Alvin McCormick, a machine tool technology student at West Georgia Technical College, has been named the college’s winner of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership.

The announcement was made at the college’s GOAL recognition meeting today at the college.

McCormick was chosen by a panel of local leaders over three other nominees for the award. The runners-up were Alisha McClellan, business office technology; Delondia Nelson, business office technology; and Jesse Slaughter, tadiologic technology.

GOAL, a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia, honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state’s technical college students. Local GOAL winners are selected at each of the state’s 33 technical colleges as well as the four Board of Regents colleges with technical education divisions.

Page Estes, president of the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, presented the awards.

“Sponsoring the GOAL program is one of the chamber’s highlights each year,” she said. “Each student’s story is inspiring. They have overcome obstacles - professionally and personally - through higher education. All of the finalists discussed ‘giving back’ to the community by helping others who are struggling find a new life plan through West Georgia Tech.

“That’s the message the chamber wants to help convey to our citizens that are unemployed or underemployed. We are so proud of Alvin McCormick and his transformation from a high school drop-out to high school teacher and wish him the best of luck at the consortia competition,” she said.

McCormick now competes at the consortium, or regional, level. If chosen as one of the 12 finalists, two from each consortium, he would receive an all-expense-paid trip to Atlanta in May to compete with GOAL finalists from the other state technical college campuses. A panel of leaders from the business, industry and government sectors will choose one to be the state’s winner and the recipient of the GOAL medallion.

The grand prize also includes a new car, courtesy of Chevrolet, the statewide corporate sponsor of the GOAL program.

“The Georgia Technical Education System offers an affordable and flexible education enabling people to attend school while working. The education received here is industry based and allows students to apply their skills immediately to the workplace. I am proud to represent West Georgia Technical College in the next level of competition” McCormick said.

McCormick is the husband of Nina McCormick of Lafayette, Ala., and together they have three children. He chose to attend WGTC to earn his degree and pursue a career as an educator in the technical college system.