Press Releases
From the Public Relations Office
Howard Jordan, Director of Advancement & Public Relations
Roxane Gay, Executive Assistant to the President

Pre-registration is mandatory to take the GED. Registrations are held on the Coffee Campus located at 706 West Baker Highway in Douglas. To register, you must bring a valid, government issued photo ID. Registration is taken on a first come-first served basis so it is important to be on time.

Cost for the full test battery is $95. Those who complete the GED are eligible to receive $500 in additional HOPE scholarship money to further their education at ECTC. Restrictions on HOPE eligibility apply.

Persons needing assistance preparing to take the GED can receive FREE help through East Central Tech. For more information on this service, contact ECTC’s Adult Literacy program at (912) 389-0053. For more information regarding the GED, contact Gail Giddens at 229-468-2074 or ggiddens@eastcentraltech.edu.

Typical topics may include, but are not limited to: OSHA General Regulations, Electrical Safety, Lockout/Tagout (controlling hazardous energy), Scaffold Safety, Ladders, Walking and Working Surfaces, Ergonomics, Fire Safety, Cranes and Rigging, Bloodborne Pathogens, Hearing Conservation, Violence in the Workplace, and Personal Protective Equipment. This course will be held on December 9, 10, and 11, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. The course fee is $400 per individual. For additional information or to register, contact Christy Cobb at (229) 468-2218 or ccobb@eastcentraltech.edu. This course is only offered twice a year, and seating is limited, so call soon to register!  

In 1990, Wendy Baker graduated from Irwin County High School. She wanted to stay in the area, so she went to work for Modern Fibers and Shaw Industries. For thirteen years she worked as a twister operator and worked twelve hour shifts.

About two years ago, Wendy Decided she needed to make a career change so she enrolled in the Business Office Technology Program at East Central Tech. According to Mrs. Baker, the schedule was hard—twelve hours at the plant and then attend classes at night. In addition, she was also managing a family. She gives her instructor, Donna Harper, a lot of credit for helping and encouraging her. Mrs. Baker says, “I just want to tell everyone if I can do it, you can do it. You’ve just got to want it and set your goals.”

Also while Wendy was working, going to college, and raising a family, she attended many workshops and conferences and any activity that would help her in her career.

According to Interim President E.J. Harris, “We are always very proud to hear of success stories such as Wendy’s. We also take pride in the caring and professionalism of our faculty. East Central Tech continues to fulfill its mission and provide the needs of the communities we serve.”

Wendy and her husband Vince have three children, Vincent, Bernard, and Alexia. Wendy has just accepted a job at the office of Dr. Sison, a surgeon at Dorminy Medical Center.  

Through Dual Enrollment, these students are receiving training which “jump starts” their career by allowing them to receive high school course credit and college course credit while still in high school. These students are preparing themselves for gainful employment while also increasing their career opportunities.

Some of the students are enrolled in Nail Technician. During the course, the students learn the process of giving manicures, pedicures, applying tips with overlays, wraps, and sculptured nails, and nail art designs. The students use the latest technology in the application of artificial nails and learn artistic and creative nail designs. Courses also include anatomy and physiology, sanitation and disinfection, safety, and simplified chemistry of nail products. Upon completion of this program and graduating high school, a student can take the state boards exam to either go to work or go back to school for the full cosmetology program.

Students can enroll in the Car Audio Installer program. This program provide both classroom and hands-on learning in the areas of safety, AC/DC circuits, solid state devices and installation and service practices in car audio installation as well as provide an entrance point for high school students into the electrical programs.

Students can also enroll in the Game Programming course. This program provides both classroom and hands-on learning in the areas of design and development of electronic games and programming games in Visual Basic, including online games. Students taking this course use a program called Game Maker to try to reproduce levels from some of their favorite classic video games. The students learn how to reproduce sprites and how to set collision geometry as they also learn how to apply principles of Game Design. Student will also be provided a head start in the computer information systems industry for high school students who anticipate furthering their training in a related diploma or associate degree program.

High school students interested in taking a course at East Central Technical College can contact their guidance counselor or Andrea Fletcher (High School Coordinator) at 229-468-2049 or afletcher@eastcentraltech.edu.

NOW is the time to jump on board!!   

