Tison F. Smith Named SGTC Student of Excellence for September
South Georgia Technical College student Tison F. Smith was recently named the college’s Student of Excellence for the month of September. Smith, a Precision Machining and Manufacturing student, was recognized for his hard work and commitment to learning at a ceremony held in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the college’s Americus campus.
Smith was nominated for the award by his instructor, Chad Brown. “Tison is an outstanding student,” Brown said. “He comes from a family of higher machinists and he has a bright future ahead of him. He is the first one here every morning and he works hard to perfect his skills. He is a member of the SkillsUSA organization and won first place in the Georgia SkillsUSA Additive Manufacturing Competition and then finished 4th in the nation at the national competition.”
Smith accepted the nomination and a specialized Student of Excellence t-shirt from Brown then addressed the audience, thanking the college and his instructors for the opportunity to learn valuable skills for his future. “This is my first year in college and technical college is definitely the way to go. You can come here and get a job immediately. I appreciate my instructor and South Georgia Technical College for this opportunity.”
The September Student of Excellence ceremony recognized students in the industrial technology programs at SGTC. Other nominees included: William Cobb, air conditioning technology; Cody Bryant, drafting technology; Ethan Ryan, electronics technology; Dylan Singley, electrical systems technology; Zachary Price, industrial systems technology; and Ira Roberts, welding and joining technology.
After the other nominees received their certificates and t-shirts, David Kuipers, Vice President of Academic Affairs, explained the criteria to be chosen as the overall Student of Excellence and the benefits that come with the title before announcing Smith as the winner. The winner is selected based on a number of criteria, including grades, work ethics, participation in clubs and organizations, and amount of program completion. As the winner, Smith was awarded with a plaque of recognition, a personal letter of recommendation from SGTC President Dr. John Watford and a $50 check for his accomplishments. Additionally, his name will be displayed on SGTC’s digital marquee as well as inscribed on a plaque in Hicks Hall among previous Student of Excellence winners.
Each month, students from certain divisions selected for that month are nominated for the Student of Excellence award by their instructors. In addition to Chad Brown, additional nominating instructors included Glynn Cobb, Kristie Cook, Mike Collins, Tyler Wells, Phil Deese, and Ted Eschmann.
South Georgia Technical College offers over 200 degrees, diplomas, and certificates of credit in a variety of in-demand disciplines. For a complete list of programs visit www.southgatech.edu. Apply now for the fall mini-mester beginning October 7.