From STAFF REPORTS

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Tate High School graduate Jacob Brown received a scholarship from Thompson Tractor to pursue an associate’s degree as a Caterpillar dealer service technician at South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) in Americus. Brown was accepted in the Southeastern Caterpillar Dealers College of Technology for the fall semester.
The Southeastern Caterpillar Dealers College of Technology at SGTC in Americus was established in 2001, by the joining of resources of Caterpillar dealers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The degree program consists of eight weeks of intensive study of heavy equipment technology, fundamentals of mechanical, electronic and hydraulic application, alternating with eight weeks of practical experience working in Thompson Tractor’s shops to reinforce what was learned during the class and lab training. This alternating schedule continues for approximately two years, which is the time required to earn an associate degree.
Thompson Tractor has become the full line Caterpillar dealer for Alabama and northwest Florida and the MCFA (Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift of America) dealer for most of Georgia, operating out of 30 locations. The company specializes in the sale and service of Caterpillar earth moving, construction and material handling equipment, is headquarter on Pinson Highway in Tarrant and employs 1,500 people.
Jacob Brown will be performing his internship at Thompson’s Nine Mile Road branch. The scholarship and related work cycles is worth more than $27,000.
The associate’s degree program is part of the Caterpillar THINK BIG program, receiving technical support from Caterpillar, the world’s largest manufacturer of heavy equipment and diesel engines.