Senate Higher Education Committee approves resolutions honoring technical college students and instructors

The Georgia State Senate Higher Education Committee approved two resolutions recognizing students and instructors from the Technical College System of Georgia during a brief afternoon meeting.

The committee chair opened the meeting, asked Sen. Payne to lead a prayer and introduced Mark Peevee of the Technical College System of Georgia to present the two resolutions honoring recent award winners. Peevee described an annual process in which 22 technical colleges nominate local winners beginning in September; regional competitions in March and a state-level selection in April determine the final winners, who are honored at banquet events and serve as ambassadors for the system.

Peevee said the awards include both student and instructor categories and highlighted benefits for winners. "Kia is a tremendous supporter of that," he said of the auto maker’s sponsorship, and he described a tuition package for an Eagle winner and a vehicle award for the GOAL student winner. He named Noella Sargento of Georgia Northwestern Technical College as a local winner this year and encouraged committee members to attend the recognition events.

The committee chair praised the students, singled out Jason Colbert of Southeastern Technical College as this year’s Gold winner and encouraged members to attend the banquets, saying, "I had the privilege of being there last year, and it is a tremendously positive experience." After brief remarks, the committee took two motions to adopt the resolutions. A motion to adopt Senate Resolution 697 was made and seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee then adopted Senate Resolution 698, which recognizes Dr. Ekaterina Merzakalova, identified in the meeting as a chemistry instructor at Central Georgia Technical College; Sen. Summers moved the second resolution and Sen. Howard seconded it, and the committee approved it by voice vote.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.