Zuri Todd, an Interdisciplinary Studies student, has been named as the Augusta Technical College winner of the 2025 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL). The announcement was made via Facebook Live by College President Dr. Jermaine Whirl.

Ms. Todd stated that she chose to attend Augusta Technical College to further her career in the healthcare field. After being selected, Mrs. Todd stated, “This feels surreal. I've been used for my knowledge, skills, and talents all my life; however, this is the first time I've actually been recognized for my hard work and persistence! This makes me really happy, and I can't tell you the last time I've felt celebrated like this. ”

After being selected, Ms. Todd thanked her competitors for the amazing competition, her nominating instructor, Charles Barreras, for his continued support and commitment to his students and their success.

Ms. Todd was chosen by a panel of local leaders over three other nominees for the award. The other GOAL finalists were Casandra Garcia, a Culinary Arts student; Taylor Hollien, a Cybersecurity student; and Ayanna Youngblood, an Accounting student.

GOAL, a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state’s technical college students. Local GOAL winners are selected at each of the state’s 22 technical colleges.

"Augusta Tech congratulates Ms. Todd on being selected as this year’s GOAL Winner. She exhibits all the characteristics of a stellar student, a working professional, and we celebrate her life’s story," stated College President Dr. Jermaine Whirl. "More importantly, she’s a champion of technical education, and I know she’ll represent us well throughout the region and within the TCSG statewide competition."

Ms. Todd will represent Augusta Technical College at the regional competition on February 26 at Central Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins. The nine regional finalists, three finalists from the three regions, will be announced at the Leadership Conference at the Grand Hyatt in April 2025, and if selected, Ms. Todd will participate in the state competition at the conference. A panel of leaders from the business, industry and government sectors will interview them and choose one to be the 2025 State GOAL Winner, TCSG’s Student of the Year, and the recipient of the GOAL medallion.

The grand prize includes a brand-new car, courtesy of KIA, the statewide corporate sponsor of the GOAL program.