Middle Georgia Technical College

Antonia Smith-Lindjeck Chosen As MGTC GOAL Winner

Warner Robins - Antonia Smith-Lindjeck, an Early Childhood Care and Education student at Middle Georgia Technical College from Montezuma, has been named as MGTC's winner of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL).

The announcement was made at the Winter Quarter Awards Ceremony held at MGTC.

Smith-Lindjeck was chosen by a panel of local leaders over three other nominees for the award. The runners-up were Kenneth Rainge of Warner Robins, Industrial Systems Technology; Miranda Hatfield of Cochran, Surgical Technology; and Erin Groce of Perry, Paralegal Studies.

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 27 technical colleges as well as the two Board of Regents colleges with technical education divisions.

The announcement of Smith-Lindjeck as the MGTC GOAL winner was made by Vice President of Student Affairs Craig Jackson.

She went on to participate in regional competition which was held at MGTC where she competed against students from nine other colleges in central Georgia. Three students from each of three regions in the state will compete at the state level for the title of 2010 State GOAL winner. Smith-Linjdeck, along with all other college winners, will receive an all-expense paid trip to Atlanta in May, where for two days, students will participate in professional development and leadership activities.

Students who are selected for the top nine in the state will once again interview to determine the state winner. A panel of leaders from the business, industry and government sectors will interview them and choose one to be the state's 2010 GOAL winner. The top nine will be announced during Wednesday Night Live during the Atlanta conference.

The student chosen as the 2010 state winner will serve as an ambassador for Technical Education over the next year and will receive the GOAL medallions and a new automobile.

"I am so honored to be chosen as this year's GOAL winner for Middle Georgia Technical College," said Smith-Lindjeck. "This has been an awesome experience and I am looking forward to sharing the good news about Technical Education with others."

Smith-Lindjeck was nominated for the GOAL award by Early Childhood Care and Education Instructor Cathy Hoover. She is also a member and state officer of Phi Beta Lambda, a member of Kappa Omega, MGTC's sorority, and a member of the Student Ambassadors at MGTC.

Photo: Pictured left to right is Vice President for Student Affairs Craig Jackson; GOAL Winner Antonia Smith-Lindjeck; GOAL Nominating Instructor Cathy Hoover; Personal and Public Service Division Chair Linda Smith; and Dr. Ivan Allen, MGTC president.