Middle Georgia Technical College

Sheila Kowalski Chosen as Middle Georgia Technical College GOAL Winner

Warner Robins - Sheila Kowalski, a Cosmetology student from Warner Robins, has been named the Middle Georgia Technical College Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner for 2008. Her nominating instructor is Cosmetology Instructor Jolie Martin. The announcement was made March 5 at the MGTC Winter Quarter Awards Day ceremony held in the Auditorium on the Warner Robins campus. Kowalski was chosen by a panel of local leaders over three other semi-finalists for the award. The runners-up were Bohdana Conyers, an Accounting student from Warner Robins, Andrea McCollum, an Early Childhood Care and Education student from Warner Robins, and Ashley Peavy, a Practical Nursing student from Hawkinsville. Each of the four semi-finalists was recognized at the ceremony and was presented with a certificate and cash award by the Middle Georgia Technical College Foundation made possible by the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce. GOAL, a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia, honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state's technical college students. Local GOAL winners are selected at each of the state's 33 technical colleges as well as the four Board of Regents colleges with technical education divisions.

The announcement of Kowalski as the MGTC GOAL winner was made by Jeff Scruggs, vice president of Technology and Institutional Support Services.

Kowalski will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Atlanta in May where, for three-days, she will compete with GOAL winners from across the state. A panel of business, industry, and government leaders will interview each local winner and choose one to be the state's 2008 GOAL winner and the recipient of the GOAL medallion.

The grand prize at the state level also includes a new car, courtesy of Chevrolet, the statewide corporate sponsor of the GOAL program. "I feel like it's been such an honor to be nominated for GOAL", Kowalski said. "My instructor Ms. Martin has been so supportive of me and to have her nominate me for this award means so much. I am excited to represent my school and my community."

Kowalski is the daughter of Dan and Liz Lenahan of Ohio. She is married to Lieutenant Charles Kowalski, a member of the 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron at Robins Air Force Base. She chose to attend Middle Georgia Technical College to earn Cosmetology diploma and pursue a career as a Cosmetologist, eventually becoming a master cosmetologist and instructor.

MGTC's 2008 GOAL winner Sheila Kowalski.

MGTC's four GOAL semifinalists and their nominating instructors were (l to r)
Lynn Whiddon, nominating instructor for Bohdana Conyers, Accounting; Jolie Martin,
nominating instructor for 2008 GOAL winner Sheila Kowalski, Cosmetology;
Sharon Radebaugh, nominating instructor for Andrea McCollum,
Early Childhood Care and Education and Anne Sartain, nominating instructor for
Ashley Peavy, Practical Nursing.