In high school, 20-year old Jesus “Xavier” Gonzalez of Harris County excelled in sports and was an overall whiz kid – especially when it came to math and science. 他总是对建筑、谜题和寻找问题的解决方案充满热情。 泽维尔（他喜欢被人这样称呼）本来可以凭借足球奖学金进入任何一所知名大学，但他选择了永利博彩（永利博彩）的工程技术学位课程。 But being named as Columbus Tech’s 2020 目标 (Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership) winner wasn’t an easy path. A tornado destroyed Gonzalez’s home in Waverly Hall in March. 他和他的女朋友，还有他们的吉娃娃西娜，在浴缸里度过了暴风雨，而他们周围的墙和门都倒塌了。 当身体和情感上的碎石开始被清理时，泽维尔对前进所需要的东西有了新的认识。
泽维尔冈萨雷斯
“When I enrolled the next semester, Columbus Tech was there to have my back,” Gonzalez said. “They were a second family. 我找了一份勤工俭学的工作，加入了学生领导委员会（Student Leadership Council），并且是面向STEM学生的刘易斯·斯托克斯少数民族参与联盟（LSAMP）的领导者。 I am honored for this opportunity to give back and learn.”
冈萨雷斯希望从哥伦布理工大学毕业后继续他的工程教育。
永利博彩’s 鹰 (Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education) student of the year for 2020 is 豆类托马斯. She dropped out of school in 11th grade and couldn’t find work other than in dead-end, minimum wage jobs. 托马斯希望自己和家人过得更好。 尽管有一些障碍，包括严重的家庭医疗问题，她终于在今年8月完成了五年前开始的GED考试。
“The teachers were so helpful and motivating that I knew I couldn’t give up,” Thomas wrote in her application essay. “I had gotten a road map to what my future could be; I just had to keep stepping forward.”
豆类托马斯
Today, 豆类托马斯 is a Health Care Assistant student with hopes of entering the school’s rigorous nursing program.
Sernethia考德威尔 and 克丽丝耆那教徒的 are both teachers in Columbus Tech’s 成人教育 program. Caldwell was named the college’s 里克·珀金斯/Tim Justice Instructor of the Year for 2020. 她在成人教育部门当了六年的讲师。 This was the first time in the college’s history an adult education teacher earned this distinction.
“永利博彩 is a great place for any student to being a career. But it is ideal for the invisible student – the student who has little or no support and feels overwhelmed or defeated before they even try,” Caldwell said. “This platform will allow me to facilitate an environment to empower these students.”
Sernethia考德威尔
Caldwell wasn’t the only employee representing the adult education division in such a stellar manner. Instructor 克丽丝耆那教徒的 was named Columbus Tech’s 成人教育 Instructor of the Year. 她在马斯科吉学区工作了八年，在学院工作了六年，在成人教育部门工作了两年。 这是佐治亚州技术学院系统（TCSG）第一次为成人教育教师颁发单独的奖项。
“I have enjoyed every minute of my 14 years in education,” Jain said. “My students are my motivation to get up in the mornings. Their success is my success.”
克丽丝耆那教徒的
这四位获胜者将在未来几个月参加更高级别的比赛。 Gonzalez and Caldwell have their regional competition in February with a state competition in April while Thomas’s and Jain’s competitions are at the state level in March. 祝贺他们所有人！