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Two Newton students finalists for Georgia Piedmont student of year
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Two Newton County students at Georgia Piedmont Technical College were among 10 students selected as semi-finalists for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL).

Delviola Gray, general studies, and Cotina L. Howard, welding and joining technology, were the two Newton semifinalists. Four students from DeKalb County, one from Fulton and two from Rockdale were also selected as semi-finalists.

GOAL is a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia and honors excellence in academics and leadership among the technical college students.  GOAL winners are selected at each of the state’s 25 technical colleges, as well as one Board of Regent college with technical education division. 

“The purpose of the GOAL program is to spotlight the outstanding achievement by students in Georgia’s technical colleges and to emphasize the importance of technical education in today’s global workforce,” said Amanda Taylor-Rodriguez, coordinator for the Georgia Piedmont’s GOAL program.

Gray, Howard and the other semifinalists were chosen out of 64 students by a screening committee of Georgia Piedmont administrators. Each student was nominated by his or her instructor. Gray was nominated by Ann Thomas and Steve Strickland, while Howard was nominated by Willie Harvey.

“The next step is for a panel of business, civic and industry leaders from the community to interview and evaluate these 10 students and select one to be the college’s 2012 GOAL winner,” said Taylor-Rodrigiez.  “The one judged most outstanding will compete in north regional judging.  Three finalists from north region will compete in the state GOAL competition in Atlanta and vie to be named as the 2012 statewide GOAL winner.”

The state GOAL winner becomes the student ambassador for the Technical College System of Georgia and receives a grand prize of a new car provided by Chevrolet, the statewide corporate sponsor of Georgia’s GOAL program.