A panel of judges, representing business and industry, selected Karen Nowakowski of Lanier Tech from among the top echelon of students representing 33 technical colleges, as well as three state university system colleges with technical education divisions...
The Technical College System of Georgia has honored Lanier Technical College student Karen Nowakowski as one of 12 semi-finalists in the 37th annual Student of the Year competition.
Nowakowski is enrolled in the Fire Science Technology at Winder-Barrow Campus of Lanier Technical College.
The announcement was made Wednesday evening at the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) dinner held at the Peachtree Plaza Hotel in Atlanta.
A panel of judges representing business and industry selected Nowakowski from among the top echelon of students representing 33 technical colleges as well as three state university system colleges with technical education divisions. Judging criteria included personal interviews with each student along with their scholastic accomplishment, leadership qualities, community involvement and future aspirations.
As a semi-finalist, Nowakowski participated in the judging to be named as the Technical College System of Georgia’s 2008 Student of the Year. That title was awarded to Laura Bickerton of Ogeechee Technical College.
TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson congratulated Nowakowski for being one of the finalists, commenting, “The competition to be named our Student of the Year is a challenging process that’s open to each of Georgia’s 141,000 technical college students. To reach this level, as one of 12 semi-finalists, is an exceptional achievement. I commend Karen Nowakowski for her outstanding effort and for being such a great representative of Lanier Technical College.
The Technical College System of Georgia oversees 33 technical colleges throughout the state. In 2007, more than 140,000 students attended TCSG colleges, which offer small classes, hands-on experience and focused instructor attention in more than 600 programs, including healthcare, aerospace, agribusiness, life sciences, and much more. The TCSG also manages the state’s adult education and GED programs as well as Quick Start, an economic development incentive for attracting new investment to the state and promoting job creation.