Legislators Enjoy 3rd Annual 'Taste of the Technical Colleges'

The 33 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) including North Georgia Technical College, put technical education's "wow" factor on center stage for more than 400 state legislators and other dignitaries during the third annual Taste of the Technical College.

The event was held on January 29 and filled the historic Atlanta Freight Depot across from the State Capitol. TCSG officials, college presidents, faculty members, college staff and students were on hand to talk to their VIP guests about the new age of technical education in Georgia.

The lawmakers saw program demonstrations from each college, including courses in "in-demand" fields like health care, electronics, logistics, digital technology and more. The best of technical education was on full display while the guests feasted on food prepared by the chefs and students from the 12 colleges with culinary arts programs including North Georgia Technical College's Blairsville and Currahee programs.

North Georgia Tech showcased the dorms and campus life activities. Dr. Ruth Nichols, President of NGTC, said, "We really enjoy our dorm students and we enjoy the sense of community that living on campus gives our students. It also gives us the opportunity to focus on more traditional college life activities like clubs and intramural sports. Living and learning in the mountains is a highlight for our students."

"Last year, our colleges educated more than 140,000 Georgia students and our enrollment is growing," said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson. "The technical colleges' exceptional level of training and the in-demand, high paying jobs that result, is a big reason why more students than ever are making a state technical college their first choice for a college education."

Fast Facts about the Technical College System of Georgia:

- The annual tuition for a full-time student in the TCSG is only $1,728.

- Georgia's Hope and the federal Pell grants will pay for most of a TCSG education.

- 26,891 students graduated from TCSG colleges in 2007 with either technical certificates of credit, diplomas or associate degrees.

- 41 percent of TCSG students attend full-time while 59% attend part-time.

- Of the 27,000 students who graduated from TCSG colleges between July 2006 and July 2007, almost 99% are either employed or continuing their education.