Over 220 individuals earned the right to be recognized at the South Georgia Technical College’s Fall 2021 drive-thru commencement ceremony Thursday, December 9th at 6 p.m. in the outdoor circular drive area between the John M. Pope Center and the Odom Center. The event was held outside due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns, and graduates stayed in their cars until their associate degree or diploma was awarded.
Sixty-six students earned an Associate of Applied Science degree while another 162 were recognized for earning a diploma in their field of study. Twelve students qualified as Presidential honor graduates which requires an overall grade point average of 3.9 or higher. Another 13 were spotlighted as honor graduates with a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Kuipers presided over the graduation ceremony. Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Vanessa Wall called each graduate’s name and program of study as the graduates exited their vehicles to receive their diploma from President Watford.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Don Porter, Chair of the SGTC local Board of Directors, introduced the keynote speaker for the evening virtually as part of the SGTC 2021 Fall graduation video. South Georgia Technical College Culinary Arts instructor and 2021 Rick Perkins Instructor of the Year for SGTC, Ludwig “Chef Ricky” Watzlowick, delivered his graduation speech virtually via the video as well.
In his brief comments to graduates and their family members, Watzlowick congratulated the graduates and challenged them to continue on their educational journey. He also encouraged students to persevere and challenge themselves to reach for their dreams.
President Watford and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Kuipers then presented the diplomas to the graduates.
SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Presidential Honor graduates and their respective fields of study included: Cosmetology (Diploma), Dawn Driver Ammons of Ellaville; Medical Assisting (Diploma), Mary Kathryn Beavers of Vienna; Diesel Equipment Technology (Diploma), Ryan Bryce Bruckerhoff of Camilla; Computer Support Specialist and Networking Specialist (AAS and Diploma), Deontay Bernard Buckholts and Bradley Kenneth Dearth of Cordele; Marketing Management (AAS and Diploma), Marcus Dent of Americus; Motorsports Vehicle Technology (Diploma), Brandon Clay Mclemore of Americus; Aircraft Structural Technology (Diploma), Chase Alexander Norris of Americus; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS and Diploma), Karen Rashell Ramos-Escalante of Americus; Business Technology (AAS), Sara Katelyn Rogers of Cordele; Sports and Fitness Management (Diploma), Darryl Rumph, Sr. of Montezuma; Aviation Maintenance Technology (Diploma), Barron Hunter Sills of Cuthbert.
SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Honor graduates (3.70 – 3.89 GPA) and their respective fields of study included: Auto Collision Repair (Diploma), Kevin Deante Ray of Cordele; Automotive Technology (Diploma), William Clay Stewart of Buena Vista; Aviation Maintenance Technology (Diploma), Alexis Sinclair Wilson of Ellaville; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS and Diploma), Ajeashia E. Angrish of Americus and Veronica Johnson Naylor of Albany; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS), Nasier Alexander Vazquez, Sr. of Valdosta and Charittie Faith Walker of Arabi; Culinary Arts (AAS), Wesley Spires of Cordele; Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS), Samantha May McNulty of Cordele; Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS and Diploma), Savanna Marie Phillips of Americus; Practical Nursing (Diploma), Terica Alicia Faith Peterson of Cordele; Welding and Joining Technology (Diploma), Kelli Leeann Rees of Ellaville and Nathan Anthony Roland of Eastman.
