Four Georgia Northwestern Technical College students have been recognized for their academic achievement, earning the prestigious Governor Nathan Deal Technical Education Scholarship.
Graduates from GNTC’s Electrical Lineworker program for spring 2026 are (from left, front row) Yoni Bautista, Widman Diaz, Jose Pacheco, Javier Plaza, Miguel Rebolloso, Eric Salazar, Dontarious Thompson, Cayden Watson; (back row) Trey Scales, Evan Hayes, David Postell, Miguel Martinez, Luis Perez, Christian Rodriguez, Omar Munguia and Gage McWhorter.
Sixteen students graduated on Wednesday, March 25, from Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker program during a ceremony held at GNTC’s Polk County Campus in Rockmart.
The Georgia Department of Education is modernizing its Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) structure, reducing the number of career clusters from 17 to 14 to better align with today’s workforce needs.
State leaders say the updated framework keeps all 152 state-approved pathways in place while improving connections between high school coursework, college programs, and in-demand careers across Georgia.
Among the key changes is a stronger focus on high-demand industries to help build a more prepared workforce. The state is also introducing the “Construction for Geometry” option starting in the 2025–2026 school year, allowing students to earn math credit through the Carpentry Pathway.
Officials say the updates are part of Georgia’s “Top State for Talent” initiative, aimed at ensuring students graduate ready for enrollment, employment, enlistment, or entrepreneurship.
Georgia Highlands College (GHC) is encouraging prospective students across Northwest Georgia to take advantage of a limited-time offer: the college is waiving its $30 application fee through the month of March.

Advent Health and GNTC partnership signing
Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) continued to expand its impact across northwest Georgia in 2025 through new partnerships, student achievements, and institutional recognition.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is inviting prospective students and community members to attend a series of Open House events this month at multiple campuses across Northwest Georgia.
Georgia Highlands College (GHC) and Kennesaw State University (KSU) are expanding their LINK partnership, a collaborative initiative to create seamless transfer pathways and expand academic opportunities for students.
A former Chattooga County School System teacher, Dr. Elizabeth Anderson has been named executive vice president and chief academic officer at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, effective March 1, according to GNTC President Dr. Heidi Popham.














