Chattahoochee Tech Foundation Board of Trustees Member Allison Krache Giddens received the 2019 Women of Distinction Award presented by Cobb Executive Women at the Cobb Chamber Breakfast on Monday, June 3, at the Cobb Galleria Centre. This award recognizes a woman who has demonstrated exceptional leadership through her professional endeavors, community involvement and social responsibility, thereby supporting and advancing her community and respective field.

“I am humbled and appreciative for the recognition,” said Giddens. “To be grouped in a category with so many incredible women in the community is wonderful. We push ourselves to be better than we were the day before, and it’s always amazing to see how our community rallies to support each other.”

Giddens serves as director of operations at Win-Tech, Inc., an aerospace precision machine shop in Kennesaw, where she has worked for over a decade. She has a master’s degree in conflict management as well as a background in sales and marketing. In addition to serving on the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation Board, she serves on the Women in Manufacturing Board of Directors, the Cobb County School District CTAE Advisory Board and the Leadership Cobb Alumni Association Board. She also is the Founder of The Dave Krache Foundation, a non-profit organization that pays sports fees for local children in need.

“Allison plays an important role on the Chattahoochee Tech Foundation Board overseeing the Foundation’s annual scholarship application process where we received over 1,000 student applications this year,” said Chattahoochee Tech Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman Jason Anavitarte. “Additionally, her engagement with the community and manufacturing industry help the Foundation make key connections for student support.”

Cobb Executive Women is an organization dedicated to cultivating mutually beneficial and supportive professional relationships among executive women in Cobb County. Members of Cobb Executive Women (CEW) serve at the executive level with their companies, have a strong record of community involvement, are members of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, and are responsible for decision making and managing staff.

The Adult Education Program at Chattahoochee Tech offers free GED prep and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. Included among the expanded services of the program this summer is a new ESL class in Paulding County as well as a GED prep class in Gilmer County.

Paulding County

The Adult Education Program at Chattahoochee Technical College will be offering a new ESL class on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning in July  at the college’s Paulding Campus. This free class will be every Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Advance registration and an admission assessment administered by the college is required for participation in these classes.

Registration for the free ESL classes will begin the week of July 8, on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of that week from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and on Wednesday of that week from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Chattahoochee Tech Paulding Campus. In order to register, potential students must provide a valid photo ID and proof of lawful presence in the United States.

Gilmer County

In Gilmer County, the Chattahoochee Tech Adult Education Program will offer free Saturday classes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning July 13 to help individuals to study for the GED.

Potential students who are at least 18 years old may register for this free class with a valid photo ID at the Gilmer Learning Center, which is located at 30 Southside Church Street in Ellijay, beside the Gilmer County Health Department. Class registration times are from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on the following Saturdays: July 13, July 20 and July 27. Potential students will take an assessment administered by the college and begin class the same day.

Potential students who are 16 or 17 years old will need to bring a signed withdrawal form from the last high school attended in order to enroll in this class, and have a parent or guardian sign a permission form at registration. Potential students who are not U.S. citizens will need to provide valid documentation demonstrating lawful presence in the United States.

The GED test is a four-subject high school equivalency test that measures skills required by high schools and requested by colleges and employers, according to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The four subjects are Science, Social Studies, Mathematical Reasoning, and Reasoning through Language Arts. The Georgia GED Testing Program is jointly administered by the GED Testing Service, LLC and TCSG.

Chattahoochee Technical College Board of Directors Chairman Mark Haney, Senior VP of Construction and Real Estate for WellStar Health System, hosted a meeting of the college’s Board of Directors on Tuesday, June 11, at the WellStar Health System Development Center, where board members, along with college faculty and staff, toured the state-of-the-art facility and celebrated a year of top college achievements.

