This is a wonderful progam and Augusta Tech does a great job with those students that are enrolled. This should be included in all the high schools in the area due to the fact that every kid may not go to a four year college.
The Augusta High School-High Tech Program helps students who have learning or physical disabilities go to college and get good jobs after high school.
The program, which has been offered for more than five years, will have its kickoff seminar from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Augusta Technical College's Jack B. Patrick Information Technology Center.
Students will learn about the programs offered at Augusta Tech and be involved in small workshops to learn job-interviewing skills.
"It's mostly geared to students, but it's open to parents if they're interested in attending," said Art Denney, the area's High School-High Tech facilitator. He said that each year after the first seminar, students go to their teacher and say, "Hey, I can go to college. I didn't think I could go to college."
The Georgia Department of Labor and school systems in Richmond and Columbia counties collaborate on the national program, making it the only one in Georgia to incorporate two school systems, Mr. Denney said.
About 60 Richmond County students are enrolled, a large jump from the four who participated the first year. In past years there have been about 40 participants from Columbia County.
Mr. Denney said qualifying juniors and seniors can enroll in the program at any time by contacting their school's High School-High Tech designee.
The program runs throughout the year, providing visits to area businesses and colleges and job shadowing. There's also an effort to help students with disabilities learn how to use technology to enter and complete college or enter the work force.
For more information on the program or Thursday's seminar, call Mr. Denney at (706) 826-1132, ext. 3633.
Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 828-3851 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
This is a wonderful progam and Augusta Tech does a great job with those students that are enrolled. This should be included in all the high schools in the area due to the fact that every kid may not go to a four year college.
this is one of the programs that will offer the poor property owner a return on investment, this will benefit those who truly want to succeed in the workforce or attend college..how about more of these type program and less of those geared toward students who have little or no interest in working or going to college..or as they call them "at risk youths"
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