(Marietta, Ga. – June 12, 2014)Chattahoochee Technical College officials recently announced Cartersville resident Melanie Lambert has been hired to head the college’s Chattahoochee Tech Foundation. Responsible for the administration of and operations of the foundation, Lambert will work to support the mission and vision of the college through scholarships, grants and financial support for programs. However, she said she believes that the role of the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation goes beyond that.

“I believe that the Foundation must serve as a champion for the College and work to educate the community about its mission and vision,” said Lambert. “I also firmly believe that the Foundation must serve as a connection between the students, faculty, and staff and the donors who provide the critical funding necessary to make the mission a reality. People give to people, and it is our job to connect both sides of the philanthropic relationship.”

Lambert holds a degree in communication from Reinhardt University where she began her career in the Development Office at Reinhardt University in 2007. Most recently she served as the Senior Associate Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations at Emory University.  Working in the university’s central stewardship office, her responsibilities included providing annual endowment fund reports to donors, developing comprehensive department and individual stewardship plans and ensuring that donated funds were being used appropriately.

The avid Atlanta Braves fan said she was interested in Chattahoochee Tech because, living in the area and having gone to college nearby; she knew that CTC has such a huge impact on the area it serves.

“I was interested in working to engage students who may not be aware of the amount of philanthropy that goes into their higher education experience here at CTC,” said Lambert.  “And I was fascinated by the relationship that CTC has with the businesses in the North Georgia area. When I learned that there would be a lot of room for me to be creative in how we went about raising funds for the college and how we engaged students, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the growth of the Foundation.”

Lambert plans to start her role by working to educate students about development and the Foundation at all of the campuses and create a culture of philanthropy.

“When students find out that their scholarships are funds provided by people and businesses in our community, they want to show their gratitude,” she explained.  “I want the Foundation to provide them with every opportunity to connect with donors. This, in turn, creates engaged alumni who know the value and need for their own support in the future. I also plan to develop a strong stewardship plan which will create opportunities for the Foundation to show our appreciation for CTC donors. I also plan to increasingly engage businesses in our community that benefit from the skilled workforce that graduate or receive certifications from CTC every year. I’d like to partner with them to provide scholarships, additional needs for the classroom, and other needs.”

For more information on the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation, call 770-528-4522 or visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu/Foundation.

(Acworth, Ga. – June 13, 2014) For the approximately 60 students participating in the Chattahoochee Technical College Adult Education Recognition Ceremony Thursday, this was a celebration they missed out on in high school. The graduates represent just a portion of the hundreds of students who took GED examinations at Chattahoochee Technical College’s numerous testing centers.

Most of these students were among the first group in the country to complete the GED test on computer. Georgia was the first state to launch the computer-based GED testing and Chattahoochee Technical College was in the first group to convert to that process as well. Additionally, many of these students completed the newly revised exam that launched January 1.

Thursday night’s ceremony included three graduates who were selected by the program’s instructors and administrators to tell their story about their journey. Speakers featured in this year’s ceremony included Rebecca Bryson of Woodstock, Gregory King of Cartersville and Heather Ross of Canton. Each explained that certain sections of the test were the most troublesome, but they each have brighter futures planned with the new credential.

“In 2007 I passed every section except math,” explained Bryson. “Math was hard and I couldn’t afford a tutor. I let math scare me.”

Bryson returned to classes at Chattahoochee Technical College in 2013 and focused on math.

“All I had to do was show up and study hard,” she said. “Six months later I passed the GED. I never planned on going to college, but I just completed my first semester of college at Chattahoochee Tech.”

Ross also said that math was a struggle for her, saying that she was not so sure of herself when she first walked into the classroom.

“I was scared and nervous that first day,” Ross said. “But I found the potential in me and a will to succeed by going to Chattahoochee Technical College.”

Ross has already found success with her GED, as she was promoted at work and recently moved into her own home with her children. She hopes to someday own a business which will help other struggling single moms change their lives and reach their goals.

King also wants to open his own business, having passed the GED in December. He has received a promotion at work, but said his main reason for wanting to pass the exams was that he felt incomplete.

“I felt like I was at a disadvantage to my peers and co-workers when a job would open up,” King said. “Now I feel that doors are opening.”

Without a high school or GED diploma a person will earn on average $7,658 less a year than someone with a secondary education credential. That number along with statistics of higher chances of arrest and jail time, poorer health, more troubled finances and lower self-esteem are all reasons that people turn to Chattahoochee Technical College for help to pass the General Educational Development test.

Chattahoochee Technical College offers free classes to prepare students for the exams, including placement testing and online resources. GED preparation classes are offered at no charge through Chattahoochee Technical College’s Adult Education program at a variety of locations.

For more information about Chattahoochee Technical College and the college’s Adult Education  Program, visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu/adult-education.

Check out some photos from the event here.

(Marietta, Ga. – July 7, 2014)Chattahoochee Technical College students who are planning to enter some of the most in-demand career fields may be eligible for some extra funds starting this fall. Already available for students in Commercial Truck Driving, Early Childhood Care and Education and Practical Nursing, the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant (SIWDG) has now been expanded to include students in the diploma-level programs of Computer Programming, Diesel Equipment Technology, Information Security Specialist, Internet Specialist-Web Application Development, Networking Specialist, Surgical Technology and Welding and Joining Technology.

“Students don’t have to do anything extra to apply for this grant as long as they are enrolled in an eligible program and receiving HOPE Grant, they’ll receive this grant,” explained Student Financial Services Executive Director Jody Darby. “We hope this will help students defray some of the costs of these programs and make a college education more accessible to the future workforce.”

