Romera Thomas, a radiologic technology student at Southern Crescent Technical College, was named the local winner of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) program during a luncheon Tuesday hosted by the Griffin Exchange Club.

The GOAL program, sponsored by the Technical College System of Georgia, is the first statewide program in the nation to recognize and reward excellence among students enrolled in technical colleges.

Candidates, who must be nominated by their instructor, are evaluated based on grades, character, attitude, leadership, attendance, personal goals and enthusiasm.

The process of finding Southern Crescent Technical College’s nominee for the title of state GOAL winner started with 59 candidates and was later narrowed down to four finalists who all attended the luncheon — Tomeka Ross (medical assisting), Hector Duron (radiologic technology), Stephanie Scott (cosmetology) and Thomas.

“The purpose of the GOAL program is to spotlight the importance of technical education in today’s world and to recognize outstanding achievement by students in Georgia’s technical colleges,” said Souther Crescent Technical College President Randall Peters. “Romera is a fine example of the excellent leadership of our student population, and I know she will go on to represent Southern Crescent Technical College well.”

In her speech at the luncheon, Thomas emphasized the opportunities that technical education has offered her in her life. She said that technical education has been her path toward dreams coming true for herself and her family and encouraged others to allow technical education to assist in fulfilling their dreams.

“I’m so very proud of Romera,” said her nominating instructor Dana Breeser. “She is a wonderful ambassador for Southern Crescent Technical College and promotes technical education to everyone she meets. She relates well to all students at the college and will carry the spirit of the entire student body with her as she competes at the state level.”

After being named Southern Crescent Tech’s GOAL winner, Thomas will proceed to regional preliminary judging. She will also receive an all-expense-paid trip to Atlanta in late April where she will compete with GOAL finalists from the other state technical colleges.

A panel of leaders from the business, industry and government sectors will interview them and choose one to be the state’s 2013 GOAL winner and recipient of the GOAL medallion.