SGTC Announces Three GOAL Finalists

South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) President Dr. John Watford has announced the three finalists selected to represent SGTC in the annual Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) competition. The finalists are Barbara Chestnut of Mauk, Criminal Justice; Dakedra Rasberry of Vienna, Practical Nursing; and Tera Parker of Montezuma, Culinary Arts.

Other nominees included Dallas Mathis of Cordele, Criminal Justice; Emily Monts of Americus, Nail Technology; Sabrina Milledge of Americus, Practical Nursing; and Timia Mitchell of Americus, Marketing Management. All nominees were selected by their instructors for their outstanding performance and potential.

An internal screening committee, composed of SGTC staff and administrators, reviewed nominations, conducted interviews, and ranked the nominees based on academic achievement, leadership abilities, personal character, and enthusiasm for technical education. The top three finalists will now advance to the next stage of the competition.

The finalists will undergo a second round of interviews and evaluations by a selection committee composed of local business and industry leaders. The panel will choose one student to represent SGTC as its GOAL winner at the regional competition.

Regional winners from across the state will advance to the state GOAL conference in Atlanta next April. At the conference, nine regional finalists will compete for the title of State GOAL Winner, which is awarded to the Technical College System of Georgia’s Student of the Year.

The State GOAL Winner will serve as an ambassador for technical education in Georgia, traveling across the state to promote the value of a technical college education. To support this role, the winner will receive a new car from Kia Automotive, the statewide corporate sponsor of the GOAL program.