Southern Regional Technical College

The Georgia State Collegiate chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), along with the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) and Georgia Student Government Association (GSGA) partnered to host the Georgia Spring Leadership Conference and Competitions in Atlanta this past weekend. Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) was represented by 21 students and advisors. Competitions and state officer presentations took place throughout the weekend. Award ceremonies began Saturday afternoon.

Southern Regional Technical College's (SRTC) Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program held a pinning ceremony on Wednesday, April 10, marking the completion of the program for 15 students. The program is accredited by the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). With this accreditation, graduates may sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) National Certification Exam to become Certified Medical Lab Technicians. Graduating from a NAACLS accredited program and passing the national certification is the only way someone can be employed in a clinical lab at a hospital.

Completion of the Customer Service Training Course signifies the student's commitment to mastering the essential skills needed to excel in customer service. This course taught students how to provide excellent service, even in challenging situations, turning students into valuable business professionals. Throughout the course, students delved into the fundamentals of effective customer service, gaining insights into communication techniques, problem-solving strategies, and the importance of empathy in resolving customer issues. By completing this training, students have not only acquired the skills to handle customer interactions with confidence but have also demonstrated their dedication to delivering exceptional service, making them invaluable assets to their respective teams.

Being successful in the workplace involves so much more than just being able to carry out specific job duties. Students who have completed this training gain insights into improving communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and other skills so that they can be effective on the job.

Katrina Jones, a custodian and student at Southern Regional Technical College in Thomasville, embodies the values of SRTC - honesty, integrity, and excellence. Her journey, from student and custodian to business owner, highlights the power of education and support found within the SRTC community. Katrina takes pride in being the first on her mother's side to graduate with an associate degree and in her ability to juggle work, education, and motherhood. To those embarking on a similar journey, Katrina offers these words of wisdom: have patience, don't rush, and remember that it is never too late to pursue your dream. From student and employee to business owner, Katrina's story inspires us to embrace opportunity, pursue our dreams, and embody the spirit of resilience that defines Sothern Regional Technical College.

Local high school students competed in a welding competition on Friday, March 22, 2024, hosted by Southern Regional Technical College and Colquitt County High School and sponsored by Darvin Flowers of Jones Welding and Steve Mattson of Lincoln Electric. 52 students participated in the competition in Moultrie to compete against each other for a chance to win the grand prize of a 140 amp GMAW welding machine, a Lincoln welding hood, welding jacket, welding gloves, welding cap, a bag for carrying welding gear, and a $1,000.00 SRTC scholarship. The competition aimed to foster healthy competition while highlighting the importance of welding skills in today's industrial landscape. Participants demonstrated their proficiency in various welding techniques and put their welding skills on display using the Shielded Metal Arc Welding process in horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions with E7018 and E6010 electrodes.

On the evening of March 11, 2024, the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) at Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) inducted 25 new members into the organization. The formal ceremony was held at SRTC-Thomasville. As a national organization, the purpose of NTHS is to promote the ideals of honesty, service, leadership, career development, and skilled workmanship. NTHS rewards meritorious achievement in technical education and assists technical students in their pursuit of educational and career goals. Nation-wide, NTHS works to develop a greater awareness within the American business, industry, and service communities about the talents and abilities of students engaged in technical education, and provides technical students with a greater awareness of the world of work.

The National Technical Honor Society and FBLA Collegiate at Southern Regional Technical College are thrilled to announce the success of their joint effort in collecting essential items for the Tift County Animal Shelter during the month of February 2024. The culmination of their charitable initiative was marked by the delivery of donated items and hands-on assistance at the shelter on Friday, March 1, 2024. During this collaborative campaign, members of the National Technical Honor Society and FBLA Collegiate worked to gather much-needed supplies for the Tift County Animal Shelter. The generosity of SRTC students and faculty played a crucial role in the achievement of this endeavor.

In a significant milestone for both education and workforce development, Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) proudly announces the achievement of its Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) students who signed apprenticeship agreements with Thomas County Emergency Services on March 11, 2024. This is the first cohort of the Street to Station Program, which aims to train fire medics or individuals who are cross-trained in both fire rescue and emergency medical services. Apprenticeships represent a crucial intersection of hands-on experience and academic learning, providing an opportunity for individuals to kickstart their careers in a supportive and immersive environment. The apprenticeship agreements signed by SRTC's AEMT students signify a commitment to fostering talent and preparing the next generation of emergency medical professionals.

