Barbering student Miller Castillo has been selected as the 2022 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) winner for Savannah Technical College.

“Castillo exemplifies passion in everything he does,” said STC Barbering Instructor Joycelin Primus. “His enthusiasm is contagious, his smile infectious, and his ability to never meet a stranger are uncanny.”

GOAL honors outstanding students at each of the Technical College System of Georgia institutions. He will represent Savannah Tech at the statewide competition in April in Atlanta, where the statewide GOAL winner will be selected. The highly competitive process involves academic success, community engagement and public speaking. Winners are nominated by their instructors and selected after interviews with a panel of business and community leaders.

Castillo is a first generation born in the U.S. to parents, who immigrated from the Philippines. He has a bachelor of arts in communications from the University of Hawaii. He served 17 years in the U.S. Army before being honorably discharged in 2018 due to a medical condition. He is on track to graduate in May 2022 with a Barbering diploma. He plans to become a licensed barber, gain more hair cutting experience, and open a chain of barbershops.

“I lead by example and service by helping my classmates succeed,” Castillo said. “I practice barbering knowledge and procedures every day in and out of campus labs, as it is a lifestyle. I am committed to a lifelong journey in this industry because learning and growth potential are exponential.”

Savannah Tech’s Barbering program prepares students to be on the cutting edge of men’s fashion and trends with training to test for licensure as a Professional Barber at Savannah Technical College. The Barbering Program features barbering services such as cutting, trimming, shampooing, styling hair, trimming beards and giving shaves. It is offered at Savannah Tech’s Savannah and Liberty campuses. For more information visit www.savannahtech.edu/Barbering.

Savannah Technical College serves Coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 10,000 credit and non-credit students annually, Savannah Tech offers nearly 150 different instructional programs in Aviation Technology, Business and Professional Services, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training, and continuing education. The College serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry.