Technical College System of Georgia Announces 2019 Student and Instructor of the Year - TCSG

Technical College System of Georgia
Announces 2019 Student and Instructor of the Year

ATLANTA—The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) announced
the state’s top technical college student and top technical college instructor
for 2019. Heather Williamson of Central Georgia Technical College received the
Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) and Leyner Argueta of Georgia
Northwestern Technical College received the 2019 State Rick Perkins Award for
Excellence in Technical Instruction.

“This
is always an exciting time of year at TCSG because we have the opportunity to
celebrate what truly makes us great—our students and instructors,” said TCSG
Commissioner, Matt Arthur. “Heather and Leyner will make tremendous ambassadors
for TCSG and I congratulate both of them for their hard work and dedication to
technical education in Georgia.”

The
GOAL program, now in its 48th year, recognizes the most outstanding technical
education students at the 22 TCSG colleges. The Rick Perkins Award, now in its
29th year, highlights excellence in technical instruction. As award winners,
Heather and Leyner will make public appearances as representatives for technical
education during the next year, including meeting with the Governor and
addressing the Georgia General Assembly.

Each
year, selection for the GOAL and Rick Perkins Awards begins with the naming of
the top technical education student and instructor at each college. Regional
competitions follow and narrow the field to nine finalists for each award. In
April, the nine finalists are interviewed in Atlanta by a panel of judges to
decide a winner for each award.

Heather
Williamson is an Early Childhood Care and Education student from Central
Georgia Technical College. She received the GOAL program’s grand prize: a new,
made-in-Georgia 2019 KIA Optima, courtesy of KIA Motors Manufacturing Georgia
and delivered by Ed Voyles KIA of Chamblee.

Leyner
Argueta, a Business Management instructor at Georgia Northwestern Technical
College, is the winner of the 2019 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in
Technical Instruction and a $1,000 cash award.

The
first runner-up for the technical education student of the year was Ruth
Atchley, an Early Childhood Care and Education student at Ogeechee Technical
College. For the technical education instructor of the year, the first
runner-up was Michelle Hill, a Pharmacy Technology instructor at West Georgia
Technical College.

The
nine 2019 GOAL finalists were:

Heather Williamson, Central Georgia Technical College
Nhu Quynh (Sue) Nguyen, Chattahoochee Technical College
Victoria Moushon, Columbus Technical College
Brandon Neighbors, Georgia Northwestern Technical
College
Tina-Kay Rhoden, Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Ruth Atchley, Ogeechee Technical College
Renea Hanna, Savannah Technical College
Mary Kelly Browning, Southern Crescent Technical
College
Ellen Nikki Hinson, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

The
nine 2019 Rick Perkins Award finalists were:

Sherrie Rowe, Augusta Technical College
Katrena Felder, Coastal Pines Technical College
Leyner Argueta, Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Kelli Owen, Georgia Piedmont Technical College
Margaret Long, Gwinnett Technical College
Lecresicia Marion, Oconee Fall Line Technical College
Billie Walker, Ogeechee Technical College
Tiffany Fox, Southern Regional Technical College
Michelle Hill, West Georgia Technical College

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About the Technical College System of Georgia

The
22 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) are Georgia’s top
resource for skilled workers. TCSG offers world-class training in 600 associate
degree, diploma and certificate programs to students who are trained on
state-of-the-art equipment by instructors who are experts in their fields. The
system also houses Georgia’s Office of Adult Education, which promotes and
provides adult literacy and education programs, including the GED testing
program, throughout the state. In addition, TCSG partners with companies
through Quick Start, the nation’s top customized workforce training program,
and through its individual colleges, to work with local industry to provide
workforce and training solutions. For more information, visit www.TCSG.edu.

Contact:

Mark D’Alessio

404-679-1617