SGTC Welcomes First-Generation College Students

September 4, 2024
Pictured (l-r) are Dr. Deo Cochran, Sandhya Muljibhai, Tylen Pepito, Justin Wells, Eulish Kinchens, Rev. Michael Coley, and Dr. John Watford at the recent meet and greet event for first-generation college students at South Georgia Technical College in Americus.
Pictured (l-r) are Dr. Deo Cochran, Sandhya Muljibhai, Tylen Pepito, Justin Wells, Eulish Kinchens, Rev. Michael Coley, and Dr. John Watford at the recent meet and greet event for first-generation college students at South Georgia Technical College in Americus.

South Georgia Technical College recently held events on the Americus and Cordele campuses to recognize and encourage first-generation students at SGTC. Defined as the first person in their immediate families to attend college, first-generation students constituted about 47 percent of SGTC’s student population for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Organized by SGTC Retention and Coaching Specialists Dr. Deo Cochran and Charlene Williams, the programs featured speakers from the South Georgia Technical College staff as well as from the community.

In Cordele, Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs Michelle McGowan welcomed the students to South Georgia Technical College. Eulish Kinchens, Vice President of Student Affairs, and Josh Curtin, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, followed with an overview of services and opportunities offered to students at SGTC.

Rory Edge, CEO of Amiais Healthcare, offered words of encouragement to the students, then Kinchens and Curtin facilitated a question and answer session. Williams closed the program with final remarks.

Pictured (l-r) are Charlene Williams, Josh Curtin, Rory Edge, Michelle McGowan, and Eulish Kinchens at the recent meet and greet event for first-generation college students at the South Georgia Technical College Crisp County Center in Cordele.
Pictured (l-r) are Charlene Williams, Josh Curtin, Rory Edge, Michelle McGowan, and Eulish Kinchens at the SGTC Crisp County Center first generation event.

Dr. John Watford, SGTC President, opened the ceremony in Americus. He welcomed the students and other attendees to campus and shared a bit of his own experience being the child of a first-generation college student, noting that his father first attended college at age 40. Watford said that by making the decision to attend college, the students in attendance were benefitting not only themselves, but future generations of their families.

Admissions Counselor/Recruiter Tylen Pepito followed with a campus overview, and WIOA Coordinator Sandhya Muljibhai spoke of the opportunities afforded eligible students by the federally-funded Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Pepito and Muljibhai also shared that they were the first in their families to pursue higher education.

SGTC Board Member Rev. Michael Coley offered words of inspiration and encouragement to the students. Coley is a 1974 graduate of SGTC who went on to earn Bachelor and Master’s degrees in addition to serving in the United States Navy before a long career at Robins Air Force Base.

“South Georgia Technical College launched my career,” Coley said, “and I am forever grateful to SGTC. I hope you will all have the same testimony someday.”

Americus native Justin Wells then spoke to attendees about staying determined to succeed even when faced with life’s difficulties. He encouraged the students to take advantage of the various means of support offered by SGTC to help them stay on course to graduation.

South Georgia Technical College offers a variety of resources to help all students benefit from the complete college experience provided by SGTC. Choose from over 200 programs leading to an associate degree, diploma or technical certificate of credit, and reap the life-changing benefits of technical education. Apply online at www.southgatech.edu.

Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event
Attendees at the SGTC first-generation student event