Lanier Technical College, a Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), annually appoints a Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) Student of the Year and a Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year. These awards are based on leadership, academic excellence, belief in technical education, and a passion for entering the workforce or workforce development. Each inductee is announced during the annual recognition event.
Karli Wiseman, a Welding and Joining Technology student, has been selected as Lanier Tech’s 2026 GOAL Student of the Year. GOAL is a statewide program for all 22 of TCSG’s colleges, and honors excellence in academics and leadership among students in their cohort. Wiseman was nominated by the Welding and Joining Technology Program Director, Mike Brandt, for being an exceptional student amongst her peers and for being an inspiration for other female welders.
Erika Bongart, the Program Director and Instructor for Lanier Technical College’s Radiologic Technology program, has been named the 2026 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year. Like GOAL, the
Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year Award is a statewide program for all of TCSG’s 22 colleges that aims to showcase outstanding instructors within the college system. Bongart was nominated by one of her students who shared, “She is incredibly dedicated to making sure we, as students, are learning everything we could possibly need and more to be successful in our field. We are so thankful for her willingness to go the extra mile to be sure we are career ready once we graduate.”
Both Wiseman and Bongart will go on to compete against other regional technical colleges. Following the regional competitions, selected students and instructors will compete for the title TCSG’s Overall GOAL Student of the Year and Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year. The final competition will be held in Atlanta in April 2026.
Lanier Technical College has a 100 percent job placement rate five out the past seven years. The College offers 50 programs of study in some of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields including
3 healthcare, energy, business and industry, and public or private service. Lanier Technical College is a Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Lanier Technical College is also an Equal opportunity institution.
Find our more about Lanier Technical College’s programs by clicking here.
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