FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2008
Contact Ben Chambers, (770) 537-5756

Collins named WCTC GOAL winner

West Central Technical College psychology instructor Nihal Gunay and WCTC GOAL winner Jennifer Collins will represent WCTC at state-level competition in May.

Jennifer Collins, a Registered Nursing student from Douglasville, has won the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership for West Central Technical College and will represent the College at the state competition in May.

The announcement was made March 24 at an assembly of all College employees and other guests.

“It is such an honor and privilege to be chosen as this year’s GOAL winner,” Collins said. “I am proud to represent West Central Technical College, and I will work hard to do my absolute best in the state competition.”

Collins was chosen from a slate of four semi-finalists by a panel of local business leaders. Runners-up were Shelley Amandolia of Carrollton, Early Childhood Care and Education; Marie Holbrook of Newnan, Accounting; and Rachel Salazar of Senoia, Advanced Dental Assisting.

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 33 technical colleges as well as the four Board of Regents schools with technical education divisions. 

“We are extremely proud of all four finalists,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said, “and we know Jennifer will represent us well as she competes with her peers from across the state.”

Collins will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Atlanta in May where, for three days, she will compete with GOAL winners from the other state technical colleges. A panel of leaders from the business, industry and government sectors will interview them and choose one to be the state’s 2008 GOAL winner and the recipient of the GOAL medallion. 

The statewide grand prize also includes a new Chevrolet, courtesy of General Motors the statewide corporate sponsor of the GOAL program.

“Going back to school after so many years was a big leap for me, and I was thrilled to find out that West Central had begun offering an Associate’s Degree program for Registered Nursing,” Collins said. “Technical education was an affordable option for me, and the quickest path to begin working as a nurse. The GOAL competition is more than an honor, it is an opportunity to say thank you!”

Collins was nominated by West Central Technical College psychology instructor Nihal Gunay, who will accompany her to the state competition.

Collins and her husband of 18 years, Tim, have two sons, Chris (17) and Zachary (7). Her parents are Bob and Carol Lloyd of Carrollton.

West Central Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas and Haralson counties, offers over 90 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Central last year served over 10,000 students including credit enrollment, adult education, ESL classes, continuing education and corporate training.

Other News