Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) continued to expand its impact across northwest Georgia in 2025 through new partnerships, student achievements, and institutional recognition.

One of the biggest developments came through a new partnership between GNTC and AdventHealth, aimed at strengthening nursing education in the region. The agreement is designed to increase enrollment in GNTC’s Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program while expanding clinical placement opportunities for students. College leaders say the collaboration will help connect classroom learning with clinical practice, support workforce development, and encourage shared initiatives in evidence-based nursing and quality care.

“GNTC’s mission has always centered on meeting the workforce needs of our community,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. “This partnership with AdventHealth will not only expand access to nursing education, but will also help ensure our healthcare providers have the trained professionals they need to deliver high-quality care.”

GNTC also received statewide recognition through student success. Noelia Sargento was named the Technical College System of Georgia’s (TCSG) 2025 Adult Education Student of the Year and received the Dinah Culbreath Wayne Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) Award. Sargento earned her High School Equivalency (HSE) through GNTC’s Adult Education program in June 2024, balancing school alongside work and family responsibilities.

“I consider myself a modern mom, balancing my family and career,” Sargento said. “Despite a full plate, I managed to make room to further my education.”

Regionally, Dr. Popham was selected to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Her three-year term began in January following her election at the 2025 SACSCOC Annual Meeting in Nashville.

On the national stage, the Aspen Institute named GNTC as one of 200 colleges eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, based on student outcomes such as retention, completion, transfer, and bachelor’s attainment.

GNTC is also continuing to grow its footprint with workforce expansion. The college is developing a new 100,515-square-foot driving range for its Commercial Truck Driving-Class A program at the Whitfield Murray Campus in Dalton, adding to existing ranges at the Walker County Campus (Rock Spring) and the Polk County Campus (Rockmart).