AMERICUS — Calli S. Buttrey of Americus, a South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) criminal justice technology student, has been named SGTC Student of Excellence for February during the college’s recent student recognition ceremony held in the John M. Pope Industrial Technology Center on SGTC’s Americus campus.
Buttrey received a plaque of recognition and a financial award from SGTC for her accomplishments. She was nominated for this honor by SGTC criminal justice technology instructor Teresa McCook.
McCook wasn’t able to attend the Student of Excellence program, but Dean for Academic Affairs Vanessa Wall spoke on her behalf.
“Calli is quiet, but she’s always listening and taking it all in,” she said. “She wants to become a lawyer. She’s a very talented young woman and I know that she’s going to realize all her dreams.”
“South Georgia Tech has exceeded all my expectations,” said Buttrey, who first came to SGTC to earn her GED and has worked her way up to not only a Student of Excellence, but a Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) finalist for 2016. She is also a work study student in SGTC’s Admissions department. “It’s such an honor to be nominated, to know you have someone rooting for you,” she continued.
Each month, students from certain divisions selected for that month are nominated for the Student of Excellence award by their instructors. This month’s ceremony recognized students in health and personal services programs at SGTC. The winner is selected based on a number of criteria, including grades, work ethics, participation in clubs and organizations, and amount of program completion. Each nominee is presented with a certificate and a South Georgia Technical College Student of Excellence T-shirt.

Other nominees included Demetree Merritt of Americus, barbering; Crystal Thomas of Buena Vista, cosmetology; Shayna Jones of Americus, culinary arts; Casey J. Whitaker of Americus, early childhood care and education; Harvetta Cason of Americus, medical assisting; and Angelia Garner of Buena Vista, practical nursing.
Additional nominating instructors included Xavier Jackson, barbering; Dorothea Lusane-McKenzie, cosmetology; Ricky Watzlowick, culinary arts; Jaye Cripe, early childhood care and education; Diana Skipper, medical assisting; and Jennifer Childs, practical nursing.