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.
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.
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.
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.
The Cisco Networking Academy has honored Dr. Dwight Watt, instructor of Computer Information Systems Technology at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, with its 2025 Instructor Excellence Advanced Level Award for outstanding teaching and student success.
Four Georgia Northwestern Technical College students have been recognized for their academic achievement, earning the prestigious Governor Nathan Deal Technical Education Scholarship.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is now accepting applications through April 30 for the summer term under a new state scholarship designed to help disabled veterans continue their education.
Graduation Rates Strong In Trion, Steady Improvement Seen In Chattooga County As Ceremonies Approach
Graduation season is just around the corner for students in Chattooga County and Trion City Schools, and recent data shows strong performance in Trion along with steady long-term improvement in the county system.
Chattooga High School is recognizing Abbigail Smith for an outstanding achievement after her award-winning welding sculpture was honored at the state level.
Abbigail, along with Superintendent Michelle Helie, CTAE Director Angie Culbert, and Welding Instructor and SkillsUSA Advisor Carter Woodall, attended the State Board of Education meeting on March 26, 2026, where her sculpture was showcased.
Smith earned the silver medal in Welding Sculpture at the SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference, an accomplishment that highlights her talent, creativity, and dedication to welding.
School leaders praised Abbigail’s success and also recognized the educators and administrators who continue to support student achievement and career-focused education at Chattooga High School.
Congratulations to Abbigail Smith on this impressive honor and statewide recognition.
The Georgia Department of Education is modernizing its Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) structure, reducing the number of career clusters from 17 to 14 to better align with today’s workforce needs.
State leaders say the updated framework keeps all 152 state-approved pathways in place while improving connections between high school coursework, college programs, and in-demand careers across Georgia.
Among the key changes is a stronger focus on high-demand industries to help build a more prepared workforce. The state is also introducing the “Construction for Geometry” option starting in the 2025–2026 school year, allowing students to earn math credit through the Carpentry Pathway.
Officials say the updates are part of Georgia’s “Top State for Talent” initiative, aimed at ensuring students graduate ready for enrollment, employment, enlistment, or entrepreneurship.