Beginning this fall, when they are qualifying for the HOPE Grant, students can simultaneously qualify for the SIWDG by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Newly streamlined for easier completion, students should submit this application as soon as possible for the HOPE Grant and other financial aid. Students may also apply for HOPE and other state aid, including SIWDG, through www.gacollege411.org.

Georgia’s HOPE Grant is available to Georgia residents who are working toward certificate or diploma at an eligible college or university in Georgia. Different than the HOPE Scholarship, the program focuses on technical college programs that can be completed in just a few semesters. Full-time enrollment is not required and students are not required to graduate from high school with a specific GPA, however, they are required to have a postsecondary cumulative 2.0 GPA, at certain checkpoints, in order to maintain eligibility.

For those programs eligible for the enhanced SIWDG, students can receive the traditional HOPE Grant as well as an additional $125-$500 in funding each semester.

Students in the Commercial Truck Driving program at the college’s North Metro Campus could qualify for a one-time grant of $1,000. The typical cost for the 8-week program is currently $1,576 for in-state students, plus the cost of books. With both HOPE Grant and the SIWDG funds, a student would only be required to a fraction of that amount.

Also available at the college’s North Metro Campus, students in the diploma-level Diesel Equipment Technology program could be eligible for between $125 and $500 in additional funding. The Diesel Equipment Technology program emphasizes truck repair theory as well as practical workplace application.

Several diploma-level programs within Computer Technology also fall under the SIWDG. Students studying Computer Programming, Information Security Specialist, Internet Specialist-Web Application Development and Networking Specialist could receive between $125 and $500 each semester. Job opportunities range from programmer or website designer to information security specialist or network administrator. Classes for these programs are offered at the Marietta and North Metro campuses.

Students enrolled in the diploma Early Childhood Care and Education program could be eligible to receive between $125 and $500 each term. The program, which is taught online and at multiple campuses, prepares students to work in Georgia’s child care centers or Pre-K programs.

Students pursuing a diploma in the Practical Nursing Program could also be eligible to receive between $125 and $500 each term. In just one year, practical nursing students complete 685 hours in the classroom and 485 hours of clinical experience. They learn nursing fundamentals, leadership basics and are exposed to medical/surgical, obstetrics, labor and delivery, pediatric and mental health specialties. The program classes are offered at the North Metro Campus.

Housed in a state-of-the-art lab at the college’s North Metro Campus, the Surgical Technology program has recently been added to the list of eligible programs for the SIWDG. Like the other diploma-level programs, Surgical Technology students can receive between $125 and $500 per semester if eligible. The surgical technology diploma program prepares students for employment in a variety of positions in the surgical field, ensuring that each surgery runs safely, effectively and hygienically.

Also new to the list of programs eligible for the SIWDG this year is the Welding and Joining Technology Program. Available at the Appalachian Campus, students may receive between $125 and $500 per semester, if eligible. The Welding and Joining Technology program includes training in shielding metal arc, oxyacetylene, tungsten inert gas, metallic inert gas, oxyfuel gas cutting, plasma arc cutting, and gouging. In this hands-on program, students learn about metals, electrodes and filler materials.

“This is a great policy initiative from the Governor and General Assembly,” said Chattahoochee Technical College President Dr. Ron Newcomb. “This will incentivize enrollment into needed areas and better develop this community and Georgia’s workforce for the future.”

(Jasper, Ga. – July 14, 2014)Chattahoochee Technical College students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to pack 300 lunches for toddlers to teens living in Pickens County on Monday, July 21 from noon to 1 p.m. The lunches will then be delivered to different locations throughout Pickens County as a part of Service Learning Committee project with MUST Ministries Summer Lunch program.

For 19 years the local non-profit organization has been collecting and distributing lunches to thousands of children who normally eat free and reduced cost lunches at school. During the 10 weeks of summer break they are left with little or no food, as most are children of minimum wage workers who must leave their children in the care of a neighbor or older child.

In addition to packing lunches between noon and 1 p.m. Monday, Chattahoochee Technical College students, faculty and staff are being asked to donate individually packed snacks, juice drinks and books for anyone from toddlers to teenagers in the red barrel at the Appalachian Campus Student Center.

For more information on Chattahoochee Technical College and its educational programs, call 770-528-4545 or visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu.

Engineering for Kids Metro Atlanta Camp Instructor Maurice Reid discusses the boat’s design with Gavin Mosteller of Dallas.

(Acworth, Ga. – July 18, 2014) Four children in Northwest Georgia have been stuck on a deserted island for a week or at least that’s the scenario that has been playing out during the morning session of Engineering for Kids Summer Camp at Chattahoochee Technical College this week. In partnership with Engineering for Kids of Metro Atlanta, Chattahoochee Technical College began hosting Summer Solutions Camps for rising 4th through Rising 9th graders at its Marietta and North Metro Campuses. While learning how to think creatively and experiment with different scientific principles, the students have had a blast learning and having fun.

“The camp presents engineering concepts in a way that students of all ages can understand,” said Raushanah Butler, technical programs coordinator at Chattahoochee Technical College. ““They developed tools, created solutions, and explored ideas that they may not have been exposed to before this week.”

The participants were stranded on Survivor’s Cove and split into two tribes for the week – The Survivor Spiders and the Giant Potatoes. Through a series of experiments, trial and error, and competition, the tribes have built their own flashlights, parachutes and boats in order to survive and escape back to civilization.

