Alex Smith named SGTC Student of Excellence for September

September 7, 2017
Alex Smith (RIGHT) is pictured with his nominating instructor Glynn Cobb. The Student of Excellence banner will hang in the Air Conditioning Technology program area until next month’s Student of Excellence is named.
Alex Smith (RIGHT) is pictured with his nominating instructor Glynn Cobb. The Student of Excellence banner will hang in the Air Conditioning Technology program area until next month’s Student of Excellence is named.

Seated from Left to Right: SGTC Student of Excellence nominees Alex Smith, Semohn Davis, Cameron Williams, Adam Willingham, Michael Jaskulski and John Lin. Standing left to right: Nominating Instructors Glynn Cobb, Lora Wiseman, Mike Collins, Tyler Wells, Phil Deese, Chad Brown and Ted Eschmann. Nominee Jason Arnett is not pictured.

 

Alex Smith of Dawson, an Air Conditioning Technology student at South Georgia Technical College, was named the September Student of Excellence for the college’s Americus campus during a recent ceremony.

Smith was nominated for the award by SGTC Air Conditioning Technology instructor Glynn Cobb, who selected Smith based on a set of predetermined criteria.

“You know, it’s a great honor and a great privilege to even be nominated,” Cobb told the crowd, who was composed of classmates, loved ones and employers. “Alex Smith has been a very good student during the time he has been in my class. He’s just one of those kind of guys who just always works hard.”

Smith has shown that he does work hard. He recently completed the Air Conditioning Technology diploma program and has decided to continue his education and earn a degree in the field. He is currently employed at SafeAire in Albany.

SGTC wasn’t Smith’s first choice however. Out of high school, he had plans to become a sniper in the Marine Corps.

“But things didn’t work out, and I ended up here and I couldn’t thank God for a better opportunity,” he said.

Smith thanked SGTC for the opportunity, and Cobb for teaching him everything he has learned about Air Conditioning Technology. He was awarded with a plaque of recognition and a financial award from SGTC for his accomplishments. Additionally, his name will be displayed on SGTC’s digital marquee as well as inscribed on a plaque in Hicks Hall among previous Student of Excellence winners. As a bonus and for bragging rights, a Student of Excellence banner will hang in his program area until the next student is named.

Each month, students from certain divisions selected for that month are nominated for the Student of Excellence award by their instructors. This month’s ceremony recognized students in technical and industrial programs at SGTC. The winner is selected based on a number of criteria, including grades, work ethics, participation in clubs and organizations, and amount of program completion. Each nominee is presented with a certificate and a South Georgia Technical College Student of Excellence T-shirt.

Other nominees included Semohn Davis of Americus for Drafting Technology, Cameron Williams of Leesburg for Electronics Technology, Adam Willingham of Dawson for Electrical Systems Technology, Michael Jaskulski of Ellaville for Industrial Systems Technology, Jason Arnett of Americus for Machine Tool Technology, and John Lin of Americus for Welding and Joining Technology.

Additional nominating instructors included Lora Wiseman, Drafting Technology; Mike Collins, Electronics Technology; Tyler Wells, Electrical Systems Technology; Phil Deese, Industrial Systems Technology; Chad Brown, Machine Tool Technology; and Ted Eschmann, Welding and Joining Technology.