Retired SGTC instructor still impacting student success
South Georgia Technical College Crisp County Center Welding Instructor Brenda Butler Gilliam or “Mrs. B” as she was affectionately known, officially retired at the end of 2018 after 19 years of teaching welding to students on both the Americus and Crisp County Center campuses. Now she is back working part-time in a new capacity but still making a difference.
This is a photo of the fire pit that SGTC Welding Instructor Tom Mayo and his students made for SGTC to raffle off during the homecoming festivities Saturday. It has SGTC and Jets on the sides.
She is currently serving as the South Georgia Technical College SkillsUSA Advisor. She has excelled at this job just like she did in what might be best described as a “male dominated field,” teaching welding. As an instructor, she taught students to weld while also challenging them to excel utilizing their artistic talents. Her students won local, state, and national championships at SkillsUSA events.
Today, she is working with students and instructors from all program areas to help them prepare for the SkillsUSA competitions. Recently, she joined other SGTC faculty and staff and took 33 SGTC students to Atlanta to participate in the State SkillsUSA Competition. Sixteen of those students had Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals hanging from their necks after competing against the best of the best in Georgia.
And not only is this “woman of many talents” still having a major impact on South Georgia Technical College students but her influence continues to expand because those she taught are now teaching the next generation.
South Georgia Technical College Crisp County Center Welding Instructor Tom Mayo is an SGTC alumnae and was one of Brenda Butler Gilliam’s students. While at the SkillsUSA state competition, Brenda Gilliam and Tom Mayo ran into another former student who is now an instructor.
Daniel Nelms, an instructor at Lee County High School, was at the State SkillsUSA competition with his high school students. He and Brenda Butler Gilliam and Tom Mayo had a chance to catch up and reminisce about their time in the classroom and still pick up a few tips from their master instructor, “Mrs. B.”
Tom Mayo has continued in “Mrs. B” footsteps with doing small projects for the college. He and his SGTC Crisp County Welding Students made a fire pit that SGTC will be raffling off as part of the SGTC Homecoming Day Festivities on Saturday, February 28th. Tickets are $5 each or individuals can purchase five tickets for $20. The winner will be drawn Saturday during the Homecoming festivities.
South Georgia Technical College is encouraging all alumni and former faculty and staff members to come out and support the SGTC Homecoming, Alumni and Sophomore Day festivities Saturday from 12 noon until 5 p.m. The Jets and Lady Jets intercollegiate basketball teams will be hosting Albany Technical College with games at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The sophomore players will be recognized in between the two games.
The Americus – Sumter County Chamber of Commerce and IMERYS will be hosting a free Hamburger and Hotdog cookout beginning at 12:15. Scoops Ice cream truck will be on hand and SGTC will be giving away free t-shirts while supplies last. There will also be free giveaways and door prizes for those attending.
SGTC faculty, staff and students have been enjoying a number of activities during the week leading up to Homecoming with Monday – Hat Day; Tuesday – Twin Day; Wednesday – Denham Day; and Thursday – School Colors Day. Saturday’s game is a Black Out game. All alumni, faculty, staff, students, and community members are asked to come and support SGTC on Saturday by wearing black to cheer on the Jets and Lady Jets at the game.