Macon, Ga. – Rachel Brown, a Dental Hygiene student at Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC), from Jackson, has been named as the College’s winner of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL).
The announcement was made during a special Facebook Live presentation on the College’s social media page as recognition for Brown and fellow finalists. Brown was chosen by a panel of local leaders over four other nominees for the award.
Brown, a wife, and mother of two children came to the College looking to add further value to her life and family, and move past the challenges of her youth. When she found the Dental Hygiene program, its staff, and comradery, she became grateful for the College for treating her as more than a number.
“Central Georgia Technical College has become my second family,” Brown said. “My instructors know me by name and not just by a number, I receive more personable hands-on learning because of the smaller class sizes. I could not have gotten to where I am without all the available resources.”
“I have personally been impacted by the kindness of all the faculty and staff who have gone above and beyond to make sure that I succeeded.”
The runners-up for GOAL were Montana Moore, a Welding and Joining Technology student from Putnam County; Juwan Robinson, a Computer Support Specialist student from Baldwin County; Fidel Correa Hernandez, an Industrial Systems Technology student from Houston County; and George Huff, a Registered Nursing student from Houston County.
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 22 technical colleges.
Brown will now proceed to regional judging. Nine regional finalists, three finalists from the three regions, will be announced on May 17-21, 2021 via TCSG’s Facebook Live event. A panel of leaders from the business, industry, and government sectors will interview them and choose one to be the 2021 State GOAL Winner, TCSG’s Student of the Year, and the recipient of the GOAL medallion.
The grand prize also includes a brand-new car, courtesy of Kia, the statewide corporate sponsor of the GOAL program.
Photo: Rachel Brown.