“I learned how to make a flashlight, what kind of water source – hot or cold – was better for a boat to float in, how to catch a fish using a magnet and what I need to make a parachute,” said Survival Spider tribe member Gavin Mosteller of Dallas. “But my favorite part was playing with my friends.”

The afternoon session of the camp at the North Metro Campus included a program on video game design. Video Game Design: Invader Defense allowed students to create their own video game.

Whether they are firing marshmallows or missiles, participants built a complete game from start to finish that they took home to enjoy.

Participants worked on laptop computers to design their own video games.

“We are focusing in this session on invader defense games and introducing participants into object oriented programming and the career of software programming in a fun and exciting way,” Engineering for Kids of Metro Atlanta’s President and CEO Maureen Myrie.

Another camp week is scheduled for July 28-Aug. 1 and will take place at the Marietta Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College. The morning session will include Momentum Madness where students will focus on how fast an object can go without compromising safety. Students in this camp will work with their pit crew to design and build vehicles such as dragsters and hovering levitrons.

The afternoon session of this week-long camp will also have a race theme as students can participate in Video Game Design: Racing Games. Students create their own video games by designing a racetrack, race cars and an environment for the competition. At the end of the camp, students take home a copy of the game they created.

“I’m excited about the camps because this is what it’s all about: bridging that gap between the communities we serve and our institution,” said Butler.  “With our high schools offering S.T.E.M. Magnet programs and our elementary and middle schools integrating these components into every day curriculum, it is vital that we do our part in insuring that we continue the momentum that has been built up over the school year.”

For more information about these camp sessions, visit http://aceweb.chattahoocheetech.edu/wconnect/ShowSchedule.awp?~~GROUP~:FULL or call 770-648-5437.

(Jasper, Ga. – July 25, 2014)The Cosmetology Program at Chattahoochee Technical College’s Appalachian Campus will have a familiar face leading classes this fall. Instructor Jeannie Ingram will be taking the helm when classes begin back Aug. 18. Ingram has been teaching at Chattahoochee Technical College for two years, but is thrilled at teaching at the college’s northern most campus.

“I am so excited to be the new Instructor over the Cosmetology program in Jasper,” said Ingram. “This opportunity is a dream come true for me. I grew up in Pickens Co. I attended PHS and later received my Master Cosmetology License from what was once named Pickens Tech and is now known as Chattahoochee Technical College.

Prior to her current position, Ingram was able to teach as an international platform artist. In that position, she was called upon to demonstrate products and techniques to other professionals. The role helped her prepare her teaching skills, as well as develop an even deeper appreciation for the field of cosmetology.

This fall Ingram’s classes at the Appalachian Campus will include topics on hair care treatment, chemical texture services, haircutting and styling. According to Ingram, students will be learning the fundamentals of cutting, styling, client relations and more.

Chattahoochee Technical College’s Cosmetology Program is taught at the diploma-level and emphasizes specialized training in theory; safety; sanitation; state laws, rules and regulations; chemistry; anatomy and physiology; skin and nail care; hair coloring; reception; lab and salon management. The curriculum meets licensing requirements of the State of Georgia Board of Cosmetology. After examination and receipt of a Master Cosmetologist license, graduates are employable as cosmetologists, salon owners or managers, estheticians, nail technicians, platform artists or industry sales representatives. Courses are offered Appalachian, Marietta and North Metro Campuses.

“Since receiving my license I have had the opportunity in my career to enjoy everything this license can offer, salon/spa owner, industry rep, test salon for new products and one of the most enjoyable things – an international platform artist,” said Ingram. “I love the career I have and want nothing more than to share all of my experiences and knowledge with my students.”

(Acworth, Ga. – July 9, 2014) Chattahoochee Technical College recently recognized the staff at Tintoria Piana for its training efforts. So far eight of the staff members have completed Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training. This training is designed to help employees focus on quality at the company’s facility that opened in Cartersville in 1995.

“Training of this type helps to increase the knowledge of employees,” explained Chattahoochee Technical College Director of Business and Industry Rick Goble. “It also allows leadership within a company to look at processes and systems to determine if changes can be made to enhance quality and efficiency.”

The training program was able to be offered directly to Tintoria Piana employees at their work location in Cartersville through Chattahoochee Technical College Economic Development’s customized training option. Lean Six Sigma training introduces a variety of tools, techniques and business metrics representing the best practices for quality and process improvement.

In addition to customized workforce training, Chattahoochee Technical College offers continuing professional education courses on multiple campuses and online. Courses typically include business management, childcare, healthcare, paralegal studies and industrial and technical programs. Professional learning units are available through certification programs such as ServSafe, Master Timber Harvester, and Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation.

For more information on training solutions for business and industry, as well as continuing professional education opportunities at Chattahoochee Technical College visit www.chattahoocheetech.edu/continuing-professional-education/ or call 770-528-4550.

(Jasper, Ga. – July 29, 2014)Dozens of Chattahoochee Technical College students, faculty and staff banded together to pack lunch for 300 toddlers to teenagers in Pickens County recently. The group decorated lunch bags, assembled sandwiches, and packed treats for children as a service learning project at the Appalachian Campus.

“In addition to the lunches, students, faculty and staff at the Appalachian Campus donated additional lunch items for the Must Ministry lunch pantry,” said Chattahoochee Technical College Instructor Pennie Eddy. “At the Marietta campus Reading Instructor Judy Cannon coordinated a book drive which when combined with the ones donated at the Appalachian Campus totaled more than 250 children and teen books delivered to Must Ministries. These books will be distributed on Fridays to the children and teens in the summer lunch program.”

