Alvin Wright, a second-year Automotive Technology student, was named Central Georgia Technical College’s Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership winner at the College’s Awards Day ceremony earlier this month. Wright will now move on to the regional and state GOAL competitions.

“I am excited, “Wright said, pausing to take it all in. “I am proud. I am a little nervous, truth be told. I feel it is a daunting task of taking this award and moving on to the next level to represent the College (regionally) and hopefully onward. But I am ready”

Wright’s readiness and enthusiasm are two of the factors that led to his nomination for GOAL.

"Alvin has many qualities I look for in students moving from college education to the workforce,” said Brian McIlrath, an adjunct Automotive Technology instructor at CGTC, who nominated Wright for GOAL. “He is a natural leader with high confidence, charisma, and extraordinary integrity. The quality of Alvin's work is always top notch and he readily lends assistance to his peers."

The GOAL award is the highest honor a student can receive within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Each local institution selects a winner to compete with others from around the state for the ultimate title of state GOAL winner. As a local winner, Wright received scholarships from Mercer University and Middle Georgia State University toward continuing his education, monetary awards from the CGTC Foundation, a reserved parking space, and a speaking role in the College’s graduation ceremony in May.

The state GOAL winner serves as an ambassador for technical education across Georgia for the period of a year. The winner also receives the grand prize of the GOAL medallion and a brand new automobile.

Wright is a student on the Warner Robins campus and said he chose technical education because everything he needs is right there in the name.

“I figured this is the best way to learn what I wanted to do,” he said. “While you can get some of this at a four-year school, you are getting, ‘technical,’ in the name of the school. That skill, that technical aspect, is going to play heavy in the learning process.”

As a nominee for the award, Wright had to meet certain criteria, including a 3.0 GPA and a work ethics grade of at least two. In addition, he had to demonstrate a commitment to technical education and be willing to share his experience with others.

Wright’s experience comes from 15 years in the Air Force, where he earned an associate degree in Dental Laboratory Technology and another in Instructor of Military Science from the Community College of the Air Force. Wright said he does not believe he could have achieved this success without serving in the Air Force.

“The military itself taught me a lot as far as completing tasks, diligence, perseverance, leadership and follow-ship,” Wright said. “It taught me everything I know of what to do today. I do not believe I could have come to this point in my education without it.

Although his success as a student can be attributed to military service, his “drive” comes from the open road.

Wright is a motorcyclist, given to riding when the sky is clear, cloudy and even with a chance of rain. He rides dressed head-to-toe in leather, heavy boots, and a worn-out vest that is covered in patches of biker organizations. The vest made an appearance at Awards Day when Wright was honored, showing to his peers in attendance what vehicle, metaphorically and physically, got him there.

“One day with my own shop, hopefully,” Wright said, of where his riding passion and degree drives his future, “I’ll be able to help as many people as I can in a manner that is not going to break wallets, or I can get someone started on their road to a career or give them some sort of career experience.”

Key to Wright’s arrival at this success were the faculty around him. Wright spoke highly of the “drive” of faculty and the tools they have continued to provide him. Wright admits CGTC faculty members do a more than adequate job in preparing students, but that being successful, is ultimately up to his peers.

“It takes a desire to work hard and dedicate yourself, striving to be the best whether you think you are picking it up, missing the info, and/or don’t quite have it,” he said. “It takes time. Sometimes its time away from your family and your own time, but it’s going to take that to be successful and do it.
 
Wright added that to avoid wrenches in the plan, students must steer away from complacency, lack of discipline, unwillingness and not having a drive.
 
Should Wright win the state competition he will have to consider storing his motorcycle in favor of a new vehicle.
 
“Well, my baby will never be put away for long,” Wright said, “but if I win a car, I’m going to drive it, that’s for sure.”

The prize is an impressive one, equal to the duty of being the TCSG state awardee and representative for the state, but for now, Wright is focused on the journey, cruising along.

“I’m ready to go,” Wright said.  “I’m ready to put in the work. As nervous as I am, I know that the next level is with other top contenders at other schools. I am ready to compete with these others and strive to be the best not only for myself, but for my peers, or those who come behind me.”

Wright’s selection came after an initial interview round to narrow the field of nominees. He was selected for the award from a group of four finalists by a panel of community judges. The three other finalists for the CGTC GOAL award were Christiana Ortiz, a student in the Radiologic Technology program, David Mallard, a student in the Welding and Joining Technology program, and Lauren Hughes, a Move on When Ready student in the Criminal Justice Technology program.

GOAL, a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia, honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state’s technical college students. Local GOAL winners are selected at each of the state’s 23 technical colleges, as well as Bainbridge College, a Board of Regents college with a technical education division.

Wright will move on to the Central Region competition, which will be held at CGTC’s Warner Robins campus in March.  Following the region competitions, all college GOAL winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Atlanta in April at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead in Atlanta where students will have professional development opportunities and compete for the state title.