South Georgia Technical College held its 2017 General Educational Development Diploma (GED) Graduation ceremony in the James S. Peters gymnasium on the SGTC Americus campus recently.
Pablo Castaneda of Ellaville, the South Georgia Technical College 2017 EAGLE (Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education) representative, was the guest speaker at the ceremony where approximately 70 students from Sumter, Crisp, Marion, Schley, and Webster counties received their general equivalency diplomas.
Castaneda represented South Georgia Technical College at the Technical College System of Georgia’s Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE) conference earlier this year for the State EAGLE award by the Technical College System of Georgia. He was competing against the top 26 adult learners in the state for his outstanding achievement in the state’s adult education program. Each year, the SGTC EAGLE delegate is asked to serve as the guest speaker at the GED graduation ceremony.
Castaneda congratulated each of the graduates on achieving their GED and then asked each graduate if they “have a goal in life, and if so, who or what is stopping you from reaching it?” He admitted that he should have asked himself that question a long time ago because if he had, it wouldn’t have taken him so long to accomplish his goal of a good education.
Pablo Castaneda worked on his GED and attended the South Georgia Technical College welding classes at the same time. “Being dually enrolled in the welding program gave me the incentive to complete my GED. Now I have earned my GED as well as five welding certificates and I have a part-time job where I have already made good use of my welding skills.”
He then encouraged the other GED graduates to continue their education as well as proceed toward their goals in life.
After Castaneda’s talk, Jay Roberts from the Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, presented a Platinum Trustee Scholarship worth $1000 to Charles Flakes of Sumter County for making the highest score on the GED exam. He can use the scholarship to continue his education at South Georgia Tech.
South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford welcomed the graduates, faculty members, family and friends who came to the James S. Peters gymnasium for the ceremony. He also congratulated the graduates on their achievements and reminded them that this was the first step on their educational journey and that South Georgia Technical College had over 200 different programs for them to choose from. He also talked with the GED graduates about the $500 voucher that they receive from the Technical College System of Georgia to continue their education.
Tonya Visage, Castaneda’s adult education instructor, introduced him as the guest speaker and after his inspirational talk, President Watford, SGTC Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers and GED Examiner Connie Wise recognized the graduates and presented them with their diplomas.
“This is an exciting day for many of you here tonight,” said Watford to the large crowd who gathered to support the graduates and their accomplishments. “We are here to honor you and your achievements tonight. We also urge you to continue on your educational journey.”
Rev. Michael Cunningham delivered the invocation at the ceremony. Elaine Skipper provided the piano selections including the traditional processional and music for the graduates.
The graduation ceremony was sponsored in part by the Americus Rotary Club and Hammack Well, Inc. and supported by many community businesses and organizations including: HOPES – Helping Ourselves Pursue Education in Schley County, LEAP – Learning for Everyone/Avenue to Progress, Marion County Family Connections/Advisory, and Webster County Advisory.
Special thanks to those individuals and organizations who help provide GED scholarships including: Ruth Jones/Girls Educating with Donations Scholarships; LEAP/Sherry Royle Scholarship; Cordele Housing Authority, Americus-Sumter Chamber of Commerce, AT&T, Men on the Move, and Schley County Certified Literate Community/HOPES.
Listed below are the GED graduates from the individual counties who participated in the ceremony:
Sumter County
Christopher Bailey, Clayton Cox, James Dewberry, Charles Flakes, Brendon Graham, Nathan Hershberger, Sierra Holmes, Trinity Jackson, Tamekia Jenkins, Chantale Johnson, Sammeerah Layton, Maria Lopez, Taylor McGhee, Leland Minaker, Dallas Mote, Zanquela Murray, Bentura Nunez, Brodrick Parks, Tonya Rodgers, Christopher Saint, Chantale Smith, Ryan Tremblay, Ashley Welborn, and Cody Woodall;
Marion County
Sean Zackary Adkins, Amanda Chavez, Dylan Comeau, Christian Holloman, and Gabrielle Rivers;
Crisp County
Robert Alewine, Brandon Aponte, Corey Bell, Cassie Casto, Shauna Davis, Chasidy Dawson, Fabian Fairchild, Whitney Gibson, Kelvin Greene, Dontavious Harrell, Marissa Harrell, Ge’Arius Hestle, Kristin Keen, Desiray Kenney, Kentarius Lewis, Malit Lloyd, Crystal Martindale, Anthony Parker, Appeffani Pounds, Caleb Radle, Montay Reid, Jr., Catherine Scott, Jyneisha Shorter, Kentavious Smith, Shyeann Stuckett, Rubin Timms, Samantha Trice, James Vaughan, Melvin West, and Alexis Wiley.
Schley County
Courtney Bailey, Phillip Dozier, Jannah Johnson, Letty Reynolds, Macie Sawyer, Chase Turner, and Taylor Wilson;
Webster County
Aaron Cable, Ashton Cable, Jon Pate, and Raiden Wiggins.
Michelle McGowan is serving as the South Georgia Technical College Interim Adult Education Director for SDA 15, Lisa Jordan is the Adult Education Secretary and Kenia Wills is the Data Entry Technician and Alternate GED Examiner. Connie Wise is the Chief GED Examiner. The South Georgia Tech Adult Education instructors include: Carlene Beckwith, Lissa Faircloth, Joan Granville, Connie Hammack, David Hunter, Tracy Israel, Angie Kauffman, Mary King, and Tonya Visage.
For more information about the Adult Education and GED classes, contact South Georgia Tech at 229.931.2565.
Shown above are the Sumter County South Georgia Technical College GED graduates and their instructors.
Shown above are the Crisp County South Georgia Technical College GED graduates and their instructors.
Shown above are the Webster County South Georgia Technical College GED graduates and their instructors.
Shown above are the Schley County South Georgia Technical College GED graduates and their instructors.
Shown above are the Marion County South Georgia Technical College GED graduates and their instructors
Shown above are: SGTC President Dr. John Watford with the South Georgia Technical College Adult Education faculty and staff.