The project, which was in conjunction with MUST Ministries Summer Lunch program. MUST Ministries has organized such events for 19 years to provide sack lunches to targeted locations suggested by school counselors throughout the areas of Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Forsyth, Gwinnett, North Fulton, Paulding, and Pickens counties every day for 10 weeks in the summer. The children receiving the lunches are children who normally eat free and reduced cost lunches at school. During the 10 weeks of summer break they are left with little or no food, as most are children of minimum wage workers who must leave their children in the care of a neighbor or older child.

“Students seemed to really enjoy this event,” said Eddy. “We hope this event will be repeated at more campuses next summer.”

ATLANTA (July 29, 2014) — Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Hank Huckaby and Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Commissioner Ron Jackson announced Georgia’s “Go Back. Move Ahead.” campaign today. The campaign will encourage many of the more than one million Georgians who have completed some college to return and finish their degrees.

“In order for Georgia to remain economically competitive, we must have an educated work force, and focusing on college completion is one way we intend to do that,” said Gov. Deal. “’Go Back. Move Ahead.’ provides resources for prospective students and makes it easy for any Georgian who has started college to go back to school and earn a degree or certificate.”

“Go Back. Move Ahead.” is a part of Gov. Deal’s “Complete College Georgia” initiative, which launched in 2011. It is projected that by 2020, more than 60 percent of jobs in Georgia will require a college certificate or degree. Presently, however, only 42 percent of the state’s young adults have earned a college credential — creating a need for an additional 250,000 graduates.

The University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia serve more than 300,000 students each year and are a major component of Georgia’s economy. Gov. Deal and higher education administrators recognize that the state must do more to make it easier for Georgia adults to return to school and complete their

degrees. This group includes approximately 1.1 million working-age adults, or 22 percent of the state’s population, who attended college for some time but did not finish.

The initiative will offer Georgians a simpler enrollment process, more flexible ways to transfer earned college credits, additional course schedule options and a personal academic advisor. Options for returning to college in Georgia include enrolling on campus, taking classes at a satellite location or using the online options available at many of Georgia’s public institutions.

The USG and TCSG are collaborating on the effort, which will include unprecedented public outreach to every part of Georgia. A significant media buy will purchase billboards, radio, video, print, and online digital media. There will also be grassroots community outreach and operational improvements at key campuses to make it easier for Georgia adults to return to college and earn their degrees. Interested students can be connected to a college representative online at www.gobackmoveahead.org or by calling 1-844-GOBACKNOW.

“Many Georgians choose not to return to college because they believe it is too difficult, too expensive or simply inconvenient,” said Gov. Deal. “I have challenged our University System to make it easier for these Georgians to go back, and I’m pleased with the response. Regardless of individuals’ personal or financial situations, we are committed to making it possible to go back, move ahead and make college work.”

For more information about Complete College Georgia and the “Go Back. Move Ahead.” campaign, visit www.gobackmoveahead.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @gobackmoveahead.

(Acworth, Ga. – July 31, 2014) For the nine students in Chattahoochee Technical College Program Director Jenny Pollock’s Health Information Technology class, classwork looked a lot like the real world recently. The students began this summer with a simulated project that was a combined effort of the Healthcare Management and Performance Improvement courses at the North Metro Campus.

For the project, students were assigned the task of developing a health information management department from simulated data. The project included determining a physical layout, budget, policies and procedures, electronic medical record implementation, process improvement, productivity tool design, employee training and job descriptions. Each student took on a role from receptionist to manager, including holding staff meetings and determining the structure of the office space and policies and procedures that would meet industry standards and legal regulations. According to Pollock, students gained collaboration, teamwork, communication and planning skills. The students also completed peer-to-peer evaluations that will assist them in performance evaluation tasks in the workplace.

“The project will assist students in a smoother transition from the classroom to the workplace environment through use of standard policies, procedures and operations in a hospital health information management department,” said Pollock. “Additionally, the class simulation experience will assist students in applying theory to practice, which will benefit the students with critical thinking skills to answer scenario-based questions on the certification exams.”

Health Information Technicians organize and manage health information data by ensuring its quality, accuracy, accessibility and security in both paper and electronic systems. They use various classification systems to code and categorize patient information for reimbursement purposes, for databases and registries, and to maintain patients’ medical and treatment histories. With classes offered at the North Metro Campus in Acworth, the program can be completed in four semesters by full-time students after they have completed their prerequisite courses. After earning a degree in Health Information Technology, students must take the Registered Health Information Technician certification examination through the American Health Information Management Association.

(Acworth, Ga. – Aug. 11, 2014)Celebrity spotters might have gotten a peek at some of their favorites from music, movies, television, and sports Saturday at the kickoff celebration for Chattahoochee Technical College’s Adult Education Department. Instructors and assistants from the colleges program in Bartow, Cherokee, Gilmer and Pickens walked the red carpet as Elton John, Audrey Hepburn, Arnold Palmer, Ellen DeGeneres and more as they learned more about what the year has in store for the community in terms of GED testing and ESOL classes.

“My belief is that every program should have a theme that ties into the programs goals for the year and having a theme helps motivate all of the team players to accomplish the goals,” explained Tamika Phillips, Executive Director of Adult Education at Chattahoochee Technical College. “This year’s theme is From the Red Carpet to Success. Part of this theme comes from the performer and movie lover in me, however, it is a theme that I believe encompasses the fact that everyone associated with this program is a STAR.”

Phillips said the theme extends to students in the GED program, as the ultimate goal is to get them to the stage.

