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Savannah Tech hires, promotes employees
Julie Gerbsch
Julie Gerbsch - photo by Photo provided.
SAVANNAH — Savannah Technical College promoted two members of its administrative staff and welcomed two new employees in February.
Sherry Darnstaedt of Savannah has been promoted to accounts receivable supervisor. She has been employed by the college for more than 10 years in different accounting positions. Most recently, she was responsible for third-party billing and scholarships. Darnstaedt has an associate’s degree in computer science from Meadows Junior College and an associate’s in accounting from Savannah Technical College. She will earn her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Brewton-Parker College in May.
Richard Herring of Savannah has been promoted to chief of police from director of public safety and chief security officer, a position he held since 2006. Herring previously served as public safety manager for SMG Corporation based at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center and as chief of public safety for Fripp Island, S.C. He worked in law enforcement in Georgia for 25 years. Herring is a Navy veteran with a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Armstrong Atlantic State University. Additionally, he holds POST certification and is a member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Collegiate Law Enforcement Association.
Darnstaedt and Herring work at the college’s Savannah Campus on White Bluff Road.
Julie Gerbsch of Savannah is the new business and industry training specialist in the college’s economic development division. She served for five years as client services director and corporate trainer with Rapid Change Group and served previously as president and CEO of Parent and Child Development Services as well as executive director of Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities of St. Louis and Metro East and executive director of Children’s Miracle Network Telethon of Greater St. Louis.
Since 2007, Gerbsch has served as the District 7 representative for the Savannah-Chatham Board of Education. She has a bachelor’s of arts in liberal arts and sciences from the University of Illinois and a master’s of arts in professional and liberal studies from Armstrong Atlantic State University.
Debbie Wheeless of Pooler is the new administrative assistant to the vice president of economic development. She has more than 12 years of experience in the Technical College System of Georgia, having served in a range of administrative positions at Flint River Technical College and Griffin Technical College. Wheeless has served as executive assistant to the president and as an administrative assistant in academic affairs, student affairs and institutional advancement. Before joining TCSG, she was a teacher’s aide in the Thomaston-Upson County School system. She has a diploma in information and office technology from Flint River Technical College.
Gerbsch and Wheeless work at the college’s Crossroads Technology Campus.
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Groups hand out scholarships
RH theater scholarship
Richmond Hill High School senior Jacey Shanholtzer shows her Dawn Harrington Berry Spotlight Award, which was awarded by the Richmond Hill Community Theatre and includes a $500 scholarship. With her are Tom Harris, Ashlee Farris, Brett Berry and Kim Diebold. The award was created in memory of Dawn Harrington Berry, a long time RHCT member and president who died in 2016. - photo by Photo provided.

Three reports recently presented scholarships

Richmond Hill High School senior Jacey Shanholtzer received the Dawn Harrington Berry Spotlight Award, which was awarded by the Richmond Hill Community Theatre and includes a $500 scholarship. The award was created in memory of Dawn Harrington Berry, a long time RHCT member and president who died in 2016.

Garden Club

The Richmond Hill Garden Club recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Katherine Wood and a $500 scholarship to Carly Vargas, both seniors graduating from Richmond Hill High School.

The awards were presented May 8 during Honors Night at RHHS.

Wood plans to attend Green Mountain College in Vermont and major in environmental studies.

Vargas plans to attend Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, to pursue a degree in either environmental studies or biology.

The garden club awards a $1,000 scholarship annually to a local high school senior who plans to major in a field related to environmental concerns, plants and/or gardening.

This year, due to having two exceptional candidates, the garden club awarded an additional $500 scholarship.

Exchange Club

The Exchange Club of Richmond Hill recently named Caroline Odom as its student of the year.

The club each month during the school year names a student of the month, and the student of the year is chosen from among those winners.

Awards are based on academic performance, community involvement and leadership.

Monthly winners receive $100, with the annual winner getting a $1,000 scholarship.

The Exchange Club has been recognizing students for more than 30 years.

Odom will go on to compete in the Georgia District Exchange Club against students from across the state.

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