Justin Smith, President

Gwinnett Technical College

Justin is currently a cybersecurity student at Gwinnett Technical College. While attending, he aided as Secretary of the Student Government Association, as well as, Student Ambassador for the college. These were beneficial positions for Justin to continue to grow as a leader, through collaborative opportunities to serve both the student body and community. In the future, Justin strives for a career which normalizes acts of service and providing foundations for others to thrive.

Outside his academics, Justin is employed with the Northside Healthcare System. Justin is very fortunate to be able to serve in a variety of roles and help countless people in their moments of need. When he is not fulfilling his professional obligations, Justin is a self-development enthusiast and adventurous foodie.

Kesley Paulk, Vice President

Southeastern Technical College

Kesley was born and raised in Lyons, Georgia, by his mother and his father, who passed away when Kesley was twelve years old.   When Kesley was seven, he was diagnosed with Autism and Asperger’s syndrome. He was curious about life and had a happy-go-lucky attitude as a child. Even though he was curious about many things, that curiosity would get him in trouble, sometimes in funny ways and others not so amusing. Kesley had a hard time controlling his Autism and Asperger’s syndrome. He experienced challenges with learning, and because the other children did not understand his disability, he struggled with making new friends.

Over time, Kesley learned to manage his disability. During high school, he was a member of the Red Coat Marching Band and served as the Equipment Manager, Uniform Manager, and ultimately Band Captain. He may not have known it at the time, but his participation in the marching band was a huge milestone in his leadership skills development and helped set him on the right path. Kesley graduated at the age of 18 from Toombs County High School with his high school diploma. Earning his diploma was a significant accomplishment for Kesley and one that he is very proud of because of the many obstacles he faced.

After graduation, Kesley enrolled at Southeastern Technical College (STC). He earned his AAS degree in Information Technology and is now pursuing a degree in Business Management. Kesley is a work-study student and also works full-time at a popular sports retail chain. He is currently a manager in training. Kesley says one of the greatest things to ever happen to him was joining the Student Government Association, where he served as President of his local SGA chapter and the 2020-2021 GSGA State Vice President.  Kesley continues to serve as a local officer and a GSGA officer for the 2021-2022 school year and moving forward.

Alaina Lee, Secretary

Southeastern Technical College

Alaina grew up in a small town in South Georgia. She attended Collins Elementary Middle School from Pre-k through Eighth grade. She played softball and basketball throughout her middle school years. Then she attended Tattnall County High School, where she graduated in 2018. She played four years of varsity softball and two years of varsity basketball for the Warriors. During her softball career at Tattnall County High School, she earned many awards and had the privilege of playing in the Elite Eight. During her basketball career, she also had the opportunity to play in the Final Four. These opportunities opened up many doors for her to further her academic and athletic career at the collegiate level.

Alaina decided to accept an athletic scholarship to East Georgia State College, where she spent three years playing collegiate softball. During her time at East Georgia, she received many awards for her athletic performance and completed two degrees. In May of 2020, she graduated with her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. In 2021, she earned her Associate’s Degree in Psychology.

Alaina decided to enroll in Southeastern Technical College to finish her core classes working toward the Rad Tech Program. She was most recently accepted into the Rad Tech Program to become a Radiologic Technician. She plans to graduate in December of 2023 from the program. After college, she plans to get a job as a Radiologic Technologist working in a hospital or an orthopedic center and work toward receiving more certification in the technician field.