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ach year, Georgia’s Technical College System honors its outstanding students through the GOAL award, and its outstanding teachers through the Rick Perkins Award. This year’s state GOAL winner is Candice Walker of Okefenokee Technical College, who was awarded a 2004 Nissan Sentra. The 2004 Rick Perkins Award winner is Beverly Padgett, a Certified Customer Service Specialist instructor from Coosa Valley Technical College. Padgett was awarded $1000 cash and a special crystal award.

“What better way to promote education and lifelong learning than to recognize excellence in education?” asked Dr. Ruth Nichols, president of North Georgia Technical College and chair of the Presidents’ STAR Committee, which oversees the GOAL and Rick Perkins Award programs. “The state of Georgia is blessed to have the GOAL and Rick Perkins programs in place to inspire and motivate students and teachers.”

“I am extremely honored to be chosen as the 2004 state GOAL winner,” said Walker. “I look forward to representing Okefenokee Tech as an ambassador for technical education throughout the year. Technical education has so much to offer, and now I have the prospect of sharing its benefits in a unique way.”

“I am so excited and honored to be the 2004 state of Georgia Rick Perkins Award winner,” commented Padgett. “I see every day the impact a technical college education has on both the students and business and industry in the state.”

“The GOAL and Rick Perkins winners are a testimony to the quality of our students and the dedication they have shown to technical education,” said Dr. Kenneth Breeden, commissioner of the DTAE. “They represent the best talent in our state, and the great promise that lies ahead in our state’s future.”

“GOAL winners are our ambassadors,” said Chuck Beall, assistant commissioner for Technical Education. “They symbolize what technical education can achieve and the caliber of individuals who are choosing Georgia’s technical colleges.”