Middle Georgia Technical College

Screening Committee Selected for MGTC GOAL Program

Warner Robins - Janet Kelly, coordinator for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) program at Middle Georgia Technical College, has announced the members of the screening committee that will interview students who are nominated for the college's annual GOAL award.

The objective of the GOAL program is to recognize and reward excellence among the almost 150,000 students within the Technical College System of Georgia. GOAL, now in its 38th year, was the first statewide program in the nation to honor outstanding students in technical education.

Slated to serve on the screening committee are Craig Jackson, vice president for Student Affairs; Dr. Gerri Sorrell, vice president for Academic Affairs; Michelle Siniard, vice president for Administrative Services; Brenda Brown, vice president for Adult Education; Cheryl Stelk, director of College Advancement; and Pat Ivey, director of Career Services

"To be considered for the GOAL award, a student must be nominated by his or her instructor," said Kelly. "The purpose of the screening committee is to evaluate the nominated students to determine who qualifies to move to the next level of the competition."

In making their choices, the screening committee members consider each student's grades, attendance, and class performance along with their character, leadership potential, personal goals, and enthusiasm for technical education.

After each student's evaluation, the screening committee will select the top four to move on to the next level. A selection committee, made up of leaders from local business and industry, will then interview and evaluate these four students in an effort to select the top student from Middle Georgia Technical College.

The winner chosen by the selection committee will go on to compete at the consortia-level against five other students from the Southwest consortium. Two students will move on from the consortia-level to compete at the state for the title of state GOAL winner. The state's GOAL winner will earn recognition as the system's 2009 Student of the Year and will also take home the grand prize of a new automobile from Chevrolet, the statewide corporate sponsor for the GOAL program.

Last year, MGTC's GOAL student, Sheila Kowalski, finished in the top five in the 2008 state competition. Sheila, who is from Warner Robins, represented the Cosmetology program. Her nominating instructor was Jolie Martin.