“The path in which we travel is represented by the red carpet and the stage is what we look at as our platform to success,” said Phillips. “Our goal is to get our students to the stage. That stage can be the graduation stage, employment stage, college stage or wherever they want to go.”

The event provided an opportunity for the instructors to learn about updates from the state and to hear from community and state presents. Additionally, instructors had a chance to get to know each other better, as the learning centers are widely spaced in the four counties served by Chattahoochee Technical College Adult Education.

Chattahoochee Technical College offers free classes to prepare students for the exams, including placement testing and online resources. GED preparation classes are offered at no charge through Chattahoochee Technical College’s Adult Education program at a variety of locations.

“We are doing great things this year and we are moving full speed ahead to not only meet and exceed our goals of helping students obtain a GED, enter and retain employment, and enter into post-secondary education,” said Phillips. “We are also gearing up to do a Community Symposium to help make others aware of all of the good things we are doing to help Georgia’s adult education students become productive citizens in their communities.”

For more information about Chattahoochee Technical College and the college’s Adult Education Program, visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu/adult-education.

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA – August 4, 2014 – Neebo today announced that Heath Ward earned the Neebo Store Manager of the Year award and that Amy Turpin won the Neebo Regional Manager of the Year award. Ward leads Chattahoochee Technical College Bookstore in Marietta, GA and Turpin is the regional manager overseeing the area the bookstore is located in. The award winner announcements were made at the Neebo leadership conference this summer.

“We are very proud to have best-in-class leaders represent our bookstore,” said Executive Director of Student Financial Services for Chattahoochee Technical College, Jody Darby. “With Heath and Amy’s leadership, students, faculty, parents, and alumni will continue to experience the outstanding service that the Chattahoochee Technical College Bookstore is known for.”

The Neebo Store Manager of the Year award is presented to the store manager who most brings to life Neebo’s vision every day, growing profitable sales by being welcoming, knowledgeable, and the premier outfitter of collegiate products and guest service. In addition to the Neebo award, Heath and his team were recognized by Chattahoochee Technical College President Ron Newcomb, Ed.D. for going well above the call of duty for the campus.

The Neebo Regional Manager of the Year award recognizes the individual who most effectively leads their team to best-in-class results. Turpin earned Neebo’s 2014 honor because of her willingness to assist and support peers and partners and for continuously searching for ways improve store teams and campus services.

(Marietta, Ga. – August 18, 2014) More than 10,000 students carrying notebooks, pens, and textbooks arrived on campus at Chattahoochee Technical College Monday for the first day of fall semester. Seven of the college’s eight campuses welcomed back students for a 16-week term that will end in December. Chattahoochee Technical College was recently recognized again as the largest technical college in state by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, which looked at annual enrollment numbers of schools in the Technical College System of Georgia.

This semester is the first under the newly expanded Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant. Already available for students in Commercial Truck Driving, Early Childhood Care and Education and Practical Nursing, the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant (SIWDG) has now been expanded to include students in the diploma-level programs of Computer Programming, Diesel Equipment Technology, Information Security Specialist, Internet Specialist-Web Application Development, Networking Specialist, Surgical Technology and Welding and Joining Technology. Those qualifying for the HOPE Grant and studying one of these programs are eligible to receive $125 to $500 per semester in additional financial aid. Commercial Truck Driving students can receive an additional $1,000.

Monday morning’s enrollment of 10,503 students at the start of the day was on par with last year’s enrollment that was also a little over 10,000. About 41 percent of the students were taking at least one class online and 1,204 were exclusively enrolled in online classes. With several programs available completely online, this number is expected to grow.

Programs available online include Accounting, Business Administrative Technology, Business Management, Criminal Justice Technology, Fire Science, Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Marketing Management. Courses are delivered online include content and instruction off campus except for one proctored event completed in person. Online course offerings are also popular in other programs, as well as hybrid and web enhanced instructional offerings.

The Marietta Campus remains the top physical campus for student enrollment with 4,214 students, followed by the North Metro Campus in Acworth with 3,180. Approximately 1,003 students have chosen to take classes at the Canton Campus with more than 800 at the Paulding and Mountain View campuses. The Appalachian Campus had 539 students enrolled on Monday morning, and the Austell Campus, which is specifically for a limited number of health science programs, rounded out the list with 89 students. An additional 38 high school students are taking classes at the Bartow County College and Career Academy, up from 24 last year. The Woodstock Campus is currently closed for renovations.

Popular programs for students at Chattahoochee Technical College this semester remain Health Science for those preparing for healthcare related careers and the Technical Specialist Program for students wanting to take general education courses. More than 1,200 classes are being offered this semester during the day, evening and online.

(Marietta, Ga. – August 19, 2014) With topics ranging from losing weight and eliminating procrastination to finding and keeping love and working through grief, self-help books are popular works for all ages. This semester Chattahoochee Technical College will feature a variety of resources in this genre at each of its campus libraries with a focus on helping students to succeed.

“These books teach people all about personal enrichment, growth, and empowerment,” explained Chattahoochee Technical College Director of Libraries Barbara N. Moore. “While the topics vary, each offers advice and motivation specifically geared toward college students and their needs.”

Throughout the Chattahoochee Technical College libraries, more than 54,000 print titles are available, as well as 232,019 ebooks. This semester’s emphasis on self-help books will include information about time management, organizational skills, study habits, stress reduction, and more. Specific titles and descriptions can be found by searching the library’s catalog at www.chattahoocheetech.edu/services/library/. Titles and collections will vary by campus.

