On Tuesday, West Georgia Technical College honored Alvin McCormick as its 2009 GOAL winner. The Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership goes to the technical school student who best epitomizes excellence in academics and leadership. McCormick, a machine tool technology student, has a great story.
Married and the father of three, McCormick could not have envisioned himself as an academic standout a few years ago. He’s a former high school dropout who has transformed his future by going back to school. The affordability and flexibility of the West Georgia Tech classes allowed him to keep working while pursuing his degree. He now aspires to a career as an educator.
McCormick’s perseverance in the face of heavy responsibilities is admirable - but also replicable. We hope it serves as inspiration to others in our community whose first attempts at education didn’t turn out perfectly. It’s never too late - and with the flexibility of the technical college curriculum, it’s entirely possible to gain job skills needed for a more secure, rewarding and remunerative future.
On Wednesday, LaGrange High School senior and Troup County STAR student Will Coggins was named Region 5 STAR student, the best of the best in a 10-county area. That’s a noteworthy honor for him and nice recognition for LHS and the Troup County school system, too. Kenny Moore, LHS math teacher chosen by Coggins as STAR teacher, shared in the honor.
Coggins loves math and plans to study mathematics at either Yale, Harvard or Princeton.
But something his father said at the awards ceremony, bears repeating and makes sense for all students, not just those with near-perfect SAT scores.
“The main thing in life you have to figure out.” Dr. Robert Coggins said, “is what you’re good at and what you enjoy.”
Will Coggins has figured that out and we predict he’ll do himself and his hometown proud in the Ivy League.
A big Saturday Salute to Alvin McCormick and Will Coggins, two scholars who remind us there’s no single path to success.
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