OFTC Student Awarded TOOLS | Community Spirit

Paul Macaluso gazed over his brand new personal tool set with a sense of pride. The welding set was a symbol of hard work for Macaluso, who along with 15 other students from Oconee Fall Line Technical College, were honored Friday at the DuBose Porter Center for high academic achievement in the face of personal diversity. The Heart of Georgia Tech Foundation along with the Louie and Evelyn Livingston Foundation and Morris State Bank are providing the students, who were nominated by their instructors for their outstanding academic achievement, with the necessary tools and appliances for their career path.

"This is pretty much everything I need," said Macaluso about the set. "I've won a few awards, but this is the big one. It's all a product of striving for success."

Macaluso, who was a dual enrollment student at the college and Wilkinson County High School, had to make it on his own after his parents moved away. He began the welding program as a junior in high school, He said he chose the college because he wanted to be taught by the "best of the best" — Walter Tyler.

Macaluso recently joined a fire department and wants to become certified in fire rescue. He is now set to begin his new job with Johnson Welding Services in East Dublin.

"I guess my instructors know I've always worked hard," he said.

Also being honored was automotive technology student Wynton Brantley. Brantley originally intended to study music, but after that fell through, he decided to enter the technical college program. Brantley didn't have the financial services to purchase his own tool set, so he was awarded with one, which he gleamed over Friday.

"These (tool) boxes usually come in two sections, and I chose the bigger, bottom one," Brantley said. "It can be used as a work desk too. Most companies won't hire you if you don't have your own tools because that's an extra burden on them besides training you. As a mechanic, you never will have every single thing you need, but this is a good start."

Practical Nursing student Misty Dyal said she started working at age 10. Dyal began the program as a dual enrollee and had to drive back and forth to school from her hometown of Lumber City to school five days a week — a total of 112 miles each day. Dyal had to overcome the loss of her father, her mother suffering a stroke, her stepfather being hospitalized, and totaling her car. Dyal has a job lined up at McRae Manor.

"It's amazing, no other way to put it," Dyal said about receiving the honor and tools.

Other recipients included Eddie Griffin (air conditioning technology), Lucas Howell (Machine Tool Technology), Aurelia McNear (early childhood education), Amanda Register (cosmetology), Stephen Rogers (diesel technology), Shanna Smith (cosmetology), Ethan Upshaw (automotive technology), David Bentley (diesel technology), Michael Christian (diesel technology), Larry Crawford (air conditioning technology), Nichole Davis (cosmetology), Terry Dellinger (automotive technology) and Sharon Graham (criminal justice).

2012 TOOLS Recipients and Their Nominating Instructors

• David Bentley, Diesel Technology – nominated by Joey Wooten
• Wynton Brantley, Automotive Technology – nominated by Brett Colston
• Michael Christian, Diesel Technology – nominated by Jon Walraven
• Larry Crawford, Air Conditioning Technology – nominated by Gil Claxton
• Nichole Davis, Cosmetology – nominated by Jessica Brown
• Terry Dellinger, Automotive Technology – nominated by Hank Hartley
• Misty Dyal, Practical Nursing – nominated by Bobbie Lowther
• Sharon Graham, Criminal Justice – nominated by Kevin Corbin
• Eddie Griffin, Air Conditioning Technology – nominated by Kevin Livingston
• Lucas Howell, Machine Tool Technology – nominated by Ron Davis
• Paul Macaluso, Welding and Joining Technology – nominated by Walter Tyler
• Aurelia McNear, Early Childhood Care and Education – nominated by Gail Clark
• Amanda Register, Cosmetology – nominated by Donna Caputo
• Stephen Rogers, Diesel Technology – nominated by Jillyn Baggett
• Shanna Smith, Cosmetology – nominated by Lisa Jones
• Ethan Upshaw, Automotive Technology – nominated by David Hall