GNTC’s Sargento is State EAGLE Award regional finalist
Noelia Sargento, winner of Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s (GNTC) EAGLE Award for 2025, was selected as a regional finalist for the State EAGLE Award by the Technical College System of Georgia.
Sargento learned that she was named a regional finalist at the recent 2025 Awards for GOAL, Rick Perkins and EAGLE banquet.
“Eight regional finalists will compete at the EAGLE Leadership Institute for the state title in March,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. “The state winner will represent the Adult Education program for a year and participate in various speaking engagements throughout the state. This year’s EAGLE winner was nominated by her Adult Education instructors, Deborah Hester and Sandra Russell.”
She will compete at the Leadership Institute, which recognizes and honors those students who have demonstrated superior achievement in Adult Education classes and programs. Sargento earned her High School Equivalency (HSE) through GNTC’s Adult Education program in June 2024.
“As a full-time mom with a full-time job and community obligations, I experienced firsthand how GNTC’s Adult Education program can benefit many hard-working adults,” Sargento said. “I did not struggle with flexibility. The Adult Education program offered me support to reach my goals, and, most importantly, it provided career advancement. Adult Education provided an easier road to success for me.”
Sargento, a resident of Rossville, said she studied online class materials during lunch breaks at work, late at night, on weekends and during holidays.
Being GNTC’s EAGLE delegate for the statewide competition provides a platform and a voice to share that it’s never too late to reach goals and to go back to school, and she wants to encourage the Hispanic community. As an EAGLE delegate, she wants to share success stories, support English as a Second Language (ESL) programs and support mentoring and job training programs for students, she said.
“Noelia is a positive, motivated, smart young woman who accomplished her HSE credentials within three months after she started testing,” Russell said. “She wants to be an example for education within the Hispanic community.”
Sargento started classes in October in GNTC’s Business Management associate degree program. After that, she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in the same field.
Upon completing her college education, Sargento plans to own a food service business, Hester said, adding that she believes Sargento will benefit from the opportunities offered to EAGLE delegates.
“There is room for growth in my current position at work,” Sargento said. “I need to be ready to move up. The Adult Education program has given me confidence. As my favorite quote says, ‘I am far from what I once was, but I am not yet where I’m going to be.’ I will be more, and all thanks to the Adult Education Program.
GNTC’s Adult Education program has encouraged Sargento to reach for the stars, provided her with the knowledge she needs to succeed and prepared her for career advancement opportunities, she explained. She sees opportunities for career advancement at her employer and believes she may be promoted because the Adult Education program has boosted her self-confidence.
Sargento said her goals are “to continue my education and to become a role model for my children and those around me.”
She praised GNTC’s program for its class flexibility, affordability and supportive instructors who were quick to answer her questions and explain how to solve problems.
EAGLE is the first statewide program in the nation that recognizes and rewards excellence among students enrolled in Adult Education programs. This student recognition program is designed to create greater awareness of educational opportunities that are available in local communities across the state and to foster greater involvement in lifelong learning pursuits.
The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) through its Office of Adult Education (OAE) sponsors the annual Dinah Culbreath Wayne Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) Leadership Institute.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 13,775 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,836 students and an additional enrollment of 4,939 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start.
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