WGTC selects Andrew Duckworth as EAGLE Delegate and Cyndi Hunter as Outstanding Teacher of the Year

Carrollton, GA – West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) has selected GED graduate Andrew Duckworth as its 2026 Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) winner and Adult Education instructor Cyndi Hunter as its 2026 Adult Education Outstanding Teacher of the Year (OTOY). Both will represent WGTC at the Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE Leadership Institute March 8-10, 2027.

“Each year, our EAGLE and Outstanding Teacher of the Year competitions remind me why Adult Education is such meaningful work,” said Rebecca Wheeler, Dean of Adult Education at WGTC. “I am continually inspired by the determination, grit, and commitment demonstrated by both our students and instructors. We are proud to recognize both Andrew and Cyndi for the example they set and the impact they have on our Adult Education community.”

The EAGLE program is the first statewide initiative in the nation to recognize and reward excellence among adult education students. The annual Dinah Culbreath Wayne EAGLE Leadership Institute, sponsored by the Technical College System of Georgia’s Office of Adult Education, honors students who exemplify achievement, leadership, and commitment to lifelong learning.

For Duckworth, earning his GED from WGTC taught him that growth is a lifelong process and that every journey has its own path. After traveling the country as a professional wrestler, an injury forced Andrew Duckworth to step away from the ring and reconsider his future. Watching his wife make sacrifices to support their family, Duckworth decided to return to the classroom after 20 years to earn his GED. Within a week of making that decision, he enrolled in WGTC’s Adult Education program and earned his GED in December 2025. Since then, Duckworth has become a certified personal trainer, returned to professional wrestling and set his sights on continuing his education.

“The greatest accomplishments often come from perseverance, a willingness to learn, and the people who believe in us along the way,” Duckworth said. “WGTC has been an important part of my journey, and I’m grateful for the opportunities, encouragement, and support I’ve received. I hope my story serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to invest in yourself, pursue your goals, and create a better future.”

The Adult Education OTOY program is designed to recognize and honor outstanding Adult Education teachers who make significant contributions to the field through instruction, innovation, and leadership. These outstanding teachers participate in school and community activities, understand the importance of and are committed to the Adult Education profession, and exemplify excellence. The OTOY has a deep commitment to the mission of the Office of Adult Education (OAE).

Hunter has been a part of WGTC’s Adult Education division for eight years, serving as a lead instructor at four campuses. As an educator, she draws on her extensive experience in instructional systems design, program development, and professional and workplace readiness training to help adult education learners build the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to pursue meaningful and challenging career opportunities. She is passionate about helping learners recognize their strengths, overcome barriers, and discover what comes next in their professional journey.

“I am proud to be an Adult Education teacher, and being named teacher of the year is a nice bonus,” Hunter said. “I am proud of the work we do, but more than that, I’m so proud of our students. Most of them come to us with very full plates already, but they show up and work hard. They don’t just learn, they overcome and excel.”

WGTC offers adult education/high school equivalency classes in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, Heard, Meriwether, and Troup counties. For more information, contact the adult education department at WGTCAdultEd@westgatech.edu or 770.838.3192.