The state’s top technical college student and instructor of the year were named Wednesday night, April 20th, by the Technical College System of Georgia.
 
Ashley Rodgers, a Marketing Management student from South Georgia Technical College who overcame many personal obstacles, took home the state’s top honors in the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership program, which recognizes the most outstanding technical education students at each of the 22 TCSG colleges and the technical division at Bainbridge State College. In addition to securing the ultimate title of TCSG’s student of the year from the more than 135,000 student competitors, Ms. Rodgers will spend the next year traveling the state as the newest ambassador and voice of technical education.
 
Dr. Angela Hines Brown, an instructor in Early Childhood Care and Education at West Georgia Technical College, is the winner of the 2016 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction and a $1,000 cash award. In her acceptance remarks, Dr. Brown cited her mother as her inspiration for pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is the first in her family to earn a doctorate.
 
Ms. Rodgers and Dr. Brown will make many public appearances throughout the state in the upcoming year, including visits to the state capitol, meeting the governor and, following tradition, addressing the Georgia General Assembly.
 
The first runner-up for the technical education student of the year was Melissa Behling of Ogeechee Technical College. For the technical education instructor of the year, the first runner-up was Jason Strickland from Coastal Pines Technical College.
 
TCSG Commissioner Gretchen Corbin announced the winners during the annual banquet honoring the system’s top instructors and students across the state at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Atlanta on April 20. She also awarded Rodgers the keys to the GOAL program’s grand prize, a brand-new, made-in-Georgia 2016 Kia Optima, courtesy of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia and delivered by Ed Voyles Kia of Chamblee.
 
“I am proud to present Ashley and Angela with these well-deserved recognitions for their remarkable achievements, not just in technical education, but in their lives,” said Commissioner Corbin. “Each has the respect and admiration of the entire Technical College System of Georgia. We are honored and inspired by the passion for technical education of all our GOAL and Rick Perkins college winners.”
 
South Georgia Technical College is extremely proud of Ashley Rodgers,” said President John Watford. “She is an exceptional student and will do an excellent job as a representative of the Technical College System of Georgia student body. She exemplifies how technical colleges can positively impact an individual's life.”
 
“The Rick Perkins Award is an incredible honor for Dr. Brown, and we are so proud to say that she is one of us,” President Steve G. Daniel said. “West Georgia Tech is committed to providing the very best technical instruction for our students, and Dr. Brown is a great representative of West Georgia Tech and our entire Technical College System of Georgia. She’s not just one of the best. She’s the best.”
 
Selection for the GOAL and Rick Perkins Award begins with the naming of the top technical education student and instructor at each college, as well as the technical division at Bainbridge State College. Regional competitions follow and narrow the field to nine finalists for each award.
 
In April, the nine finalists are interviewed in Atlanta by a panel of judges. At each step, student finalists are scored on their academic accomplishments, leadership qualities, involvement in their local communities and future aspirations. Benchmarks for instructors include teaching experience, innovation in the classroom, leadership and civic involvement.
 
In 2016, the GOAL program celebrated its 45th year of outstanding student achievement, while the Rick Perkins Award program showcased 26 years of excellence in technical instruction.