Each year North Georgia Technical College recognizes alumni who have excelled in their professions. This year, seven alumni and one community member were honored at the annual Alumni Lunch and Awards Celebration.
The Young Alumni Award, reserved for those who have graduated from NGTC within the last five years, recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in their field of study and have made outstanding contributions in their chosen profession. This year’s recipients all graduated in 2014. The honorees included accounting major Emily Sullens of Alto, engineering major Ethan Lord of Toccoa, and criminal justice major Brittaney Dyer of Blairsville.
Career Achievement Awards are given to graduates of NGTC working in the field for which they studied at the college. The winners must have distinguished themselves in their careers and be respected by fellow employees and by citizens of their community. This year’s Career Achievement Award recipients were Thomas Cochran of Toccoa, a 1988 Welding Program graduate; and Kelly Jones of Demorest, a 2000 Accounting and Business Office Technology graduate.
The Hall of Fame Award is bestowed on deserving alumni who graduated from North Georgia Tech at least 20 years prior to nomination. A candidate must have distinguished himself/herself in his/her professional life. This year’s honorees were Morris Harrison and Bob McCoy.
Harrison is a 1979 graduate of the NGTC Small Engine Mechanics Program. After working with several local businesses, he returned to NGTC in 1985 as the Marine Engine Technology Instructor and has remained in that position with the college until his recent retirement earlier this year.
Bob McCoy, who was honored posthumously, taught Auto Mechanics at NGTC from 1968 to 1993. McCoy’s daughter, Cheryl Downer, accepted the award on behalf of the McCoy family.
The Bridge Builder Award, presented for the first time in 2016, recognizes individuals who tirelessly commit themselves and their organizations to the goal of bridging education and skills to workplace environments. The 2017 Bridge Builder Award went to Lewis Kelley of Union General Hospital. Kelley served as a Foundation Trustee and played a key role in donating funds to re-instate the LPN Program in Blairsville.
