Brooklynn McDowell, a Dental Hygiene student from Bleckley County at Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC), has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) for the College. 

The announcement was made during CGTC’s annual GOAL Awards Ceremony in December 2024, where McDowell was honored for his outstanding academic achievements and leadership qualities. In recognition of this distinction, she will receive a monetary award from the CGTC Foundation and a reserved parking space on campus for the remainder of her studies. 

McDowell was chosen from a competitive pool of four finalists after a rigorous selection process. A panel of community leaders reviewed the candidates and selected him as the winner. The other finalists included Alyssa Ramage, a Dental Hygiene student from Peach County; Debra Boyland, a General Studies student from Houston County, and Skylar Reed, a Cardiovascular Technology student from Houston County.