April 26, 2012 - Atlanta, GA – Aamir Greene, a telecommunications technology student from Albany Technical College, has been named as the Technical College System of Georgia’s 2013 Student of the Year.
TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson announced the award during a banquet honoring the system’s top students and instructors at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta on April 25.
Greene competed for the top student honor as part of the system’s annual GOAL (Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership) program, which recognizes the best students at each of the state’s 25 technical colleges and a Board of Regents college with a technical division.
A native of Miami, Florida, Greene enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1990. After completing all of his military training, he was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. At the age of 19, Greene found himself in combat during the Desert Storm war. In 1992, he was a part of the 3rd Battalion 10th Marines reassigned to Miami as a humanitarian effort in providing aide to the victims of Hurricane Andrew that had devastated south Florida. He was later meritoriously promoted to Sergeant and checked into 3rd Force Reconnaissance, special operation command in Mobile, Alabama. As an operator, he traveled the world and accomplished many missions. In 2000, he was very victorious on Recruiting Duty in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
After four and a half years, Greene was reassigned to Camp Lejeune where he went through an additional training for his second combat tour in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon his arrival back to States side, he was assigned to Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, ANGLICO, where he learned how to control airstrikes. In 2009, he was facing his third and final tour in Iraq. When he returned back to the States, he began to prepare himself back to the civilian life as he retired in the Albany area.
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In 2012, Greene started his education at Albany Technical College in the Telecommunications Engineering Technology program. He also serves as the President of Albany Tech’s Student Government Association (SGA) and is part of the college’s Achieving the Dream Core Team to help identify and overcome student educational barriers. His career goal is to obtain his associate’s degree and begin an entrepreneurship in Telecommunications.
“Technical education allows me to streamline from where I am to my ultimate objective quicker with the hands-on experience and training,” said Greene. “Technical education is very affordable and prepares me for an education that is most relevant to the Telecommunications industry.”
Honors and Awards Greene has earned over the years include: Humanitarian Service Medal, two Letter of Appreciations, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, 13 Meritorious Mast (recommendations for promotions, Navy Unit Commendation, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, two Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit commendation, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Four Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, Iraq Campaign Medal, five Certificate of Commendation awards, two Sea Service Deployment ribbons, two National Defense Medals, Kuwait Liberation Medal, and four Certificate of Appreciations. Many awards while on Recruiting duty for making his missions, Recruiter of the Month, and Recruiter of the Quarter, 1990-2010.
“During the past year, more than 170,000 students enrolled in the 25 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia,” said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson. “To be selected as the best of the best students in our system is an outstanding honor for AAmir. He earned this award not just through hard work and dedication to his studies, but also because he’s a respected campus leader and a role model in his community. I congratulate him on this exceptional achievement. ”
The distinction as Georgia’s top technical college student also means that Greene is the winner of the GOAL program’s grand prize, the keys to a brand-new 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. Chevrolet and the local Chevrolet dealers are the statewide sponsors of the GOAL program.
Judging for the GOAL program starts at the TCSG colleges and is followed by a regional competition. At the state level, nine finalists are interviewed by a panel of judges representing business, industry and higher education in Georgia. At each step, the students are rated on their various academic accomplishments, leadership qualities, involvement in their local communities, and future aspirations.
His instructor, Kaven Williams, nominated Greene for the award. Both were introduced to the banquet audience that included the TCSG leadership, college presidents and their staff, and other dignitaries.
As the 2013 Student of the Year and state GOAL winner, Greene will serve as the TCSG’s student ambassador during a number of system and college functions throughout the year. He will also have a chance to speak before the Georgia General Assembly and receive a personal commendation from the Governor.
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