Two Bainbridge College students were recognized Thursday during the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce Awards banquet held at the Kirbo Regional Center at the college’s main campus.

Robert Turner, Kristan Whatley and BC President Richard Carvajal

Kristan Whatley of Blakely was recognized as the college’s Academic Recognition Student for having a 4.0 grade point average. The award is based on the student with the greatest number of credit hours with the highest grade point average.

Robert Turner, also of Blakely, was recognized for being selected as the 2011 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner at Bainbridge College. The GOAL program recognizes the achievements of the state’s outstanding postsecondary technical students, and spotlights the importance of technical training and emphasizes the dignity of work. He was originally presented the GOAL award in March when he competed on the regional level.

Whatley is carrying a 4.0 grade point average after completing 67 hours toward an Associate of Arts in Business Administration. She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa international academic honor society, the Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honor society, and she has been on the dean’s list every semester since enrolled at BC. She is a recipient of the Kirbo Foundation Scholarship as well as an award for demonstrated work ethics.

"Kristan has obviously set an amazing example for other students who are looking to achieve their goals, and we know, that as an alumna of Bainbridge College, she will continue to make us very proud after she walks across the stage to receive her degree in the coming months," said Bainbridge College President Richard Carvajal.

Not only she is strong academically, Whatley is a talented singer, having demonstrated that several times on the BC campus through various student life activities, including last year’s talent show where she placed in the top three. She also serves as a peer mentor and a member of the BC Early County site’s tutoring staff.

Members of the Georgia General Assembly recognize college students for their superior academic achievement from each institution in the University System of Georgia, and a member of the General Assembly is scheduled to recognize Whatley at the college’s annual Honors Night later this spring.

Turner is a student in the Electronics Technology program at Bainbridge College Early County site, and he is a lock and dam operator with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam at Lake Seminole. He was the owner and operator of Turner Small Engine Repair in Blakely.

He was nominated by BCEC Instructor Claude Bell of Blakely and was selected from a field of 11 students, who represented both BCEC and Bainbridge College’s main campus. The GOAL program was established in 1971 as the nation’s first program to reward students who excel in learning a gainful skill. Two years ago, Turner was hired by the Corps of Engineers as part of a work-study cooperative agreement with Bainbridge College.

In Bell’s recommendation letter, he said he had been Turner’s instructor since 2008. "During that period of time, Robert has demonstrated again and again that hard work, determination and faith in himself and in the technical school system equal success," Bell wrote that Carvajal reiterated Thursday evening.

"Prior to 2008, Robert operated a sometimes thriving, sometimes struggling, small engine repair shop. Known for his honesty and acute technical skills, Robert could fix anything. However, the location of his business in an economically struggling community made making ends meet difficult," Bell said in his letter.

Turner enrolled in BC Electronic Technical program to find a different path for his technical talents, he said.

"Although a bit unsure of himself at first, Robert quickly grew into a confident student leader, leading by example and inspiring other younger students to do their best. He continued his performance of excellence since entering the program by maintaining a 3.5 and above grade point average, while raising two kids and continuing to operate his small engine repair shop," Bell wrote.

Turner is an amazing example for others and for what he has become with the training he has received from Bainbridge College, Bell said. "Mr. Turner’s story embodies what our technical education system aspires to achieve by helping a student reach his potential through education."