Harnevious wins SWGTC GOAL Award

           SWGTC President, Dr. Glenn Deibert with Lauren Harnevious

Lauren Harnevious, a student in the Associate Degree Nursing program, has been named Southwest Georgia Technical College’s (SWGTC) Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner for 2010. Harnevious was chosen from 16 nominees and will now represent SWGTC at the regional level against other GOAL winners from technical colleges in the southern section of Georgia.

Harnevious will compete with ten other technical college students for one of three slots to represent the southern Georgia region at the state level. There will be nine GOAL finalists, three from each region, competing in Atlanta for the state level award.

From this outstanding group of students, a panel of judges selects one student as the state GOAL Winner. The winner will serve as the Technical College of Georgia’s Student of the Year and ambassador of technical education for one year.

Harvnevious was announced as the local winner at the Thomasville Kiwanis Club’s March 5th meeting, where she and the other finalists, Ashley Cone, Nicole Antoine, and Jessica Hudson, were present and joined by their guests and nominating instructors.

Harnevious said that she was truly surprised to have been chosen as the GOAL winner and fought back tears as she made her acceptance speech. She thanked everyone for their vote of confidence.” This is truly an honor and a privilege to have the chance to represent SWGTC. I want to thank my nominating instructor Florence McCutchen and my parents, especially, for all they have done for me. I thank you for this wonderful opportunity.”

“I chose technical education, because I knew it was the best path for me to take to become a registered nurse,” said Harnevious, who plans to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science degree in nursing and hopes to become a medical missionary. “I know in my heart that this is what I was meant to do.”

The state GOAL winner receives a new automobile, a medal, and other prizes. The winning student will serve as a spokesperson for technical education throughout the state and will also address the State Legislature on the importance of technical education.

“The criteria to be nominated for GOAL is quite extensive,” said Ellen Terrell, Adult Education Transition Coordinator and coordinator of the GOAL program at SWGTC. “The instructors nominate students based upon their academic standing, leadership abilities, goals, and dedication to their course of study.”

Florence McCutchen, Associate Degree Nursing program instructor, nominated Harnevious for GOAL.  “In the time I have known Lauren, I have found her to be dedicated, energetic, and a pleasure to work with,” McCutchen said. “She demonstrates leadership abilities with her peers and she possesses integrity, which is a coveted value in today’s society.”

“She is also community minded and participates in community service activities. I am so proud of Lauren and wish her the best as she progresses through the GOAL process,” said McCutchen.

While in Atlanta, the group of GOAL winners will attend instructional seminars to help them hone job interview skills, leadership abilities, career success, and other related topics.

“This will be a great opportunity for Lauren to meet some of the most important people in the state and to network for future success,” said Terrell. “The GOAL winners are the best and brightest of the technical college students in Georgia, and this is an experience that can change her life.”

The GOAL program is in its 39th year and was the first program of its kind in the nation. SWGTC has had two state GOAL winners in the past: Barbara Spears Jenkins in 1998 and Nikki Robinson in 1990.