Leah Nunley Named SGTC Student of Excellence

March 15, 2024
Seated (l-R) are SGTC Student of Excellence nominees Lavivian Gay, Brittany Rogers Brown, Tera Zielinski, Leah Nunley, and Destiny Armstrong. Standing (l-r) are their instructors Brenda Boone, Sharon Smith, Veronda Cladd, Mary Cross, and Chris Ballauer.
Seated (l-R) are SGTC Student of Excellence nominees Lavivian Gay, Brittany Rogers Brown, Tera Zielinski, Leah Nunley, and Destiny Armstrong. Standing (l-r) are their instructors Brenda Boone, Sharon Smith, Veronda Cladd, Mary Cross, and Chris Ballauer.

South Georgia Technical College Recently honored Leah Nunley of Americus as the overall Student of Excellence for March. Nunley, a Marketing Management student, was nominated by her instructor, Mary Cross.

“Leah is an enthusiastic leader who seems to enjoy school,” Cross said. “She is one of the best and most committed students I’ve had in my years of teaching. She takes pride in everything she does.”

Nunley, who came to Americus and South Georgia Technical College from Phoenix, AZ and resides in campus housing, serves in SGTC’s Student Government Association and also took part in the SkillsUSA competition. She was excited to be recognized as the Student of Excellence.

“I’m so grateful to be here,” she said. “Coming from Arizona, it has been a challenge. I don’t have any family here, so all of y’all have become my family. I love being a part of this school, and I’m excited to see what the future has in store for me.”

SGTC Student of Excellence winner Leah Nunley (left) with SGTC Marketing Management instructor Mary Cross.
SGTC Student of Excellence winner Leah Nunley (left) with SGTC Marketing Management instructor Mary Cross.

The Student of Excellence is selected based on a number of criteria, including grades, work ethics, participation in clubs and organizations, and amount of program completion. Each month, students from certain divisions selected for that month are nominated for the Student of Excellence award by their instructors. SGTC’s business programs were the focus for March.

Other nominees for the award were: Lavivian Gay of Buena Vista, Accounting, nominated by Brenda Boone; Brittany Rogers Brown of Montezuma, Business Technology, nominated by Sharon Smith; Tera Zielinski of Americus, Computer Information Systems, nominated by Veronda Cladd; and Destiny Armstrong of Cordele, Sports and Fitness Management, nominated by Chris Ballauer.

As the winner, Nunley was awarded with a plaque of recognition, a personal letter of recommendation from SGTC President Dr. John Watford and a $50 check for her accomplishments. Additionally, her 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. Each nominee was awarded with a nomination certificate and an exclusive student of excellence t-shirt.