(Acworth, Ga. – Aug. 22, 2014 This fall Chattahoochee Technical College will be taking to the skies with its first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology class. A hot topic in today’s technology, the UAV class will be held over two and a half days and feature lecture, simulation, and application through actual flying time during October at Chattahoochee Technical College’s North Metro Campus in Acworth.

The concept of unmanned flight is not a new one. Dating back to the 1800s and use of balloons, the technology has received more attention lately. Essentially, UAVs are aircraft with no pilot on board. They can be remote controlled aircraft or can fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans or more complex dynamic automation systems.

In addition to military roles, UAVs serve where traditional alternatives are dangerous, monotonous, or too expensive. Some common roles include real estate marketing, commercial video production, utilities monitoring, and missing persons search crews. Additionally, many have become hobbyist by using the devices for leisure and entertainment through first person view (FPV) flights that were not practical before.

The course will be hands on and limited to approximately 20 people to ensure the best experience. Course fees run $699 through Chattahoochee Technical College’s Economic Development Division. The first course is scheduled to take place on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 16, during the day Friday, Oct. 17, and on Saturday, Oct. 18.

The course will be taught by Steve Cain, who has 25 years of experience with radio controlled aircraft, including design, construction, operation and pilot instruction. With a background in electrical engineering systems integration and complex project management, Cain is also the secretary and prior president of the Bartow County Model Aviation (AMA 2475). Also teaching will be Scott Estes with more than five years of experience with radio controlled cars, aircraft and multi-rotor. The Executive Director of Technology Advancement at Chattahoochee Technical College, Estes has more than 10 years of photography experience, including aerial photography and videography.

“The course will give you an introduction to what you need to successfully fly UAVs,” said Cain. “We’ll be looking at safety and the basics of the technology. We’ll also look at where this fast moving field is going.”

While Cain says his interest in UAV comes as an extension of his experience with radio controlled aircraft since the 1980s, Estes said he is interested in the technology behind the device.

“I became interested in learning how it worked,” explained Estes. “I wanted to understand how you could get it to do the things you wanted it to do. From there I wanted to learn more.”

Both instructors agree that it is not just the fun of flight or science behind the computer onboard that makes it interesting. Instead, it is the options and applications that are yet to be discovered. Estes calls it an evolving technology that holds great possibilities for the future.

“We’re on the cusp with this technology,” said Cain, who added the technology available with UAVs would not be possible today without the explosion of advancement in smart phones and similar tools. “Just like when you think about a computer, you realize that on its own that isn’t exciting or new. However, when you realize that it changes everything it touches and opens doors to practical solutions for things that nobody could have imagined just a few years ago.”

For more information on the course or enrollment information, call 770-528-4586 or email Cynthia.Holland@ChattahoocheeTech.edu.

(Marietta, Ga. – Sept. 10, 2014)The Chattahoochee Tech Foundation honored the winners of 27 different scholarships to students at the largest technical college in Georgia at a recent reception. The 41 winners, who represent a wide variety of the programs offered at Chattahoochee Technical College, will be able to use the money and items received toward achieving their educational and career goals.

“These scholarships represent the essence of the partnership between the community and the college,” said Chattahoochee Tech Foundation Executive Director Melanie Lambert. “Each scholarship is the direct result of the commitment of a company, organization, family or individual to the students and their efforts.”

The winners of all the scholarships competed against more than 100 applicants from CTC. In addition to meeting the special criteria for certain scholarships, applicants must meet specific GPA requirements, demonstrate financial need and be enrolled at CTC for a required number of credit hours. Awards range from a several hundred dollars to $2,500.

Recipients Include:

Billy Askea Endowed Scholarship

Nina Marinov of Marietta, Television Production Technology

AT&T Scholarship

Jeff Mathis of Dallas, Accounting

Barrow Family Scholarship

Cassie Lawrence of Kennesaw, Physical Therapist Assistant

Jillian Simpson of Hiram, Healthcare Science

Matthew Starr of Roswell, Environmental Technology

Andrew Stroud of Acworth, Physical Therapist Assistant

Susan Walters of Atlanta, Occupational Therapy Assistant

Tim B. Clower – Greystone Power Endowed Scholarship

Michelle Jones of Douglasville, Information Security Specialist

Stacey Sing-Tucker of Mableton, Occupational Therapy Assistant

Coplon Family Scholarship

Sandra Carlan of Euharlee, Business Administrative Technology

Suelyn Kirkland of Douglasville, Business Administrative Technology

Harlon D. Crimm Endowed Scholarship

April Barber of Kennesaw, Technical Specialist

Craig & Glinda Douglass Annual Scholarship

Samantha Holsclaw, Criminal Justice Technology

Craig & Glinda Douglas Endowed Scholarship

Christopher Reece of Canton, Television Production Technology

Culinary Arts Scholarship

Caroline Colbert of Kennesaw, Culinary Arts

Tara Drummond Memorial Scholarship

Brandon Gomez of Mableton, Criminal Justice Technology

Cinthia Hamilton of Mableton, Criminal Justice Technology

Ed Voyles Automotive Group Scholarship

Robert Jones of Woodstock, Automotive Technology

Cole Keeter of Roswell, Automotive Technology

Georgia Power Company Endowed Scholarship

Caitlin Worden of Milton, Technical Specialist

Stephen J. Gilbert Memorial Scholarship

Gloria Palacios Alvarez of Smyrna, Electrical/Computer Engineering Technology

Ron Greene Memorial Academic Leadership Scholarship

Connie Curry of Kennesaw, Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Tommy Hembree Endowed Scholarship

