The Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) program was launched during the 1971-1972 academic year. Since then, outstanding students attending Georgia's technical colleges and divisions have been recognized annually for academic excellence and personal achievement.
The first phase of GOAL takes place at the college level. Screening and selection committees select the college's top student as nominees move through an interview process; this top student is given the title of college GOAL winner. Then, all college GOAL winners compete at the regional level. These winners are conscious of the faith and confidence placed in them not only to compete, but also to represent their fellow students and respective communities. Each regional competition will select three students (there are three regions), so nine semi-finalists will compete at the state level in Atlanta. The state level competition involves another round of interviews as the nine semi-finalists receive individual consideration from a panel of judges. From this outstanding group of students, the judges will select one student, the State GOAL Winner, to serve as an ambassador for technical education in Georgia.
College GOAL winners spend many hours preparing to put their best foot forward in the regional competition, and in April, the time arrives for the state GOAL competition. College GOAL winners, along with their GOAL coordinators and nominating instructors, arrive filled with excitement and anticipation for the GOAL events.
Georgia's unique GOAL program is the first of its kind in the nation. As its quality, visibility and influence continue to improve, the dream of GOAL's creators is realized as technical education knowledge and skills are rewarded. From our government, to students, instructors and even local businesses, everybody wins with GOAL!