ATLANTA — West Point Councilwoman Sandra Thornton recently received the Certificate of Excellence from the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute during the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) annual convention in Savannah.

A cooperative effort between the GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, provides a nationally recognized series of training opportunities for city officials.

To receive a Certificate of Excellence, a city official must complete a minimum pf 120 units of credit, including at least 54 hours from a list of required courses and the Robert E. Knox Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute. The training program consists of more than 60 courses.

“This is an outstanding achievement,” said GMA Executive Director Larry Hanson. “We commend Councilwoman Thornton for this accomplishment and for the dedication she’s shown in using this valuable resource to become a more effective city official.”

Based in Atlanta, the GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization providing legislative advocacy, research, training, employee benefit and technical consulting services.