North Georgia Technical College has announced that eighteen students representing ten programs have been selected to compete for the Georgia Occupational Award for Leadership (GOAL). Originating at the school more than 40 years ago, the statewide competition honors the best and the brightest technical college students across the state. The GOAL Program is designed to spotlight outstanding achievement by students in the Georgia Technical College System and to emphasize the importance of technical education in today’s global workplace. Local GOAL winners are selected at each of the state’s technical colleges. Through a series of competitive interviews, the top student of the system is identified.
“Honoring high achieving students at North Georgia Technical College is a long standing tradition,” said Dean for Student Affairs Dr. Fran Chastain. “We are proud of all the nominees. Each one did an outstanding job explaining the reasons for choosing technical education.” GOAL candidates are nominated by an instructor and must carry at least a 3.0 GPA. The first round of interviews with faculty and staff narrows the field to twelve semi-finalists who are interviewed again by the Vice Presidents and Directors at the college. The winner of the Marlowe-Evans GOAL Scholarship and four GOAL finalists will be announced at the GOAL Breakfast on Tuesday, January 13, 2015. Those four will then be interviewed by members of the community who will choose the winner for the college.
Named as a semi-finalist this year were Emily Sullens of Alto in Accounting, nominated by Tim Green; Jessica Harrison and Brittany Sullivan, both of Blairsville, and both in Applied Business Technology and both nominated by Karen Jordan; Angela Morris of Blairsville in Criminal Justice, nominated by Pamela Segers; Brian Crowe of Clayton in Environmental Technology, nominated by Kevin Peyton; Clay Guzik of Clarkesville in Engineering Technology, nominated by Elwin Northcutt; Joshua Bowling of Lithia Springs in Horticulture, nominated by Leslie McFarlin; Matt Fields of Carnesville in Industrial Systems Technology, nominated by Chris Haley; Phyllis Tutt of Cornelia and Makayla Stewart of Clarkesville, both in Pharmacy Technology and both nominated by Christy Bivins; Brad Budd of Hephzibah and Georgia Zumwalt of Jefferson, both in Photography and both nominated by Jeff Gulle.
These semi-finalists are also eligible to be the recipient of the Marlowe-Evans GOAL Scholarship. The Scholarship, founded in 2005 by Jim Marlowe and Bob Evans, is given to one of the GOAL finalists at NGTC who exemplifies the spirit of Bob Evans and Jim Marlowe through their community service and willingness to help others. Also competing this year were Jonathan Joyner of Clarkesville in Applied Business Technology, nominated by Ruth King; Heather Hoagland of Dahlonega in Associate of Science in Nursing, nominated by Laurie Marsolo; Pamela Enix of Carnesville in Business Administrative Technology, nominated by Angie Cowart; Christopher O’Steen of Cleveland in Engineering Technology, nominated by Elwin Northcutt; Beverly Edwards of Martin in Industrial Systems Technology, nominated by Chris Haley; and Shalisha Martin of Hartwell in Photography, nominated by Jim Loring.
For more information on programs of study at North Georgia Technical College, visit www.northgatech.edu or call 706-754-7700.
