Wiregrass’ 2024 GOAL winner, Madison Garcia, a Surgical Technology student was recently named one of the top nine finalists in the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) in Atlanta.
The announcement was made at the Technical College System of Georgia’s GOAL and Rick Perkins Award Conference held in Atlanta April 29 – May 1. Garcia was one of 22 students named as a finalist from across the state of Georgia’s Technical Colleges. She was named Wiregrass’ GOAL student in December.
Each college winner competed in the regional interviews in February to determine who would be the three to represent each region. After being named one of the finalists in Atlanta Garcia, along with the other finalists was interviewed by another panel of judges from across the state. Nicholas Rucker of Athens Technical College was named the 2024 state GOAL winner and the recipient of the new car awarded by Kia, the statewide corporate sponsor of the GOAL 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 22 technical colleges as well as one Board of Regents college with a technical education division.
Garcia received a trophy for being named as one of the top finalists and an iPad. She shared, “My week at the GOAL conference was nothing short of amazing! I was able to meet and get to know other students from around the state, network, and attend extremely beneficial workshops for students like me who are getting ready to start their career journey! Most importantly though, it was such an honor to represent Wiregrass and the southern region of the great state of Georgia!”
Madison is from Valdosta and attends the Valdosta Campus of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. She will graduate this month and feels even though Surgical Techs rarely see patients while they are awake, she feels they serve as a vital part of one’s recovery and healing. To learn more about the Surgical Technology program or other programs offered at Wiregrass visit the website at Wiregrass.edu.