Under the direction of Board Chairman Mark Haney and Vice Chair Steve Holcomb, Past President and CEO of United Community Bank – Cherokee, the Chattahoochee Tech Board received Board certification from the Technical College Directors’ Association. Contributing to this achievement were outgoing Board members Tyre Rakestraw, a retired educator, and Debbie Underkoffler, President of North Georgia Staffing, both of whom were honored at the Board of Directors meeting with awards for their many years of dedicated service. Retiring Board Member Pam Carnes, who serves as President and CEO of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, was honored at a May meeting of the Board.

Joining the Board as a new member was Tim Fernandez, President of Yanmar America. TCSG Board Member Jay Cunningham, President of Superior Plumbing, administered the oath of office to Fernandez and returning Board members Gerry Nechvatal, Cherokee County Representative, and Tonya Webster, Vice President for Customer Experience at Comcast Cable Communications. Board actions also included the Board Chairman passing of the gavel from Haney to Holcomb.

“We are very grateful for this energetic team of community leaders who are serving on the Chattahoochee Technical College Board of Directors,” said Chattahoochee Technical College President Ron Newcomb. “Through their efforts to support and promote the value of technical education in Georgia, they are changing lives and improving our community.”

Chattahoochee Technical College welcomed 160 rising ninth graders from the Cherokee County School District for a tour of the college’s North Metro Campus on Thursday, June 20, as part of the Cherokee County School District Summer Bridge program.

Students previewed programs offered by Chattahoochee Tech and learned about different career paths so they could begin their high school years by planning for college opportunities and future careers, according to Chattahoochee Tech Student Outreach Specialist Candie Walters, who organized the Summer Bridge program tour at the college.

“Today is about introducing high school students in our community to a college setting and educating them about what Chattahoochee Tech has to offer,” said Walters, who noted that the tour included students from Cherokee, Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge, Sequoyah, and Woodstock high schools. “I really like working with this group of younger students,” she said, “because we’re motivating them and opening their eyes to the possibilities available to them.”

Students who toured the Chattahoochee Tech North Metro Campus received a first-hand look at teaching areas for several programs, which included the Surgical Technology and Physical Therapist Assistant programs in the college’s Health Sciences division. Programs highlighted on this campus tour also included CNC Technology, Electrical & Computer Engineering Technology, and Industrial Maintenance and Electrical Technology, along with Diesel Equipment Technology, and Cosmetology.

The Adult Education Program at Chattahoochee Technical College celebrated GED and ESL graduates with a recognition ceremony on Thursday, June 20, at the college’s Appalachian Campus in Jasper.

Chattahoochee Technical College Board of Directors incoming Chairman Steve Holcomb, Past President and CEO of United Community Bank – Cherokee, congratulated each of the 93 graduates crossing the stage at this event. Delivering the keynote address was Pickens County Sheriff Donnie Craig, who shared an inspiring account of earning his GED diploma many years ago.

“I encourage each one of you to let this be just the beginning of what you can do,” said Sheriff Craig, “Don’t look back behind you and worry about where you’ve been. But look ahead, and set those goals as high as you can set them.”

Included among the GED graduates at this year’s event was Dylan Claude Farist whose grandfather, Chattahoochee Tech Biomedical Technology Adjunct Instructor Dr. Mike O’Rear, presented him with a certificate of achievement for earning his GED diploma.

“This event is the highlight of our year,” said Chattahoochee Tech Director of Adult Education Chris Hord, “to see what our students have accomplished, and to see them move on to bigger and better things.”

The Chattahoochee Tech Adult Education program offers free GED preparation and ESL classes, with learning centers in Bartow, Cherokee, Gilmer, Paulding and Pickens counties. The GED is a four-subject high school equivalency test that measurer skills required by high schools and requested by colleges and employers, according to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The four subjects are science, social studies, mathematical reasoning, and reasoning through language arts. The Georgia GED Testing Program is jointly administered by the GED Testing Service, LLC and TCSG.

Chattahoochee Technical College culminated its observance of National PTSD Awareness Month in June with informative National PTSD Awareness Day events Thursday, June 27, at both the Marietta and North Metro campuses for students, faculty and staff.

