By Su Ann Bird
South Georgia Technical College Aviation Maintenance student Andrew Daniel of Thomaston, GA, and SGTC Precision Machining and Manufacturing student Blake Archer of Palm Harbor, FL were both selected to receive the SkillsUSA-Aerotek NLSC 2024 “Make Your Mark Scholarship” following their outstanding performances at the SkillsUSA National Competition in Atlanta, GA.
Daniel and Archer were both Gold Medal winners at the State SkillsUSA competition and qualified to compete at the National SkillsUSA competition against the top postsecondary students from across the nation. Andrew Daniel captured the GOLD medal in the National SkillsUSA Aviation Maintenance Technology competition and Blake Archer finished seventh nationally in the Precision Machining and Manufacturing competition.
“We are so excited for both of these outstanding students,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “They did an excellent job of representing themselves and their skill sets at the Georgia SkillsUSA competition and then earned the right to compete and win at the national competition. We are extremely proud of them and their instructors who helped mold them into the best in the nation.”
SGTC SkillsUSA Advisor and former welding instructor Brenda Butler Gilliam was notified that both Andrew Daniel and Blake Archer were selected for the national scholarship offered in conjunction with SkillsUSA. “They have both put South Georgia Technical College and SkillsUSA in the headlines. I hope you will join me in congratulating both of them for this honor.”
The SkillsUSA – Aerotek NLSC 2024 “Make Your Mark” scholarship is worth $2,500 and can be applied to tuition at the postsecondary institution of their choice for the Fall 2024 academic term.
Andrew Daniel became the second SGTC Aviation Maintenance student to be named a national SkillsUSA champion in the past six years. Bailey Mills won the first national gold medal for the SGTC Aviation Maintenance Technology program in 2018.
SGTC’s Aviation Maintenance students have captured Gold Medals at the State SkillsUSA competition for five of the past six years. Andrew Daniel won gold in 2023 and 2024; Jonathan Large of Marianna, FL was the 2022 gold medal winner for SGTC; Jonathan Camp of Senoia was the top finisher in the state in 2021, Ethan Lyle was the winner in 2019, and Bailey Mills won in 2018. SGTC students have been ranked tops in the nation in Aviation Maintenance for two of those six years.
Blake Archer is also one of a number of SkillsUSA winners from the Precision Machining and Manufacturing program. He won gold and competed in the national competition in 2024, Kelli Rees competed in 2022, Tison Smith of Leesburg, GA and Patrick Hortman of Ellaville won the gold medal statewide in 2021 and finished third nationally in the Additive Manufacturing Competition. Charles Westra and Tison Smith won the State Additive Manufacturing Competition in 2019. Calvin Conley and Jacob Grant were tops in the state in Additive Manufacturing in 2018.
SGTC has had state SkillsUSA winners in Criminal Justice, Medical Assisting, Drafting, Diesel Technology and Marketing and more in recent years.
SGTC is currently accepting students for Fall Semester. Classes start August 15 and it is not too late to apply and register for one of the over 200 associate degree, diploma or technical certificate of credit programs available at SGTC. South Georgia Tech has been ranked as the top community college in Georgia for the past four years and offers students the “Complete College Experience” with on camps housing, nationally recognized academics, intercollegiate athletics and student activities.
Fall registration is planned for Tuesday, August 13 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both the Americus and Crisp County campuses. Visit www.southgatech.edu today and click on apply to get started on a great career.
The post SGTC students awarded SkillsUSA-Aerotek NLSC 2024 “Make Your Mark” Scholarships appeared first on Americus Times-Recorder .
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