A Dalton woman who overcame homelessness, financial hardships and the challenges of raising two children as a single mother has been selected to represent Georgia Northwestern Technical College at a statewide adult education competition next year.

Kathleen Pichardo has been named GNTC’s 2027 EAGLE Award winner and will represent the college at the Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE Leadership Institute, scheduled for March 8–10, 2027, in Atlanta.

The EAGLE program, which stands for Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education, recognizes outstanding students who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in adult education programs across Georgia.

Pichardo earned her high school equivalency credential through GNTC’s Adult Education program in June 2026. She is now studying Business Management at the college’s Whitfield Murray Campus in Dalton while working in hospital admissions.

Her path to higher education was far from easy.

Growing up in the Bronx as the eldest daughter of immigrant parents, Pichardo helped her single mother care for her younger siblings. After her family moved to Miami, she became a mother at 17 and put her education on hold to support her family.

By her mid-20s, she had experienced homelessness and was raising two children on her own.

Eventually, Pichardo moved to Georgia with her children, determined to build a more stable future. She stayed with her brother while waiting for housing and taught herself to drive as she worked toward establishing a new life in Dalton.

Although she had previously worked her way up to a general manager and trainer position, she found that not having a high school diploma continued to limit her career opportunities.

When family responsibilities eventually required her to stop working to care for her son, she decided the time had come to finish her education.

Pichardo enrolled in GNTC’s Adult Education program and discovered a renewed enthusiasm for learning, along with encouragement from instructors who helped her regain confidence in her academic abilities.

“Adult Education has changed the way I see myself and my future,” Pichardo said. “My journey has taught me that my circumstances do not have to determine my destination.”

Eddie Geier, an Adult Education lead instructor at GNTC, nominated Pichardo for the award, praising her determination and willingness to help other students succeed.

“Kathleen was extremely committed not only to her own success, but also to the success of her classmates,” Geier said. “She would not quit until she reached her goals.”

Lisa Shaw, GNTC’s vice president of Adult Education, said Pichardo’s accomplishments reflect the determination of students who return to school while balancing work and family responsibilities.

“Kathleen’s story exemplifies the perseverance and determination demonstrated by many of our Adult Education students,” Shaw said. “She is an outstanding role model and an inspiration to others working toward their educational goals.”

For Pichardo, completing her high school equivalency credential represents more than an academic accomplishment. It has opened the door to continuing her education and pursuing career opportunities that once seemed beyond her reach.

“Today, I’m not just working towards a better future for my children; I’m finally building one for myself, too,” she said.

The annual EAGLE Leadership Institute is sponsored by the Technical College System of Georgia through its Office of Adult Education. The program recognizes exceptional adult education students while promoting educational opportunities and lifelong learning throughout the state.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College serves students throughout Northwest Georgia, including Chattooga County, through its technical education and adult education programs.