Penn, a resident

of Peachtree City, grew up in Cincinnati and graduated from high school

in 1978. Her father worked for General Electric as a mechanical engineer,

designing, developing and testing aircraft engines "the very engines

in the DC-10's World Airways flies today," she said.

As an intern

at World Airways, her responsibilities focused mainly around the Help

Desk. "This is where employees would call when they were having any

type of computer problems. I would talk them through issues when possible

and log details in a tracking system if they required additional assistance,"

she said.

Working with

10 other IT specialists at World Airways, Penn said she's learned a lot.

"Our department

works at a very fast pace; you have to be able to work on your own. I

now work with wireless communications, vendors, company processes and

the list keeps growing. The most rewarding aspect is working with departments

that rely on information technology," she added. "If important

information is not available on demand, it could ground an airplane."

World Airways

has employed numerous students through Clayton State's Center for Experiential

Learning over the past several years. President and CEO Hollis Harris

(who was honored last October at Clayton State's President's Gala with

a visionary award for his contributions to the community and Clayton State),

has been very supportive of the program and the Clayton College &

State University Foundation.

Clayton State

and World Airways have another thing in common. The company is located

in Peachtree City, home of Clayton State's newest educational endeavor,

the Fayette County Higher Education Center, where residents of the community

take courses provided by the University's Division of Continuing Education.

Currently, the center offers only non-credit courses, although there are

plans to offer academic courses in the near future.

Partners in

this educational endeavor include Clayton College & State University,

the Fayette County Development Authority, the Development Authority of

Peachtree City, the Peachtree City Tennis Center, Newnan Utilities, Peachtree

City, Fayette County Commission and the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.

The Center

for Experiential Learning at Clayton State enables students to receive

a three-hour course credit while working with companies that endorse training

in the student's various fields of study. They are able to get hands-on,

real-world experience through the program, which also enables employers

(and students alike) to test the waters of a potential, mutual, working

alliance, either prior to (as in Penn's case), or after graduation.

"This

is an important aspect of the students' total educational experience,"

said Angelyn Cheyne-Hayes, director of the program.

More and more

employers are looking at this exceptional way to "try out" potential

employees and at the same time create a sense of community service for

the company.

"It is

really a win-win-win situation for everyone involved," said Joseph

Bowler, assistant professor and IT/Coop faculty coordinator for the IT

department at Clayton State.

"I love

working for World Airways," said Penn. "We are a close family

here. Mr. Harris, the CEO, knows the employees by name and you are comfortable

talking with him. There are many opportunities here, and I enjoy learning

more about the industry every day."

Her pot-of-gold?

Penn has been selected to be a part of a team that will be going to Lagos,

Nigeria, the end of this month.

Opportunities?

"Very positive," said Penn. "We [World Airways] are in

a unique situation. We fly both passenger and cargo planes for military,

commercial and private customers. I believe air transportation is necessary

today and in the future ... the airline industry is here to stay."

For more information

about the Center for Experiential Learning or the Fayette County Higher

Education Center, visit www.clayton.edu.