South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford is shown above (left) presenting an diploma to Cody White of Americus who earned his diploma in Air Conditioning Technology. He is also employed at South Georgia Technical College in the SGTC Maintenance Department.South Georgia Technical College hosted its Fall 2017 commencement ceremony Thursday, December 14th at 6 p.m. in the James S. Peters Gymnasium on the Americus campus in front of a capacity crowd.
Approximately 230 students, 40 of which were either Presidential Honor or regular Honor Graduates, received awards of either an associate degree or a diploma during the 2017 fall commencement ceremony. Students must have an overall grade point average of 3.9 or higher to qualify as a Presidential honor graduate and a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89 to qualify as an honor graduate. National Technical Honor Society members were also recognized.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Kuipers presided over the graduation ceremony and introduced Rev. Bill Dupree who gave the invocation.
President Watford welcomed graduates and their families and recognized special guests. Richard McCorkle, Chair of the SGTC local Board of Directors, introduced the keynote speaker for the evening, Aviation Maintenance Technology instructor Charles Christmas, who is the SGTC 2017 Instructor of the Year.
In his brief talk to graduates and their family members, Christmas gave the graduates sincere advice designed to help them in their pursuit of excellence in their chosen careers or continued education. “First congratulations to each of you,” said Christmas. “Feel proud of your accomplishment of this milestone. Tonight is all about celebrating this exciting event in your life. You are closing one chapter but beginning another. Remember that you have the potential to make the next chapter of your life very successful if you will look for opportunities for growth while you pursue your passion.”
Christmas also advised the graduates to learn from failures because failures bring opportunities. He also challenged them to live lives of integrity and aspire to make a difference every day rather than just make a living. In closing he again congratulated the graduates and their families and wished them continued success.
After Christmas’ address, President Watford and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kuipers made a special presentation to the family of Nykevia Shanice Sanford, a Medical Assisting student from Americus, who passed away fall semester before completing her diploma. Mr. and Mrs. Willie E. Sanford, Jr., accepted the honor diploma on behalf of their daughter.
Following the special presentation, President Watford, David Kuipers, and the SGTC Deans for Academic Affairs, presented the diplomas to the graduates. Sixty-four students received an Associate of Applied Science degree and 165 unduplicated diplomas were awarded.
SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Presidential Honor graduates and their respective fields of study included: Business Technology (AAS and Diploma), Callie Collier of Rochelle; Business Technology (AAS) Kimberlee Vaughn Newbern of Cordele and Mary N. Solis of Americus; Business Technology (Diploma), Kelly LeeAnn Stroup of Americus; Early Childhood Care and Education (Diploma), Kristina Harpe of Oglethorpe and Carolyn LeAnn Tholen of Americus; and Electronics Technology (AAS), Daniel Tyler of Bonaire.
SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Honor graduates (3.70 – 3.89 GPA) and their respective fields of study included: Accounting (AAS), Christopher Guilfo of Oglethorpe; Accounting (Diploma), Barbara Elaine Sercer of Abbeville; Air Conditioning Technology (Diploma), Jeremiah Lee Lumpkin of Mauk; Aviation Maintenance Technoloyg (Diploma), John Vines Brooks of Americus; Business Technology (AAS), Jessica Nicole Fudge of Vienna, Amy Ibach of Americus and Nicole Dawson Turner of Vienna; Business Technology (Diploma), Leslie Dawn Belcher of Buena Vista; Computer Support Specialist (AAS) and Networking Specialist (AAS), Ginny Loree Brookshire of Cordele; Computer Support Specialist (Diploma) and Networking Specialist (Diploma), Christian Powell of Cordele; Computer Support Specialist (Diploma), Nicholas Shannon Storey of Preston; Cosmetology (Diploma), Kristen Morgan Whaley of Americus; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS and Diploma), Tekieya Mouniquia Countryman of Dawson; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS), Charles H. Kinnamon of Americus and Ramona Williams of Cordele; Culinary Arts (AAS), Kyle William Biggs of Leslie; Culinary Arts (Diploma), Kenneth Paul McNeil, Jr. of Preston, Robert Watzlowick of Leesburg, and J’Essesence Ke’Andrea Wiggins of Lilly; Diesel Technology (Diploma), Matthew Ryan Bass of Fayetteville and Jaime Young of Sumner; Early Childhood Care and Education (Diploma), Eva Porter of Buena Vista; Electronics Technology (AAS), Jessica Natalie Mourey of Cordele; Electronics Technology (Diploma), Justin William Royal of Cordele; Machine Tool Technology (Diploma), Calvin Conley of Leesburg; Marketing Management (AAS), Maria Luisa Rivera of Vienna; Medical Assisting (Diploma), Natalie D. Stephens of Abbeville; Practical Nursing (Diploma), Summer Driver of Americus, Tracy Lynn Evers of Arabi, Aaliyah Janae Sutton of Unadilla, and Morgan Kelley Vees of Cordele; and Welding Technology (Diploma), Brody Tete Helms of Vienna and Rick Edward Hopper of Pitts.
