Chattahoochee Technical College announced the winners of its 2026 outstanding student and instructor competitions on Friday, January 30, with student Khaana Cheatham and instructor Corey Cantrell receiving top honors. The college also honored Diana Cano with its 2026 Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) award and Dr. Jessica Williams with its Adult Education Teacher of the Year Award. An awards luncheon was held at the college’s North Metro Campus to celebrate these winners and finalists.
Khaana Cheatham, who is a student in the Paralegal Studies program at Chattahoochee Tech, received the college’s 2026 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) award. She was nominated for this honor by Amie Ray Davis, Paralegal Studies, Lead Instructor and Chattahoochee Technical College’s 2025 Rick Perkins Award Winner. GOAL is a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) that honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state’s technical college students. The top student finalists for the 2026 GOAL award at Chattahoochee Tech included Dakota Short, a Surgical Technology student, and Emily Young, a Radiography student. A panel of judges evaluated each finalist on their leadership abilities, academic achievement, knowledge of technical education and educational and career goals. As the college’s 2026 GOAL winner, Cheatham will now compete at the regional level for a chance to win the state competition and a prize package that includes a new car.
Instructor Corey Cantrell received the college’s 2026 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year award. He is an instructor of History at Chattahoochee Tech. This award honors the most outstanding TCSG instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields. This year’s top finalists for the Rick Perkins Award at Chattahoochee Tech were David Mazzotta, an instructor in the Carpentry Technology program; Dustin Ledford, an English instructor; and Steven Fearon, an EMS Professions instructor in the Emergency Medical Services Professionals (EMSP) program. A panel of judges evaluated each finalist on factors that included accomplishments, leadership, their role as an educator, and their commitment to the mission and initiatives of TCSG. Cantrell will now compete at the regional level for a chance to win the state competition.
Sponsors for the 2026 awards luncheon at Chattahoochee Tech included A.G. Rhodes, Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Cobb & Douglas Public Health, Cobb EMC, Geo-Hydro Engineers, North Georgia Staffing, and Wasserman Talent Solutions.
Chattahoochee Tech’s President Heather Pence and instructor Corey Cantrell, the college’s 2026 Rick Perkins Award (RPA) winner, are shown here, l-r, at the awards ceremony. Chattahoochee Tech student Khaana Cheatham, the college’s 2026 GOAL winner, is featured in the top photo.
Chattahoochee Tech’s President Heather Pence and student Diana Cano, the college’s 2026 Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) winner, and teacher Jessica Williams, the college’s Adult Education Teacher of the Year winner, are shown here, l-r, at the awards ceremony.
Chattahoochee Tech students Dakota Short and Emily Young were both finalists in the GOAL competition. From left to right: President Heather Pence, Dakota Short, GOAL winner Khaana Cheatham, and Emily Young.
Chattahoochee Tech instructors Steven Fearon, Dustin Ledford, and David Mazzotta were all three finalists in the RPA competition. From left to right: RPA winner Corey Cantrell, David Mazzotta, Dustin Ledford, Steven Fearon, and President Heather Pence.