Ross Hayley of Atlanta, Air Conditioning Technology

Jeason Jaddoo of Douglasville, Air Conditioning Technology

KCMA Corporation Scholarship for Diesel Technology

Collan Sanford of Ellijay, Diesel Equipment Technology

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Endowed Scholarship

Marc-Anthoni Peacock, Jr. of Smyrna, Networking Specialist

Scott MacKenzie Memorial Scholarship

William Taylor of Douglasville, Accounting

Robert & Cheryl Moultrie Endowed Scholarship

Sonia Jn-Baptiste of Villa Rica, Healthcare Science

Mike Peterson Memorial Scholarship

Mark Kennedy of Atlanta, Diesel Equipment Technology

Westleigh House of Kennesaw, Motorcycle Repair Technology

Rodaius German of Powder Springs, Automotive Technology

Phillip Flynn of Smyrna, Automotive Technology

Aaron Bartlett of Acworth, Automotive Technology

Jeffrey Janes of Canton, Automotive Technology

Milton Ratner Foundation Endowed Scholarship

Mialien Mack of Atlanta, Business Management

Rotary Club of East Cobb County Scholarship

Morgan Huckeba of Marietta, Healthcare Science

Rotary Club of Paulding County Scholarship

Janisha Hall of Hiram, Accounting

Suggs Endowed Scholarship

Clinton Banks of Acworth, Design & Media Production Technology

Tull Charitable Foundation Endowed Scholarship

Kecia Whitfield of Canton, Business Management

Jack Vaughan, Jr. Endowed Scholarship

Shantal Acevedo of Dallas, Healthcare Science

Mark Whitfield Scholarship of Excellence

Michael Haymes of Waleska, Automotive Collision Repair

For more information on the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation, call 770-528-4522 or visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu/Foundation.

(Acworth, Ga. – Sept. 15, 2014) Chattahoochee Technical College’s newly introduced Healthcare Management program is a hybrid between the college’s health science programs and its business studies. For the 23 students currently enrolled this semester, it is a combination of coursework that will allow them to focus just as much on accounting as anatomy.

“This program focuses on the business side of healthcare,” explained Lead Instructor Rhonda Lively. “Every physician’s goal is to provide appropriate healthcare to patients. However, the medical facility must manage the operations side of patient care in order to provide the care. This program provides an educational foundation for medical facility supervisory and management skills necessary in the effective and efficient management of daily business operations.”

The role of a healthcare manager is a growing one in the workplace. Its foundational concepts that can be applied to the management of dental, medical, veterinary, urgent care, walk-in clinics, hospitals and ambulatory care. Job titles include Physician Practice Manager, Medical Office Manager, Clinic Coordinator, Physician Practice Supervisor and many other positions.

To enroll in the program students should complete 15-credit-hours of general education requirements. No entrance exam is required for the program, but successful students will possess several skills and traits, according to Lively. Prospective students should have critical thinking skills, effective verbal and written communication, as well as the ability to apply concepts and theories to medical office management simulations.

The 60-credit-hour associate of applied science program is offered to students who want to study full-time or part-time. Course work focuses on the business operations of human resources, management, patient care processes and workflow, inventory management, accounting, strategic planning, marketing, electronic medical records and healthcare law. Courses are offered at several different campuses, including the Appalachian, Canton, Marietta and North Metro campuses. Some courses are also available online. After acceptance into the program, students enrolled full time should expect to complete the program in three semesters, including a capstone course.

“This culmination of concepts and theories learned through the Associate Degree in Healthcare Management courses are applied in the Capstone Course during the last semester,” said Lively. “The Capstone Course utilizes a medical practice/facility simulation style classroom environment for students to apply educational knowledge to daily medical management operations. The added benefit of this degree rests in the articulation agreement with the University System of Georgia colleges for transfer of academic courses. It is a great holistic approach to many facets of healthcare management.”

(Marietta, Ga. – Sept. 16, 2014) Chattahoochee Technical College students will be helping area drivers to become CarFit at an event later this month in the parking lot at Roswell Street Baptist Church. Scheduled for Sept. 30, the students and WellStar employees will be on hand to work with members of the public from 9 a.m. to noon.

CarFit is a national program developed by the American Society on Aging in collaboration with AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. Through CarFit, the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Group is helping Georgia seniors find out how the effects of aging change the way they fit in their vehicle and how that can affect their driving. CarFit is designed to give seniors a quick, comprehensive check on how well their vehicle suits their abilities. While the program is geared toward senior drivers, the program is offered to any driver at no charge.

“The OTA students will not only have the opportunity to work alongside other medical professionals to build interpersonal and interdisciplinary skills, said Field Work Coordinator and Instructor Amy Shaffer. “They will be providing a service to the Cobb county community while simultaneously experiencing the common mobility problems and experiences senior drivers experience.”

Prior to the event, the students in the college’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program will become certified technicians for CarFit. Trained technicians take drivers through a 12-point checklist, including: Is the driver buckled up and using the seat belt correctly? Is the driver positioned correctly in the seat? Can the driver reach the pedals easily? Does the driver know how to adjust mirrors properly or have the flexibility to use mirrors?

During an event, drivers are also provided with information and materials on community-specific resources that could enhance their safety and/or increase their mobility in the community.  Occupational Therapy practitioners assist in events at the “check-out” station by providing information about possible adaptive equipment or how to obtain further driving evaluation if needed.

“As part of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, we teach students about the role of occupational therapists with driving and community mobility,” said Program Director Traci Swartz. “So we thought this would be a great way to illustrate the concepts. Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants can become Certified Driving Rehabilitation Specialists if interested in that practice area, after acquiring further training and passing an exam.”