The 66 students who earned Associate of Applied Science degrees in the different program areas included: Accounting, Bradley Shy Aldridge of Americus, Alex Andres Herberth of Americus, Sheldon Santuan Holt of Americus, and Rose Keen of Warwick; Business Technology, Joni Ary of Perry, Tia S. Floyd of Americus, Candace Marie Kleckley of Americus, Teneshea Chimere Lewis of Cordele, Sara Katelyn Rogers of Cordele, and Sheene M. Snelgrove of Pitts; Computer Support Specialist, Deontay Bernard Buckholts of Cordele, Brian Austen Cannady of Americus, Bradley Kenneth Dearth of Cordele, Jasmin Tovar of Montezuma, and William Paul Watson of McDonough; Criminal Justice Technology, Ajeashia E. Angrish of Americus, Rikita Arnett of Americus, Brianna Sha’nae Campbell of Richland, Michael Christopher Cobb of Americus, Lira Constanza Edmond of Dublin, Contessa Glover of Cordele, Rodney Dean Gore of Smithville, Gregory Guerra of Americus, Jalen Lynn Johnson of Leesburg, Jestin Devonte Johnson of Americus, Triquana Latrice Lunsford of Dawson, Yamilette Martinez-Rodriguez of Americus, Cynthia Ree McCoy of Americus, Julie Ann Moreau of Ellaville, Veronica Johnson Naylor of Albany, Matthew Aaron Perrine of Americus, Karen Ramos-Escalante of Americus, YaKesha ReNay Revels of Americus, Georgia Rimes of Abbeville, Tyrrell Jalonte Sellman of Atlanta, Eric Austin Taylor of Hawkinsville, Nasier Vazquez, Sr. of Valdosta, Charittie Faith Walker of Arabi, and Demetra Dasha Williams of Albany.
Culinary Arts, Shaquille S. Benjamin of Gordon, Tameya Shadae Evans-Hicks of Plains, Gerald Douglas Harp of Americus, Hannah Naomi Martinez of Americus, Wesley Spires of Cordele, LeAnn Taylor White of Leslie, Susan Brown White of Leslie; Drafting Technology, James Clinton McDaniel, Jr. of Plains; Early Childhood Care and Education, Brittany Michelle Berryhill of Americus, Adriatica Clark of Americus, Ashley Deshaun Crimes of Americus, Takiyah Edwards Brooks of Americus, Kadeejah Lakeya Gibson of Americus, Diqurita Micshonda Green of Cordele, Haley Santrice Harris of Vienna, Dominique Latoya Hooks of Americus, Trinity LeeAnn Jenkins of Cobb, Samantha May McNulty of Cordele, Savanna Marie Phillips of Americus, Terry Ann Sims of Americus; Electronics Technology, Raven Brailsford of Abbeville; Marketing Management, Scotteshia Lydnetta Adkison of Byromville, Marcus Dent of Americus; Networking Specialist, Deontay Buckholts of Cordele, Bradley Dearth of Cordele; Sports and Fitness Management, Catherine Nesbitt of Americus, Donte Shepherd of Lagrange.
The 162 students who earned Diplomas and their programs of study included: Accounting, Sheldon Santuan Holt, Monique Miller, and Gloria D. Taylor; Air Conditioning Technology, Ronnie Jackson and Michael Martin Wise; Aircraft Structural Technology, Stephon Antwon Bell, Latoya Catrese Hubbard, and Chase Alexander Norris; Auto Collision Repair, Kevin Deante Ray and Brandon Rogers; Automotive Technology, Ryan Trevor Johnson and William Clay Stewart; Aviation Maintenance Technology, Barron Hunter Sills and Alexis Sinclair Wilson; Barbering, Tymothy Jordan Mitchell and Tyras Washington; Business Technology, Sherri Michelle Jacobs, Candace Marie Kleckley, Ta’China Leyona Redding, and Shajaia Stephens; Computer Support Specialist, Deontay Buckholts, Bradley Dearth, Jasmin Tovar, and William Paul Watson.
Cosmetology, Dawn Driver Ammons, Zantrissa Battle, Ashanti Benjamin, Audrey Ann Carden, Aaliyah Daniels, Courtney Derington, Jessica Lashae Felton, Sheniya Nykeria Grover, Stephanie Hernandez, Kera Lanice Holt, Dy’mond Ilia King, Aamiyah Tenise Lewis, Temira Tacara McCoy, Olivia Poole, Katelyn Nicole Sercer, Tyras Washington, and Amaya Nylik West; Criminal Justice Technology, Coronda Williams, Ajeashia E. Angrish, Rikita Arnett, Brianna Sha’nae Campbell, Rodney Dean Gore, Gregory Guerra, Jalen Lynn Johnson, Triquana Latrice Lunsford, Yamilette Martinez-Rodriguez, Cynthia Ree McCoy, Veronica Johnson Naylor, Matthew Aaron Perrine, Karen Ramos-Escalante, Ke’Andrea Latrice Ray, Georgia Rimes, Courtney Lavette Seay, Tyrrell Jalonte Sellman, Rebecca Kay Sutton, Eric Austin Taylor and Nasier Vazquez, Sr.; Culinary Arts, Jalen Levon Boyd, Elyjah McKoy, Susan Brown White, and LeAnn Taylor White.