Post-traumatic stress disorder can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event like combat, assault, or disaster, according to the National Center for PTSD, which notes that about 8 million adults have PTSD during a given year, and that most people who have PTSD don’t get the help they need.

“We focused on increasing awareness and knowledge about PTSD throughout June,” said Chattahoochee Tech Director of Counseling Cheri Mattox-Carroll. “Much of what is being done today to observe PTSD Awareness Day is to encourage open talk about causes and symptoms, and to encourage getting the treatment needed.”

“While most commonly attributed to military troops exposed to conflict or life-threatening traumas, PTSD can affect anyone,” said Mattox-Carroll. “When someone experiences or witnesses an event that causes intense fear, helplessness, or the possibility of death, the symptoms that occur at the time of the event may persist for weeks or months afterward.”

There are four things that people with PTSD can do to help with symptoms, according to Mattox-Carroll. “Know that PTSD is a treatable condition, find a trustworthy counselor, choose a treatment plan and stick with it,” she said, “and let family and friends know how they can help.”

The United States Senate established National PTSD Awareness Day in 2010 in tribute to Army Staff Sgt. Joe Biel, a North Dakota National Guard member who took his life in 2007 after serving two tours in Iraq. Biel’s birthday, June 27, was chosen to mark PTSD Awareness Day and honor his memory. In June 2014, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution to designate the full month of June for National PTSD Awareness Month.

The Chattahoochee Technical College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program continues to thrive in its new location at the Canton Campus in Cherokee County, after relocating recently from the college’s Marietta Campus.

“We were excited to move to this new facility,” said Chattahoochee Tech OTA Program Director Amy Shaffer. “The OTA program features state-of-the-art technology here at the Canton Campus, and plenty of space to simulate real-world environments for therapy.”

A competitive admissions program, the Chattahoochee Tech OTA program is one of only four OTA programs located in Georgia, according to Shaffer. Chattahoochee Tech admitted its first cohort of OTA program students in January 2012, with approximately 16 students admitted into each annual cohort. Students with the necessary prerequisite courses who have been admitted into the college’s OTA program can graduate in two years with an associate degree, and have opportunities for employment at assorted types of locations.

“Occupational Therapy is a very versatile field,” said Shaffer. “Our program graduates can be found working in local hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, school systems, pediatric outpatient clinics, adult-based outpatient clinics, and even in the home health care environment. We also have former graduates working as health coaches and activity directors.”

Occupational Therapy Assistants help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills they need for daily living and working, according to Shaffer. Occupational Therapy Assistants are directly involved in providing therapy to patients, and work under the direction of Occupational Therapists.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wages for an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Georgia in 2018 was over $60,000. Occupational Therapy Assistants are typically paid by the hour, based on their years of experience, noted Shaffer. “Our most recent graduates reported making an hourly rate of up to $25 an hour, depending on their employment setting,” said Shaffer. “For two years’ worth of schooling at around $10,000, that’s a good return on investment for our graduates.”

Working with OTA Program Director Amy Shaffer at the Canton Campus is Academic Fieldwork Coordinator Julia McVicker. In addition to this outstanding team of instructors, the Chattahoochee Tech OTA Program features innovative, state-of-the-art technology, including a 3-D printer and HoverCam Pilot technology. The HoverCam Pilot is a fully integrated and wireless digital teaching station designed to help Shaffer and McVicker keep the learning environment engaging and interactive.

“My favorite thing about leading the OTA program is getting to share my love of Occupational Therapy with others, and watch the students grow in their own love for OT as they develop into practitioners themselves,” said Shaffer. “I also have such an appreciation for the support from Chattahoochee Tech and their mission to develop the workforce needed in our communities.”

The Chattahoochee Technical College Welding & Joining Technology program is not just for men. Chattahoochee Tech students Sarah Macedo, Katarina Highley-Sowers, and Ceason Eisele, who are enrolled in this program at the college’s Paulding Campus, demonstrate that this profession is for women too.

