Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) recently announced its top four Georgia Occupational Award for Leadership (GOAL) finalists.The GOAL competition begins annually during the Fall semester, when technical college instructors across Georgia identify their most promising students and nominate them for GOAL based on academic achievement and personal leadership. SRTC’s top four students met with a panel of judges in Moultrie in early December. In late January, SRTC’s GOAL student will be announced during a luncheon and awards ceremony. That student will go on to compete against the top students from Technical College System of Georgia(TCSG) schools across the state in the Spring.
All four of these students represent excellence in technical education, including Abby Bergeron of Tifton.
Abby Bergeron first found success as a young athlete. “Growing up in a gymnastics gym, I won a couple of state championships. In high school as a freshman, I lead my team to win state for 6-A GA. It was a mission trip to Uganda, however, that she says has impacted her life the most, and part of what lead her to choose a career in caring for others. “By far one of the biggest accomplishments for me was going to Uganda, seeing the true need for us to be the hands and feet for others, and how blessed we really are.”
Abby is now majoring in Radiologic Technology because she says that it allows her the opportunity to care for others while pushing her to be the best she can be in an ever-changing technological environment.
In deciding which school to attend, Miss Bergeron said that was initially impressed by Southern Regional Technical College’s caring staff, crediting their help and support as one of her major reasons for choosing to start here in the first place.
Abby says that her experience with her instructors at SRTC has been just as outstanding. “Dr. Edwards in taught me that healthcare was much deeper than just the human body and for that I’m forever thankful. My current instructors, Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. Akery while being very different, each teach me every day what it takes to make me the best Radiologic Technologist I can be. And for that I’m beyond thankful.”
Overall, Bergeron says that her favorite things about college is the hands-on experience that she has received from her instructors in the lab, and with her clinical affiliates at the clinical sites. She does appreciate one other aspect of life as an SRTC student, she added, “I also really love getting a free drink or cheese dip at Surcheros!”
After she graduates, she hopes to continue her college career, eventually attending Physician’s Assistant (PA) school for either Radiology or Orthopedics. “My future career (fingers crossed) would be me becoming a Radiology PA or an Orthopedic PA, all coming from the fundamentals I learned in this program.”
When she is not studying, Abby Bergeron is a member of the USA Gymnastics Coaching Association, the Council of Catholic Women, and has previously served on the Board of Special Olympics.
SRTC wishes all of the finalists good luck during this competition, and feel confident that they will each continue on to great career success and community leadership.