Valdosta, GA— Wiregrass President Dr. Tina K. Anderson announces college GOAL Winner Jacquelyn Mallard and Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year Mike Day have been named as state finalist. The college learned that they had two state finalists during a social media video announcement by the Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier this week.

Colleges normally learn who the state finalists and winner are at the state conference in Atlanta each April, however, this has not been a normal year. The state conference was cancelled due to the national pandemic. Mallard and Day will advance to state competition interviews that will be in September. The Auto Collision Repair student, Jacquelyn Mallard, and Welding Instructor, Mike Day, will compete against eight other college winners that were named as state finalist.

Jacquelyn is enrolled in the Wiregrass’ Auto Collision Repair Technology program after successfully completing the Automotive Technology program. She attributes her success to the hands-on skills training through practical scenarios in completing live work, along with the tactile and kinesthetic curriculum where she received one-on-one support from her instructors.

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 22 technical colleges, as well as one Board of Regents college with a technical education division.

Mike Day serves the college as the Welding Instructor on the Coffee Campus. Day shared, “We can truly say the world has changed since we started the Rick Perkins process at the beginning of the year. With this thought, one of the reasons I love being a Technical College Instructor, is the ability to be flexible and overcome obstacles like the COVID Pandemic. I am proud to be part of the Wiregrass and TCSG team. I only hope I can represent my fellow Instructors, staff and students in a manner that they deserve. “

The Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction is awarded annually. This award is designed to recognize and honor technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields. Instructors are nominated for the Rick Perkins Award by their peers. Competition among instructors occurs at the college, regional, and state levels.

Wiregrass is accepting new students for Fall Express term, classes start September 23. For more information visit the college’s website.

Instructor Mike Day was named state finalist in the TCSG Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year competition.

Wiregrass GOAL Winner, Jacquelyn Mallard, was named a state finalist in the TCSG GOAL Student of the Year competition.