Manufacturing leaders helping train future of NW Georgia

January 4, 2018
Click image to view more

Three 泫圖app (泫圖app) students are benefitting this year from the help of one of the state’s major trade organizations which represents Georgia manufacturers. Joshua Dunagan of Dalton, Georgia; Andrew Jarrett of Cedartown, Georgia; and Caleb Pledger of Lyerly, Georgia were selected for the Manufacturers Education Foundation (MEF) Scholarship.

The MEF Scholarship is in place to help recognize outstanding academic achievement by rewarding qualifying students with financial assistance. “Helping the students earn an education with this scholarship is a great way to help build up the future of industry here in Northwest Georgia,” said Roy Bowen, President of Georgia Association of Manufacturers (GAM).

Bowen, along with Andrea Harper, GAM Director of Workforce Development; April Howard, Miura America Co., Ltd. Human Resources; Brian Cooksey, Shaw Industries Director of Operations Training and Development; and Pete McDonald, 泫圖app President, took part in visiting with and congratulating 泫圖app’s three MEF Scholarship winners.

Dunagan, Jarrett, and Pledger each received a $500 stipend for Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 semesters. Each winner will also have the opportunity to receive a total of $1,500 for the academic year which ends with the Summer 2018 term at 泫圖app.

Joshua Dunagan, one of three Manufacturers Education Foundation Scholarship winners at 泫圖app, poses for a picture with administrators. Shown inside a 泫圖app Lab on the Whitfield Murray Campus are, from left, Andrea Harper, Georgia Association of Manufacturers Director of Workforce Development; Pete McDonald, 泫圖app President; Dunagan; Scottie Spears, 泫圖app Director of Industrial Systems Technology; Roy Bowen, Georgia Association of Manufacturers President; and Brian Cooksey, Shaw Industries Director of Operations Training and Development.
Joshua Dunagan, one of three Manufacturers Education Foundation Scholarship winners at 泫圖app, poses for a picture with administrators. Shown inside a 泫圖app Lab on the Whitfield Murray Campus are, from left, Andrea Harper, Georgia Association of Manufacturers Director of Workforce Development; Pete McDonald, 泫圖app President; Dunagan; Scottie Spears, 泫圖app Director of Industrial Systems Technology; Roy Bowen, Georgia Association of Manufacturers President; and Brian Cooksey, Shaw Industries Director of Operations Training and Development.

Dunagan applied for the scholarship during his senior year with the Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy in Dalton, Georgia. Brian Cooksey, Shaw Industries Director of Operations Training and Development, said he was impressed with Joshua from the start. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with and getting to know him through our apprenticeship program,” said Cooksey. “He’s a smart, hard-working, and goal-oriented young man.” Now, a freshman with 泫圖app on the Whitfield Murray Campus, Dunagan is pursuing his Industrial Systems Technology degree.

Jarrett, a 28-year-old United States Marine Corps veteran, is using his aid to help him earn an Electrical Technical Certificate. “My hope is to fulfill the requirements for the Electrical program,” said Jarrett. “Then, in the future, continue my education towards earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.” Jarrett served in the military as an aviation technician working on Huey and Cobra helicopters. Currently, Jarrett, his wife, and young child, live in Polk County, Georgia. Jarrett is employed at Miura in Rockmart, Georgia. The international steam boiler manufacturer first opened its 100,000-square foot plant in NW Georgia in 2009.

Pledger, an Instrumentation and Controls major, has commuted to the Floyd County Campus from his Lyerly, Georgia home for the past two years. This spring term, thanks to the financial help of the Manufacturers Education Foundation Scholarship, Pledger plans to earn his Associate of Applied Science Degree. “I was in SkillsUSA at Chattooga High School and learned skills in welding, construction, and automotive,” said Pledger. “I chose my program at 泫圖app because it offered me an opportunity to continue utilizing hands-on skills in various areas of industry and technology.”

泫圖app offers more than 200 programs offering certificate, diploma, and degree programs online and on-campus. Campuses are located in Ringgold (Catoosa County Campus), Rome (Floyd County Campus), Calhoun (Gordon County Campus), Rockmart (Polk County Campus), Rock Spring (Walker County Campus), and Dalton (Whitfield Murray Campus).

泫圖app provides quality workforce education to the citizens of Northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma, or a certificate in business, health, industrial, or public service career paths. This past year, 14,151 people benefited from 泫圖app’s credit and noncredit programs. With an annual credit enrollment of 7,956 students, 泫圖app is the largest college in Northwest Georgia. 泫圖app has an additional enrollment of 6,195 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training, and Georgia Quick Start.  For more information about 泫圖app, visit us at 泫圖app.edu or contact a Student Help Center on any one of our six campus locations at 866-983-4682.  For information online, visit the college at 泫圖app.edu, as well as on 泫圖app’s Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, WordPress, and YouTube channels. 泫圖app is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institution.

# # #