When she first became interested in welding, Highley-Sowers said that some of her friends doubted her ability to do it. “I was told I couldn’t,” she said, “and that I would never be as good as a man.” But Chattahoochee Tech welcomed her into the college’s Welding & Joining Technology program along with Macedo and Eisele. Some classroom training is involved, but the major emphasis is on the development of welding skills through actual hands-on practice in a world-class welding lab with a curriculum that matches industry expectations. The college’s Welding and Joining Technology program is offered at both the Paulding Campus and the Appalachian Campus in Pickens County.

“Opportunities exist for males and females in this profession,” said Chattahoochee Tech Welding and Joining Technology Instructor James Thomas. “As long as they work hard, they can all learn and gain the skills they need in order to make good money in a high-demand career field.” The median annual wage for welders is over $41,000 per year, according to recent information provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with women representing approximately five percent of those working in this occupation. As his students work toward completing the college’s Welding & Joining Technology diploma, Thomas noted that he also encourages them to continue with their education by earning an associate degree in Applied Technical Management in order to expand their job options and open the door to even more career opportunities.

Even as a student, Highley-Sowers is already putting her welding skills to good use in her job as a Shop Assistant for Man FX Destiny, a full-service special effects company based in Decatur, Georgia, which caters to the motion picture and television industries. Some of the projects she has worked on so far include ones for the Netflix television series “Stranger Things” along with the movies “Godzilla” and “Brightburn.”

“We do special effects for movies and television shows, which involves everything from blowing wind to blowing up a car, or building roll cages,” said Highley-Sowers. “We’re given concepts and ideas, and we have to make it happen. A lot of trade work goes into it. Yesterday I had to weld some things together to make some sparks happen for a car. I really do enjoy welding.”

Chattahoochee Tech Welding student Macedo noted a parallel between welding and her background in oil painting. “Welding was reflective to me of what I already knew in painting,” said Macedo. “I knew I wanted to have a career that was artistically satisfying, and where I could apply myself in a similar way. So, I just made the choice to go ahead and study welding.”

“Chattahoochee Tech was by far the more affordable option, and made it so easy to learn a career you’re interested in, so I chose them,” said Macedo. “I came in thinking I was going to be the only female in the welding lab, and I’m sure we were all really nervous about that. But it’s been awesome.”

Both Highley-Sowers and Eisele echoed Macedo’s sentiment of feeling very welcome in the college’s Welding & Joining Technology program. “I was really glad to see other girls here, because I didn’t know how that was going to go,” said Highley-Sowers. “But they’ve all been really good to us.”

“They treat us equally in class,” said Eisele, a recent graduate of Campbell High School in Cobb County. “We’re basically like family.” Eisele noted that she comes from a family of welders, and that she is interested in following them into this profession as a pipe cutter.

“There could be a lot of other women who could get into this trade, but they may not even realize that they would like to do something like this,” said Highley-Sowers. “They may need the extra push that we all got. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything.”

Chattahoochee Technical College has been designated as a 2019-2020 Military Spouse Friendly School by the Military Friendly organization, which evaluates schools nationwide with respect to their commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful support for the U.S. military community.

“The Military Spouse Friendly Schools designation helps military spouses select schools that will support them in their educational journey by meeting their unique needs as a part of a military family,” said Military Friendly National Program Manager Brian Hucik. “Schools that are selected for the list are at the forefront of supporting the goals of military spouses.”

There are currently over 400 students attending Chattahoochee Tech this summer who are U.S. military members, veterans or military family members, according to Chattahoochee Technical College Veteran Services Coordinator Barry Munday. Included among the many resources provided for them, noted Munday, are counseling and career services, free tutoring, and access to more than 30 external veteran service and support organizations. The college also provides them with assorted walk-in services to meet the unique needs of military-affiliated students.

“The Military Spouse Friendly School designation is due to the efforts of many within the college who continually and consistently serve as advocates for our military-affiliated students,” said Munday. “This honor serves to motivate us as a college to continue providing the best quality services we can for the families of our service members – past and present.”

