The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) announced the state’s top technical college student this week at its 48th annual Georgia Occupational Award for Leadership (GOAL) Conference in Atlanta, giving Central Georgia Technical College’s (CGTC) Heather Williamson the honor.  
 
CGTC designated Williamson, 32, an Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) student as its institutional winner at the College’s Awards Day ceremony in December 2018. Williamson moved on to regional and state GOAL competitions in the spring of 2019, culminating in this week’s conference.  
 
Her award coincided with the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Education announcement by TCSG awarded to Leyner Argueta of Georgia Northwestern Technical College.  
 
“This is always an exciting time of year at TCSG because we have the opportunity to celebrate what truly makes us great—our students and instructors,” said TCSG Commissioner, Matt Arthur. “Heather and Leyner will make tremendous ambassadors for TCSG and I congratulate both of them for their hard work and dedication to technical education in Georgia.”
 
Williamson and Argueta will make public appearances as representatives for technical education during the next year, including meeting with the Governor and addressing the Georgia General Assembly.
 
Williamson received the GOAL program’s grand prize: a new, made-in-Georgia 2019 KIA Optima, courtesy of KIA Motors Manufacturing Georgia and delivered by Ed Voyles KIA of Chamblee.  
 
Williamson will graduate with her associates degree May 3 and will serve as a speaker for the College’s commencement ceremony. She is the first-ever CGTC student to win the statewide award. Previous to the merger, Middle Georgia Technical College had one statewide winner in 2000.