GNTC graduate Shandi Hall named Officer of the Year
The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce recently named Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) graduate Shandi Hall as its Officer of the Year for 2023.
The Catoosa Chamber presented Hall, an officer with the Fort Oglethorpe Police Department, with a plaque at the Chamber’s Firefighter, Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Recognition Luncheon. Hall graduated from GNTC’s Basic Law Enforcement program (now named Basic POST Certification) in December 2022.
“I am very proud of Shandi Hall for earning the Officer of the Year Award her rookie year,” said Jim Pledger, program director and Instructor of the Law Enforcement Academy at GNTC. “I know she is a hard worker; that was made evident by her efforts when she was a student at GNTC.”
Hall represents the training GNTC’s Law Enforcement Academy provides and “the caliber of officers we strive to turn out,” Pledger said, adding the Academy’s faculty are always proud of the successes of its graduates.
“Officer Hall is a dedicated law enforcement professional with an amazingly positive attitude,” Fort Oglethorpe Police Chief Keith Sewell said. “She works hard to improve herself by seeking advanced training and being able to provide excellent service for those we protect.”
“Officers are nominated by their fellow officers to receive the award based on a single life-saving event or an overall work ethic and dedication to the department and their profession,” Sewell said.
Several of Hall’s fellow officers nominated her because of her incredible work ethic, positive attitude, interaction with the public and her ability to encourage and motivate fellow officers, Sewell said.
“This award represents the hard work and dedication that I have put into my new career,” Hall said. “I left my former career of 15 ½ years to pursue my dream of becoming a police officer. This award means the world to me and just shows that it’s never too late in life to pursue your dream.”
Hall said she approaches performing her job with integrity, respect and pride.
“You must do this job for the right reasons,” Hall explained. “You represent not only your department and academy, but also the thousands of fellow men and women that have the privilege of wearing the uniform.”
“You must respect the dangers of the profession, as well as everyone you come in contact with,” Hall said. “I take extreme pride in what I do. It is a privilege to wear this uniform, and it's something I do not take lightly.”
The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce loves hosting the Firefighter, Law Enforcement and Emergency Management Recognition Luncheon each year, said Amy L. Jackson, president and chief executive officer of the Catoosa Chamber. Jackson also serves on the Board of Trustees for the GNTC Foundation.
“It is great to be able to honor these dedicated individuals that take care of us each and every day,” Jackson said. “We appreciate Shandi Hall's dedication and exemplary service to our community.”
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, 11,601 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,071 students and an additional enrollment of 3,530 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institution.
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