GOAL Student of the Year

About GOAL

In 2026, the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) program will celebrate its 54th year of recognizing student excellence in technical education. Each of the 22 colleges in the Technical College System of Georgia participates by nominating students who exemplify leadership, academic achievement, and community involvement. Nominees first compete in a series of interviews within their college to determine a school winner. These finalists then advance to regional and state competitions, where the overall state GOAL winner is selected to serve as Georgia’s Student of the Year and ambassador for technical education.

Congratulations to our 2026 GOAL Nominees!

The first round of GOAL interviews was held last week. Four participants from this list will compete in front of our external judges in January and one of them will be named our 2026 GOAL winner!

Quatrissia Anderson - Cybersecurity
DeAnna McDaniel - Associate of Science in Nursing
Ann Sommer - Associate of Science in Nursing
Daelyn Pearson - Associate of Science in Nursing
Alecia Johnson - Associate of Science in Nursing
Mitra Kavoosi - Associate of Science in Nursing
Cole Marino - Cybersecurity, Information Technology Professional
Hannah Bradley - Dental Assisting
Caroline Graham - Associate of Science in Nursing
Tana Hagan - Radiologic Technology
Christina "Faith" Spence - Early Childhood Care & Education
Prescott Hope - Cybersecurity
Elizabeth Rector-Hager - Cybersecurity, Information Technology Professional
Taylor Brooklier - Veterinary Technology
Joshua Spell - Veterinary Technology
Krista Sagain - Business Technology
Jody Bryant - Funeral Service Education
Austin "AJ" Redman - Cybersecurity, Information Technology Professional

Congratulations to our 2025 GOAL Winner Rien Perez!

Rien Perez, a first-generation college student in OTC’s Fish & Wildlife
Management program, was named the 2025 GOAL winner for Ogeechee Tech.
Rien’s journey has been marked by resilience, hard work, and determination.
We are proud to share that Rien was named state GOAL First Runner-Up at
the 2025 TCSG Leadership Summit.

2025 - Rien Perez, Fish & Wildlilfe Management - State First Runner-up
2024 - Ashley Ford, Early Childhood Care & Education - Region Competitor
2023 - Justin Clenny, Cybersecurity - Region Finalist
2022 - Ann Hester, Business Technology - Region Finalist
2021 - Miranda Deloach, Culinary Arts - State First Runner-up
2020 - Erica Deaton, Culinary Arts - Region Finalist
2019 - Ruth Atchely, Early Childhood Care & Education - State First Runner-up
2018 - Robert Wood, Information Technology - Region Competitor
2017 - Amanda Merry, Radiologic Technology - Region Finalist
2016 - Melissa Behling, Radiologic Technology - State First Runner-up
2015 - William Humbert, Diagnostic Medical Sonography - State First Runner-up
2014 - Lucas "Luke" Teague, Funeral Service Education - State GOAL Winner
2013 - Stuart Gregory, Networking Specialist/Computer Support Specialist, AAS - State First Runner-up
2012 - Michael Williams, Funeral Service Education - Region Finalist
2011 - Alvie Coes, Funeral Service Education - State GOAL Winner
2010 - Cynthia "Cindy" Simms, Networking Specialist, AAS - Region Finalist
2009 - Amanda "Amy" Roberson, Radiologic Technology - State Finalist
2008 - Molly Bickerton, Radiologic Technology - State GOAL Winner