Toccoa Student Named As Finalist For GOAL Award

Sierra Phillips of Toccoa has been named as a finalist for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL).

North Georgia Technical College (NGTC) recently named Phillips as one of the college’s four finalists who will compete on Jan. 9, 2025, in front of a panel of business, civic, and industry leaders, who will select the college’s 2025 GOAL winner. The NGTC GOAL winner will then represent NGTC at the regional and state competitions.

GOAL, a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state’s technical college students.

Phillips was nominated by welding instructor Ronnie Ayers. Other NGTC finalists are Tiana Drake, Registered Nursing student of Lavonia, nominated by registered nursing instructor Bethany Elrod; Yuliya Havrylesku, Culinary Arts student of Winder, nominated by Culinary Arts instructor Alexander Bladowski; and Stacy Snyder, registered nursing student of Murrayville, nominated by registered nursing instructor Stacie Perry.

Other nominees for the 2024 NGTC GOAL included Nicole Galindo and Michelle Poole of Toccoa, Andrew Erwin of Demorest, Idaly Flores of Baldwin, Carrie Bennett of Clayton, Chase Speed of Danielsville, and Ralstoun Mallette, Robert Marsh, Madison Park, Holly Passmore, Adrionna Spencer and Margaret Stuart, all of Blairsville.

NGTC GOAL coordinator Madison Hopkins stated, “On behalf of North Georgia Technical College, we are very proud of this outstanding group of GOAL nominees for their hard work and dedication to pursuing excellence in their chosen fields of study. Each nominee did a tremendous job stepping out of their comfort zone and sharing their individual stories and perspectives on the importance of technical education. We wish them all much success in their endeavors.” 

For more information regarding North Georgia Technical College programs or admission, visit northgatech.edu or call 706-754-7700.

Pictured (L to R): Stacy Snyder; Yuliya Havrylesku; NGTC President John Wilkinson; Tiana Drake; and Sierra Phillips.