Jennifer Reynolds named 2024 GNTC Staff Member of the Year

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) has named Jennifer Reynolds, career transition specialist at GNTC’s Floyd County Campus in Rome, as its 2024 Staff Member of the Year Award winner.

The award recognizes technical college staff who make significant contributions to the college and to technical education. Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president, presented Reynolds with the award on Friday, March 1.

“I believe my position has a direct impact on the mission of GNTC,” Reynolds said. “I expose high school students to the opportunity of technical education, giving them the option of being workforce ready when they graduate.”

“Dual Enrollment also gives the students a chance to experience GNTC and to continue pursuing their chosen program after they graduate from high school,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said as a career transition specialist, she serves as liaison between GNTC and high schools in Chattooga, Dade, Gordon and Walker counties, as well as city school systems in Chickamauga and Trion. She assists prospective Dual Enrollment students in applying to GNTC, determines their eligibility, assists with processing their applications, works with high school counselors to advise students, registers students for GNTC classes, processes Dual Enrollment funding applications and conducts and participates in Dual Enrollment orientation sessions.

Reynolds also participates in parent nights, awards nights, application days and other special events, she said.

Ignacio Miranda, Dual Enrollment specialist at GNTC, nominated Reynolds for the award, explaining that she “goes above and beyond her job description to ensure staff, faculty and students receive the service they deserve.”

“Jennifer takes the time to help anyone needing an extra hand,” Miranda said. “Jennifer shows that she is willing to go the extra mile to ensure the success of our students by patiently assisting students and going to the high schools during and after school hours.”

Reynolds said the majority of her past work experience has been in the field of education. She taught third grade at Midway Primary School for three years and then second grade at Excel Christian Academy for 15 years before joining the GNTC staff in 2019 as Dual Enrollment specialist in High School Initiatives. In that position, she worked with Dual Enrollment homeschool students, as well as coordinated the logistics for Dual Enrollment textbooks.

The GNTC Foundation presented Reynolds with $250, a GNTC gift basket and the parking space of her choice for one year.

The other award nominees were Adi Baxter, learning management system specialist, Walker County Campus; Larry Blanchard, director of advisement, Floyd County Campus; Kayla Franks, campus police lieutenant, Gordon County Campus; Jason Gamel, director of recruitment, Walker County Campus; Niki Hammock, Student Success assistant, Whitfield Murray Campus; Janice Hudson-Huff, Aviation administrative assistant, Floyd County Campus; Amelia Hunter, Student Services coordinator, Walker County Campus; Jeffery Johnson, technology support specialist, Whitfield Murray Campus; Nina Lovel, web developer, Floyd County Campus; Bonnie Moore, coordinator of library services, Gordon County Campus; Marty Moorehead, coordinator of academic support and tutorial services, Floyd County Campus; Micah Mulinix, systems administrator, Floyd County Campus; Barbara Pittman, Industrial Technologies secretary, Floyd County Campus; Legare Price, dean of Student Success, Floyd County Campus; Cora Pyles, career transition specialist, Whitfield Murray Campus; Colton Reaves, maintenance technician, Whitfield Murray Campus; Fran Shugars, Health Technologies program assistant, Floyd County Campus; Trish Wiggins, director of student engagement, Floyd County Campus; and Mark Williams, custodian, Floyd County Campus.

Each nominee received a certificate of recognition.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 11,601 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,071 students and an additional enrollment of 3,530 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start. GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institution.