Gober is Chosen as STC’s GOAL Winner

Sandersville – Shannon Gober, an Early Childhood Care and Education student at Sandersville Technical College, has been named as the college’s winner of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL).

The announcement was made at the STC’s Honor’s Day Ceremony on Wednesday, March 11th at the Main Campus in Sandersville. Gober was chosen by a panel of local leaders over three other nominees for the award.  The runners-up were Rauland Robinson of Sandersville, a Welding & Joining Technology Student; Christopher Cooper of Bartow, a Welding & Joining Technology Student; and Debra Adams of Sandersville, a Medical Assisting Student.

Pictured, L to R: STC GOAL Coordinator Tess Chapman, Debra Adams, 2009 GOAL Winner Shannon Gober (center), Rauland Robinson, and STC President Dr. Lloyd Horadan. Not pictured, Christopher Cooper.

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 33 technical colleges as well as the four Board of Regents colleges with technical education divisions. 

"The purpose of the GOAL program is to spotlight the outstanding achievement by students in Georgia's technical colleges and to emphasize the importance of technical education in today’s global workforce," said Tess Chapman, coordinator for the Sandersville Tech GOAL program. “Each of these incredible students show the talent available to local employers right here in our local communities.”

Gober will now proceed to consortia preliminary judging.  If chosen as one of the 12 finalists, two from each consortium, then Gober will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Atlanta in May where, for two-days, she will compete with GOAL finalists from the other state technical college campuses.  A panel of leaders from the business, industry and government sectors will interview them and choose one to be the state’s 2009 GOAL winner and the recipient of the GOAL medallion.  The grand prize also includes a new car.

“It is such an honor to be nominated and to win. This honor is just one more wonderful thing STC has given me,” said Gober after receiving her award. “I have gained confidence in my preparation for a career and so much support.”

Gober is the mother of Emily, Nick, Harrison, Hunter, Will, Jessie, and David. She chose to attend STC to earn her degree and pursue a career as a special education teacher.

March 11, 2009

(2009, March 19). The Sparta Ishmaelite, p11.
(2009, March 18). The Sandersville Progress, 2B..
(2009, March 27). The Warrenton Clipper, p3.