December 10, 2024
Gainesville, GA-Lanier Technical College, a Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), annually announces an Exceptional Adult Georgian in Adult Literacy Education (EAGLE) Student of the Year and an Outstanding Teacher of the Year. These awards are based on leadership, academic excellence, belief in adult education, and a passion for bettering oneself or making a lasting impact on their students’ lives.
EAGLE, a statewide program for all 22 of TCSG’s colleges, honors excellence and perseverance in pursuing one’s literacy education. Alla Kucherova, Lanier Tech’s 2025 EAGLE Student of the Year, has spent the past few years overcoming adversities, learning a new language, and earning her General Education Degree (GED®). Her determination was noticed by Adult Education Instructor Jennifer Parker, who nominated Kucherova for the award.
When asked about her journey to Lanier Tech, Kucherova had this to say,
“I recall a time in Russia when I didn’t know what to do or who to go to for help. Three years ago, due to political turmoil in my country, I moved with my family to the United States of America. In July of 2022, I began my journey at Lanier Tech. After six months of English as a Second Language courses, I began taking GED® courses. After 21 months of GED® and English courses, I passed my GED® exams and secured a job at a computer software company. This new career path inspired me to continue my education in computer programming. I would not be where I am today without Lanier Tech!”
Tina Schnepper, a teacher in Lanier Technical College’s Adult Education Program, has been named the 2025 Adult Education Outstanding Teacher of the Year. The Adult Education Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, like EAGLE, is a statewide program for all of TCSG’s 22 Colleges that aims to showcase outstanding Adult Education teachers within the college system.
Schnepper started her teaching career as a part-time reading aid and taught English as a second language (ESL) classes designed to support student literacy. From there, Schnepper took a full-time GED Instructor role and transitioned into her current full-time position as an ESL Instructor at Lanier Tech. When asked about her passion for her ESL students, Schnepper responded,
“It is great to watch my students first enter the classroom with little knowledge of the English language, and by the time they move on to the next level, they are speaking and writing complete sentences. I have students from all over the world, and it is very common to hear different languages spoken before class. By the time class starts, all conversations must be in English, and this immersion helps the students understand the material. I love my job and the students I teach. It is very rewarding.”
Both Kucherova and Schnepper will go on to compete against other regional technical colleges. Following the regional competition, winning students and teachers will compete for the title of TCSG’s statewide Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE Student of the Year and the Adult Education Outstanding Teacher of the Year for the 2025 calendar year.
About the Technical College System of Georgia
The 22 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) are Georgia’s top resource for skilled workers. TCSG offers world-class training in more than 600 associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs to students who are trained on state-of-the-art equipment by instructors who are experts in their fields. The system also houses Georgia’s Office of Adult Education, which promotes and provides adult literacy and education programs, including the GED® testing program, throughout the state. In addition, TCSG partners with companies through Quick Start, the nation’s top customized workforce training program, and through its colleges, which work with local industry to provide workforce and training solutions. For more information, visit TCSG.edu.