Fifteen graduates are also members of the National Technical Honor Society. Those individuals are: John Vines Brooks, Ginny Brookshire, Callier Collier, Tracy Evers, Jessica Fudge, Kristina Harp, Rick Hopper, Kimberlee Newbern, Eva Porter, Christian Powell, Maria Riveria, Mary N. Solis, Nicole Turner, Daniel Tyler, and Ramona Williams.
Sixty-four students earned Associate of Applied Science degrees and those students and their programs of study included: Accounting, Christopher Guilfo of Oglethorpe and Shaundreika Nicole Storey of Hinesville; Air Conditioning Technology, Bura Allen of Cordele; Business Technology, Brittany Ann Butterworth of Vienna, Adrienna Lashawn Clayton of Americus, Callie Collier of Rochelle, Jessica Nicole Fudge of Vienna, Trisha Anne Grant, Mykaula Symone Harvey and Hannah Elizabeth Holder, all of Cordele, Amy Ibach of Americus, Kimberlee Vaughn Newbern of Cordele, Jasmine Serria Prince of Americus, Juan Basilio Riverio, Jr., of Vienna, Tonekita Rogers of Cordele, Brittany Sanders of Americus, Mary N. Solis of Americus, and Nicole Dawson Turner of Vienna; Computer Support Specialist, Ginny Loree Brookshire, Samuel B. foster and Keldridge James Glenn, all of Cordele, Albert James Green of Americus, Jonathan Jones of Decatur, Angelica Sims of Americus and Troy Daniel Thompson of Montezuma; Criminal Justice Technology, Kenetra M. Asberry of Ellaville, Terell Carter of Waycross, Tekieya Mouniquia Countryman of Dawson, Tyler Dawkins of Dallas, Asia Nicole Harden of Ellaville, Kelly E. Harnage of Ellaville, Marcus Dewitt Harris of Leesburg, Christianna Maria Jackson, Michael Johnston, Charles H. Kinnamon, Anaiah Kirkland, Quinntin Ja’Colby Mann, Donald R. McCook, III, and Crystal Maria McCoy, all of Americus; Kayla Michelle Murphy of Ellaville, Michael Adam O’Neal of Smithville, Desirrae Shana Pollard of Preston, Roger Singh Reehal of Americus, Destiny Kierra Symone Walker of Oglethorpe, Ramona Williams of Cordele, and Kristoria Wilson of Americus; Culinary Arts, Kyle William Biggs of Leslie; Early Childhood Care & Education, Carla Barner of Ellaville, Daphne Hadley of Montezuma, and Shanique Shanta Hunt of Americus; Electronics Technology, Brandon P. Deal of Arabi, Kyle Christopher Miller of Cordele, Jessica Natalie Mourey and Hunter Powell of Cordele, and Daniel Tyler of Bonaire; Marketing Management, Kayla Maraie Bowens of Americus and Marie Luisa Rivera of Vienna; Networking Specialist, Ginny Loree Brookshire, Samuel B. Foster, and Keldrige James Glenn of Cordele, Angelica Sims of Americus; and Troy Daniel Thompson of Montezuma; and Sports and Fitness Management, Jamon Moore of Sylvester and Jalen Thomas of Columbus.
After each graduate had received their award, Vice President of Academic Affairs David Kuipers declared to President Watford that each graduate had completed the requirements for graduation as set forth by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG).
Afterwards, Rev. Bill Dupree gave the benediction and the graduates recessed to the music of Pomp and Circumstance.
Dr. John Watford is shown with the family of Nykevia Shanice Sanford, a Medical Assisting student from Americus, who passed away fall semester before completing her diploma. Mr. and Mrs. Willie E. Sanford, Jr., accepted the honor diploma on behalf of their daughter.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford is shown above with Dr. George Porter and his wife, Eva Porter from Marion County. Eva earned her Early Childhood Care and Education Diploma through the college’s partnership with the Marion County Schools.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford is shown with Eshonda Blue of Innovative Senior Solutions and her daughter Kayla Marie Bowens who earned a diploma in Marketing Management.
SGTC President Dr. John Watford is shown above presenting John Vines Brooks of Americus with an Aviation Maintenance Technology diploma.
