Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 7216 S G M A G A Z I N E | FA L L 2 0 1 6 B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 17 Creating a pathway for students to earn a high school degree and become workforce ready is the focus of a partnership between Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) and the Coffee County School System. Douglas and Coffee County business leaders and governmental officials were in attendance for the official opening of the WGTC Allied Health and Public Safety Building and the Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy. Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Gretchen Corbin stated that partnerships between local school systems, state technical colleges, and businesses are the key to providing a highly educated and skilled workforce to meet current and future industry needs. “It is exciting to be in a community like Coffee County that wants to get it done,” Corbin said to those in attendance at the ribbon cutting on July 21, 2016. “The Coffee County School System and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College have a common goal: To build the best partnership possible for K-12 education. A celebration like today’s—when we are joining an allied health building with a college and career academy within the Technical College System of Georgia—shows our current and future students that this is the place to go for a great education. The community and business leaders here know this partnership will produce a workforce for the next generation. Each and every one of you has helped make this possible.” The 65,000-square-foot building represents the first time a Georgia College and Career Academy is housed on the campus of a technical college. A Workforce for Next Generation Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Coffee County Schools Create Vision for Education, Economic Development PHOTO: WIREGRASS GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE Wiregrass Georgia Technical College held a ribbon cutting for the new Allied Health and Public Safety Building and Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy. The Allied Health and Public Safety Building, which opened for classes this summer, provides class and laboratory space for existing and expanding allied health, public safety, cosmetology, and early childhood care and education programs. “The additional space provides us with the opportunity to expand our programs,” said Brandy Wilkes, associate vice president for operations at the WGTC Coffee County campus. “Before, these programs were housed in mobile units that will be removed. We now have a larger library and student center, an updated bookstore, and meeting space for the community to utilize.” Wilkes explained that the new building also provides the WGTC Coffee County campus with the ability to expand course offerings in professions that are high workforce demand areas. “We have taught basic EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) courses, but now we are able to teach advanced EMT classes and have a fully functioning ambulance simulator,” Wilkes said. “Welding courses is another example of programs that we offer to meet employment needs in the area. We have an excellent working relationship with the business community, and we always try to be nimble to workforce needs of industries.” The new building will also feature a biology and chemistry lab and a firearms training simulator for the criminal justice program. “This is a tremendous time to be a student in Georgia. You can go to college while you are in high school, and all you have to do is work hard. It is also a great time to be a student in Coffee County, where students can graduate high school with an associate degree, possibly multiple degrees, and it cost nothing to the parents and the students,” said WGTC President Dr. Tina Anderson. “This partnership works for many reasons with the support of the legislators and the Coffee County School System because they believe that this is good for the students.” Coffee County School System Superintendent Dr. Morris Leis voiced his appreciation for the support received by the local legislative delegation. “Our legislators have been very supportive of the Coffee County School System,” Leis said. “We are fortunate to have the support that we enjoy for our public schools from our local representatives and senator. We consider them partners in education for Coffee County.” Leis also recognized the long- standing partnership Coffee County School System shares with WGTC. “We have students who are on the campus of the technical college full-time beginning in ninth grade. The fact that students can attend high school full-time on the college campus gives our students and community advantages to compete globally like we have never known before,” Leis said. “Our local industries can work with the technical college and career academy to develop job- related training that creates a winning combination for everyone.” The building has been in development for several years, and the state budget allocation process received support from various legislators including Senator Tyler Harper, R-Ocilla, who began his first term in office while helping the Coffee County School System, WGTC, and local business leaders secure funding for the facility. PHOTO: WIREGRASS GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE Rey’shannon Jones, senior at Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy, is joined by Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Gretchen Corbin at the July 21, 2016, ribbon cutting for the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Allied Health and Public Safety Building and Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy. B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 17