Newspaper Page Text
Page 14— Wednesday, May 24, 2023, The True Citizen
August Tech looks at rebranding local campus
SHELLIE SMITLEY
thetruecitizen.shellie@gmail.com
Augusta Tech is searching
for a program emphasis that
defines the local campus.
The Burke County campus
was built approximately 23
years ago, Augusta Tech’s
second satellite office after
McDuffie County’s. The initial
purpose of the 49-acre campus
was to have access to the col
lege’s services without travel
ing to Augusta. Augusta Tech
has seen a definite uptick in the
number of duel- enrolled high
school students over the few
years. However, the college is
working on the 1-20 Corridor
Plan, an initiative that will
rebrand their campuses with
new workforce "identities"
with a focus on filling high-
demand jobs.
“We have pretty much set
in motion Thomson which is
going to be a supply chain in
novation campus,” said Presi
dent Dr. Jermaine Whirl. The
Columbia County campus will
be rebranded as a manufactur
ing STEM-oriented campus.
Downtown Augusta will soon
see an automotive-focused
campus. “Why we haven’t
done is figured out what is go
ing to be the brand and identity
of Burke County.”
Augusta Tech is throwing
around the notions of CDL
trucking, energy programming,
Ag-tech or manufacturing
identities for the Burke County
campus. However, Whirl asked
attendees of a community
meeting Tuesday, May 9 their
thoughts on the county’s needs.
County Manager Merv Wal
drop suggested a lineman pro
gram might be a good idea.
Whirl agreed and mentioned
that Augusta Tech is currently
discussing the possibility with
Georgia Power.
With representatives from
Ingevity and Ritz present,
Whirl emphasized the need to
expand manufacturing train
ing at the campus. Currently,
a small industrial systems
program exists. The automo
tive program in place has not
seen a lot of enrollees. Whirl
said there is some thought on
replacing that program with ei
ther welding or manufacturing.
Despite the low interest in
the automotive program, Wal
drop and Mayor Bill Tinley
pointed out that the county and
City of Waynesboro are both in
need of mechanics. Tinley also
pointed to the need for more
law enforcement officers.
Whirl said Augusta Tech is
hoping to capture the interests
of older non-traditional stu
dents as well. Rebranding the
Burke County Campus is still
in the brainstorming phase.
The college will hold another
community meeting in the near
future to discuss their decision.
President Dr. Jermaine Whirl met with community leaders Tuesday, May 9 to discuss the
future rebranding of the Augusta Tech Burke County campus.
4-H Shotgun Team competes at District and State contest
MERIDITH F. MECKEL
jdianaroyal@gmail.com
The Burke County 4-H Shot
gun Team competed at the dis
trict qualifying match on April
22,2023 at Bay Gall Shooting
Range. This year’s team mem
bers include: Brooke Allen,
Jiles Coble, Sydney Coble,
Chase Cook, Leland Flakes,
Charlotte Huddleston, Audrey
Kyzer, Sam Kyzer, Colton
Miller, Wylie Morgan, Asa
Murray, Aiden Olver, Walker
Quick, Erin Rivers, Wyatt
Wade, Braxton Walden, Zia
Wike, Emree Williams, Mal-
lery Wyrick and Madalynn Zit-
trouer. Students had to qualify
at the area contest to attend the
state competition in Eatonton.
Juniors were required to hit
16/20 clays and seniors 20/25
clays. We had twelve students
qualify from the area match to
the state match held on May
13 at the Eatonton Beef Cen
ter: Brooke Allen, Jiles Coble,
Chase Cook, Leland Flakes,
Audrey Kyzer, Sam Kyzer,
Asa Murray, Aiden Olver,
Wyatt Wade, Braxton Walden,
Zia Wike, and Madalynn Zit-
trouer. The students practiced
weekly for months this spring
to prepare for the competi
tions. A huge thank you to
James Coble, Sam Kyzer, Anne
Marie Kyzer, Jeremy Murray,
Paul Williams and Ross Zit-
trouer for volunteering their
time to coach our team. The
team would not be possible
without the support our of team
sponsors as well: AgGeor-
gia Farm Credit, Anne Marie
Kyzer- Mary Yelton Realty,
Salters Building Supply, Plant
ers EMC, The Bloom Room,
Marks Container Rental, C &
H Services, Mr. Golf Carts, Mr.
Auto Parts, Knights Butcher
ing & Processing, Dry Creek
Forestry, and RT Farms.
If you are interested in par
ticipating with the shotgun
team or want more informa
tion about 4-H, please contact
the Burke County Extension
Office at 706-554-2119 or
uge3033@uga.edu.
2023 Shotgun Team Members Front Row L-R: Brooke Allen, Zia Wike, Emree Williams, Madalynn
Zittrouer, Mallery Wyrick. Middle Row L-R: Charlotte Huddleston, Chase Cook, Aiden Olver,
Jiles Coble, Erin Rivers, Wyatt Wade, Anne Marie Kyzer. Back Row L-R: Paul Williams, Jeremy
Murray, Asa Murray, Ross Zittrouer, James Coble, Sam Kyzer, Jr., Walker Quick, Leland Flakes,
Colton Miller, Sam Kyzer, and Braxton Walden. Not pictured: Sydney Coble and Wylie Morgan.
SCENES FROM GOUGH'S GTP FESTIVAL
SHELLIE SMITLEY