Sue Ferguson Lanier Technical College's GOAL Winner

Oakwood- Sue Ferguson, a Business Administrative Technology student at the Dawson campus in Dawsonville, has been named as the college's winner of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL). The announcement was made at the Gainesville Lions Club luncheon on January 31. The Lions Club is a sponsor of the GOAL program along with the college's Student Government Association.

Ferguson was chosen by a panel of local leaders over three other nominees for the award. The runners-up were Leisa Stevens of Gainesville, a Business Administrative Technology student at the Oakwood campus; Tammy Baker of Gainesville, a Cosmetology student from the Oakwood campus; and Jennifer Whaley of Bethlehem, a Medical Assisting student from the Winder campus.

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 25 technical colleges as well as one Board of Regents college with a technical education division.

The announcement of Ferguson as the Lanier Tech GOAL winner was made by Dr. Linda Barrow, Vice President of Academic Affairs at the college.

Ferguson will now proceed to regional judging. All college GOAL winners will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Atlanta for two days in April. Nine finalists, three regional finalists from the three regions, will be announced while in Atlanta and if chosen, she will compete with the other eight 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 2012 state GOAL winner and the recipient of the GOAL medallion.

The grand prize also includes a new car, courtesy of Chevrolet, the statewide corporate sponsor of the GOAL program.

Ferguson said, "The technical college education that I got at Lanier Tech has given me the self-confidence and skills that I need to re-enter the workforce after a twelve year absence."

Ferguson is the spouse of Ray Ferguson of Dawsonville. She chose to attend Lanier Tech to earn her diploma and pursue a career in the business administration field.