MGTC’s Garcia Adult Education Student of the Year

Middle Georgia Technical College’s EAGLE student, Stephanie

Garcia, has been selected as the Adult Education Student of the Year for the

state of Georgia. Garcia’s award, a brand new KIA Forte, courtesy of Jeff Smith

Kia in Perry, was presented at the EAGLE awards luncheon in Atlanta at the

Renaissance Waverly Hotel on March 21.

EAGLE, which stands for Exceptional Adult Georgian in

Literacy Education, recognizes students from across the state who have been

selected through a competitive process to represent each service delivery area.

Each year, the EAGLE Award recognizes the educational achievement and

outstanding leadership skills demonstrated by students who are in the process

of studying for or have earned their GED® credential. This year, 28 adult

learners were recognized by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) for

their exceptional accomplishments and outstanding participation in the state’s

adult education program.

All 28 EAGLE students were honored during the EAGLE Institute

banquet held March 19 and were presented with an iPad. On March 20, eight

finalists were selected from the group of 28 and were interviewed by a panel of

judges for selection as the state EAGLE Award winner and adult education

student of the year.

During a luncheon in the students’ honor on March 21, TCSG

Commissioner Ron Jackson announced the judges had chosen Garcia for the top award.

After the announcement, Garcia was able to share her story

with the audience as she had recounted it with the judges. She told of her

fortune of being able to make a successful career for herself in corporate

America, even without a credential. She managed to work her way up in the

corporate world, only to later find herself hunting for a job after two

layoffs.

Because of her lack of a high school diploma, Garcia could

not even land an interview.

Now she is well on her way to earning her GED© as a student in the innovative

Accelerating Opportunities (AO) program at MGTC. The AO program was the first

of its kind in Georgia and allows students to simultaneously pursue credit

education toward a diploma while working toward their GED©. Garcia is currently

enrolled in the surgical technology program at MGTC.

Jackson congratulated Garcia and all of her fellow EAGLE

students on their achievements and thanked them for being influential role

models for the more than 1.2 million adults in Georgia who are still without

their high school diploma.

“The recognition that you have earned goes far beyond today

and any award that you may hold in your hands,” said Jackson. “Each of you has

a wonderful story to share of how education has changed your life and opened

the doors of opportunity. From this day forward, people in your community and

throughout our state will look to you for the inspiration to overcome life’s

obstacles and work to earn their GED.

“We can’t thank Jeff Smith enough for his generous support

of the EAGLE Award program. His donation of the beautiful new Kia Forte is an

amazing recognition of the hard work and perseverance of Ms. Garcia and all the

people like her who want to improve their lives and find opportunity through

Georgia’s adult education program.” 

Garcia was nominated by AO program coordinator and

instructor Brittany Lucas. Dorothy Ferguson serves as the EAGLE program

coordinator for MGTC and Brenda Brown serves as the vice president of adult

education.

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