The Cobb EMC Community Foundation announced that Chattahoochee Technical College student Lydia Kumi, of Cobb County, has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship. Kumi, who is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree at Chattahoochee Tech, was one of 14 local students who each received a $5,000 scholarship, which can be applied to any accredited university, college or vocational-technical school.

The 2019 scholarship winners were selected based on applications, grades and test scores, along with letters of recommendation and an essay on their future plans and goals, according to the Cobb EMC Community Foundation. These annual scholarships, which are funded and administered by the Cobb EMC Community Foundation, are open to students who receive electricity from Cobb EMC.

Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has awarded a $3,000 scholarship to Chattahoochee Technical College student Judy Newman, of Marietta, who is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology at the college’s Marietta Campus.

Chattahoochee Tech Automotive Technology Instructor Larry Cardell encouraged her class to apply for a 2019 SEMA scholarship, according to Newman. “He’s a great instructor,” she said. “I’ll be using this scholarship for my tuition.”

“I plan to graduate in December, so this fall will be my final semester,” said Newman. “After graduation, I would like to work for a dealership or maybe an independent shop, to start working in the industry. I’m also very interested in electric cars, and specifically the conversion to electric,” she said. “I definitely want to continue to learning as much as I can about that.”

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund offers financial assistance to help foster the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators, according to the trade association. As a 2019 SEMA scholarship recipient, Newman will be invited to attend the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas and be recognized during an awards luncheon.

Included among the SEMA scholarship application requirements, applicants had to be in pursuit of a degree or certification that leads to a career in the automotive industry. Scholarship applicants also had to meet GPA requirements, request recommendations from a teacher, employer or mentor, and demonstrate a passion for the automotive industry through a written statement as well as answers provided for select questions.

Chattahoochee Technical College student Mitchell Georgiana, of Cobb County, earned a Silver Medal in Criminal Justice at the national SkillsUSA Championships held recently in Louisville, Kentucky.

The SkillsUSA Championships are competitive events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation, according to the national, nonprofit organization SkillsUSA. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels. Georgiana, who is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice Technology at Chattahoochee Tech, brought home the gold medal at Georgia’s statewide SkillsUSA competition held earlier this year in Atlanta. At the national competition, he competed with state winners from across the nation.

More than 6,500 outstanding career and technical education students competed hands-on at the national competition in 103 different trade, technical and leadership fields, according to SkillsUSA. Students worked against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations that included criminal justice, electronics, computer-aided drafting, and medical assisting. The contests were run with the help of industry, trade associations and labor organizations, and tested competencies that are set by industry.

SkillsUSA offers a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. More than 345,000 students and advisors are reported to join SkillsUSA each year, organized into more than 19,000 local chapters.

Chattahoochee Technical College is partnering with the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA), HB NEXT, and Cobb WorkSource Georgia to offer Cobb County residents free training in the four-week, nationally accredited Construction Ready certification program to prepare participants for employment opportunities available in the construction industry.

The first information session at Chattahoochee Tech is about the free Construction Ready workforce training program, and is slated for Tuesday, July 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Building K at the Chattahoochee Tech Marietta Campus, which is located at 980 South Cobb Drive. These information sessions will be ongoing, and registration for them is available online at www.ConstructionReady.us.

Construction Ready program participants will participate in hands-on construction training and, upon graduation, will participate in a hiring fair that will connect them to some of Atlanta’s top construction companies. All classes will be held at the Chattahoochee Tech Marietta Campus, with lunch provided for program participants. Participants must be at least 18 years old, physically fit, and able to pass a drug screening and criminal background check. Construction Ready is a background friendly and drug-free program that gets participants trained, credentialed and back to work!