New teen drivers have to meet additional training requirements before they get behind the wheel now that the Georgia law has taken effect. Senate Bill 226, also known as Joshua’s Law, was passed during the 2005 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Beginning January 1, 2007, all 16-year olds applying for a Georgia driver’s license must complete an approved driver education course. Any Georgia teen who has not completed an approved driver education course must wait until age 17 to be eligible for a drivers license. Additionally, teen drivers must complete a total of 40 hours of supervised driving, 6 hours of which must be at night, with a parent or guardian’s sworn statement that these driving requirements have been met.

The program consists of thirty hours of classroom training and six hours of training behind the wheel. The program is designed to meet the training requirements of Joshua’s Law as well as provide 6 of the 40 hours of supervised driving that teens must have before getting their drivers license.

For more information regarding Joshua’s Law and the training options available, please visit the Department of Driver Services website at http://www.dds.ga.gov/teens/index.aspx.

The class is $275 per teen. Parents should be mindful of the $150 state tax credit that is available and the significant impact completing the course can make on reducing insurance coverage costs. To register for the information session or for the first classes, contact Gail Giddens at 229-468-2074 or ggiddens@eastcentraltech.edu.

LOCATION: East Central Technical College-Coffee Campus, 706 West Baker Highway, Douglas   

Mona Paulk, Director of Institutional Advancement at East Central Tech has been nominated as a candidate for the New Century Leaders program in Coffee County.

The New Century Leaders is a community-focused leadership development program designed to provide personal skills and specific knowledge that will allow individuals to gain a better understanding of the importance of leadership in the community, in their workplace, and in their personal lives. Approximately 200 leaders have graduated from the New Century Leaders program in its 18 years of existence. This year, we will focus on “Economic Gardening.” In doing that, we will discover new and innovative ways to “cultivate” the growth of existing partners and identify new and nontraditional avenues for opportunities in Coffee County.

It is an honor to be nominated as a participant in New Century Leaders. Only twenty participants are chosen each year, and participants must commit themselves to an eight-month-long program of intensive study. The sessions combine presentations delivered by leading professionals from various disciplines, on-site visitations, and tours, and personal interaction. This program is an educational experience; it will not attempt to create a consensus or promote any specific issues.

Ms. Paulk lives in Irwin County and has two children, Drew and Anslie. She has a Master’s Degree in Adult and Career Education from Valdosta State University.   

The GED is given each month at East Central Technical College in Fitzgerald; some months will have two test dates, one of which will be a Saturday. To take the GED, you must attend registration on the Fitzgerald campus. The fee is $19 for each part of the GED or $95 to take all five parts. For students who meet the attendance requirements and have good scores on the practice tests that are given in class, there are scholarships available to pay the fees for taking the GED. For more information about the class in Rochelle, call Lethia Kittrell at 229-365-7983 or Julia Ray at 229-423-8200. For more information about taking the GED in Fitzgerald, call Gail Giddens at 229-468-2074. For information about programs at East Central Technical College, call 800-575-0567.   

The 23rd annual meeting of the East Central Tech Foundation will be held in the Charles Harris Learning Center on the Ben Hill-Irwin Campus on Tuesday, November the 18th. This year’s entertainment will be national banjo champion, Mike Snider. Mike worked his way into people’s hearts through hundreds of television appearances on TNN’s Nashville Now, his seven-year stay in the cornfield on the syndicated television show “Hee Haw,” and entertaining crowds for seven years at Nashville’s Opryland Theme Park.

Mike’s popularity ultimately garnered him a membership into country music’s the Grand Ole Opry. A Grand Ole Opry member since 1990, Mike continues to draw laughter and entertain crowds with his music and humor. Mike has assembled a band of musicians who, also, have the passion to play music and entertain people. Mike’s show is exciting, fun, easy-going, and from his heart.

According to Howard Jordan, Executive Director of Advancement and Public Relations, “We had Mike at one of our meetings about ten years ago and he was a tremendous success. We have had many requests to bring him back.”

The occasion will feature a prime rib meal and several awards will be presented to outstanding donors. For more information and tickets contact Mona Paulk at 229-468-2102. Seating is limited.  

East Central Technical College’s Fitzgerald Adult Learning Center completed Summer Quarter classes on September 17, 2008. Students enjoyed an end of quarter celebration and were recognized for completing at least one level during the quarter. Each student received a certificate for his/her accomplishment.

