Ryan Carter Named Latest SGTC Student of Excellence

South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) aviation maintenance technology student Ryan Carter of Blackshear was recently named the Student of Excellence for December.  Carter and five other outstanding students were recognized as the top students in their respective program areas and then Carter was selected as the overall Student of Excellence at the ceremony held in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on the college’s Americus campus.

Carter was nominated for the award by his instructor, Victoria Herron. Herron introduced Carter and told the audience of students, faculty/staff members and family members of the nominees about what separated her student from the others in her classes.

“Me and the other three instructors got together to decide who to nominate, and it’s never easy. But Ryan goes above and beyond in everything that he does,” she said. “We’re very fortunate to have a leader like him in the shop.”

Not only is Carter a leader in the shop, but is also a leader on campus, according to his instructors. He is a part of SkillsUSA and a member of the National Technical Honor Society on campus.

Carter decided to come to SGTC to study aircraft maintenance technology after working on his pilot’s license for a summer.

“I went at least every Saturday and twice a week to work on my pilot’s license – and when I was flying, I would help my instructor in the shop. I realized then that maybe I needed to go over to maintenance,” he said. “So I started here [at South Georgia Tech], and I was nervous, but we became a family in the class. I think that helped all of us.”

Carter went on to thank his instructors for their passion and dedication to himself and to his classmates.

The November Student of Excellence ceremony recognized students in transportation programs at SGTC.  Other nominees included: Brandon Mable of Americus, aircraft structural technology; Jade Smith of Tazewell, automotive technology; Brandon McLemore of Ellaville, auto collision repair technology; Jacob Brunson of Ellaville, diesel power equipment; and Darius Wallace of Americus, motorsports vehicle technology.

After the other nominees received their certificates and t-shirts, Dr. David Finley, academic dean over the transportation programs, explained the criteria to be chosen as the overall Student of Excellence and the benefits that come with the title before announcing Carter as the winner. The winner is selected based on a number of criteria, including grades, work ethics, participation in clubs and organizations, and amount of program completion.

As the winner, Carter was awarded with a plaque of recognition, a personal letter of recommendation from SGTC President Dr. John Watford and a $50 check for his accomplishments. Additionally, his name will be displayed on SGTC’s digital marquee as well as inscribed on a plaque in Hicks Hall among previous Student of Excellence winners.

Each month, students from certain divisions selected for that month are nominated for the Student of Excellence award by their instructors. In addition to Victoria Herron, nominating instructors included Jason Wisham, aircraft structural technology; Brandon Dean, automotive technology; Starlyn Sampson, auto collision repair technology; Chase Shannon, diesel power equipment; and Kevin Beaver, motorsports vehicle technology.

The December 2018 Student of Excellence nominees sit for a photo with their nominating instructors. Seated left to right are nominees: Brandon Mable, Ryan Carter, Jade Smith, Brandon McLemore, Jacob Brunson and Darius Wallace. Standing left to right are nominating instructors: Jason Wisham, Victoria Herron, Brandon Dean, Starlyn Sampson, Chase Shannon and Kevin Beaver.