Diesel Equipment Technology, Ryan Bryce Bruckerhoff; Early Childhood Care and Education, Charleshia Ladajah Battle, A’Naziah Na’Kerria Bembry, Iquasha Simone Brown, Ashley Deshaun Crimes, Naschasia Bernice Davis, Diqurita Micshonda Green, Keyonna ShaNae Hamlin, Vera Denise Holt,Trinity LeeAnn Jenkins, Princess King, Dianne H. Lawson, Teresa Michelle Mann, Savanna Marie Phillips, Tamminica Thomas, Amy Weaver, and Faith Lee Weaver; Electrical Cinstruction Technology, Clifton Anthony Jordan; Electrical Systems Technology, Clifton Anthony Jordan; Electronics Technology, Raven Brailsford, Braxton Tyree’ McGee, and Dakerrion Woodson; Industrial Mechanical Systems, Troytavian Lee Smith; Marketing Management, Marcus Dent, Chartaves Martai Drew, and Latravian Quarterman; Medical Assisting, Mary Kathryn Beavers, Ieshia Blanks, Shawanda Brown, Natalie Brianna Collier, Taryn Crenshaw, NaBriya Denson, Sheila Eaddy, Damya Shyday Gee, Damiya Hall, Kaitlyn Harvey, Audrianna Hawkins, Annjoua Keys, Charlie Laster, Jha’Neisha Mathis, Miriam Idalid Ortega, Candace Alyssa Owens, Holly Nichole Peak, Latasha Ross, Ni’Esha Nicole Sims, Pleasure Talbot, Camesa Takiae Walker, and Karneishia Wilbon.
Motorsports Vehicle Technology, Brandon Mclemore; Networking Specialist, Deontay Buckholts and Bradley Dearth; Practical Nursing, Jasmine Alexander, Niki Latrice Banks, Ana Maria Bartolo, Maggie Lynn Bloodworth, Sonica Nicole Burton, Zikerria Jonisha Burton, Arielle Latice Carter, Lisa G. Fultz, Kambi Gardner, Ashley Nicole Ginn, Elizabeth Guerrero, Cassandra Henderson, Kori Brooke Holley, Taylor Grant Horne, Shontia Rubia Ingram, Jessica Rena James, Taleisha Kinder, Valarie Faith Lamb, Shelby Alaina Law, Shaybrielle Mallory, Sara Bailey Manning, Brittany Martinez, Priscilla Mburu, Jazmine A. Minter, Jordan Nichole Mizell, Alexis Nicole Norwood, Katelyn Marie Peacock, Terica Alicia Peterson, Cori River Phillips, Jasmin Robinson, Shaquaita Robinson, Syrrel Shacala Ruff, Elbunie Tranice Smith, Jennifer R. Sparrow, and Jameelah Williams; Sports and Fitness Management, Catherine Nesbitt, Darryl Rumph, Sr., and Donte Shepherd; Welding and Joining Technology, Hunter James Aldridge, Phillip Gordon Bowen, Tyler Juwon Bryant, Miranda Henson, Johnathon McCarty, Kelli Leeann Rees, Jacob Tyler Richards, and Nathan Roland.
Photos from the graduation ceremony can be found on the South Georgia Technical College website: www.southgatech.edu in the photo gallery section and on the college’s Facebook page. A video of the event will be posted on the South Georgia Technical College YouTube Channel.