If you are interested in attending GED classes, please contact Julia Ray at the center located at 115 East Pine Street or call 423-8200. Both day and night classes are available.   

East Central Technical College’s Fitzgerald Adult Learning Center completed Summer Quarter classes on September 17, 2008. Students enrolled in the afternoon class were recognized for completing at least one level during the quarter. Each student received a certificate for his/her accomplishment.

If you are interested in attending GED classes, please contact Julia Ray at the center located at 115 East Pine Street or call 423-8200. Both day and night classes are available.   

East Central Technical College’s Pearson Adult Learning Center completed Summer Quarter classes on September 17, 2008. Students enjoyed an end of quarter celebration and were recognized for completing at least one level during the quarter. Each student received a certificate for their accomplishment.

If you are interested in attending GED classes, please contact Brianna Gillis at the center located at 201 North Pearson Street or call 422-7004. Day class schedule is Monday through Thursday 8:00 am to 12:00 noon and the night class schedule is Tuesday and Thursday 4:30- 8:30 pm.  

The English Department at East Central Technical College is again looking for talented local writers. The college plans to publish its 2nd annual literary journal, The Wiregrass Reader: Rural Voices from Home, in spring 2009. It will showcase the composition talents of East Central Technical College students, as well as any budding writers in the community or local high schools of ECTC’s five-county service area.

Last year’s Wiregrass Reader was a huge success, published in-house by ECTC and distributed throughout the community. Over 100 submissions were received, and several of the best were chosen for publication in the journal. These writers were honored in front of friends and family members during a formal ceremony this past March.

Michael and Jana Williams, English instructors on the Coffee and Ben Hill-Irwin campuses, hope that the publication will continue to increase interest in Language Arts and literacy in the community and give local authors a chance to be heard.

Submissions are currently being accepted in the following categories: personal narrative (nonfiction stories), short stories, poetry, and argumentative/persuasive essays. They ask that all submissions be 2500 words or less, typed in Microsoft Word, single spaced, 10-point font, and in Times New Roman.

Applicants should also send a short paragraph describing themselves, including name, program area (if an ECTC student), and email address. The deadline for submissions is January 16, 2009. Contact Jana Williams, 229-468-2092, jwilliams@eastcentraltech.edu, on the Fitzgerald campus or Michael Williams, 229-468-2206, mwilliams@eastcentraltech.edu, on the Coffee campus.

Writers whose work is accepted will be honored in a community “write night” recognition ceremony in the spring of 2009.

Please share your voices with the community!   

East Central Tech is proud to announce the offering of the Early Childhood Care and Education program on the Coffee County Campus.

Students can enroll in the Early Childhood Care and Education associate degree or diploma program. The Child Development Specialist technical certificate of credit is also available. Classes are offered during the day from 8:15 a.m.-3:05 p.m. Childcare centers, family childcare homes, group childcare homes, Headstart programs, preschool programs, before- and after-school programs, and in-home care provide employment opportunities for graduates of the Early Childhood Care and Education diploma program.

The HOPE grant will pay tuition and fees and provide a book allowance for any person eligible; the HOPE scholarship is also available for the associate degree.

Fall quarter begins September 30. ECTC admissions staff is available to assist you in registration Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-12 noon.

For more information about the childcare program at ECTC, contact the admissions office at the Coffee campus at (912) 389-4303 or email info@eastcentraltech.edu .   

Fall Quarter begins September 30th at East Central Tech. Classes are filling fast and college officials urge you to register now. Interim President E.J. Harris says, “We know that many citizens in our service delivery area are unemployed or underemployed. Now is an excellent time to upgrade or gain the skills you need to meet the demands of tomorrow’s workforce.”

East Central Tech continues to add flexibility to its schedules to help students attend. Day, night, and online classes are available. Training for local jobs is priority, but that same training puts you in step with the demands of the global marketplace. And, financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

Interim President Harris added, “These are challenging times for all of us and we at East Central Tech are working hard to continue to respond to the needs of our students. Like all government agencies, we are experiencing budget cuts, but our approach will always be to adjust in ways that minimally impact our ability to provide top notch training for our number one priority, our students. Our instructors care deeply about the success of their students and are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to provide world class training.”

Take the first step to a rewarding career. Call East Central Tech today at 229-468-2040, 912-389-4300 or toll free at 1-800-575-0567. East Central Tech—check it out today at www.eastcentraltech.edu.