Four Lanier Technical College students have been selected as the college’s semifinalists for the Technical College System of Georgia’s top student.

The college’s finalist for Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership will be named at noon Tuesday at the Gainesville Lions Club meeting at the Gainesville Civic Center.

The four Lanier Tech students are Monique Beale of the practical nursing program, Tia Renee Moody of the business and office technology program, Maria Hadavi of the early childhood education program and Karen Nowakowski of the fire science program.

GOAL winners are selected at each of the state’s 33 technical colleges, as well at the four Board of Regents colleges with technical education divisions.

The Gainesville Lions Club and the Lanier Tech Student Government Association sponsor the program locally.

GOAL winners from each campus will compete in Atlanta in May, and one will be named as the statewide GOAL winner.

"The purpose of the GOAL program is to spotlight the outstanding achievement by students in Georgia’s technical colleges and to emphasize the importance of technical education in today’s global work force," said Jennifer Pulliam, coordinator for the Lanier Tech GOAL program.

A screening committee of administrators at Lanier Tech selected the four semifinalists from a list of students nominated by their instructors.

Next, a panel of area business, civic and industry leaders interviewed and evaluated the students to select the overall winner.

The state winner receives a new car provided by Chevrolet, the statewide corporate sponsor of Georgia’s GOAL program.