More Than 1,100 Students Apply to Graduate from Chatt Tech in December

More than 1,100 students at Georgia’s largest technical college have applied to graduate this December at Chattahoochee Technical College’s ceremony.

The ceremony, scheduled for Dec. 17, will honor graduates from both the summer and fall terms at the college. More than 300 have indicated they will walk in the observance at the Cobb Energy Centre.

Among the graduates will be George House of Canton, who will walk across the stage to receive his associate of science in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology with a specialization in biomedical instrumentation technology. The former combat medic began at Chattahoochee Tech about 2 years ago with interest in becoming a nurse. However, interest inventory testing showed that he had an aptitude for electronics.

“I learned about the classes in biomedical and realized it would be a good fit,” said House, who has attended classes at the North Metro Campus in Acworth. “It is an area with great potential for growth and careers.”

The program of study emphasizes the application of scientific, mathematic, and engineering knowledge and methods combined with technical skills in support of engineering activities. House said he enjoyed all the classes he took at Chattahoochee Technical College, including an internship that he described as, “incredible.” His experience, which includes working as a work study student in the biomedical technology labs, and the friends he has made have made the graduate sad to leave the college. But he does have high hopes for the future.

“I’m looking to secure a position with a company where I can continue to grow and learn,” he said.

Chattahoochee Technical College students earn associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit for their work at the college. Popular programs for the graduates this term include accounting, nursing and business administrative technology for the associate of applied science degrees. This is the second graduating class of nursing students to earn associate of science degrees to become registered nurses. Top diploma programs this term include cosmetology, accounting and business administrative technology. The majority of students earning technical certificates of credit studied accounting, healthcare assistant and healthcare science.

Chattahoochee Technical College was recently named to the list of the Top 100 certificate-producing institutions in the United States by Community College Week magazine. Ranking 16 out of the top 100, Georgia’s largest technical college is one of five Georgia colleges to rank in the top 20.

To be eligible to graduate with a certificate, diploma or degree from Chattahoochee Technical College, a student must satisfactorily complete the program of study in which he/she is enrolled with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. All students must have completed a high school diploma or GED certificate before graduating from Chattahoochee Technical College. A student’s academic record is evaluated by the Registrar for any and all credentials earned to determine if graduation requirements have been met after final grades are submitted.

This semester’s graduation speaker will be Shan Cooper. Cooper is Vice President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and General Manager of the company's Marietta  facility. She is also in charge of the company’s subassembly sites in Meridian, Miss., and Clarksburg, W.Va. She was named to her current position in January 2011. As General Manager, she is responsible for the more than 8,000-employee Marietta operation, which designs, produces, modifies and maintains military aircraft for the United States and air arms of nations around the world.