February 1, 2012 

(Aiken, SC) Mended Hearts of Aiken County toured Aiken Technical College’s health sciences facilities to see firsthand how their donations are making a difference.

 “I enjoy seeing the students,” Mended Hearts Vice President Steve Czaikowski said after the tour. “It gives me confidence in the community and it’s nice to know we are training care givers right here at home.”

 A group of approximately 10 members from the organization toured the nursing lab, new paramedic classroom and visited with the Sim Man and Sim Baby–two recently acquired state-of-the-art training devices–while on campus. Thanks to the contributions of the Mended Hearts organization, many improvements and upgrades have been made to almost every medical classroom on campus.

 This year Mended Hearts’ contribution was used to purchase learning aids for the College, including course material that allowed ATC to offer a new ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certification, AED (automatic external defibrillator) simulators and simulation mannequins.

 “The ACLS certification allows students to be more familiar with the process around cardiac arrest,” Instructor Hannah Williams said.  “It allows them to work in any critical care area.”

Mended Hearts is a national non-profit organization. The organization is made up of heart disease patients that want to give back to the community after their experiences. The organization contributed $3,000 to Aiken Technical College in November, 2011 and has donated over $27,000 since 2007.

Photo caption: Mended Hearts members and instructors/students at Aiken Technical College are excited about the contributions given by Mended Hearts. Laverne White, front left, Carlyetta Jones, Giannia Harris, Pat Boardman, back row left, Mel Sires, George Waddell, Carolyn Whelchel, Maryann Thompson, Phillip Lockard, Cender Walton, Elsa Constantine, Jill Hartzog, Sue Collinsworth, Hannah Williams, Willie Ray, Steve Czaikowski, Donna Fortenberry and Glenn Fretts were all on hand at the presentation following the tour.

 Welding technology is critical to the nuclear industry, and the quality of welds is vital to maintaining nuclear safety. Welds are used to seal nuclear components such as reactors and steam generators.  Welding skills are also utilized in a variety of other industries across the CSRA. 

 Dr. Susan Winsor, President of Aiken Technical College, acclaimed the strength of the partnership between SRNS and the College. “The support of SRNS is helping Aiken Technical College build quality programs that will prepare the local workforce for current and future jobs in the nuclear industry. Nuclear employers, both government and commercial, need skilled and credentialed individuals that are trained on today’s technology and SRNS is helping us to fulfill that need.”

 In addition to the financial support given by SRNS, Aiken Technical College faculty are traveling to Newport News, Virginia, to take part in training at the Newport News Nuclear Shipbuilding Division. Newport News Shipbuilding has served the nuclear industry since it began in the 1950s and has successfully performed more than 300 major nuclear projects. ATC welding faculty will train with personnel from Newport News Shipbuilding to improve their skills so that they can pass along this knowledge to their students. 

 Aiken Technical College is an educational partner with the Department of Energy and the nuclear industry in the development of programs to support workforce development in the energy sector.  In addition to basic and advanced certificates in welding, the College offers an Associate’s degree in Radiation Protection Technology, and certificates in Basic Radiation Protection Technology and Radiological Control Technology. The Radiation Protection Technology program recently received national certification from the National Academy for Nuclear Training (NANT)

All Scholarship Benefactors were sent an invitation by mail and can register to attend this event by calling Mary Commons at 593-9954 extension 1332 or commons@atc.edu

Map and Directions | Register

Description:

Join us for a

<strong>Planned Giving Seminar </strong>

February 21, 2012

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Security Federal Bank, Boardroom

Laurens Street Location

Aiken attorney Buzz Rich will be our speaker.

Sign up on line or contact Mary Commons, director, ATC Foundation at 593-9954 extension 1332.

Register

The Mended Hearts of Aiken recently donated $3,000 to purchase cardiac related equipment for the nursing program. Over the past four years this organization has generously contributed over $27,408 to the nursing cardiac care lab. Pictured are members of the Mended Heats with nursing instructor Donna Fortenberry; ATC Foundation Director, Mary Commons and President of Aiken Technical College, Dr. Susan A. Winsor.