Tifton Gazette

Local News

June 20, 2009

MTC Tifton graduate defies odds in industrial career

TIFTON — In a career that is primarily sought by men, Moultrie Technical College Tifton Campus student Stephanie Kite looks to change all that in the Industrial Systems Technology field.

When she walked across the stage at Withers Auditorium in Moultrie as the only female graduate out of five in the Moultrie Tech IST program during the College’s semi-annual Commencement Ceremony held Friday night, 28-year-old Kite took that first big step into her non-traditional career.

Industrial Systems Technology is a field that is considered non-traditional for females. Non-traditional occupations are defined as occupations that have less than 25 percent of one gender employed in the workforce. MTC’s IST diploma program teaches skills in several areas of industrial maintenance including electronics, industrial wiring, motors, controls, PLCs, instrumentation, fluid power, mechanical, pumps and piping, and computers.

Kite, of Tifton, has already broken the glass ceiling while carrying a heavy load as a single working mom of two daughters, ages 5 and 9. As a full-time student, she is also employed full-time at Miller Brewing Company in Albany in the packaging department and helps to maintain the machines using skills learned at MTC.

Her instructors, Chris Estes and Ubaldo Gonzalez on the MTC Tifton Campus, say she has achieved a high grade point average while taking care of her children and sometimes working two jobs at a time.

Kite was among hundreds of her fellow MTC graduates, as the college recognized 300 allied health, business and computers, personal and public service, and technical and industrial program graduates in addition to over 140 adult education (GED) program graduates from its four-county service area of Colquitt, Tift, Turner and Worth.

MTC president Tina Anderson congratulated the winter and spring quarter graduating classes of 2009 as MTC Early Childhood Care and Education instructor and 2008 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year award winner Kathryn Kent led the faculty, staff and graduate processional as the event’s marshal. 

MTC Board of Directors members Bill Boone, of the Center of Innovation for Agriculture in Tifton, and Lauren Howell, of Howell & Parrott law firm in Moultrie, assisted the College's administration in the conferring of awards. 

One of the highlights of the ceremony was the commencement address given by Robb Howell, a trial lawyer and a partner in the Howell & Parrott law firm in Moultrie. Howell is also a member of the Moultrie Tech Foundation Board of Directors, among many other community leadership roles.

The faculty, staff, graduates and their friends and families were also treated to an inspirational solo by Moultrie Tech’s Neuromuscular Therapy instructor Amber Schwalls.

Text Only
Local News
  • 0211 Dog.JPG Man's Best Friend

    An Atlanta man who was diagnosed as having stage four cancer has befriended a black Labrador retriever, which was given to him by Regenia Wells, director of the local Tifton-Tift County Animal Shelter.

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0103 Mark York Mark York to run for post

    Chief Magistrate Judge James M. (Mark) York announced Friday his candidacy in the July Primary for the office of magistrate of Tift County.

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • $5M investment to find tax cheats proposed

    In a rough economy, Georgia’s leaders are looking to collect every nickel owed to the state.
    A budget proposal from Republican Gov. Nathan Deal would spend roughly $5 million annually on a first-of-its-kind database meant to identify people who steal the identities of others and use that information to falsely claim tax rebates from Georgia authorities. The budget plan, which received initial approval from House lawmakers, is now under review by the state Senate.
    “If everyone pays what they rightfully owe, we can all pay less,” said Republican Rep. Larry O’Neal, the House majority leader and a proponent of tightening tax enforcement.

    February 11, 2012

  • dennis reese.jpg Dennis Reese considering run at Tift County Sheriff

    Lt. Dennis Reese with the Tift County Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday that he’s considering throwing his hat into the race for sheriff.
    Reese, with over 20 years of experience in law enforcement, stated, “I’ve been employed with the TCSO for nearly 25 years and have been in a leadership position for the last 18 years. Since that time, I’ve grown to love it with a deep passion. I was once told that you get into this business for one of two reasons: You either love it or you’re crazy. I guess I’m both.”

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies

    Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.

    Houston's publicist, Kristen Foster, said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unknown.

    February 11, 2012

  • Colquitt inmates charged in contraband scheme

    February 11, 2012

  • Ga. poll gives Gingrich big lead over Romney

    Newt Gingrich has maintained a double-digit lead over his Republican rivals in Georgia with less than a month to go before the state's presidential primary, according to a poll released Saturday.

    February 11, 2012

  • DSC_0066_4X6W.jpg 'Gee haw whoa back': ABAC rodeo March 2-3

    Steer wrestling and bull riding return to the ABAC Rodeo Arena on March 2-3 when the popular “Gee Haw Whoa Back” rodeo will be back in the spotlight as part of this year’s Celebrate ABAC Alumni Weekend at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • Authorities: Ga. man killed mistakenly killed wife

    February 10, 2012

  • Warm weather could lead to armies of mosquitoes

    February 10, 2012

AP Video
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48 Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion' 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La. Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
House Ads
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Seasonal Content
Business Marquee
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Weather Radar
Video
U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., on federal budget proposal
Peanut Prices Remain Strong
Nature's Beauty in a Tifton parking lot
Tift Blue Devil Brigade at 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii (Brigade comes in at 10:38)
Poll

Which (if any) of the Republican presidential candidates are you planning to support?

Herman Cain
Rick Perry
Mitt Romney
Michele Bachmann
Ron Paul
Newt Gingrich
Jon Huntsman
Rick Santorum
Voting Democratic

     View Results