Nearly 250 individuals earned the right to be recognized at the South Georgia Technical College’s Fall 2022 commencement ceremony Thursday, December 8th at 6 p.m. in the James S. Peters gymnasium. This was SGTC’s second graduation ceremony for 2022. Approximately 165 individuals received awards at the Spring graduation.
Starlyn Sampson, SGTC 2022 Instructor of the Year from the Auto Collision and Repair program, was the featured speaker at the ceremony. SGTC President Dr. John Watford and Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Paul Farr presided over the graduation ceremony. Academic Dean Dr. David Finley called each graduate’s name and program of study. Mr. Michael Coley, Chair of the SGTC Board of Directors gave the Invocation and also introduced the keynote speaker.
Sixty-four students earned an Associate of Applied Science degree while another 165 were recognized for earning a diploma in their field of study. Thirteen students qualified as a Presidential honor graduate which requires an overall grade point average of 3.9 or higher and another 21 were spotlighted as an honor graduate with a grade point average of 3.70 to 3.89. Nineteen National Technical Honor Society members were also recognized.
In his brief talk to graduates and their family members, Sampson congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments and said “tonight is a night for celebration but tomorrow will be a day of new beginnings and the first day of your new journey.”
He encouraged graduates and others in the audience to ask themselves three questions. “How will I start my new journey? What will I change and do different? And how can I be great?” Then he answered the questions with “simply start by being the change you want to see in the world.”
Sampson shared that change does not happen overnight, it takes work and self-discipline. “Let your work, heart, and soul be a blessing to all of us. Understand your purpose in life and always be all that you can be.”
The SGTC students who earned the distinction of graduating as Presidential Honor graduates and their respective fields of study included: Accounting (AAS and Diploma) Mason Elizabeth Smith of Americus; Air Conditioning Technology (Diploma) Jerry Brown of Montezuma; Business Technology (Diploma) Bonnie Nicole Guillen of Unadilla; Aircraft Structural Technology (Diploma) Makayla Janay McCants of Oglethorpe; Computer Support Technology (Diploma) Maurice Lashaun Williams of Americus; Criminal Justice Technology (AAS and Diploma) Kimberly Sadecky of Montezuma; Culinary Arts (AAS and Diploma)Derrick Darnell Carson of Butler; Culinary Arts (Diploma)Kandis Michelle Johnson of Americus; Diesel Equipment Technology (Diploma) Bowen Javis Snider of Mitchell; Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS) Haley Alexis Helms of Cordele; Electrical Construction Technology and Electrical Systems Technology (Diploma)Montavious Treyvon Nedd of Americus; Medical Assisting (Diploma) Cynthia Ann Poke of Americus; and Sports and Fitness Management (AAS and Diploma) Darryl Rumph, Sr., of Montezuma.
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 and Diploma) Kiara Vere’ne’e Bryant of Oglethorpe; Automotive Technology (Diploma) Alan Axi Perz of Cordele and Nakia Rhone of Americus; Aviation Mainenance Technology (Diploma) Nathan Thomas Glass of Concord; Business Technology (AAS and Diploma) Eden Morris of Leesburg; Business Technology (Diploma) Cassidy Michele Mathews of Vienna; Cosmetology (Diploma), Pamela Jordan of Vienna, Savannah Claire Smith of Vienna, and Lakendra Symone Stevens of Vienna;
Criminal Justice Technology (AAS and Diploma), Taylor Cole of Americus, and Amber Kristina Crumbley of Buena Vista; Culinary Arts (AAS and Diploma), Zakyah Jaton Cameron of Bonaire; Culinary Arts (Diploma), Lakedra Symone Stevens of Buena Vista; Diesel Equipment Technology (Diploma), Bernard Bryan, III of Buena Vista, and Lindesy Paige Drawdy of Cataula;
Early Childhood Care and Education (AAS and Diploma), Diane Johnson of Cordele and Elizabeth Bandon Phillips of Leesburg; Motorsports Vehicle Technology (Diploma) Detrontae Ke’Juan Daniels of McDonough and Garrett James Whitson of Douglasville; and Welding and Joining Technology (Diploma), Jessie Kilgore of Cordele and Mae Lene Morrison of Lumber City.
Nineteen graduates are also members of the National Technical Honor Society. Those individuals are: Kiara Bryant of Oglethorpe, ZaKyah Cameron of Bonaire, Derrick Carson of Butler, Darius Collier of Montezuma, Diane Johnson of Cordele, Pamela Jordan of Vienna, Cassidy Mathews of Vienna, Makayla McCants of Oglethorpe, Cassandra Milledge, Mae Morrison of Lumber City, Cynthia Poke of Americus, Cedric Prather of Lithia Springs, Nakia Rhone of Americus, Kimberly Sadeck of Montezuma, Fabiola San Martin Garcia of Cordele, Savannah Smith of Vienna, Lakendra Stevens of Buena Vista, and Garrett Whitson of Douglasville.
