For media information, contact:
Dana Urrutia, 678-495-3638
durrutia@gwinnetttech.edu

January 24, 2011

Gwinnett Tech Recognized for Community Partnership with Atlanta Regional Workforce Board

More than 330 GTC students benefit from the WIA Program

Gwinnett Technical College has been honored for its community partnership with the Atlanta Regional Workforce Board (ARWB), recognized at the recent Atlanta Regional Commission's annual awards luncheon.

Gwinnett Tech partners with the ARWB to increase the workforce competitiveness of the region's youth, unemployed and dislocated workers. This objective is met through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program that covers tuition and books for these individuals who complete their chosen program within two years.

Romano Gulisao, a Gwinnett Tech networking specialist and information security student, and Jennifer Hedges, a bioscience technology student, were recognized for their outstanding performance in the WIA program. Gwinnett Tech staff members Brenda Beverly, Laura Price and Pat Fawbush were also recognized for their many contributions to the success of the WIA program.

Additional recognition went to Ann Sechrist, director of economic development for Gwinnett Tech, who directs GTC's Work Ready effort, including job profiles and assessments. Sechrist also serves as a team leader for the Georgia Digital Entertainment Media Work Ready Region and as a team member of the Innovation Crescent Implementation team.

The WIA program requires all their enrolled students to take a Work Ready assessment in order to graduate from the program. This free, skill-based assessment tests students on reading, math and locating information, and certifies to employers that the job candidate is indeed work ready.

More than 330 students are currently enrolled in the WIA program at Gwinnett Tech, the largest training provider for the ARWB. To date, the Work Ready program has tested more than 8,500 people and granted more than 6,000 certificates.

Gwinnett Tech also works with the Gwinnett office of the Georgia Department of Labor to provide information and services for customers who are recently unemployed.

GTC offers more than 45 degree, diploma and certificate program options that you can finish in two years or less.  For more information on all programs, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580. To register for a Work Ready assessment, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu/workready.

Get the latest news about Gwinnett Tech: http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/news

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About Gwinnett Tech
Gwinnett Technical College, one of Georgia's largest technical colleges, is committed to delivering relevant knowledge to meet the workforce training needs of its community. The college offers more than 50 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs and hundreds of seminars, workshops and courses providing specialized training. GTC is Gwinnett County's largest provider of corporate training and now serves residents and businesses in north Fulton County. Gwinnett Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097,404-679-4500, www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Gwinnett Technical College. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.