GWINNETT –To stand out in a crowd of thousands of students is no easy feat, but Gwinnett Technical College student Amanda Wong has done just that. Wong, a resident of Alpharetta, was recently named Gwinnett Technical College’s Georgia Occupational Award (GOAL) of Leadership winner. The Echocardiography student was one of 60 students nominated for the honor at Gwinnett Tech this year.
Prior to Amanda’s time at Gwinnett Technical College, she studied accounting and worked in that field for about a year; before realizing that she wasn’t satisfied, she eventually left that career. “By chance, I discovered the Imaging Science programs and volunteered to be scanned in the Echocardiography lab. I was drawn to how the instructor engaged the class and saw my heart beating on the screen in front of me. After researching the program further, I chose Gwinnett Tech because of its accessibility and curriculum,” states Wong.
“It’s an honor to be given the opportunity to represent Gwinnett Tech in the GOAL competition. As someone who historically has shied away from public speaking, I have developed a huge sense of passion in my field of study and am extremely excited to promote the Technical College System of Georgia,” stated Wong.
Wong was nominated by Kathy Johnson, Gwinnett Tech Echocardiography Instructor. Johnson states, “Amanda’s experience at Gwinnett Tech has been nothing short of exceptional. She has often expressed how challenging the coursework is, and how supported she feels by her instructors and classmates. The opportunity to attend clinical externships at different metro Atlanta hospitals has solidified her decision to go into not only this field, but also her choice to use Gwinnett Tech as a conduit.”
A panel of judges from the faculty and staff at Gwinnett Tech and local businesses and industries selected the winning student. Finalists and the eventual winner were determined through a series of interviews and speeches before these judges.
The GOAL program is sponsored at the state level by the Technical College System of Georgia to recognize technical education’s importance. Students are nominated annually by their instructors. As the local winner, Wong will represent Gwinnett Technical College in the spring’s regional and statewide competitions. The state’s GOAL winner will serve as the student ambassador for technical education in Georgia.
Gwinnett Technical College offers more than 140-degree, diploma, and certificate program options that can be completed in two years or less. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580.
About Gwinnett Tech: Gwinnett Technical College, one of Georgia’s largest technical colleges, is committed to producing workforce-ready graduates to meet the needs of high-demand business and industry sectors of its community. The college offers more than 140 associate degrees, diplomas, certificate programs, and hundreds of seminars, workshops, and courses providing specialized training. Gwinnett Tech is Gwinnett County’s largest corporate training provider and serves residents and businesses in north Fulton County. Gwinnett Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about Gwinnett Technical College’s accreditation. In addition, some college programs hold separate licensure or accreditation status with appropriate agencies. For more information, visit GwinnettTech.edu. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia