Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Successful students Jenkins, Moss and Bynum use skills to better their lives In 1992, Donna Jenkins, mother of now eight-year old Lindsey and six-year old Drew, enrolled in the drafting program at MGT. While still a student, she used the skills she obtained in mechanical drawing class at MGT to rebuild the carburetor of a clas sic ‘62 Chevy II Nova which she has named “Ruby.” She is presently working at Mercer Uni versity as a CADD (computer-aided draft- VICA members are a vital force on MGT campus The 1993-94 officers elected to MGT’s VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) are: President, Nor man Calkins (drafting); Vice President, Jennifer Baker . _ . (drafting); Secre- ~—lL, tary, Bobby Emery SEES' (nursing); Treasur- :r —" er, Suzi Grady (electronics); Re porter, Tim Boze man (electronics); Proud to t>e partners and Parliamentary in fhe education and «, , ■ training of America's an, Alan Johnson w orid-ctass workforce. (drafting). In addi tion, Eric Etheridge (electronics) was ap pointed as chairman of VICA’s Ways and Means committee. VICA activities have been numer ous. In November, VICA officers at tended a leadership conference in Sa vannah. Fundraisers have included a donut sale and the sale of “Tom Watt” kit gifts before Christmas. Civic-minded VICA members also sponsored an “Angel Tree.” Staff member Dr. Gerri Sorrell coor dinated with VICA to identify the names of children of needy MGT stu dents. A tree in the MGT lobby was decorated with paper angels that gave the sex, age, and gift wish of each child. Anonymity was maintained. Stu dents and staff of MGT were moved by the Christmas spirit to make the wishes of 136 needy children come true. This spring, club members will par ticipate in the VICA Skill Olympics at the sub-state, state, and national levels, according to faculty sponsor Bill Harper. The Wcahonal Industrial Clubs of America is a student organization with the goal of prepar ing America’s workforce for tomorrow. ‘To be a part of VICA while attending MGT, please see any one of the student officers. They will gladly share details about the many benefits you might enjoy as a member,” says Harper. ing design) operator in the Engineering Research Center. Hats off to you, Donna! ••• Jeffrey Moss enrolled in MGT’s Electron ics program in 1992 because he was unem ployed and realized that a good education is needed in today’s market place. Working hard to excel, Jeff graduated with a 3.9 grade point average. In July 1993, he was hired by Unifirst Corporation in Ma con, where his work ethics and savvy for cor WNKltiNiii - AffSFrinfß WHfS/r 8t Fifth quarter nursing students Edna Gibbs and Susan Harris take a break during their busy final quarter at MGT. This mother/daughter duo say that this year has been wonderful for them personally as well as educationally. They now appreciate and un derstand each other as peers, adults, and family members. With very similar (high!) GPA’s they eagerly await graduation in March. New Connections workshops help many students through changes NEW CONNECTIONS is a free work shop offered by Middle Georgia Technical Institute. Classes meet for a two-week peri od from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Registration for the NEW CONNECTIONS Workshops is ongoing. Open to people of all ages, many NEW CONNECTIONS attendees find themselves at a crisis point or in need of a transition in their lives. NEW CONNECTIONS is there to assist them in making changes. Counsel ing and support are provided on both an in dividual and a group basis. Topics covered in the NEW CONNEC TIONS workshop are: self-esteem and goal setting, assertiveness training, stress management, information on all programs available at Middle Georgia Tech, finan cial aid, career assessment, admission test ing, and job search and interview skills. recting complex problems soon resulted in promotion to Maintenance Supervisor. Con gratulations, Jeff! ••• As a recent graduate of Warner Robins High School, Velinda Bynum started MGT’s accounting program during the Spring of 1992. When Grace Lewis, Manager of Warner Robins City Credit Union, called MGT’s Job Placement Office looking for an office work Open to people of all ages, many NEW CONNECTIONS at tendees find themselves at a crisis point or in need of a tran sition in their lives. NEW CON NECTIONS is there to assist them in making changes. Some participants become motivated to complete their GEDs after attending the workshop. Of the 443 people who partici pated in NEW CONNECTIONS last year, 287 entered occupational programs at MGT. For more information, please contact Kathy Rissmann at 929-6800 or 1-800- 474-1031. MGT Winter-Spring Quarter 1994 er, Velinda eagerly volunteered. The volun teer work evolved into an internship with the Credit Union. She is now working for Channel 24 as an Assistant to Jane Abney, Business Manager, as a result of her volunteer work and good ref erences. Attagirl, Velinda! ••• If you have a student success story for TECH TALK, we’d like to hear from you at 929-6800. Carrie Porter wins Georgia EAGLE award Carrie L. Porter, a student of Middle Georgia Technical Institute’s Adult Literacy Program, was named the EAGLE (Exceptional Adult Georgians in Literacy Education) Award winner in the Basic 111 level of statewide com petition on Thursday, Carrie January 20, 1994. Porter Statewide^^^^^^^^^^ Adult Litera- V / and \ / pic sented by Hf m ment of lr EAGLE and Adult * Winner Office of Adult Literacy, was the culmination of several levels of competition. Of the seven contestants from Consor tium IV, three were students of MGT’s lit eracy program. Pyrong Ricks, Sonya M. Sparks, and Carrie Porter had each won the consortium level of competition in their re spective categories. But'only one, Porter, was to take home the EAGLE. Porter, who recently moved from Warner Robins to Byron, has long been employed at a day care center in Warner Robins. She teaches Sunday school at the Church of God by Faith in Byron and says she loves it. One of thirteen children, Porter never fin ished high school, but she did not let that stop her from learning as much as she could. “I settled for trying to teach myself,” she says. “I would read whatever I could get my hands on. I was determined to better myself. Learning became very important to me.” In addition to her recent award, Porter re ceived a SSOO savings bond from the state. Her sponsoring instructor Cheryl Osden re ceived SIOO. Porter’s self-confidence has never been greater. “I realize that I can do whatever I set my mind to do if I want it bad enough,” she says. “That’s how I feel about education.” Congratulations to Porter, Osden, and MGT’s Adult Literacy Director Brenda Brown! page 3