The Construction Ready program is being made available in Cobb County through the combined efforts of Chattahoochee Tech, CEFGA, HB NEXT and WorkSource Cobb. CEFGA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded by leading construction presidents and CEOs who recognized a need for quality construction skills training in Georgia. As Cobb County’s American Job Center, WorkSource Cobb provides access to a system of employment and education services for the Cobb County community. Headquartered in Atlanta, HB NEXT provides an extensive array of safety and environmental compliance services to construction companies, public/private utilities and numerous other industries.

The Chattahoochee Technical College Department of Counseling Services is actively promoting mental health as a vital part of overall wellness through a series of initiatives which include a new, online mental health assessment screening tool available on the college’s website, and an interactive Mental Health First Aid training session slated for Wednesday, Aug. 7, at the North Metro Campus.

The online mental health screening tool is designed to assist in the early identification and intervention for those at risk, according to Chattahoochee Tech Director of Counseling Cheri Mattox-Carroll. “Taking a free mental health screening is a good way to help a person determine if they are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition,” said Mattox-Carroll. “Conditions such as depression and anxiety are real, common and treatable. The screening results can help indicate that it may be time to talk with someone who can help.”

The online mental health screening tool is available for Chattahoochee Tech on the college’s website at: https://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/chattahoochee-technical-college

The upcoming Mental Health First Aid training session at the North Metro Campus on Aug. 7 has space available for 25 participants who must reserve their spot with Director of Counseling Cheri Mattox-Carroll. The eight-hour training session will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Room 202 of Building B. Another Mental Health First Aid training session will be held later this fall at the Marietta Campus.

“We are all touched by aspects of mental illness experienced by students, family and friends,” said Mattox-Carroll. “This training focuses on mental illness and how you can assist a person suffering from mental illness, particularly in a crisis situation.”

Chattahoochee Tech Director of Counseling Cheri Mattox-Carroll may be reached by phone at 770-975-4152 or by way of email at: Cheri.Mattox-Carroll@ChattahoocheeTech.edu

The Cobb EMC Community Foundation announced that Chattahoochee Technical College student Lydia Kumi, of Cobb County, has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship. Kumi, who is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree at Chattahoochee Tech, was one of 14 local students who each received a $5,000 scholarship. This scholarship can be applied to any accredited university, college or vocational-technical school.

“I am so grateful. I want to thank the Cobb EMC Community Foundation,” said Kumi. “I will be using this scholarship for my tuition. My goal is to get into the nursing program spring semester, graduate from Chattahoochee Tech, and then work as a Registered Nurse in any community health center in my county.” Kumi noted that her ultimate goal in nursing is to become a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM).

The 2019 scholarship winners were selected based on applications, grades and test scores, along with letters of recommendation and an essay on their future plans and goals, according to the Cobb EMC Community Foundation. These annual scholarships, which are funded and administered by the Cobb EMC Community Foundation, are open to students who receive electricity from Cobb EMC.

The Chattahoochee Tech Pickens Engagement Team participated in the community’s back-to-school “Kickoff 4 Kids” event held Saturday, July 13, at Harmony Elementary School for Pickens County students and families. Through this initiative, students received free backpacks as well as hearing, dental and vision screenings. They also enjoyed fun activities that included face painting and crafts.

Chattahoochee Tech students who need help with navigating their way through the FASFA maze can find help from the college’s Department of Student Financial Services at workshops on the Marietta Campus every Friday in July and August.

FASFA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form completed by prospective and current college students to determine their eligibility for receiving federal financial aid, according to Chattahoochee Tech Director of Student Financial Aid Kristie Teasley. She noted that the FASFA form must be resubmitted each year by current students.

“Many students are eligible for some form of financial aid, but first they must complete the FASFA form,” said Teasley. “Submitting the FASFA form can be the key for students to access grants to assist with covering the cost of college.”

The FASFA workshops hosted by the Chattahoochee Tech Department of Student Financial Services are available every Friday in July and August from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Marietta Campus in Building F. These workshops will assist students and parents with completing the FASFA. No advance registration is required.

