GNTC’s Harp, Spivey Place in Phi Beta Lambda Skills Competition in California

For the second straight year, Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) student Elisabeth Harp has been named one of the best in the nation in her field. 

After placing third in Georgia in Networking Concepts at the state level of the Phi Beta Lambda Skills Competition this past spring, the Calhoun, Georgia native placed eighth nationally in the category this summer at the 2017 Phi Beta Lambda National Competition in Anaheim, California.

In 2016, Harp placed eighth in the Computer Concepts category at the national competition held in Atlanta, Georgia. This year, she and 10 of her fellow national qualifiers from Georgia Northwestern would make the trek to California to show off their skills.

However, Harp was not the only two-time qualifier from GNTC. Corey Carlile of Aragon, Georgia also qualified to compete on the national level each of the last two years. Georgia’s 2017 state champ in the Small Business Management Plan category competed in Anaheim and Atlanta, respectively, the past two years. Carlile was also named the college’s G.O.A.L. Student of the Year in 2016.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s National Phi Beta Lambda competition team competed June 24-27 in Anaheim, California. Pictured, from left, are GNTC Phi Beta Lambda Advisor Brittny Burns, Jonathan Herrera, Cage Gary, Selena Spivey, Ronal Bueso, Amanda Teeters, Nicholas Post, Allie Long, Elisabeth Harp, Corey Carlile, Brett Notabartolo, Miguel Ramirez, GNTC Phi Beta Lambda Advisor Dione Waddington, and GNTC Phi Beta Lambda Advisor Patty Hart.

Two other entries from GNTC placed in Anaheim. Selena Spivey of Dalton, Georgia placed eighth in the nation in Computer Animation. Also, the team of Ronal Bueso and Jonathan Herrera, both from Dalton, Georgia, earned a Top-15 finish in the Business Sustainability category. Four years ago, Dalton, Georgia’s Mario Trejo earned the college’s first national title at the PBL Competition taking home top honors in the Justice Administration category.

After qualifying only six students for the national event last year, GNTC advisors Dione Waddington, Patty Hart, and Brittny Burns guided 11 students to qualify for this year’s trip to the West Coast to compete against the best. The University of Florida, the University of Alabama, the University of Maryland, the University of Utah, the University of Nebraska, Duquense Universtiy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and many others from across the United States qualified along with Georgia Northwestern to compete at this year’s event. As a state, Georgia qualified 79 students for the competition.

Other members of the 2017 Phi Beta Lambda competition team were Cage Gary of Ringgold, Georgia; Amanda Teeters of Chickamauga, Georgia; Nicholas Post of LaFayette, Georgia; Allie Long of Ringgold, Georgia; Brett Notabartolo of Trion, Georgia; and Miguel Ramirez of Rome, Georgia. Ramirez was GNTC’s 2017 G.O.A.L. Student of the Year award winner.

More than 1,800 of America’s best and brightest college students traveled to Southern California for this year’s event. The Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) National Leadership Conference showcased participants from across the United States. As well as participating in more than 60 business and business-related competitive events, participants attended a week-long conference to enhance their business skills and expand their networks.

GNTC offers more than 200 programs online and on-campus. Campuses are located in Ringgold (Catoosa County Campus), Rome (Floyd County Campus), Calhoun (Gordon County Campus), Rockmart (Polk County Campus), Rock Spring (Walker County Campus), and Dalton (Whitfield Murray Campus).

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 business, health, industrial, or public service career paths. This past year, 14,151 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. With an annual credit enrollment of 7,956 students, GNTC is the largest college in Northwest Georgia. GNTC has an additional enrollment of 6,195 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training, and Georgia Quick Start.  For more information about GNTC, visit us at GNTC.edu or contact a Student Help Center on any one of our six campus locations at 866-983-4682.  For information online, visit the college at GNTC.edu, as well as on GNTC’s Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, WordPress, and YouTube channels. GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institution.

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Don Foley Assistant Director, Marketing and PR