Pictured: (l-r) Swainsboro Technical College Vice-president of Academic Affairs Dr. Richard Thornton, Rick Perkins Coordinator Jessie Garrett, Jay Gaultney Award recipient Peggy Braswell, and Swainsboro Technical College President Larry Calhoun.
Peggy Braswell Receives Swainsboro Technical College’s Jay Gaultney Award
Larry Calhoun, President of Swainsboro Technical College, announced that Peggy Braswell has been awarded the 2007 Swainsboro Technical College "Jay Gaultney Award of Excellence."
The Jay Gaultney Award of Excellence had been previously named the President’s Award of Excellence in Technical Instruction until 1999 when the name was changed in memory of Jay Gaultney, a Cosmetology Instructor at Swainsboro Technical College for over twenty years. Faculty members who have been employed for three or more years in instructional programs or adult literacy are eligible to be nominated for this award. The recipient must have made significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in his or her field. Other instructors as well as representatives of the administrative staff and students may nominate an instructor for this award. Mrs. Braswell was nominated by a group of her peers. She received letters of recommendation and support from colleagues. A selection panel reviewed her biographical profile and letters and then interviewed Mrs. Braswell, asking questions about her teaching philosophy and style as well as discussing her career choices as an instructor at Swainsboro Technical College.
"It is such an honor to be nominated by my colleagues and selected as the recipient of the Jay Gaultney Award of Excellence. I am proud to be a part of technical education and to represent Swainsboro Technical College," commented Mrs. Braswell.
Mrs. Braswell began teaching Cosmetology part time at Swainsboro Tech as the night instructor in 1978, the year the program began. In l998, she became lead instructor and began teaching the full time day program. She has served as Skills USA VICA advisor and is very active in promoting and supporting our local Skills VICA club. Mrs. Braswell received her Master Cosmetologist in 1974, and prior to her employment here, she owned and operated "Hair Unlimited" salon. She is married with two sons and one granddaughter.
Mrs. Braswell will compete on the consortium level as a candidate for the "Rick Perkin’s Award of Excellence," formerly known as the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence. The winner of the consortium competition, which consists of seven technical colleges in central Georgia, will compete on the state level as one of six consortia winners and an announcement of the state winner will take place during the Lighthouse Institute Week that will be held in September. The state Rick Perkins Award winner serves as an ambassador for technical education in Georgia and will make many public appearances throughout the year including addresses to the Georgia General Assembly, the Governor, and the Georgia Technical College System Leadership Conference.
"In today’s fast changing society the concept of learning is essential," Mr. Calhoun said. "Peggy Braswell illustrates a genuine desire to help her students, not only to learn in her classroom, but also to take what they learn and put it in practice. Peggy will represent our College well; and we wish her the best of luck at her consortium and statewide competition."