“We want students to know that we’re here to help them through this process,” said Teasely. “We’re never too busy to help them.”

Chattahoochee Tech FASFA Workshop Every Friday in July and August
8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Marietta Campus, Building F
Room 1150 every session except Aug. 16 (Room 2140 on Aug. 16)

Things to bring (if applicable):

• Student’s (and spouse’s if you are now married) 2017 tax return forms and W-2 forms
• FSA username and password (if you already have one)
• Parent, parent’s 2017 tax return forms and W-2 form, and parent’s FSA ID and password (If you were born in 1996 or later)
• Alien registration number (If you are a permanent resident)

For more information call us at 770-528-4545.

The Smyrna Business Association (SBA) has awarded a $1,500 scholarship to Chattahoochee Tech student and recent Osborne High School graduate Jose Sontay, according to SBA Education Committee Chair Jim Duelmer.

Building on the 41 college credits he has already earned at Chattahoochee Tech as a high school student through Georgia’s Dual Enrollment Program, Sontay said that he plans to major in Accounting at the college. “I’m going to take three classes this fall at Chattahoochee Tech, and I will be working somewhere too,” said Sontay, who noted that he is working in a construction job this summer. His coursework during the fall semester will include Managerial Accounting, Computerized Accounting and Personal Finance.

Sontay was one of three recent high school graduates receiving an SBA scholarship to help pay for college tuition. SBA announced that their 2019 scholarships recipients also included Zachary Schamis, a Campbell High School graduate who will be attending the University of Georgia to major in Economics, and Geovanny Castillo, a Campbell High School graduate who will be attending Georgia State to major in Business.

The SBA scholarship is awarded annually to graduates of Osborne or Campbell High School, or Whitfield Academy, who plan to pursue a college degree in a business-related career in the year immediately following high school graduation, according to SBA. Scholarship applicants are required to provide an essay, a high school transcript, and letters of recommendation.

The Green Zone training initiative at Chattahoochee Tech helps the college provide a supportive and nationally acclaimed learning environment for its vast student population of U.S. veterans and military-affiliated students, according to Chattahoochee Tech Veteran Services Coordinator Barry Munday, who leads this effort.

“The Green Zone training enables our faculty and staff to gain an increased awareness about the needs of veterans who are trying to reacclimate to civilian and college life,” said Munday. “This training also relays how important it is for us to help veterans and military-affiliated students connect with the support and assistance they may need throughout their journeys in college.”

More than 200 Chattahoochee Tech employees have volunteered to complete the Green Zone training since it was established at the college four years ago, according to Munday. Upon completion of the training, the Green Zone team members are identified to military-affiliated students by Green Zone emblems placed beside office doors throughout the college. “The Green Zone team serves as a visible network of faculty and staff all across the college to help provide assistance,” said Munday.

In 2019, Chattahoochee Tech was designated as a national, gold-level Military Friendly School as well as a national Military Spouse Friendly School. Munday credits the Green Zone training initiative as one of the most notable aspects of Chattahoochee Tech’s success in achieving these rankings as the college has endeavored to serve its student veteran and military family population. Included among the many resources available for these students are counseling and career services, free tutoring and access to more than 30 external veteran service and support organizations. The college also provides them with assorted walk-in services to help meet the unique needs of military-affiliated students.

“We could not have received these Military Friendly designations without the Chattahoochee Tech faculty and staff who have volunteered to complete the Green Zone training and become members of our Green Zone team,” said Munday. “We serve one of the largest populations of veteran students among all of the colleges in Georgia, and it takes all of us working together to provide them with the help they may need.”

Chattahoochee Technical College Welding Instructor Jim Thomas welcomed representatives from Vulcan Materials Company for a recent visit at the college’s welding lab located on the Paulding Campus in Dallas. Welding program students and graduates were invited to learn more about career opportunities available at the company, which is the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials. Representing Vulcan Materials Company were Will Huff, Recruiter, and Chris Sheffield, Villa Rica Plant Manager.