Georgia Northwestern Technical College has named Rihanna Davis of LaFayette as its 2026 Dual Enrollment Student of the Year.

Davis, a student at LaFayette High School who also attends Walker LAUNCH College and Career Academy in Rock Spring, received the honor and a $1,000 scholarship from the GNTC Foundation during the college’s annual High School Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday, March 24, at GNTC’s Gordon County Campus in Calhoun.

The award recognizes an outstanding high school senior who has participated in GNTC’s Dual Enrollment program.

Davis said receiving the award was a huge honor and said it shows that hard work pays off.

Through Walker LAUNCH’s Dual Enrollment program, Davis completed her associate degree in Automotive Technology at GNTC in December of 2025. In addition, the Chickamauga resident and first-generation college graduate has earned two diplomas and several certificates in Automotive Technology before even receiving her high school diploma.

Davis said earning her associate degree before graduating high school is a major accomplishment and reflects a lot of hard work and commitment. She said her passion for Automotive Technology made the path feel natural.

She plans to continue her education by pursuing degrees in Marketing and Mechanical Engineering, and says she also hopes to study Diesel Equipment Technology and Automotive Collision Repair in the future. Her long-term goal is to build a career in the automotive industry and eventually own her own shop.

Davis said her love for cars started early, growing up around vehicles in north Georgia and learning from her father as he built different types of vehicles. She said those experiences taught her patience, attention to detail, and the pride that comes with building something from the ground up.

She also said she wants to inspire other women to pursue a trade and create a place where others can learn, grow, and find the same passion she discovered.

GNTC officials say Georgia’s Dual Enrollment program allows qualified high school students to earn both high school and college credit at the same time while getting a head start on career training and higher education.

According to GNTC, Dual Enrollment now makes up 37 percent of the college’s total enrollment. In Academic Year 2026, 3,670 Dual Enrollment students were enrolled through GNTC, marking an increase of more than 200 students over the previous year.