On the heels of celebrating its 60th anniversary, Augusta Technical College has unveiled a brand-new look.
School officials showed off a new logo and official seal at an event Monday at the school’s technology center atrium. Wier/Stewart designed the rebranding.
“We interviewed key stakeholders, to kind of get their feedback where they wanted to see it go,” said Alex Wier. “They want to have bold, dynamic, more useful, things like that. Our thought on this was kind of the synergistic relationship that Augusta Tech has and supporting our community and how the jobs getting filled by the people that come through here are so integral to the success of our community.”
The ”A” was designed to be a metaphor for the community and the college with two legs leaning on and supporting each other the shorter leg symbolizing the school upholding the Augusta community and its economy.
The rebranding also includes a new slogan, “Augusta Tech It’s Time.”
“Coupled with a labor market and intense need of workers, it’s the perfect time to reintroduce Augusta Tech to the world with a refreshed look and strong messaging,” said Rachel Baker of Wier/Stewart. “And so, highlighting faster, less expensive programs, tight-knit relationships with employers, high job placement rates and a vast alumni body that is making an impact serving the city.”
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The message in the fresh look resonated with Autumn Milburn, clinical coordinator for the diagnostic medical sonography program.
“I think having a fresh face and a fresh start is going to get people to start looking more closely at the programs and all the benefits that Augusta Tech has to offer to the community,” she said. “There’s jobs out there that need to be filled and Augusta Tech really looks at the needs of the community and tries to create programs in order to fill that need.”
In addition to the refreshed logo, official seal and slogan, the Augusta Tech mascot, the cougar, got a makeover.
“The cougar itself is just gorgeous, looks great. It speaks who we are, and more importantly, is roaring,” said Augusta Tech President Dr. Jermaine Whirl. “We want people to hear us, we want people to know that this is the place, we are first choice if you’re thinking about education. “Georgia is putting a lot of money in technical education, so that you can go to work and so that cougar really represents us roaring and we want people to hear us loud and clear.”
Whirl said they want to get their message out to people who have hesitated to enroll for whatever reason. He wants people to know getting an education at Augusta Tech can mean a career with a good income, in some cases as soon as they graduate.
Founded in 1961 as Augusta Area Vocational-Technical School it became Augusta Area Technical School in 1966. The name changed to Augusta Technical Institute in 1987, finally becoming Augusta Technical College in 2000.
The school’s social media pages have been updated with the new design, and a series of billboards have been erected.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
