Rome, Georgia) – Georgia Northwestern honors its first collegiate All-American in point guard and pre-nursing student Matt Woods. The National Junior College Athletic Association named Woods to the nationally-recognized team as a result of his performance on and off the court in 2011-12.

The second-year starter from Dade County, Georgia met with Georgia Northwestern Technical College President Dr. Craig McDaniel and Bobcat Men’s Head Basketball Coach David Stephenson to officially receive the honor. “Matt is an amazing young man who has represented this college, his family, and himself extremely well,” said Dr. McDaniel. “

Earning a 3.94 grade point average, scoring six points, and dishing out four assists per game, this year’s team captain and starting point guard was an easy choice for the NJCAA honor. “He handled his business well at Georgia Northwestern,” said Stephenson. “His stats were steady on the court. However, it was his ability to stay calm under pressure and still get the job done that was always most impressive.”

Three years ago, Woods earned another honor. This time, the recognition would be for his service to the country. He served a year-long tour of duty in Iraq. Woods would earn a Combat Action Badge for his heroism in a grenade attack on his patrol. An assailant had just dropped an anti-tank grenade near fellow troops on patrol and quickly ran away. “We could have shot him shortly before, but there was a school behind him so we had to chase him down and pull him out of some nearby huts.”

Woods will be continuing his academic career by attending the nursing school at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga this fall. For more information on Bobcats and Lady Cats Athletics at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, contact the Office of Sports Information at 706.764.3813 or e-mail to dfoley@gntc.edu.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College serves Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties in Georgia with campuses located in Floyd, Gordon, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties. Approximately 26,000 people benefit from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs, making it the largest college in Northwest Georgia and the fourth largest technical college in Georgia.