The 64 students who earned Associate of Applied Science degrees in the different program areas included: Accounting, April Beamon of Cuthbert, Kiara Vere’ne’e Bryant of Oglethorpe, Trinity Bryce Jackson, Keeuntae Latrice Kleckley and Mason Elizabeth Smith of Americus, Lindsey Katherine Long of Leesburg, and Nicholas Williams of Monroe;
Air Conditioning Technology, Josiah Williams McCoy of Richland and Robert Fred Spikes of Box Springs; Business Technology, Jawun LeTrell Boyd of Epes, AL; Shakeythia Cooper of Blakely, Jena M. Enloe of Americus, Sherri Denise Hillman of Montezuma, Eden Brooke Morris of Leesburg, Ty’keyah D. Munford of Abbeville, Allysia Oliver of Vienna, Fabiola San Martin Garcia and Shajai Stepens of Cordele; Computer Support Specialist, Touri Deshawn Holston of Duluth and Cameron Sims of Americus; Criminal Justice Technology, Daniel Joe Baker of Buena Vista, Shaniqua Shantel Bradley, Corneshia Morenea Brown, Lasandra Wnne Burton, Taylor Cole, Jamie Holloway, Krystal Marie Hunter, Charnelle Jordan, and Michael Albert Middleton of Americus, Gweneka Lenore Brown of Cordele, Alicia Childs of Albany, Amber Kristina Crumbley of Buena Vista, Riley Necola Eason of Pitts, Hunter Cole Fallin of Albany, Chessa Minea Felder of Cordele, Vernicia Kersey of Albany, Haley Anne Lamberth of Ellaville, Ashley Niole Miller of Dawson, and Kimberly Sadecky of Montezuma; Culinary Arts, Jalen Levon Boyd of Epes, AL; Zakyah Jaton Cameron of Bonaire, and Derrick Darnell Carson of Butler; Cybersecurity, Samantha Jade Campbell, Brad Kenneth Dearth and Michael Todd Keen of Cordele; Drafting Technology, Ijermon Cheatham of Americus; Early Childhood Care & Education, Iquasha Simone Brown of Americus, Haley Alexis Helms of Cordele, Shakale Takesha Ingram of Americus, Diane Johnson of Cordele, Elizabeth Bandon Phillips of Leesburg, Destiny Nicole Ragsdale of Ellaville, Ta’Niah Ni’Kierra Reliford of Americus, Jasmine Nicole Walker, and Deovion Imoni West of Americus; Electronics Technology, Jesse Travis Wilson of Buena Vista; Marketing Management, Chartaves Martai Drew of Americus, Jakneeca Manise Mitchell of Leesburg, Olivia Stevens of Americus and Benjamin Keith Williams of Oakfield; Networking Specialist, Lorenz Kyle Cabergas Connor of Preston; and Sports and Fitness Management, Byron Keith Berryhill of Leesburg, Earl Maurice Mann of Montezuma, and Darryl Rumph, Sr. of Montezuma.
One hundred and seventy-five students earned Diplomas and those students and their programs of study included: Accounting, Kiara Ver’ene’e Bryant, Trinity Bryce Jackson, Keeuntae Latrice Kleckley, Lindsey Katherine Long, Mason Elizabeth Smith, and Nichola Williams; Air Conditioning Technology, Gregory Paul Bacon, Jerry Brown, Wesley Camron Durham, Antonio Myrick, Dale Allen Richard, and Robert Fred Spikes; Aircraft Structural Technology, Darius Devontae Collier, Lamonte Ricardo Jackson, Mylan Amir Martin, Makayla Janay McCants, and James Rumph, Jr.; Auto Collision Repair, Abisai Gutierrez and Juwon Sapp; Automotive Technology, Montavious J. Angry, Michael Holcomb, Alan Axi Perez, and Nakia Champaine Rhone; Aviation Maintenance Technology, Nathan Thomas Glass;
Business Technology, Jawun LeTrell Boyd, Shakeythia Cooper, Jena M. Enlow, Bonnie Nicole Guillen, Sherri Denise Hillman, Shatarra Lynette Lundy, Cassidy Michele Mathews, Eden Brooke Morris, Ty’keyah D. Munford, and Allysia Oliver; Computer Support Specialist, Touri Deshawn Holston, Desmond Tyon House, Makyre Payne, Cameron Sims and Maurice Lashaun Williams;
