Albany Herald

Ivey Norton, a dental assisting student, accepts the 2012 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership from Anthony Parker, Albany Technical College president, Tuesday at an awards dinner.

ALBANY, Ga. -- Chosen by two different panels, the top student and instructor at Albany Technical College are in the same department.

Ivey Norton, the 2012 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner and Linda Cauley, the 2012 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction winner, are both in the dental assisting field.

"It was not planned that way," said Wendy Howell, Albany Tech spokeswoman. "Two really different panels chose them."

As a finalist from a field of 13 Norton sat for an interview with a panel of four members of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. As a winner she has the chance to compete for the state occupational leadership award.

"It was a wonderful opportunity to go through an interview experience," Norton said. "It was a humbling experience and I am honored to be chosen."

Norton will represent Albany Tech and workforce education in commercials, on speaking engagements, at ribbon cutting events and other functions. If she wins the state GOAL award she will represent what technical education can achieve at its best, and the caliber of of people who choose Georgia's technical colleges.

Chosen by a panel of five of her peers, Cauley was awarded the Perkins Award for excellence in technical instruction by Albany Tech President Anthony Parker.

"It is an honor to accept this award," Cauley said. "I am pleased to accept it on behalf of the faculty not just myself. It is theirs too."

According to an award pamphlet, the Rick Perkins Award has been awarded since 1991 statewide. It is designed to recognize technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership.

As the Rick Perkins winner, Cauley will make public appearances throughout the year including addresses to the Georgia General Assembly and the governor.