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 7218 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 19 “This was a team effort from the start,” said Harper. “The Coffee County School Board and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College had a vision. They were able to get support from the community, which made securing the state funds easier.” Harper said he was impressed with the partnership between WGTC, Coffee County Schools, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce, and local businesses leaders in helping to secure funds for the project. “It all started with the budget process in the House. Former Representative Chuck Sims and former Representative Jay Roberts, who represented part of Coffee County, were extremely instrumental in getting half of the funding placed in the budget before it left the House, and then it came to the Senate,” Harper said. “Once it got to the Senate, it was up to me to get the remaining money. We worked hard with the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Jack Hill, and Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle’s office to secure full funding in the budget. Next, it went through conference committee before being approved by Governor Nathan Deal.” Harper, who was in attendance at the ribbon cutting, stated that this project will have an important impact on education and workforce development, not only in Coffee County but also in surrounding communities that are serviced by the WGTC footprint. “We are moving forward in making sure we have the people in jobs that are needed to increase economic development and job creation for companies in South Georgia,” said Harper. “In my opinion, education is economic development. Without an educated workforce you really can’t have true economic development. The new WGTC building and College and Career Academy are a great step in that direction.” Creating a Pipeline for Workforce Georgia College and Career Academies were established in 2011 through the passage of Senate Bill 161 as a way to partner businesses and communities to advance workforce development between local boards of education, private organizations or individuals, or a local or state public entity in cooperation with a postsecondary institution. In 2013, the Coffee County School System began a college and career academy at a location near Coffee County High School and students PHOTO: WIREGRASS GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE traveled to WGTC to take dual enrollment classes. Later that year, the Technical College System of Georgia awarded a $3.15 million grant, to be matched with local funding, for the building construction and initial start-up costs for the Wiregrass Regional College and Career Academy (WRCCA) on the WGTC Coffee County campus, which officially opened in August 2016. WRCCA is a partnership with the Coffee County School System and WGTC and offers fully accredited virtual high school classes as well as college courses to students. The WRCCA provides a student-centered, seamless, and comprehensive learning experience that helps prepare students for college and careers. “Before, we were in a separate location and students had to take a bus to Wiregrass,” said WRCCA Principal Scott Gillis. “The students were limited as to which technical courses they could take and we had to have at least three or four students in a cohort to provide the transportation.” Gillis said now that the students are in a building on the WGTC Coffee County campus they can take courses in any of the programs offered through the technical college. “The geographical location is a big draw for the students coming to the college and career academy,” Gillis said. “Students take their high school courses through computer-based instruction, which gives them the flexibility they wouldn’t have at the main high school. It also gives them a way to get their technical college credits while getting their high school diploma.” High school classes are administered online through Odysseyware, a national provider of customizable online courses for K-12 education. Students can choose to take these courses entirely online or through face-to-face classes located at WRCCA. “Students can come to the WRCCA and get their high school required courses completed and work on an associate degree or technical diploma,” Gillis said. “With the skills they acquire at WRCCA, they can walk next door to South Georgia College and work on a four-year degree.” Gillis said the mission of WRCCA is to ensure the students graduate from high school and are prepared to enter the workforce with a technical degree or are college ready and continue working toward a four-year degree. “We want our students to be ready for whatever their career goal is after they graduate from WRCCA,” Gillis said. “I have been in education for 28 years, and this is a great opportunity to help students become more successful. When they graduate, they will be prepared to begin working in a technical area career or start a four- year college program.” PHOTO: WIREGRASS GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 19