GNTC Names Semi-Finalists for 2017 GOAL Award

January 23, 2017
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Four Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) students have been selected as the college’s semi-finalists for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL), according to Dione Waddington, coordinator for the college’s GOAL program.

Listed are students chosen as semi-finalists for the GOAL award showing (left to right) the student’s name, hometown, program of study, GNTC campus, and nominating instructor:

  • Storm Brunni, Rome, Marketing Management, Floyd County Campus, Mark Upton
  • Philip English, Flintstone, Automotive Technology, Walker County Campus, Troy Peco
  • Vicky McCullough, Rome, Business Technology, Floyd County Campus, Brittny Burns
  • Miguel Ramirez, Rome, Business Management, Floyd County Campus, Gerald McFry

“The purpose of the GOAL program is to spotlight the outstanding achievement by students in Georgia's technical colleges and to emphasize the importance of technical education in today’s global workforce,” said Waddington

GOAL, a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), honors

excellence in academics and leadership among the state’s technical college students. GOAL winners are selected at each of the state’s 22 technical colleges as well as one Board of Regents’ college with a technical education division.

According to Waddington, a screening committee of administrators at GNTC selected the four semi-finalists from a list of students nominated by their instructors.

The four semi-finalists will advance to a second round of judging at the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce where a panel of business, civic, and industry leaders from the community will interview and evaluate the students and select one to be the college’s 2017 GOAL winner. The student judged most outstanding will be announced at the GOAL and Rick Perkins Awards luncheon held Tuesday, Jan. 31, at noon at the Coosa County Club.

The GOAL and Rick Perkins Awards luncheon is sponsored by The Seven Hills Rotary Club, Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, and Georgia Northwestern Technical College.

All college GOAL winners will compete in regional judging, which will include students from the other 21 colleges of TCSG as well as the Board of Regents college with a technical education division. Three finalists from the region will be named and will compete in the state GOAL competition in Atlanta and vie to be named as the 2017 statewide GOAL winner.

The state GOAL winner becomes the student ambassador for the Technical College System of Georgia. They will make many public appearances throughout the year, including addresses to the Georgia General Assembly, the Governor, and other the TCSG functions.

As the grand prize, a new automobile provided by Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia will be awarded to the state GOAL winner.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of Northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma, or a certificate in business, health, industrial, or public service career paths. This past year, 13,734 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. With an annual credit enrollment of 7,876 students, GNTC is the largest college in Northwest Georgia. GNTC has an additional enrollment of 5,858 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training, and Georgia Quick Start.

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