Thursday, January 16, 2025–11:30 a.m.
-News Release-
Four Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) students have been selected as the college’s finalists for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL), according to Trish Wiggins, coordinator for the college’s GOAL program.
Listed are students chosen as finalists for the GOAL award showing (from left) the student’s name, city of residence, program of study, GNTC campus and nominating instructor:
- Sara Gunnels, Rome, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Professions, Floyd County Campus, Sonya Alday
- Nakesia Thomas, Rome, Social Work Assistant, Floyd County Campus, Dr. Pam Turner.
- Robert Branum, Ringgold, Cybersecurity, Catoosa County Campus, Dr. Dwight Watt
- Josue Lopez, Calhoun, Construction Management, Gordon County Campus, Mark Upton
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.
“We had an amazing group of students nominated for GOAL this year,” Wiggins said. “The group is a wonderful, diverse representation of GNTC’s programs of study and student population.”
The four finalists will advance to a second round of judging with the Rome Floyd Chamber. 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 2025 GOAL winner.
“The screening committee had the difficult task of narrowing it down to only four finalists,” Wiggins said. “I believe the four they chose are excellent representatives of GNTC and will all do very well in the next round of interviews.”
The student judged most outstanding will be announced at the GOAL and Rick Perkins Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, Jan. 28, in Rome. The event is hosted by GNTC, the Rome Floyd Chamber and the Seven Hills Rotary Club.
All college GOAL winners will compete in regional judging, which will include students from the other TCSG colleges. Three finalists from the region will be named and will compete in the state GOAL competition.
The state GOAL winner becomes the student ambassador for the Technical College System of Georgia. The winner will make many public appearances throughout the year, including addresses to the Georgia General Assembly, the governor and other TCSG functions.
Kia Motors, statewide corporate sponsor of the GOAL program, is awarding a new automobile to the state GOAL winner.
