Atlanta – The talents of the instructors and students from each of Georgia’s technical colleges, including Okefenokee Technical College, were on display for legislators, state officials, and others last Thursday evening at the Georgia Freight Depot next to the State Capitol in Atlanta.

More than 400 people filled the historic depot for the first annual “Taste of the Technical Colleges” which was sponsored by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education, the agency that oversees the Technical College System of Georgia.

Instructors and students representing programs from each of the 34 technical colleges, as well the college presidents, were on hand to explain and demonstrate some of the top courses available on their campuses. The invited guests saw the finest that technical education has to offer while filling themselves with a feast of food that was personally prepared by the chefs and students from the culinary arts programs at 11 of the schools.

Bob Cardwell, Electronics Technology instructor at OTC, and Rock Mercer, the instructor for Industrial Systems, presented a display for the occasion that highlighted the Locomotive Electrical Systems technical certificate of credit program. Stopping by the OTC booth for the evening were many guests and Representative Tommy Smith and Representative Hinson Mosley.

“We asked Okefenokee Technical College and the other colleges in our system to come together under one roof and show their very best to our state leaders,” said DTAE Commissioner Mike Vollmer. “This was an exceptional opportunity for people to see the unique level of education that the Technical College System of Georgia is providing for today’s workforce.”

Vollmer added that the event was so successful that plans are already being made to make the Taste of the Technical Colleges an annual event in conjunction with future state legislative sessions.

Dr. Gail Thaxton, President of Okefenokee Technical College said, “Our exhibit gave the locomotive electrical program exposure to decision makers from across the state and increased awareness about the college in general. It was an effective way to get our message out, and people came away impressed with OTC and the entire agency.”