Katrina Jones, a custodian and student at Southern Regional Technical College in Thomasville, embodies the values of SRTC – honesty, integrity, and excellence. Her journey, from student and custodian to business owner, highlights the power of education and support found within the SRTC community.
Katrina’s connection to SRTC runs deep. Graduating with her Certified Nursing Assistant certification from the college in 1996, she laid the groundwork for her career in caregiving. Little did she know her journey would come full circle when she joined SRTC as a custodian in 2021. Inspired by her parents, who served as custodians at the college for over three decades, Katrina found herself amidst familiar faces and a supportive community that felt like family. Katrina’s mother often brought Katrina to work with her, introducing her to Southern Regional Technical College at a young age.
Katrina’s aspirations stretch beyond her role as a custodian. In December 2023, she earned a diploma in Business Management from SRTC, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her professional journey. Katrina will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management in December 2024. Katrina’s educational pursuits reflect SRTC’s commitment to academic excellence and student success.
In addition to her role as custodian and student at SRTC, Katrina is the proud owner of Loving Care Home Assistance, a business where she provides personalized care and housekeeping services. Her entrepreneurial spirit, nurtured by her experience at SRTC, exemplifies the college’s mission to provide engaging and cost-effective educational opportunities, prepare learners for success, and promote seamless, lifelong learning.
Katrina balances the demands of work, education, and single motherhood with time management skills and experience she has gained from being a member of Future Business Leaders of America-Collegiate. (FBLA-Collegiate) at SRTC. Katrina gives credit to FBLA-Collegiate for giving her much of the experience and knowledge needed to start her own business.
As she looks toward the future, Katrina is determined to make her business accessible to all by becoming a Medicaid provider. Her vision is rooted in ensuring that everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances, can benefit from her services.
Katrina takes pride in being the first on her mother’s side to graduate with an associate degree and in her ability to juggle work, education, and motherhood. To those embarking on a similar journey, Katrina offers these words of wisdom: have patience, don’t rush, and remember that it is never too late to pursue your dream.
From student and employee to business owner, Katrina’s story inspires us to embrace opportunity, pursue our dreams, and embody the spirit of resilience that defines Southern Regional Technical College.
SRTC offers over 150 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get graduates quickly into a desired career, and 28 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in eleven counties across Southwest Georgia for the convenience of its students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, log on to www.southernregional.edu or call (888) 205 - 3449.
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