Trion Schools Seeking Renewal of Education SPLOST, Bonding Authority

The Trion City School System is asking the Trion Town Council to support placing a renewal of the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or ESPLOST, on the November ballot to continue funding major capital improvements without increasing property taxes.

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GNTC Awards First Disabled Veterans Support Scholarships

Georgia Northwestern Technical College has announced the first recipients of the Disabled Veterans Support Scholarship, with 12 students receiving awards for the summer 2026 semester.

The scholarship is funded through voluntary state income tax return donations and was created to support U.S. military veterans with service-connected disabilities as they pursue technical education in Georgia. The program is administered by the Technical College System of Georgia Foundation and is designed to help cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition, required supplies and other real costs.

GNTC Military-Connected Services Coordinator Josh Hickman said the first semester of the scholarship program has been a success and said the 12 recipients are deserving of the support.

Recipients include students from Dalton, Rome, Euharlee, Adairsville, Rocky Face, Dallas, Canton and Cedartown. Their programs include supply chain management, healthcare management, cybersecurity, aviation maintenance, culinary arts, welding, EMS professions, automation engineering and instrumentation controls.

Eligible veterans must be enrolled in a degree, diploma or technical certificate program and provide documentation showing a service-connected disability rating.

GNTC To Offer Free Application Week For Fall Semester

Georgia Northwestern Technical College will waive application fees next week for students planning to enroll for the 2026 fall semester.

GNTC will host a Free Application Week from Monday, June 29, through Sunday, July 5. During that time, the college will waive the regular $25 application fee for all incoming students. Applicants will not need a special code to receive the fee waiver.

The admissions deadline for the fall semester is August 4, and fall classes are scheduled to begin August 17.

Students who need assistance can contact GNTC’s call center Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM until 4:15 PM at 866-983-4682. More information is also available on GNTC’s website by selecting “Apply Now.”

Questions about Free Application Week may be directed to the GNTC Office of Admissions at 866-983-4682 or by email at admissions@gntc.edu.

According To Georgia Recorder, More Than Half Of Georgia Teachers Now Use AI To Prepare For Class

More than half of Georgia’s public school teachers are now using artificial intelligence to help prepare lessons and complete other classroom tasks, according to a new report highlighted this week by the Georgia Recorder.

The report, based on findings from the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, found that 54 percent of teachers surveyed said they use generative AI tools for lesson planning, classroom activities, grading, or other instructional purposes. At the same time, many educators expressed concern that students’ growing use of AI could negatively affect learning, critical thinking, and academic integrity.

The findings come as school systems across Georgia continue developing policies for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in classrooms. State education leaders have also released guidance encouraging schools to use AI in ways that support teaching while protecting student privacy and promoting ethical use.

Two GNTC Students Place at National FBLA Competition

Two Georgia Northwestern Technical College students earned finalist honors at the 2026 Future Business Leaders of America Collegiate National Leadership Conference, held June 6th through 8th in Las Vegas.

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Summerville Middle And Trion Elementary Beat The Odds In State Academic Report

The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement has released its annual “Beating the Odds” analysis, showing how schools in Chattooga County Schools and Trion City Schools performed compared to statistical expectations.

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Chattooga High Welders Bring Home Second-Place National Finish

The Chattooga High School Welding Fabrication Team has earned a remarkable second-place finish at the SkillsUSA National Championships, representing the State of Georgia against the nation’s top career and technical education students.

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GNTC Receives Major PPE Donation From J. J. Keller

Patty Hart, vice president of Economic Development at GNTC (left), and Leigh Ann Pettigrew, director of Student Success and campus manager of GNTC’s Whitfield Murray Campus, pose for a picture wearing personal protective equipment donated by J. J. Keller & Associates Inc.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College has received a major donation of personal protective equipment to help improve student safety and provide hands-on training with industry-standard gear.

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Shorter University Announces New Dual-Degree Engineering Partnership With Kennesaw State

Shorter University has announced a new partnership with Kennesaw State University that will give students the opportunity to earn two bachelor’s degrees at the same time.

Through the program, students can graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Shorter University and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from KSU’s Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology.

Students will complete 45 credit hours at Shorter before transferring to Kennesaw State. The coursework has been aligned so credits transfer smoothly and students remain on track toward graduation.

Shorter Provost Dr. John Reams said the partnership gives students a strong pathway toward careers in engineering and mathematics while expanding academic opportunities.

Students who complete the requirements for the Shorter mathematics degree will receive that degree through reverse transfer while finishing their engineering degree at KSU.

For more information, visit shorter.edu/admissions or call 706-233-7319.

Natural Resources Conservation Workshop Set For June In Tifton

High school students interested in conservation, agriculture, wildlife, forestry, soil, water, or Georgia’s mining industry are being encouraged to apply for the Natural Resources Conservation Workshop.

The weeklong program will be held June 7-12, 2026, at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton. Students will get hands-on experience through field studies, outdoor activities, and behind-the-scenes tours focused on Georgia’s natural resources.

More than $20,000 in scholarships and awards will be available. Students will also get a taste of college life by staying in dorms and meeting others from across the state.

The workshop is free, and transportation is provided through Georgia’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Interested high school students can apply by contacting Director Michelle Conner at michelle.conner@gaswcc.ga.gov.