[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 146 (Monday, October 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1736-E1737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF ALBANY TECHNICAL COLLEGE'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 3, 2011

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to extend a 
heartfelt congratulations to the administration, faculty, students, 
alumni and supporters of Albany Technical College, as this institution 
celebrates 50 years of providing vocational and technical training to 
thousands of Georgia residents. This learning center commemorates its 
50th anniversary on Friday, September 30, 2011, with a gala at the 
Phoebe Towers North in Albany, Georgia. This widely attended gala will 
enable local dignitaries, prospective students, past graduates and 
other individuals from southwest Georgia to pay tribute to an 
institution that has positively contributed to Albany, Georgia's 
economic development and mercantile maturation over the last half 
century.
  Founded in 1961, Albany Tech was originally established as the Monroe 
Area Vocational-Technical School. Shortly thereafter, the Albany Area 
Vocational-Technical School was built, and in 1972 the two schools 
merged to form a comprehensive and thriving educational cooperative. In 
1988, the school continued its ongoing transformational advancement

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through its affiliation with the Georgia Department of Technical and 
Adult Education (DTAE) and the Technical College System of Georgia. 
This worthwhile partnership, allowed Albany Tech to expand its outreach 
initiatives by providing technical training opportunities to the 
residents, businesses and industries within a seven-county service 
delivery area. These counties include Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Dougherty, 
Lee, Randolph and Terrell.
  Today, Albany Tech has adult learning centers in all seven of its 
service delivery counties. The college has more than 3,000 full-time 
students and another 2,500 are enrolled part-time in seminars, 
continuing education courses, teleconferences and customized business 
training programs.
  As a member of the Technical College System of Georgia, Albany Tech 
provides vocational training support services for the thousands of non-
traditional students, employees and industries that make-up southwest 
Georgia's expansive and ever evolving economic landscape. To accomplish 
this mission, the college utilizes traditional and distance learning 
methods. Specifically, the institution offers a wide-range of technical 
certificates that prepare students for employment opportunities in the 
fields of information technology, culinary arts, aeronautics, airplane 
construction, electronics, health care and other leading industrial 
careers.
  I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Albany 
Tech's current President, Dr. Anthony Parker, for his outstanding 
leadership in promoting and advancing this training institution's many 
outstanding vocational services. Southwest Georgians will forever be 
indebted to Dr. Parker and his well-respected predecessor, Nathaniel 
Cross, for all they have done to make Albany Tech a more accessible and 
highly resourceful training facility for the many individuals and 
industries that rely on the school's key services.
  Dr. Parker, his predecessors, and the Board of Directors should all 
be commended for their contributions in making Albany Tech a vital part 
of our local communities.
  For years, the administration, faculty and alumni of Albany Technical 
College have been steadfastly dedicated and fully committed to 
implementing training programs designed to advance the economic 
development needs of southwest Georgia's workforce, small business 
community and corporations.
  Due to this institution's diligent work and extraordinary efforts, 
employees, entrepreneurs and business owners throughout southwest 
Georgia have enjoyed continued success. In addressing the economic 
needs of hardworking Georgians through the expansive availability of 
strong vocational training programs, Albany Tech has facilitated our 
community's abilities to better respond to and meet the civic needs of 
our local residents.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing I ask that my colleagues join me in 
expressing our collective and profound gratitude to the faculty, staff, 
alumni and supporters of Albany Technical College for all they have 
done to improve the quality of life for the residents of Georgia's 
Second Congressional District.

                          ____________________