In a first for a two-year college, the historic preservation department at Savannah Technical College has received a patent from the U.S. Department of Commerce for a student-generated creation. The announcement of the patent award was made on campus Thursday morning.
"Universities and four-year colleges are usually the ones who receive patents," said Kathy Love, Savannah Technical College's president. "It's unusual that a two-year college program receives a patent."
The patent was awarded for the creation of a historic marker collar bracket — the part that attaches the marker to the pole. The new bracket is standard enough to fit most historic markers in the state, according to Benjamin Curran, chair of the Department of Historic Preservation. Students can also file and fit nonstandard markers if necessary.