South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) has announced the three finalists selected to advance in the 2026 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) competition. The students representing SGTC are Keyara Williams of Smithville (Early Childhood Care & Education), Jamyron Clayton of Americus (Practical Nursing), and Michelle Sims of Arabi (Practical Nursing).
Also nominated for the award were Mary Ann Reiselbara of Plains (Barbering) and Alela Bush of Americus (Criminal Justice), who were recognized for their outstanding achievements and commitment to technical education.
An internal committee of SGTC staff and administrators evaluated the nominees based on their academic excellence, leadership qualities, character, and enthusiasm for their field of study. After conducting interviews and reviewing nomination materials, the committee selected the top three finalists to move forward in the competition.
The internal committee was composed of: Jennifer Gilmore, Financial Aid Technician; Calvin Hodge Jr., Campus Police Chief; Sandhya Muljibhai, WIOA Coordinator; Tylen Pepito, Admissions Counselor-Recruiter; Jennifer Robinson, Special Populations Coordinator; and Suzanne Singletary, Human Resources Director.
These three finalists will now participate in the next round of interviews, conducted by a panel of local business and industry leaders. The panel will select one student to serve as SGTC’s official GOAL representative at the regional competition.
Winners from each region will gather in Atlanta this spring to compete in the state-level GOAL conference hosted by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The statewide competition will culminate in the selection of the 2026 State GOAL Winner, who will be honored as Georgia’s Student of the Year.
In addition to serving as a spokesperson for technical education across the state, the State GOAL Winner will receive a brand-new Kia vehicle, courtesy of Kia Automotive, the program’s statewide sponsor.