations all play important roles in helping to ensure that children are safe and can grow surrounded by love and stability."

The theme of the month long celebration is "Promoting Healthy Families in Your Community". In an effort to educate children and parents, Swainsboro Technical College Child Development Center, with the support of CCR&R is distributing information packets to all parents in the center. Each packet contains a bookmark and a booklet. The preschool parents also received a paperback booklet that can be read to the children.

Some interesting statistics on Child abuse and neglect: (1) Every 15 minutes, a child is the victim of confirmed abuse or neglect. (2) Over 200 incidents of child abuse and neglect are reported daily. (3) More than 14,000 children are in the legal custody of the state, at any one time.

Persistent stress resulting from child maltreatment can disrupt early brain development and impair development of the nervous and immune response systems. Children who experience maltreatment are at increased risk for adverse health effects throughout their lives (e.g., suicide, obesity, smoking, alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, eating disorders, sexual promiscuity, and certain chronic diseases). In addition, persons who are abused as children are twice as likely to be assaulted as adults.