Ruth Ann Dutton selected as 2015 GOAL student of the year

SAVANNAH – Paralegal Studies student Ruth Ann Dutton has been selected as the 2015 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner for Savannah Technical College.

GOAL honors outstanding students at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions. She will represent Savannah Tech at regional and statewide events to select a student to serve as the ambassador for technical education across the state. The highly competitive process involves academic success, community engagement and public speaking. Winners are nominated by their instructors and selected after interviews with a panel of business and community leaders.

Dutton is a top-performing student in her program. “What I respect most about Ruth Ann is her dedication to family and her commitment to the community,” said Paralegal Studies Department Head Debra Geiger. “Her technical college experience has encouraged her growth in many ways, including academically, personally and professionally. Ruth Ann’s story is certainly a model for success that will inspire others to reach their full potential by simply believing in themselves.”

Dutton, expects to graduate this year, after completing a summer internship with the Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP) office, where she has volunteered for the past year. According to Geiger, Dutton has become the “go-to” person in the GLSP office for drafting legal correspondence and has helped train new paralegal students. Dutton has an associate’s degree in business administration from Gordon College and prior to that, earned a certificate in electrocardiogram from Griffin Technical College.

“Choosing technical education allows students to have hands-on knowledge and experience,” said Dutton in her GOAL biography. “The schedules allow for students to have access to education needed, while still working and supporting their families. My attending school again shows my son that it is never too late for an education.”

She will represent Savannah Tech at the regional competition in March before heading to the statewide competition in April in Atlanta, where the statewide GOAL winner will be selected.

#1527 | February 16, 2015

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) is the premier provider of career-ready technical education in Coastal Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of nearly 150 market-driven programs, preparing students for high-demand careers including Aviation Technology, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation & Robotics, Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Public Services and more. With campuses in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, Savannah Tech serves more than 13,000 credit and non-credit students with a variety of pathways to success, including dual enrollment programs for high school students and specialized support services for military veterans and their families. Beyond academics, Savannah Tech is an economic and community development partner, collaborating with industry leaders to provide customized training programs, assessment services, and continuing education opportunities. For more information, visit www.savannahtech.edu.

Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Savannah Technical College complies with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The TCSG State Board prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status (“protected status”). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any TCSG program or activity because of the individual’s protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual’s protected status, except the preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.