Albany Technical College held the annual awards ceremony for students and faculty nominated for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) and Rick Perkins Award (Instructor of the Year) for the upcoming calendar year on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at 6 pm in the Kirkland Conference Center on the Albany Tech campus. Also presented will be the EAGLE (Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education) Student of the Year and Outstanding Adult Education Teacher of the Year.

The six nominees for GOAL include: Marshay Gassaway (Dental Assisting); Amanda Hendley (Early Childhood Care and Education); Jose’ Hernandez (Diesel Technology); Kendal Moore (Medical Assisting); Brianna Nixon (Medical Assisting); and Betreva Pickett (Associate of Science Nursing).

The finalists for GOAL were introduced at Thursday evening’s ceremony: Jose’ Hernandez; Brianna Nixon ; andBetreva Pickett.These three were interviewed by an Albany Area Chamber of Commerce panel and Betreva Pickett was selected as the ATC student to compete at the Regional GOAL competition February 21 at Southern Regional Tech’s Tifton Campus, and potentially at the State GOAL competition to be held in April in Atlanta. The state winner is the official spokesperson for technical education in Georgia for 2023.

The six Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year nominees included: Joseph Ford (Civil Engineering); Ebony Johnson (Electrical Construction); Dr. Latrona Lanier (Associate of Science Nursing); Noreen McGee (Mathematics); Develyn Watson (Mathematics); and LeAnn Watson (Radiologic Technology). All nominees were honored at the ceremony and Albany Tech’s Perkins Award was presented.

Dr. Latrona Lanier was selected as Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year. Dr. Lanier will represent Albany Technical College in 2023 and will compete at the Regional Rick Perkins competition February 21 at Southern Regional Tech’s Tifton Campus, and potentially at the State Rick Perkins competition to be held in April in Atlanta.

Also announced at the ceremony was the EAGLE (Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education) Student of the Year and Outstanding Adult Education Teacher of the Year Awards. The EAGLE Program celebrates adult learners in pursuit of excellence. The program recognizes and honors students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in statewide adult education classes. Rachel Anderson is Albany Technical College’s EAGLE Student of the Year. The Outstanding Adult Education Teacher of the Year Award had its inaugural year last year. This award recognizes the most exceptional Adult Education instructors in the state of Georgia. Dianne Wimes is Albany Technical College’s Outstanding Adult Education Teacher of the Year.