100 years of education celebrated at NGTC

Demorest resident and poet Verna Brown (center) is 100 years old. She can recall young men from her surroundings in Clayton County leaving home to attend "A & M" in Habersham. Mrs. Brown recently shared her memories of nearly 100 years with NGTC President Dr. Ruth Nichols (right). These thoughts were compiled by Mrs. Denise Dwozan (left) into a special poem that will be included in the college's 100 year celebration.

From agriculture to technology, the programs at Clarkesville's North Georgia Technical College have covered it all over the past 100 years. The highly regarded technical college of today began as Georgia's Ninth District School of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts in 1907. It later became Habersham College. During the Great Depression the campus was one location of FDR's National Youth Administration program. As the world and the work place changed, the State of Georgia kept up with demands. The vocational school was forged into a technical college undergoing changes in curriculum and names. Today it has three campuses in North Georgia. In addition to the original location in Habersham County, facilities are also located at the Blairsville and Currahee Campuses. Adult Learning Centers are also located throughout the seven-county region.

A multitude of programs are available through North Georgia Technical College. The six general categories are:

Agriculture/Natural Resource Technologies

Business Technologies

Computer Information Systems

Industrial Technologies

Health Technologies

Personal /Public Service Technologies

The Clarkesville Campus will host the school's celebration of 100 years of education on Saturday, June 9 from 4-9 p.m and anyone and everyone is invited to attend! This landmark occasion will include the dedication and grand opening of the new Visual Technology Building and Transportation Center. The birthday is not being geared around pomp and ceremony. An entertaining, free and fun-filled event is being planned for the North Georgia community. Trucks and cars spanning the decades will be a highlight at the Transportation Center. Children can enjoy the train and the inflatable play stations and there will be birthday presents for everyone! A hamburger/ hot dog dinner with all of the trimmings will also be served, as well as many more activities.

Dr. Nichols invites North Georgians to attend the celebration on the Clarkesville Campus on June 9. "It is a wonderful opportunity to commemorate the past and look forward to the future of North Georgia Technical College. The programs at NGTC develop the whole person which in turn develop leaders, a competent workforce and economic growth in our region. It's time to celebrate 100 years of living and learning in the mountains."