Cosmetology, Shameika Renee Cole, Leeyah Haven Ellinwood, Kirsten Cherise Fedrick, Lindsey Brianne Harrell, Shelly Lane Harrod, Sha’Brea La”desire Hicks, Pamela Faith Jordan, Karen-Ann Kirksey, Tayla Logan Kirksey, Yahkirah Yadayah Manggrum, Laura Alice McPherson, Chanie Marie Mills, Anna McKenzie Rees, A’lajha Shy’liyaha Reynolds, Savannah Claire Smith, Kimolyn Taylor, Celeste Niyel Thornton, and Zarria Michelle Warren; Criminal Justice Technology, Latasha Latrell Anderson, Jeanie Leann Barton, Corneshia Morenea Brown, Alicia Childs, Taylor Cole, Amber Kristina Crumbley, Riley Necola Eason, Hunter Cole Fallin, Chessa Minea Felder, Jamie Holloway, Krystal Marie Hunter, Charnelle Jordan, Vernicia Kersey, Haley Anne Lamberth, Michael Albert Middleton, Ashley Nicole Miller, and Kimberly Sadecky; Culinary Arts, Zakyah Jaton Cameron, Derrick Darnell Carson, Camiyah Rennasia Cephus, Kandis Michelle Johnson, Teresa Michelle Mann, Nathan Julius Prince, Lakendra Symone Stevens; Diesel Equipment Technology, Bernard M. Bryan, III, Binkley Kohl Bryson, Lindsey Paige Drawdy, Jeremy Bernard Huiras, Tyree Javon McRae, Zyion Ahmad Reid, Huriel Martin Roblero-Lopez, Bowen Javis Snider, and Toby Aaron Wilson; Drafting Technology, Ijermon Cheatham; Early Childhood Care and Education, Shaquanda Lashay Barner, Grace Beverly Bernath, Kadeja Desteria Davis, Diane Johnson, Hailey Rene Minix, Elizabeth Brandon Phillips, Destiny Nichole Ragsdale, Ta’Niah Ni’Kierra Reliford, Tyashs De’Angela Toussaint, and Deovion Imoni West; Electrical Construction Technology, Sirmarcus Alexander Brown, Peyton Jacon Howell, Logan Chandler Mathis, Montavious Tryvon Nedd, Dallas Andrew Pate, Tristian Raul Yanez-Rueda; Electrical Systems Technology, Sirmarcus Alexander Brown, Peyton Jacob Howell, Logan Chandler Mathis, Montavious Treyvon Nedd, Dallas Andrew Pate, and Tristian Raul Yanez-Rueda; Electronics Technology, Matthew Gatlin Weeks;
Marketing Management, Santana Canady, Olivia Stevens, and Benjamin Keith Williams; Medical Assisting, Charneshia Nadajah Battle, Ginny Brookshire, LaQuana Jenne Casimere, Nykerriyah Nariyah Hubbard, Cierra Domonecce Lawson, Cynthia Ree McCoy, Samaiya S. Mobley, Doris Newsome, Jasmine Nicole Phillips, and Cynthia Ann Poke; Motorsports Vehicle Technology, Detrontae Ke’Juan Daniels, Cedric Gerode Prather, Garrett James Whitson; Networking Specialist, Lorenz Kyle Cabergas Connor and Makyre Payne; Practical Nursing, Todd Barnette, Quentavious Denzel Bell, Jasmine Tiara Brown, Kania Byron, Sharietha Charquinta Daniels, Candis Samone Davis, Yolonda Regina Forrester, Demetria Ann Freeman, Lawanda Monique Harper, Crasha Marie Harris, Cabresha Hinton, Curtecia Jackson, Jasmyne Nicole James, Laura Alexander Lee, Lacey Chase Lummus, DaQuan Rishaun McKenzie, Kristian McRae, Cassandra Machelle Milledge, Iris Trinette Moore, Searra Morehead, Emily Jordan Murphy Reginia Nash, Minisha Pinkard, Jacinda Winchell Reese, Shamel Sequoya Sims, Desiny Smith, Ladarius Kevon Smith, Shenika Tashun Stevens, Regina Patrice Steward, Brenda Thomas, Tyechia N. Tullis, Keirra Keonna Washington, Pamela Westbrook Ray, Jasmine Williams, and Ariaker Ramone Zanders; Precision Machining and Manufacturing, Thuc Nhan Bui; Sports and Fitness Management, Earl Maurice Mann and Darryl Rumph, Sr. and Welding and Joining Technology, John Edward Belcner, Jessie Allan Kilgore, Mae Lene Morrison, Danny Nguyen, and Trinity Rashad Snelling.
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.