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is 94 credit hours in length, including prerequisites. Occupational Therapy Assistants work under the direction of occupational therapists to help rehabilitate patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). This includes helping patients develop, recover and improve the skills needed for daily living and working.

A full-time student who has successfully completed all prerequisite courses can complete the Occupational Therapy Assistant program in five semesters. Program prerequisite courses are offered at multiple campuses and online. Occupational Therapy Assistant occupational courses are offered at the Austell Campus.

For more information on CarFit and the upcoming event in Marietta, visit www.car-fit.org. For more information on Chattahoochee Technical College and its programs of study, visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu or call 770-528-4545.

(Marietta, Ga. – Sept. 26, 2014) Being in the same field for more than 25 years is something to celebrate. For Chattahoochee Technical College Instructor Ian Feinberg it certainly is now that his longevity and contribution to the television industry have earned him the honor of being named to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) – Southeast Division Silver Circle.

Feinberg, who is the lead instructor in the college’s award winning Television Production program at the Mountain View Campus, was one of 14 local area professionals recognized recently. The local division of NATAS honors those selected with more than 25 years of broadcast excellence and community commitment with induction into the Silver Circle, while those with more than 50 years are eligible for the Gold Circle.

“The impressive part of the induction was the other inductees,” said Feinberg. “There are 14 in all – many whom I worked with at WXIA and other very high level professionals in broadcasting. These include news directors at the top TV stations, weathercasters from the Weather Channel. I felt very honored and humbled to be included in that induction class.”

An interest in photography led Feinberg to his career. During his high school days a friend of his worked at a local television station. He began going there at night to self-train. The experience paid off when he was hired in the 10^th grade.

“I loved every aspect of the work,” explained Feinberg. “In the two and a half years I worked at this station, I did everything – studio camera, building and lighting sets, audio, directing, film playback, shooting and editing film. It was more experience than most college students received in four years.”

Feinberg then attended the University of Georgia where he graduated from Film School. He was hired by WXIA in Atlanta where he worked for 20 years. His career has included many highlights, including travel, celebrities, shooting out of helicopters and planes, as well as several Emmy Award wins.

Now Feinberg has parlayed that same love for the industry into a career teaching at Chattahoochee Technical College. Through this role as the program’s lead instructor, he educates future industry leaders while he continues to direct and produce shows for television. Feinberg, along with other instructors in the program, routinely lead students through the process of filming award shows like the Shuler Hensley Awards and the Regional Emmy Awards presentations. Additionally, this semester his students are working under his direction as part of the crew on Play to Win – a weekly sports show broadcast each Saturday on Atlanta’s Fox 5. He has been with the college since 2001.

“When I graduated college,” said Feinberg, “my favorite professor told me to attach myself to the most talented person wherever I landed, which is what I did. I learned so much from some very talented people.”

(Marietta, Ga. – Sept. 29, 2014) Football in the South is a weekend tradition that turns people into virtual coaches from their couches and creates Monday morning quarterback discussions at the water cooler. Chattahoochee Technical College Television Production students are becoming a part of that conversation with a new partnership that has students taking the helm of the production of a new television show – Play to Win.

Airing Saturday’s at noon on WAGA Fox5 Atlanta, the half hour show previews the college and NFL games that are coming up and focuses on local teams including the SEC and ACC conferences. It also covers fantasy football projections and predictions of winners based on point spreads. The show includes commentary and reports by Bob Neal, an Atlanta sports veteran; Chuck Smith, a former Atlanta Falcons player; Nikky Williams, a local television personality; Adam Brown, who is new to the TV game; Jeffrey Schechter, analyst; and Dr. Anand Lalaji, who gives medical reports on injured players.

Chattahoochee Technical College Program Director and Instructor Ian Feinberg said he became involved when a colleague he had worked with at WXIA retired and wanted to start a sports talk show.

“He (Phil Isaacs) sold the air time to advertisers and bought the Saturday time slot at WAGA,” explained Feinberg. “He and the producer of the show, Steve Graham worked with me at WXIA. Steve is a very well-known sport producer in town.”

Along with a crew that includes about 15 students from Chattahoochee Technical College’s Television Production program, the group films at the college’s Mountain View Campus once a week. Students are performing many of the essential tasks of the production, including operating cameras, the video switcher, audio, video playback, and graphics. Additionally, students shoot some of the elements in the show such as a segment done at 680 The Fan radio.

The show, which is scheduled to run until the Super Bowl, has been a learning experience for the students. With a set donated by Comcast Sports South, the students helped Feinberg cut it down to size to fit the smaller studio at the campus in East Cobb County. There have also been late nights loading graphics and commercials before recording could take place. While plans have been to record the show early on Thursday mornings, the first few weeks have run over time. But so far the feedback from viewers has been great with the show in second place for the ratings during the first week. The professionals working on the show have also commented that the students have been doing a great job.

“This is more than just a project for the students,” said Feinberg. “It is on broadcast television. This provides two crucial benefits. It adds credibility to their resume and provides real world experience.”

Offered at Chattahoochee Technical College’s Mountain View campus in Cobb County, the television production technology program allows students to learn the behind-the-scene skills necessary to produce TV news, documentaries and entertainment shows. They learn to operate cameras in the studio and in the field, as well as production, directing, writing, lighting, editing, audio, graphics and digital-animation skills. The program strives to stay current with the industry’s state-of-the-art equipment, including a modern, on campus studio that offers students the opportunity to use the tools they need for the job. Graduates of the program have a wide variety of job opportunities in the television production field in the areas of video, audio, lighting, animation, and non-linear editing.