ALBANY, GEORGIA – Today at Albany Rotary Club’s weekly meeting, a panel formed by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce named the Albany Technical College 2019 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner. Charlie Roberts, Criminal Justice Technology student at Albany Tech, will represent the College for 2019 as the GOAL Student of the Year.
Albany Tech’s nominees for GOAL included: Kimberly Adams, Dental Assisting; Sarah Braziel, Dental Assisting; Cameron Fountain, Dental Assisting; John Hudgens, Jr., Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology; Ebony Johnson, Carpentry; Matthews Scruggs, Culinary Arts; and Tracy Taylor, Fire Science Technology.
The final four GOAL nominees were John Hudgens, Jr. (Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology); Ebony Johnson (Carpentry); Matthews Scruggs (Culinary Arts); and Charlie Roberts (Criminal Justice Technology).
Charlie Roberts, a Sergeant with the Albany Policy Department and a full-time student at Albany Tech, was nominated by Criminal Justice Technology instructors Lakesha Bryant and Lynn Miller. Roberts will graduate in May with an associate of science degree in Criminal Justice and then continue his studies to earn an associate of science degree in Cyber Crimes Investigation.
Ms. Bryant said, “Sergeant Roberts brings real-life experience into the classroom with his more than 23 years in law enforcement. He is a diligent student with a strong work ethic. His strong organizational skills have allowed him to balance a stressful career with the demands that accompany a full-time college student.”
Ms. Miller added, “If I had to say one thing about Charlie it would be about his courage. Of course, it takes courage to be a police officer, but it also takes courage to return to college as a nontraditional student. His presence in our program has brought so much enrichment to the classroom. His passion for his career and community inspires all of us – students, instructors, and staff.”
Roberts commented, “My wife of 32 years and my four daughters motivated me to get a college education. My efforts, however, were met with many failed attempts. I was working, providing for my family, and distracted with life’s issues. I have discovered that a technical education affords a student the best of both worlds. On one hand you receive real world training and on the other hand the traditional college classroom experience. If there is a message in my story, it’s that it’s never too late to learn. I spent many years involved in my career at the expense of my personal goals, not realizing that there were ways to succeed at both. Now, the goal line is in sight and I’m ready to score.”
The regional competition for the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Southern Region, which includes Albany Technical College, Coastal Pines Technical College, Ogeechee Technical College, South Georgia Technical College, Savannah Technical College, Southern Regional Technical College, and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, will be held February 21 at the Tifton Campus of Southern Regional Tech.
The TCSG State competition will be held April 15-18 in Atlanta. Each GOAL winner from all 22 technical colleges in Georgia will be represented at the state competition. The state winner becomes the spokesperson for technical education in Georgia for the entire year and is awarded a car from Kia Motors.
About Albany Technical College
A public postsecondary institution of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Albany Technical College provides technical education and training support for the evolving workforce needs of Southwest Georgia through traditional and online classroom settings. Albany Tech is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS/COC). For more information about Albany Tech, go to www.albanytech.edu or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AlbanyTech or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AlbanyTech. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel by visiting www.youtube.com/albanytech1 .
About the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL)
First launched in 1971, the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) focuses on student excellence in technical education by focusing on academic excellence and personal achievement. A panel of judges selects one student, the state GOAL Winner, to serve as an ambassador of technical education in Georgia. GOAL winners represent the “new image” of Georgia’s technical colleges. Students must recognize technical education’s critical impact on Georgia’s overall economic health, have a strong work ethic, a dedicated sense of loyalty, and a healthy enthusiasm for promoting technical education in Georgia. GOAL winners are the best possible advertisement for technical education. They prove every day that the best technical education consists of more than manipulative skills. Technical education prepares us for the world of work. GOAL students are an indication of what technical education at its best can achieve and of the caliber of individuals who are choosing Georgia’s technical colleges. The winning GOAL student for the state of Georgia serves as an ambassador for technical education in Georgia and makes many public appearances throughout the year including addresses to the Georgia General Assembly, Governor and TCSG’s Student Fall Leadership Conference, to name a few.