Chattahoochee Tech Recognized Twice for Community Service

Chattahoochee Technical College was honored twice when the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and Georgia Trend recognized 20 local companies for their contributions to Cobb’s non-profit organizations at its First Monday Breakfast.

The college’s Office of Outreach and Community Engagement, which was nominated by the Cobb Library Foundation, and the Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement, which was nominated by the Cobb Community Service Board, were both honored for their efforts.

From food drives and building houses to dance parties and haircuts, Chattahoochee Technical College students have been giving back to the community through service learning and civic engagement projects, as well as through their own time.

The college, which has more than 45 different programs of study, encourages its instructors to provide projects and opportunities for students to participate in with local non-profit agencies that take learning outside of the classroom.

The Chattahoochee Technical College Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement is committed to supporting efforts to combine academic instruction with service in the community in order to assist students in pursuing educational, career, and personal goals.

Learning which is enhanced through service affirms the value of human life and creates a lifelong commitment to civic engagement, community connectedness, and social responsibility. Chattahoochee Technical College uses the service learning model to combine academic instruction with service in the community.

Projects range from children, animals, health, crime prevention, seniors/elder care and the environment to many others.

The year the Chattahoochee Technical College Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement also undertook its largest event a community seminar on Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation that saw more than 275 members of the community, faculty, staff, students and law enforcement on hand for an 8-hour seminar.

Chattahoochee Technical College’s Office of Outreach and Community Engagement works with community businesses, non-profits, faith-based organizations and others to foster partnerships within the community. One such partnership is a relationship between the college and the Cobb Library Foundation. Executive Director of Community Engagement Dr. Betty Ann Cook currently is a member of the board of directors for the foundation, as well as being a member of the organization’s steering committee with Vice President for External Affairs Jennifer Nelson for the Booked for the Evening Gala. Members of the college staff wrote, directed and produced the video entitled “The Cobb County Library System – Dream *dare* Discover” which won the Telly Bronze Award. In addition, members of the college’s library have served as hosts for the gala event.

According to Cook, the college partners with many organizations throughout the community. In addition to the Cobb Library Foundation, the college partners with the Faith-based Job Networking Support Group, Mableton Improvement Coalition, Kiwanis of Greater South Cobb, Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Cobb Faith Partnerships, COPS Program, Principal for the Day, Teacher for the Day, Georgia Community Coalition, Keep Cobb Beautiful, The RiverLine Project, Cobb County NAACP, The Links Inc. and the Delta Sigma Theta, among others. Cook was honored in 2013 as the South Cobb County Citizen of the Year for her efforts in this regard. 

“Through these efforts we are better able to serve our students and the community we live and work in,” said Cook. “We have so many talented students, faculty and staff who have provided their support to these organizations. It is a great testament to each of them that the college is recognized for these efforts.”

Since the inception of this awards program, Georgia Trend magazine has served as its sponsor. Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Neely Young presented each honoree with an award designed by Marietta Trophy. The Home Depot donated $500 gift cards to each non-profit that nominated an award-winning business.

The Sam Olens Business Community Service Awards recognize deserving Cobb businesses for their commitment to our community and their support of Cobb’s non-profit agencies. Earlier this year, Cobb’s non-profit community was asked to nominate businesses that have enhanced the lives of all Cobb County residents through gifts of time, money and charitable donations.