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Augusta Technical College Receives Grant to Fund 140 Scholarships

Augusta Technical College has the only Chemical Technology and Nuclear Engineering Technology programs in the region. These programs were built with insight and recommendations from industry partners at Plant Vogtle, AESD, and Greenwood Industry.

The Augusta Technical College Logo that is black in color. The logo is a square shape that contains vertical stacking of the words Augusta Technical College Established 1961 in all caps. The words AUGUSTA and TECHNICAL are separated by a row containing three squares. Each square contains a silhouette image. The first square contains a female with a white stethoscope around her neck. The second square contains a person kneeling to the right wearing a welding helmet and holding a welding torch. The third square contains a man standing at attention wearing a black business suit with a white pocket square, white collar dress shirt, and a black neck tie. The words TECHNICAL and COLLEGE are separated by a solid black horizontal line. 

Original Press Release  
Contact: Kimberly Holden FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Title: Director, Community Engagement & Public Affairs June 7, 2021
Phone: 706.771.4819  
Email: kimberly.holden@ngskmc-eis.net  

Augusta Technical College Receives Grant to Fund 140 Scholarships

Augusta, GA–In a continued partnership with the SRS Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO), Augusta Technical College is excited to announce its Workforce Opportunities in Regional Careers (WORC)1 Renewal Plan. The college is one of the WORC academic partners in Georgia, and SRSCRO serves as the fiscal agent and provides management and coordination of regional efforts for the WORC programs. WORC grants are funded by the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) at the Savannah River Site to strengthen the talent pool needed to support long-term missions.

The college is receiving $899,679 in total for the five years; $198,095 for the first year and, $175,396 for years two through five. The funding started in 2011 with the ANSR grant and then the first WORC grant, which just ended in May 2021. The college does have another WORC grant, WORC II, which funds additional scholarships for students in the Engineering Technology and Chemical Technology programs.

Augusta Technical College has the only Chemical Technology and Nuclear Engineering Technology programs in the region. These programs were built with insight and recommendations from industry partners at Plant Vogtle, AESD, and Greenwood Industry.

Through the ANSR and WORC grants, Augusta Technical College has successfully attracted and trained students with a wide range of skills needed at the Savannah River Site and in the many regional industries including manufacturing, cybersecurity, and medical fields. Through the WORC I grant, Augusta Technical College has established and is sustaining programs and activities such as:

  • Chemical Technology Training.  Important training program to develop analytical laboratory skills for local citizens
  • Nuclear Engineering Technology Training.  Continues to serve nuclear industry workforce development needs
  • WORC Scholarships.  595 scholarships have been awarded on a semester basis, representing about 150 students; can make the financial difference needed to provide many first-generation college students an opportunity to develop skills needed by the local workforce
  • Savannah River Site (SRS) Student Work Experience.  At least 40 internships have resulted for WORC program students at the SRS or at nuclear power plants in the region
  • First Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) Summer Intern from a Technical College. Augusta Tech helped forge a pathway for a Chemical Technology WORC Scholarship student to be the first technical college student participant for the annual SRNL internship program
  • Student Employment.  At least 33 students from the WORC programs of student have reported being hired into full time positions, either at SRS, or the local nuclear power industry, or the manufacturing industry in the region
  • Laptop Lending Program. Established with WORC funds and is keeping students engaged in coursework by lending a laptop computer to students in need
  • Improved Student Retention for Technology Degrees.  Instructional support, funded through the WORC grants, helps many students to overcome struggles with math, chemistry, and physics courses required for completion of technical degree programs
  • Student Ambassadors.  WORC grant funds stipends for ATC student ambassadors to engage in additional professional development opportunities as leaders in outreach activities to local high schools

The grant also allows the college to support and provide 140 scholarships to students enrolled in the programs listed below.

  • Accounting
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Support Specialist
  • Cybersecurity
  • Industrial Systems Technology
  • Mechatronics
  • Computer Networking
  • Welding and Joining Technology
  • Electrical Systems Technology

Recent graduate Sydney Lee is a dual enrollment student who received additional funding from the WORC Grant. Sidney is a graduating senior from John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School and was enrolled in the Nuclear Engineering Technology program at Augusta Technical College.

Sidney has been recognized at DFA for academic honors in Jazz Band, Honors Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Tri-M; (Modern, Music, Masters), volunteerism, advanced course work and fine arts. Sidney has also been recognized in the community by receiving the EMBODI (Empowering Males Building Opportunities to Develop Independence) of the Year award from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. He has also received recognition from the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Sidney will attend Georgia Tech in the fall and will continue to pursue higher education in Nuclear Engineering and Technology.

Interested individuals can learn more about Augusta Technical College at our upcoming open houses on June 26th and July 24th. Events applicable to high school/dual enrollment students and military and military-affiliated students are also planned for this calendar year. To speak with a member of the admissions team, call any campus or center. You can also schedule a campus tour of any location by visiting our Visitor Information page.

We invite you to join our college community. Fall Term starts August 23rd. Apply online at ngskmc-eis.net.

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3200 Augusta Tech Drive, Augusta, GA 30906

ngskmc-eis.net

About Augusta Technical College

Augusta Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is a public postsecondary institution that provides academic and technical education, customized business and industry training, continuing education, student support, economic development, and adult education services to its service area (Burke, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, and Richmond Counties) at a competitive financial value. Associate of Science Degrees, Associate of Applied Science Degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit are provided through traditional and distance delivery methods. For more information, visit ngskmc-eis.net.

For more information, please contact Kimberly Holden, Director of Community Engagement & Public Affairs at Augusta Technical College.

 

About SRSCRO

The SRS Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO) is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit organization charged with developing and implementing a comprehensive strategy to diversify the economy around the Savannah River Site.

We work to make the best use of excess and operating resources of the Savannah River Site for the economic well-being of the surrounding area. Along with this we develop and implement a regional economic plan utilizing the technology-based facilities at this site, while supporting new business ventures that create new jobs in the region. For more information, visit http://srscro.org/about/.

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