Atlanta –Michelle Smith Lank, a student in the early childhood care and education program at Swainsboro Technical College, has been selected as the Technical College System of Georgia’s 2009 student of the year.

She was announced as the winner during a banquet at the end of the 38th annual Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) competition, which was held Thursday night at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta.

Lank competed for the honor at the college and consortium level, and then joined 11 other semifinalists for judging in the statewide competition in Atlanta.  This week, a panel of judges from the state’s government, business and industry sectors interviewed each semifinalist and considered their educational accomplishments, leadership qualities, community involvement and future aspirations.

“Choosing the ‘best of the best’ from among Georgia’s 146,000 technical college students was not easy because these men and women are have accomplished so much in their classrooms and have set such high marks for their future careers,” said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson.  “Ms. Lank impressed our judges with her zeal for learning, an impressive level of confidence and a strong desire to apply her technical education in long and successful career in early childhood care and education’. 

"The entire Technical College System of Georgia joins me in congratulating Ms. Lank on this well-deserved award.”

For the next year, Lank will travel the state representing the Technical College System of Georgia at conferences and events, as well as in meetings with the Governor, legislators and other state leaders.

As the grand prize winner, Lank was also presented with the keys to a new 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt. Chevrolet and its local dealers is the statewide corporate sponsor of the Technical College System of Georgia’s GOAL program.

Lank’s nominating instructor from Swainsboro Technical College, Kay Wilson, and her GOAL coordinator, Cindy Phillips, each received a check for $250.

The Technical College System of Georgia oversees 33 technical colleges throughout the state. Last year, more than 146,000 students attended TCSG colleges, which offer small classes, hands-on experience and focused instructor attention in more than 600 programs, including healthcare, aerospace, agribusiness, life sciences, and much more. 
 
Enrollment at Georgia’s technical colleges is skyrocketing; two of the system’s three highest quarterly enrollments were set in fall quarter 2008 and spring quarter 2009.

The TCSG also manages the state’s adult education and GED programs as well as Quick Start, an economic development incentive for attracting new investment to the state and promoting job creation.

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