STC Announces 2025 Rick Perkins and GOAL Student Winners

mrandolphadvance@gmail.com

Emergency Services Education Instructor Mike Young and Associate of Science in Nursing Student Jason Colbert were awarded Southeastern Technical College’s greatest honors on January 27, as they were named the College’s Rick Perkins and Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) Student Award Winners at the annual award ceremony.

“I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that our faculty changes lives, one life at a time, and these winners will represent Southeastern Tech well,” Southeastern Technical College President Larry Calhoun assured.

The Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year Award honors faculty nominated by their peers for outstanding accomplishments and significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields. Young, Cosmetology Instructor Linda Hairr, and English Instructor Laquanda Thomas were all finalists for the award, but ultimately, it was Young who emerged victorious. “I am blessed to work with a talented and compassionate group of faculty and staff. To be chosen to represent Southeastern Tech in this capacity is humbling. I look forward to the year ahead,” Young emphasized. “Technical education is vital to the success of the state. Georgia has been named the top state for business for eleven consecutive years. The workforce needed to sustain this growth and continue the economic impact we’ve seen here in Georgia relies heavily upon what the Technical College System of Georgia can provide.”

After announcing the Rick Perkins Award, Calhoun then introduced the nominees for the GOAL Award, which highlights the importance of technical education, recognizes the outstanding achievements of Georgia’s technical college students, and emphasizes the importance of technical education in today’s global workforce. This statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) honors excellence in academics and leadership.

Being nominated for GOAL is among the highest honors awarded at Southeastern Technical College. A student must have completed 12 credit hours, have at least a B average, and be in good standing at the College. Additionally, the student must recognize the impact of technical education on Georgia’s economic health and be willing to serve as an ambassador for technical education.

The nominees were Associate of Science in Nursing Student Jason Colbert, Business Management Student Grace Curry, Business Management Student Isabella Fultz, Health Care Management Student Alli Hart, Business Management Student Sydney Haskin, Business Management Student Lauren Henry, Associate of Science in Nursing Student Lanie Hutcheson, Associate of Science in Nursing— Bridge Pathway Student Mikayla Manning-Collins, Welding and Joining Technology Student Pedro Sanchez, Radiologic Technology Student Cristina Tinoco, and Welding and Joining Technology Student Noah Tippett.

Colbert, Haskin, Collins, and Tinoco were all announced as the competition’s finalists, and were invited back to the stage to share a short speech with the audience. In these speeches, each individual shared their own path to technical education, and elaborated on what the opportunity meant to them.

Ultimately, it was Colbert who earned the honor, and will be representing the college at the regional level.

“To say I am honored to be Southeastern Technical College’s GOAL Student for 2025 is an understatement!” Colbert reacted. “I appreciate the nomination by Mrs. Sadia Ajohda and Mrs. Rachel Sikes and appreciate the judges that gave of their time to interview and select a winner from such an amazing group of finalists.”

After nearly three decades in the healthcare industry, Colbert began STC’s Associate of Science in Nursing-Traditional Pathway program. He has served as chief executive officer of Community Hospice in Vidalia since 2006 and was awarded Hospice Administrator of the Year for the United States in 2024 by Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center. He was named 2016 Business Person of the Year by the Vidalia American Business Women’s Association.

He reflected, “I didn’t know at 16 years old that delivering medical equipment would set the path for me. I spent ten years working at a pharmacy, then helped open a home medical company, and was later offered a position with hospice. Because I didn’t have a degree, something always felt missing. When I began inquiring about credentials, every single facility advised me to attend STC. I wanted to be part of this. Now I see why. STC doesn’t just want us to be nurses; they want us to be great nurses.”

Colbert and Young will now go on to compete at the regional level in February where three finalists from each of TCSG’s three regions move to the statelevel competition in Atlanta in April. State winners will serve as ambassadors for technical education in Georgia and a voice of technical colleges, making many public appearances throughout the year. Colbert will even have a chance at winning a new car from Kia Georgia as a prize for becoming the State GOAL Student.

GOAL FINALISTS – Four STC Students were announced as GOAL Student Award Finalists, but it was Associate of Science in Nursing Student Jason Colbert who took home the prize. L to R: Mikayla Manning-Collins, Sydney Haskin, President Larry Calhoun, Jason Colbert, Cristina Tinoco.Photo by Makaylee Randolph

RICK PERKINS AWARD FINALISTS – Three STC Instructors were named finalists for the Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year Award, but it was Emergency Services Education Instructor Mike Young who came out victorious. L to R: English Instructor Laquanda Thomas, Emergency Services Education Instructor Mike Young, President Larry Calhoun, Cosmetology Instructor Linda Hairr.Photo by Makaylee Randolph