Albany, Georgia –Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Albany presented the Albany Tech Foundation with a donation check for $7,500. Funds were designated to be used for the Albany Tech Engineering Preparatory Academy, Transportation, Adult Education and the Manufacturing program.
“One of the things that drew Mount Zion to Albany Technical College was your success. The training programs you have and your success in getting people into jobs,” said Dr. Daniel Simmons, Senior Pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. “That in turn elevates their lifestyle and quality of life. So, we want to be a part of that.”
“We appreciate the support from Mt. Zion and what you do for the community. And I know you are well connected to some of the people that we want to reach in our 7-county service area,” said Dr. Anthony Parker, President of Albany Technical College. “Your parishioners are our constituents and we certainly appreciate your support in workforce development.”
Albany Tech’s Engineering Preparatory Academy (EPA) was launched in 2016 as part of a grant the college received designed to target students in grades eight through 12 to consider exploring careers in the field of engineering. The EPA is an extension of a grant Albany Tech received in 2012 targeted at high school students in engineering and robotics. Several Albany and surrounding county students have benefitted from the engineering and robotics program at Albany Tech, some of which have moved on to pursue higher degrees in the field at universities such as Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Georgia, Savannah State University, and others.
The Adult Education program at Albany Tech serves more than 1,000 students in the Southwest Georgia region each year. The program prepares students for the General Education Development (GED) test, which allows for the high school dropout to gain an advantage in the workforce. Many of the Adult Education students are able to dual enroll in the GED program and work on an academic program through the Ability to Benefit (AtB) program. Almost 25 of Albany Tech’s academic programs qualify for ATB.
In May of this year, Albany Technical College, along with local industries and transportation carriers, “rolled out” the Albany Transportation Academy at Albany Technical College. The Albany Transportation Academy was designed to create a pool of trained, qualified employees to support the transportation industry and those industries that rely on efficient and cost-effective systems to move goods and services in our region. The eight-week Albany Tech course is a rigorous training program providing each student the skills and expertise necessary to become a successful truck driver. Students receive top notch classroom, driving range, and road instruction from faculty who have been in the field for years. The Albany Tech curriculum includes 200 hours behind the wheel so that students gain experience with different situations, within the city, highway, and rural areas.
Manufacturing Programs are located throughout the campus. The Carlton Construction Academy, named for the family who donated the $2 million-dollar facility, houses construction trade programs including masonry, construction management, carpentry, plumbing and industrial air conditioning. Programs range from Air Conditioning Technology to Welding/Joining Technology.
Mt. Zion has designated that the funds be used as follows: Engineering Preparatory Academy ($2,100); Transportation ($1,800); Adult Education ($1,800); and Manufacturing ($1,800).
PHOTO ATTACHED: Pictured (left to right): Dr. Emmett Griswold, VP for Academic Affairs, Albany Technical College; Dr. Anthony O. Parker, President, Albany Technical College; Dr. Daniel Simmons, Senior Pastor, Mt. Zion Baptist Church; Keva Quimbley, Academic Coordinator, Engineering Preparatory Academy, Albany Technical College; and Patricia Smiley, Mt. Zion Baptist Church official.
About Albany Technical College
A public postsecondary institution of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Albany Technical College provides technical education and training support for the evolving workforce needs of Southwest Georgia through traditional and online classroom settings. Albany Tech is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS/COC). For more information about Albany Tech, go to www.albanytech.edu or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlbanyTech or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AlbanyTech. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel by visiting www.youtube.com/albanytech1 .