On February 27, 2024, the most recent cohort of Nurse Aide Accelerated graduates completed the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program Examination. In just a few weeks, these SRTC-Bainbridge students completed the classroom training, laboratory practice, and clinical rotations required to earn their Nurse Aide certification.

Career and technical education students from Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) recently competed at the 2024 SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference, bringing home 11 medals. More than 9,000 student competitors, advisors, instructors, and industry professionals attended the conference and its skills competitions, held in Atlanta February 22 -24 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The annual event hosts more than 100 different hands-on technical trade, occupational related, and leadership contests for students to earn the right to compete at the national conference held in late June.

On the evening of February 17, 2024, the Southern Regional Technical College Foundation recognized three Distinguished Alumni Award winners during the Foundation's "Comedy for a Cause" event at the Biscuit Company in Thomasville, Ga. Those recognized were Leroy Akins of Bainbridge, Hilliary Bailey of Auburn, and Bryan Busby of Tallahassee. The Distinguished Alumni each received an award handcrafted by students at SRTC. Each of these Distinguished Alumni embody excellence in technical education and beyond. In addition to the distinguished alumni, the Foundation honored two current SRTC students during the event. For the spring semester of 2024, the SRTC Foundation named Accounting student Renee Gray of Cairo and General Business student Arturo Hernandez of Moultrie as the SRTC Legacy Scholarship recipients. The Foundation established the $1,000 scholarship subsequent to the college's Annual Giving Day in the spring of 2022. Over the course of the internal fundraising campaign, 74% of full time SRTC faculty and staff pledged to contribute for a combined donation of $62,973.80. Those who donated became founding members of the new scholarship, creating a legacy that will support exceptional SRTC students for years to come.

The Georgia Association of Accounting Educators (GAAE) recently held their annual conference at SRTC-Thomasville, marking the first time the statewide organization has met in Thomasville. Over 50 educators attended, representing colleges and universities from across the state. Several of Southern Regional Technical College's (SRTC) School of Business students were invited to attend as well. In addition to the educators and students, several industry partners sponsored and attended the event, including Becker, McGraw Hill, UWorld Accounting, StudentsExcel, Wiley, Kennesaw State University Coles College of Business, and The Educational Foundation of The Georgia Society of CPAs.

On Tuesday, February 20, Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) recognized seven graduating Nurse Aide Accelerated students at a pinning ceremony at SRTC-Thomasville honoring their achievements. The program honored students from the SRTC-Thomasville cohort.

On February 8, 2024, members of Colquitt County High School's (CCHS) Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Southern Regional Technical College's (SRTC) FBLA-Collegiate met with Moultrie Mayor Bill McIntosh where he signed and issued a proclamation in recognition of FBLA week, observed this year from February 11 - 17. FBLA is a national, nonprofit organization and educational association with a quarter million student members preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. The association has four divisions: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for high school students; FBLA-Middle Level for junior high, middle, and intermediate school students; FBLA-Collegiate for postsecondary students; and Professional Division for business people, FBLA alumni, educators, and parents who support the goals of the association. "Through our on-campus FBLA-Collegiate efforts we are training tomorrow's leaders today. Success in business starts while young people are in school, learning leadership qualities while building lifelong networks in the business community," commented Ann Young, FBLA-Collegiate Advisor at SRTC.

Recently, the administration at Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) recognized exceptional students achieving the honor of President's List for the fall 2023 term, which ended December 6. Each semester, SRTC recognizes students who have accomplished high academic achievement through the President's List. In order to qualify for the President's List, students must meet two criteria: earn a grade of "A" in all coursework attempted and be enrolled in 12 semester credit hours or more at the college.

Recently, the administration at Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) recognized exceptional students achieving the honor of Dean's List for the fall 2023 term, which ended December 6. Each semester, SRTC recognizes students who have accomplished high academic achievement through the Dean's List. In order to qualify for the Dean's List, students must meet two criteria: earn a grade of "A" in all coursework attempted and be enrolled between 9 and 11 semester credit hours at the college.